Ballhawking Bombers beat Als, move above .500

Andrew Harris, Maurice Leggett, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers showed it is possible to win a CFL game through defence and the running game, wearing down the Montreal Alouettes 32-18 on Friday.

The Blue Bombers (5-4) added to their league-leading takeaway total by generating six turnovers - including Leggett's third defensive touchdown of the season - while shutting out Montreal (3-6) in the final two quarters at Percival Molson Stadium. The victory gives the Blue Bombers their first four-win streak since 2011. Montreal, which had 2015 rushing leader Tyrell Sutton back from injury, lost for the ninth time in 11 games at home.

Winnipeg was outgained 346-313, but was plus-4 on turnovers.

The second half was a stalemate until Harris' rushing and quarterback Matt Nichols' patient passing fuelled a nine-play, 94-yard drive that Harris capped with a 19-yard touchdown with 2:07 left. On a second-and-6, when Winnipeg was playing it safely with a field goal as a fallback, Harris bounced outside and sprinted past linebackers Chip Cox and Bear Woods to score standing up and open a 29-18 lead. The touchdown redeemed Harris' two lost fumbles, each of which were forced and recovered by Cox.

Prior to that drive, neither Nichols (23-of-30, 220 yards) nor Montreal's Kevin Glenn (29-of-38, 283 yards, with one TD and four interceptions) had run a play inside the opponent's 30-yard line in the second half.

Harris had 131 yards from scrimmage with 16 rushes for 70 yards and five receptions for another 61. Leggett converted his league-leading fifth interception into a 60-yard touchdown in the first half by cutting in front of Nik Lewis for a pickoff and scoring untouched.

Blue Bombers defensive end Justin Cole had an interception and a sack. Justin Medlock was 6-of-6 on field goals, running his streak of successful kicks to 20.

Sutton was limited to 10 rushes for 33 yards. Rookie QB Vernon Adams Jr., with his first CFL touchdown, and Stefan Logan scored Montreal's touchdowns. B.J. Cunningham made eight receptions for 80 yards, including a a two-point convert. Anthony Fera was 1-of-2 on field goals.

More than a third of Montreal's offensive output came through back-to-back touchdown drives in the first half.

The Alouettes' tight red-zone defence prevented an early onslaught. Winnipeg took possession in Montreal territory on each of its first three possessions, but netted field goals each time. Quincy McDuffie's 51-yard return on the opening kickoff, Cole's interception, and a blocked punt by Derek Jones created sudden changes for the Blue Bombers.

Hours before the game, the CFL announced it was amending the coach's challenge. Teams will now be docked a timeout if their first challenge is unsuccessful, instead of only assuming that risk on their second challenge.

Winnipeg was out of challenges by halftime. Mike O'Shea lost an appeal for defensive pass interference with 1:08 left in the second quarter. Montreal coach/general manager Jim Popp also unsuccessfully challenged for roughing the passer on a play in the third.

Montreal has the rubber match of its season series with the rival Ottawa RedBlacks (4-4-1) on Thursday. Winnipeg's next action is a traditional Labour Day weekend visit to Saskatchewan on Sept. 4.