Harris, RedBlacks squeak by Alouettes to maintain East lead

The Ottawa RedBlacks are far from healed, but the struggling East Division leaders defeated the Montreal Alouettes 19-14 on Thursday to avoid going into a bye week on a losing streak.

Ottawa (5-4-1) and quarterback Trevor Harris managed back-to-back drives for field goals in the fourth quarter, opening a slim five-point lead with 3:09 to play at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. The Alouettes (3-7) were unable to respond on their last two drives, with the RedBlacks' Landon Cohen and Zack Evans each sacking Kevin Glenn to quash any Montreal momentum.

With star receiver Duron Carter sitting out his one-game suspension for bumping RedBlacks head coach Rick Campbell on June 30, the Alouettes were only able to complete one pass for more than 30 yards.

The win keeps the RedBlacks on top of a three-team logjam in the East with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts (both 4-5). The Argos visit the Ticats on Monday. Ottawa doesn't play again until Sept. 17.

Harris was 27-of-40 for 282 yards with one touchdown. Ernest Jackson made five receptions for 109 yards and one TD, which extended his scoring streak to five games. Chris Williams made 10 receptions for 91 yards. Christopher Milo was 4-of-6 on field goals.

Glenn was 20-of-31 for 193 yards with one touchdown, but threw two interceptions. Each led to a RedBlacks field goal. Veteran slotback Nik Lewis made 10 receptions for 92 yards and had the lone Alouettes TD. Anthony Fera was 2-of-2 on field goals and added a punt single.

The RedBlacks, who have struggled to finish drives all season, outgained Montreal 368-295 and won the turnover battle 3-0. Penalties and Ottawa's problems containing Lewis kept the outcome in doubt.

Milo kicked a go-ahead field goal with 6:19 left. On the next play, RedBlacks cornerback Mitchell White intercepted Glenn's underthrown pass and returned the pickoff to the Alouettes' 36. Ottawa squeezed out another field goal.

Neither team was sharp, with Montreal drawing nine penalties for 130 yards while Ottawa had 11 flags for 123. The Alouettes were flagged twice during the RedBlacks' 95-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter. Only two of Ottawa's penalties came in the second half.

A smart coach's challenge by Montreal's Jim Popp sustained the eight-play, 62-yard drive that Lewis capped with a 5-yard TD catch with 4:25 left in the second quarter. Popp challenged for pass interference on Ottawa linebacker Damaso Munoz, creating a first down instead of a second-and-20. Kenny Stafford made a leaping 36-yard reception two plays later to get Montreal in the red zone.

Montreal, which has the league's stingiest red-zone defence, escaped the opening quarter with a 6-1 deficit in spite of the RedBlacks starting their first three possessions in Alouettes territory. The RedBlacks were limited to field-goal attempts each time. Ottawa had first down from the 1-yard line on its first drive, but a Harris quarterback sneak failed and guard Matthew Albright had an illegal procedure penalty on second down, putting Ottawa in an obvious passing down that it failed to convert.

The Alouettes venture to Vancouver next week to face the BC Lions (7-3) on Friday. The RedBlacks have a 15-day break before facing the Calgary Stampeders.