Adams gets 1st win as Alouettes beat Roughriders

The Montreal Alouettes won ugly in Vernon Adams' first start, and also reduced the chance that the promising quarterback will cost them the No. 1 overall choice in the 2017 CFL Draft.

Amid a downpour in the second-last CFL game at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, the Alouettes defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 19-14 in a basement battle. Montreal's defence and the dank conditions limited Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant for much of the game. Adams, the 23-year-old scrambler who shone in the NCAA at Eastern Washington and Oregon, also fashioned a largely improvised touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter that gave the Alouettes (5-11) enough cushion to withstand a late rally by the Roughriders (5-11).

Montreal interim coach Jacques Chapdelaine, who is essentially auditioning for the permanent gig, put his stamp on the franchise by cutting wide receivers Duron Carter and Kenny Stafford earlier this week. Both receivers were productive but seldom far from controversy during a lost season. The win brought Montreal to 2-2 since Chapdelaine took over as head coach and play caller, compared to 3-9 while GM Jim Popp was in a dual role.

Popp sent the Alouettes' 2017 first-round choice to the BC Lions on May 20 for the rights to Adams, who has spent most of the year apprenticing as a short-yardage QB. The draft slot will depend on the final order of finish between Montreal, Saskatchewan, and the Toronto Argonauts (5-12).

Down by seven points and seven yards from the end zone, Durant underthrew Ryan Lankford on third down with 1:10 left.

The Alouettes conceded a safety with 26 seconds left. On the final play, John Bowman strip-sacked Durant. Roughriders running back Joe McKnight picked up the ball and reached the 17-yard line before Winston Venable knocked him out of bounds to end the game.

Adams had issues putting zip on the ball and was sacked six times, but showed his moxie during a 69-yard drive that opened a 19-5 lead with 13:01 left in the game. Adams avoided a sack with an underhand flip to Stefan Logan for an 18-yard reception. Veteran slotback Nik Lewis trucked Tevaughn Campbell - who is 11 years Lewis' junior - on a 26-yard pass-and-run play. Adams got his first CFL TD pass with a 22-yard strike to Marcus Henry, one of the receivers brought in after Carter and Stafford were cut.

Turnovers on three consecutive plays led to the day's first touchdown, a two-yard rush by Alouettes wideout Samuel Giguere with 7:08 left in the third quarter. The Alouettes gained possession in plus territory after Alan-Michael Cash stripped McKnight and Jovon Johnson recovered. Campbell intercepted a deep pass on the next play. Montreal, however, immediately got the ball back when Chip Cox strip-sacked Durant and Cash recovered.

Adams was 11-of-24 for 177 yards with one TD and one interception. Lewis made three receptions for 74 yards, while Brandon Rutley had 14 rushes for a game-high 70. Boris Bede was 2-of-3 on field goals.

Durant was 25-of-37 for 208 yards, and had his sixth rushing TD. McKnight had 143 yards from scrimmage (13 rushes for 62, 9-81 receiving). Tyler Crapigna was 1-of-1 on field goals.

Alouettes linebacker Bear Woods made seven tackles, bringing his tally to a team-record 115. Roughriders DE Willie Jefferson had two sacks, giving him three in as many games since returning to the league.