Alouettes play spoiler, deny Stampeders regular-season record

The beleaguered Montreal Alouettes denied the Calgary Stampeders another league record with a 17-8 win on Sunday.

With Calgary resting several starters, including quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, the Alouettes got after backup Drew Tate for two sacks by DE Gabriel Knapton and two interceptions deep in their zone to stymie a makeshift Stampeders offense. Montreal (6-11), which is playing for pride under interim coach Jacques Chapdelaine, also got a big relief effort from QB Rakeem Cato after Vernon Adams Jr. went down with a right knee injury that looked serious.

Extending its 16-game undefeated and 14-game winning streak - both single-season CFL records - was a lower priority for Calgary (15-2-1) than the health of their starters. Calgary came in with a chance to finish with best record over an 18-game schedule, and the prospect of a 20-day break before hosting the West Division final. Coach Dave Dickenson held out SB Marquay McDaniel, C Pierre Lavertu and DT Quinn Smith.

Montreal is 3-2 since Chapdelaine took over the coaching reins from GM Jim Popp, who was in attendance at Percival Molson Stadium for the first time since the switch.

Adams, who had converted six second-down plays in a row during the 12-play, 95-yard drive that put Montreal ahead 7-5 late in the second quarter, was injured after completing a pass in the first minute of the third quarter. On his second pass, Cato threaded a 37-yard touchdown to Tiquan Underwood for a 14-5 lead.

The Alouettes added a field goal late in the third quarter after DT Ray Drew stuffed short-yardage QB Andrew Buckley on third-and-one from Calgary's 22-yard line to create a short field.

Down by 12 points, Tate stoked a half-hearted rally in the fourth quarter. Calgary drove for a field goal with 10 minutes left. Calgary also came away empty-handed in the red zone for the second time when Tate and backup RB Tory Harrison couldn't connect on a third-down pass at the Alouettes' nine-yard line with 3:03 left.

Behind Brandon Rutley, Montreal ran out the clock.

Cato was 7-of-11 for 113 yards and one touchdown, while also adding a season-long 73-yard scamper on the first of his two rushing attempts. Adams was 11-of-14 for 106 yards. Veteran slotback Nik Lewis made eight receptions for 94 yards to reach the 1,000-yard milestone for the season and 13,000 for his career. Rutley (12-54 rushing) and Underwood (4-77 receiving) had Montreal's touchdowns. Boris Bede was 1-of-1 on field goals.

Tate was 22-of-37 for 218 yards with two interceptions, which had eight different receivers catch a pass. Rene Paredes was 2-of-2 on field goals.

League-leading rusher Jerome Messam brought his final tally to 1,198 yards with 36 on the ground.

Alouettes cornerback Khalid Wooten made his first CFL interception in the end zone to quell a scoring threat in the first quarter. Defensive back Tyree Hollins intercepted a deep throw at Montreal's 15-yard line in the second.

The 1989 Edmonton Eskimos' 16-2 record remains the best in an 18-game season in CFL history. That Edmonton team was upset in the West final by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Montreal completes its season against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-10) on Saturday in a game which is meaningless in the standings.