RedBlacks clip Alouettes in CFL opener

Montreal, QC - Jeremiah Johnson's 5-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter helped the Ottawa RedBlacks to a 20-16 win over Montreal in the CFL season opener on Thursday night.

Johnson capped a 7-play drive with his TD run with 9:59 remaining in the final quarter and the RedBlacks defense held the Alouettes off the board from there.

Ottawa (1-0) had gone a league-worst 2-16 last season in its expansion year.

Henry Burris went 22-of-35 passing for 261 yards and a touchdown in the win, while Chevon Walker rushed for 59 yards on 18 carries.

The Alouettes (0-1) used three different quarterbacks in the setback, with the trio of Jonathan Crompton, Brandon Bridge and Dan LeFevour combining to go 10-of-28 for 114 yards.

Montreal scored the first points of the season on its first drive, with Tyrell Sutton gaining 38 yards on the ground and capping the possession with a 5-yard scamper into the end zone. Boris Bede was unsuccessful on the extra point and the Als had to settle for a 6-0 lead.

Each team traded interceptions during the opening possessions of the second quarter, then Delbert Alvarado got the RedBlacks on the board with a 40-yard field goal.

The Alouettes led 13-5 at halftime on Crompton's 4-yard TD toss to Jean- Christophe Beaulieu.

Ottawa tied the game on its first touch of the second half as Burris converted a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ernest Jackson, then the former rushed in for the two-point conversion to tie the game.

Bede knocked down a 37-yarder in the latter stages of the third to give Montreal a 16-13 lead.

Game Notes

Montreal won all three meetings against the RedBlacks last season ... Johnson rushed for 10 yards on three carries ... Bridge led the Als in passing with 61 yards and an interception, while Crompton tossed the lone touchdown pass in his 53-yard effort.