Alouettes rout Argos in Eastern showdown

The battle for top spot in the East wasn't exactly a close one.

While the Toronto Argonauts managed to keep within a touchdown of the Montreal Alouettes after the opening half Thursday, the defending Grey Cup champions exploded in the second en route to a lopsided 41-10 victory.

The win at Molson Stadium is Montreal's 11th straight and gives them sole possession of first place in the East. It's a title they shared with the Argos (3-2) prior to Thursday's matchup.

Carrying a seven-point lead into halftime, Montreal (4-1) extended it to 21 by the fourth quarter and kept the Argos off the scoreboard in the second half.

Montreal running back Avon Cobourne put on an offensive show, scoring two touchdowns and earning a career-high total 231 yards, rushing for 115 and picking up eight passes for another 116 yards. 

"It just feels like another game," said Cobourne. "The first time I did 100-100 it was big because I was always in the offence, but now it felt like working."

Cahoon No. 3 in career receptions

Slotback Jamel Richardson, who was taking heat because he hadn't produced a touchdown this season, scored two in the second half.

Fellow slotback Ben Cahoon also had a big night, catching four passes for 45 yards to surpass legendary former Calgary Stampeder Allen Pitts in career receptions. Cahoon now ranks third overall, though he was more concerned with the win than with his place in the record books.  

"We took a long stride today toward becoming the team we want to become, so I feel good about that," Cahoon said.

Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo went 30-36, passing for 394 yards and two touchdowns.

With that kind of offence, Toronto wasn't able to stage its third straight comeback win in the fourth quarter. 

Montreal held CFL rushing leader Cory Boyd to 53 yards on nine carries, while Argo quarterback Cleo Lemon went 8-17, passing for 143 yards and producing the lone touchdown for his team in the first quarter on a play-action pass.

"We didn't establish anything," said Toronto coach Jim Barker. "We couldn't get anything going and our defence couldn't get them off the field. 

"I thought that drive where we answered and kept the ball most of the first quarter was how you have to play Montreal. You have to keep Anthony off the field and we didn't do that."

Toronto's lead short-lived

Montreal's offence was buzzing early, producing a 74-yard touchdown drive on its opening possession. Calvillo hit S.J. Green with a short pass that Green converted into a major to put the Alouettes on the board.

Cleo answered for Toronto on the next possession and the Argos struck again with a field goal after taking advantage of a Montreal turnover. Grant Shaw's 31-yard kick made it 10-7 Argos — the only lead Toronto would enjoy. 

Calvillo floated a pass to Richardson for his first touchdown of the season, which the Alouettes followed up with a field goal from Damon Duval, his first of two on the night, to take the lead heading into the second.

Cobourne flipped into the end zone in the third quarter for his second touchdown of the season and first of two on the night to make it 24-10 Montreal.

Just when the Argos looked to be getting some momentum back, Toronto wide receiver Chad Owens coughed up the ball and Montreal's Eric Wilson ran it to within a yard of the end zone.

"It seemed to take the wind out of our sails, and that hasn't happened this year," said Barker. "We have to learn from that. Guys are going to make mistakes and you have to be able to bounce back."

The Argos have lost seven straight against Montreal since 2007.