The showdown between the two top teams in the Eastern Conference was deprived of one of its main performers, as Toronto Argonauts quarterback Ricky Ray was knocked out of the game with a sprained ankle in the first quarter.
Facing a depleted opponent, the Montreal Alouettes, led by quarterback Anthony Calvillo, played like the loop’s top team and beat the Argos 31-10.
Calvillo threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns but he also tossed two interceptions including one while the Larks were pressing in Toronto territory.
Ray was injured in the first quarter when he rolled his ankle after completing a 16-yard pass. He watched from the sidelines and offered advice to the backup quarterback.
There was no word on the extent of the injury.
Jarious Jackson was inserted into the action at quarterback and was serviceable yet unspectacular, throwing for 198 yards and an interception.
With Brandon Whittaker out for the season with an ACL injury, the Alouettes looked to new starting running Victor Anderson, who responded with 127 total yards and two touchdowns.
Trent Guy had an exciting game as well with a nine-yard touchdown reception and a 129 yard missed field goal return for a touchdown. It was the third longest return in league history but the two longer ones were out of the old 25-yard end zones.
Calvillo looked to wide receiver Brandon London, tallying five catches for 118 yards. Montreal’s signal caller spread the ball around effectively, as four receivers had over 50 receiving yards.
Chad Owens of the Argonauts had another strong game catching six balls for 86 yards. He surpassed the 1,000 yard receiving mark for the first time in his career and is the first Argos receiver to eclipse the mark since Arland Bruce in 2008.
With the victory the Alouettes take a stranglehold on the East at 8-4, while Toronto falls to 6-6.