Alouettes returning to Grey Cup

The Montreal Alouettes will make a return trip to the Grey Cup following a 33-24 victory over the Toronto Argonauts Sunday at Olympic Stadium.

The Alouettes used a key turnover at the start of the second half to help defeat the Argonauts in the East final for the second straight season.

Alouettes running back Robert Edwards celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Toronto Argonauts Sunday at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
(Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)

"Some funny bounces happened," said Argonauts head coach Mike (Pinball) Clemons. "But we certainly thought that, disproportionately, we didn't get the breaks.

"Both teams could have played the same game and we could have been on top."

It was the fifth consecutive year the two teams met in the East final, with Montreal holding a 4-1 advantage.

The Alouettes now head to Winnipeg for the 94th Grey Cup and will play the B.C. Lions, who won Sunday's West final over Saskatchewan.

The Alouettes are looking to win their first title since 2002 and hope to erase last year's demoralizing defeat to the Edmonton Eskimos — 38-35 in overtime.

"We're excited, but man, I'm tired of losing [to] them," said quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who will lead Montreal into the Grey Cup game for the fifth time in seven years. "I'm going to stress that.

"I'm going to go out and win because I remember 2002 — that parade and that feeling. The last two times we lost it wasn't a good feeling. We've been here so many dang times it shouldn't bother us anymore. That's how I'm going to approach it."

Calvillo threw for 252 yards and a touchdown, while running back Robert Edwards balanced Montreal's attack with 137 yards rushing and a touchdown.

"I'm a little dehydrated now, but it was worth it," Edwards said in a raucous Montreal dressing room. "I get to rehydrate with a little champagne."

Estelle's major touches off shouting match

Montreal broke open the game at the start of the second half, taking advantage of a Toronto turnover to lead 23-3 just 43 seconds into the third quarter.

On the first play from scrimmage, Toronto quarterback Damon Allen was intercepted by cornerback Mark Estelle, who scampered 78 yards for the touchdown.

Estelle's major touched off a shouting match between frustrated Argos linebacker Mike O'Shea and receiver Arland Bruce at the sideline.

The interception was also enough for Clemons to pull Allen in favour of backup Michael Bishop for the second consecutive post-season game.

Allen, who was also benched last week in the East semifinal for the more athletic Bishop, was sacked twice in the first half and pressured on several other occasions.

The change made little difference initially.

Bishop was sacked by Dario Romero on Toronto's next drive, forcing the Argos to punt.

Bruce's TD reduces Als' lead

However, Montreal's Avon Cobourne fumbled Noel Prefontaine's punt that was recovered by Chris Hardy. Bishop hit Bruce three plays later with a 23-yard touchdown at 9:52 of the third, reducing Montreal's lead to 23-10.

Yet any momentum gained on Bruce's touchdown ended on the team's ensuing possession. Running back Ricky Williams was stripped of the ball by defensive back Ricky Bell, setting up Montreal's next score.

Calvillo hit receiver Thyron Anderson with a 52-yard touchdown strike on the following play to give Montreal a commanding 30-10 lead with less two minutes remaining in the third.

Bishop, who finished the game throwing for 181 yards and a pair of touchdowns, rallied Toronto in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns drives, bringing the Argos to within striking distance.

He first found receiver Michael Palmer alone for a 10-yard score at 3:13. Bishop then led the Argos on an 84-yard scoring march that resulted in a one-yard touchdown plunge by Williams, cutting Montreal's to 30-24 at 12:27.

The comeback fell short as Damon Duval iced the game for Montreal, nailing a clutch 44-yard field goal with 51 seconds remaining.

The loss signals the end of Williams's brief CFL career. The 29-year-old veteran, banished for one season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, was on loan by the Miami Dolphins and is expected to return next season.

Meanwhile, the Alouettes snapped a 3-3 tie at 6:29 of the second quarter on a 41-yard field goal by Duval at 6:29. The drive was made possible after Cobourne returned a missed field goal attempt by Prefontaine 77 yards, taking the Alouettes into Toronto territory.

Montreal increased its lead to 13-3 on the next drive with less than three minutes remaining in the first half.

Edwards broke a tackle and pushed across the goal-line for the game's first touchdown.

Duval put Montreal in front 16-3 following a 29-yard field goal to end the first half.

The Alouettes took control from the opening quarter, but a pair of turnovers killed early drives despite gaining 111 yards through the air.

With files from the Canadian Press