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Davis Alexander eclipsed 5,000 passing yards on the season and the Montreal Alouettes rolled past the Saskatchewan Roughriders 44-24 in the CFL’s Thanksgiving Day Classic on Monday afternoon.
Alexander joined Anthony Calvillo as the only quarterbacks in Alouettes history to reach the 5,000-yard mark.
The 27-year-old from Gig Harbor, Wash., threw for five touchdowns, one interception and 403 passing yards on 26-of-33 completions. He also rushed for 40 yards on three carries as Montreal (13-3) finished undefeated at home in the regular season for the third time.
Jerreth Sterns added eight receptions for 124 yards, while Charleston Rambo and Tyler Snead made two touchdown catches apiece before a sellout of 23,035 at Molson Stadium.
Montreal, which clinched first place in the East Division last week, returns home to host the Eastern final on Nov. 7.
Saskatchewan quarterback Travis Harris also hit the 5,000-yard mark for the second time of his career, but the Riders (8-8) dropped their fourth consecutive game amid a tight West Division playoff race.
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, Saskatchewan remained tied for third with Winnipeg (8-8) and Calgary (8-9) at 16 points. Both the Blue Bombers and Stampeders hold the season-series tiebreaker over the Riders, but four West teams will make the playoffs via the CFL’s crossover rule.
Harris finished with two touchdowns, one interception and 243 yards on 23-for-33 passing in the rematch of last year’s Grey Cup game. Kian Schaffer-Baker caught two touchdowns.
Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther, in his first game since Saskatchewan reacquired him from Ottawa, converted 3-of-3 field goals, including one from 51 yards. Montreal’s Jose Maltos Diaz went 3-for-3.
After a back-and-forth first half, Montreal pulled ahead with a pair of massive touchdown receptions early in the third quarter.
CFL receiving-yards leader Tyson Philpot gave the Alouettes a 24-16 lead with a spectacular catch six minutes into the second half, diving into the end zone to haul down Alexander’s 46-yard bomb.
On Montreal’s next possession, Alexander dodged multiple tackles before launching a 51-yard pass up the middle to Rambo, giving the Alouettes a 31-16 advantage.
The Alouettes extended that lead four minutes into the fourth quarter, when Alexander hit Snead for his second touchdown on a five-yard throw.
Montreal linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku then picked off Harris and returned the ball 32 yards to the Saskatchewan 31, setting up a field goal.
Harris found Schaffer-Baker on a 14-yard pass to trim the lead to 41-24 with 2:31 remaining.
Alexander opened the game with a 30-yard run up the middle, stoking the crowd, before Roughriders defensive back Marcus Sayles picked off the quarterback’s deep pass at the Saskatchewan four-yard line, leading to a field goal.
Montreal answered on the next drive. Alexander completed four passes to Sterns, then found Snead on a nine-yard TD with 6:33 left in the first quarter. Snead reached 1,400 receiving yards this season on the play.
Schaffer-Baker gave the Riders a 10-7 lead to end the first quarter when he caught a pass from Harris and powered through Montreal’s defence for a 27-yard touchdown.
Alexander connected with a wide-open Rambo on a 45-yard touchdown to put the Alouettes ahead 14-10 three minutes into the second quarter.
Earlier in the drive, Alexander made his best impression of Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, completing an acrobatic, highlight-reel toss while falling after he was tripped in the Pocket.
The Alouettes and Roughriders square off again Saturday at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium.