Alexander passes for five touchdowns as Alouettes finish perfect at home

MONTREAL · Quarterback Davis Alexander threw for five touchdowns and over 400 yards as the Montreal Alouettes defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 44-24 on Monday. The win completed an undefeated home record for Montreal in the regular season for the third time in franchise history. Alexander surpassed 5,000 passing yards for the season, joining Anthony Calvillo as the only Alouettes quarterbacks to reach that mark. The Alouettes, who clinched first in the East Division last week, improved to 13-3 before a sellout crowd of 23,035 at Molson Stadium.

Alexander completed 26 of 33 passes for 403 yards and one interception, adding 40 rushing yards on three carries. Jerreth Sterns caught eight passes for 124 yards, while Charleston Rambo and Tyler Snead each hauled in two touchdown receptions. The Alouettes will host the Eastern final on Nov. 7. "It's definitely an honour and a privilege," Alexander said of the team's home success. "The important part is just finding a way to get a win, having our fans enjoy the game and getting ready for the playoffs."

Head coach Jason Maas credited the team's fans for the perfect home record. "It's a big shout-out to our fans because I think they make it extremely hard and difficult for opposing teams to come in here and play," Maas said. "I think it's a huge home-field advantage for us. We've taken advantage, obviously, this year." The game was a rematch of last year's Grey Cup, which Saskatchewan won.

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After a close first half, Montreal took control with two long touchdowns early in the third quarter. Tyson Philpot, the CFL's receiving-yards leader, gave Montreal a 24-16 lead with a diving 46-yard catch. On the next drive, Alexander escaped pressure and found Rambo for a 51-yard score and a 31-16 advantage. Alexander connected with Snead on a five-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to extend the lead further.

Montreal linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku intercepted Saskatchewan quarterback Travis Harris and returned the ball 32 yards to set up a field goal. Harris later found Kian Schaffer-Baker for a 14-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 41-24 with 2:31 remaining. Harris also surpassed 5,000 passing yards for the second time in his career, finishing with 243 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 23-for-33 passing. Schaffer-Baker caught two touchdowns in the loss.

The Roughriders dropped their fourth straight game to fall to 8-8. They are tied for third in the West Division with Winnipeg and Calgary, though both those teams hold the season-series tiebreaker over Saskatchewan. Kicker Brett Lauther, playing his first game since being reacquired from Ottawa, made all three of his field goal attempts, including one from 51 yards. Up next: The two clubs will meet again Saturday at Regina's Mosaic Stadium.

With files from CBC News and The Globe and Mail