Als use defence and Calvillo to hammer Bombers

Hard to tell what storyline meant more on Sunday afternoon at Stade Percival Molson.

Did the Winnipeg Blue Bombers simply look past the Montreal Alouettes to next weekend’s CFL East Division showdown for second place with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats?

Or did the Alouettes decide that two straight embarrassing defensive efforts were enough, leading to an outstanding effort in a 48-13 blasting of the visiting Bombers to give them a perfect 9-0 record on home turf?

Probably both.

Montreal improved to 14-3, mostly by limiting Winnipeg to less than 200 total yards — an important stat for a proud club that had allowed more than 1,000 yards in its previous couple outings and lost to the Bombers last week.

“Every team’s goal is to be undefeated at home and have a winning record [on the road] and that would get you to about 14-4, so we’re right on target,” said Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who returned from an injured left calf to throw two touchdown passes. “We’re excited about it because it’s something we haven’t done since I’ve been here.”

Damon Duval kicked six field goals — the longest from 42 yards — for the Alouettes, who tied a franchise record with their 14th victory of the season. The victory came a week after a 41-24 loss in Winnipeg.

Calvillo said the calf was healed and he’ll be ready to play when Montreal (14-3) goes after a 15th win to close the regular season Saturday against the 3-14 Argonauts in Toronto.

Winnipeg is 7-10, but barring a tie between Edmonton and B.C. next Friday night can still make the playoffs by beating Hamilton at home on Sunday.

That would also mean they would host the Cats for the Eastern semifinal.

Winnipeg and Hamilton split two games this season, both in Hamilton. If the Ticats win, they take second place outright and Winnipeg will be bumped from the playoffs by a crossover team from the West Division. If Winnipeg wins, they will tie Hamilton but get second place based on winning the season series.

Blue Bombers head coach Mike Kelly was irate when it was suggested his team didn’t show up, even though his offence was held to 197 net yards and only seven first downs, compared to 392 yards for Montreal.

“We played hard,” he said. “I never questioned the effort our players put in and if anyone questions it they’re dead wrong.

“We just couldn’t seem to sustain anything today. We had too many drops. It was just one of those days where we didn’t get any kind of rhythm.”

Calvillo went 27-of-38 for 305 yards and no interceptions.

Included were a 24-yard touchdown reception by Brian Bratton and another for Andrew Hawkins from 19 yards out, both in the first half. Avon Cobourne ran one in for a score in the fourth.

Returner Larry Taylor ran a missed field goal back 113 yards for a major in the third quarter at a key moment, as the Bombers had scored right out of the dressing room to close the gap to 12 points.

It was a statement game for the struggling Montreal defence, which had allowed 79 points in its previous two games. Star tailback Fred Reid was held to one yard on six carries in the first half and ended with 37 on 11 attempts, while Michael Bishop completed only 8-of-21 throws for 145 yards and was yanked in the fourth quarter in favour of Casey Bramlet.

Kelly said Bishop had a hamstring problem.

Much of that came only 21 seconds into the second half when he found Ryan behind the Montreal defence for a 65-yard TD pass.

“We knew we were a better defence than that,” said rush end Anwar Stewart. “For us to go undefeated at home was great because we know that if we go out and do our thing, nobody can stop us and we did that today.”