Alouettes outlast Redblacks, with James Rodgers sealing win with first CFL touchdown

Someone had to win; fittingly, the basement bowl that was also a showdown for second place in the CFL (L)East, turned on a blown coverage in the fourth quarter.

The Montreal Alouettes played well enough to beat the Ottawa Redblacks 20-10 in Jonathan Crompton's first start on Friday, getting the late sealing touchdown in the fourth quarter just three plays after Ottawa finally managed its first offensive TD in 42 possessions.

On the first play of the Als' possession after Ottawa scored with 6:06 left, Crompton found Duron Carter (five receptions for a game-high 127 yards) for a 48-yard gaineer down the right sideline after cornerback Jermaine Robinson had fallen to the Molson Stadium turf. The Als sealed the win on the next play when former Oregon State speedster James Rodgers (brother of NFL running back Jacquizz Rodgers) scored on a 17-yard run. That made it two games in a row that the Redblacks were burned by a rookie receiver running a fly sweep for a decisive touchdown.

Montreal (2-7) is now in the driver's seat for a playoff spot, amazingly enough, ahead of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-6) and struggling Redblacks (1-8).

The real story, once again, was Henry Burris and the Redblacks being unable to sustain any offensive success. They had a smart-looking march into the red zone that produced a short field goal on the game's first drive. That was it for Ottawa until the final quarter, when Burris (21-for-34, 246 yards) finally got in rhythm with Wallace Miles (seven receptions for 101), who scored on a 28-yard hitch screen after getting a block from newcomer D.J. Young. That pulled Ottawa within 13-10, if only briefly.

Ottawa struggled to keep Chevon Walker involved, as he finished with just eight touches (seven rushes for 31 and one catch for eight).

The Redblacks also had too many penalties — 16 for 135 yards — to give themselves a  chance to win. Fifteen-yard fouls sustained both of Crompton and the Als' touchdown drives. Ottawa's defence also had a third-down stuff from the 1-yard line in the second quarter wiped out by Brandon Lang being flagged for lining up offside. Two plays later, S.J. Green (five receptions, 48 yards) hauled in the game's first touchdown on a play-action lob from Tanner Marsh.

Ottawa's defence, even with Keith Shologan sidelined by a leg injury and Zack Evans filling in at defensive tackle, once again kept the Redblacks in the game for 50-plus minutes.

Crompton (15-of-25, 245 yards), who is the third quarterback to start for the struggling, post-Anthony Calvillo Als, made enough plays to keep the Alouettes defence rested. Montreal, though, got away with two turnovers in the second quarter that might have cost against more credible opposition.

Both involved Brandon Whitaker. Crompton underthrew the two-way threat on a corner route in the second quarter, with outside linebacker Travis Brown undercutting Whitaker for his first CFL interception. Whitaker also fumbled while trying to dive over the pile; Jerrell Gavins recovered to squelch the drive.

Ottawa may also have another injury concern going into its Week 11 game vs. the B.C. Lions; offensive tackle Jerrail McCuller also came out with a right arm injury during the final quarter.

Montreal got the W and a lead in the tortoise race for second place in the East, but Ottawa at least showed some late signs of reversing weeks of regression. The Redblacks also have home field for both of their remaining two matchups with Montreal on Sept. 26 and Oct. 24, but that might not be a huge advantage; they have only scored one offensive TD in four games.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.