Alouettes rally in second half to beat Lions

The Montreal Alouettes turned a tight game into a 37-30 victory over the B.C. Lions on Friday night, scoring 30 second-half points before 22,752 fans at Percival Molson Stadium.

The win kept Montreal perfect at home this season, with seven victories in seven outings. It also moved the league leaders to 10-2, made them the first CFL team to clinch a playoff berth and guaranteed them a home postseason game this fall.

Davis Alexander completed 25 of 34 passes for 297 yards. His 25th touchdown pass of the season broke his tie with Toronto's Chad Kelly for the CFL lead. Tyler Snead scored twice and surpassed his previous single-season career high in receiving yards.

B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 31 of 45 passes for 375 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw a costly interception. Justin McInnis scored a touchdown and gained 100 receiving yards, while Jermaine Jackson also reached the end zone.

Montreal opened the scoring in less than three minutes, with Alexander completing passes to five receivers before finding Snead on a seven-yard touchdown. The score was Snead's league-leading 10th of the season.

The Alouettes later reached the B.C. one-yard line, but short-yardage quarterback Terry Wilson was stopped on three straight quarterback sneaks. Montreal's failed fourth-down attempt kept the Lions close, and Sean Whyte's second field goal cut the deficit to one point.

B.C. took a 19-10 lead after Whyte added two long field goals late in the second quarter and Rourke connected with McInnis for a 35-yard touchdown three minutes after Montreal's third-quarter field goal. Montreal had failed to record a first down on five second-quarter possessions, while Alexander cooled after completing his first 11 passes.

Montreal kicker Jose Maltos Diaz made all three of his attempts, while Whyte converted five for the Lions. B.C. lost running back Travis Theis to an injury, and Liam Talbot took over. The Lions fell to 6-6, had a five-game winning streak snapped and allowed their most points since June 27.