THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL -- Rookie Chris Leak was thrust into a third-and-goal situation in a close game with a chance to shine or to fail miserably - and the former University of Florida star passed the test easily.

The Alouettes' third-string quarterback faked a handoff to Avon Cobourne, rolled right and hit Kerry Watkins for a one-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter for what turned out to be the winning points in Montreal's tense 34-25 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday night.

It was the first play of Leak's CFL career.

"It's a about trust - that's the number one thing," said Leak, who was in the game because second stringer Adrian McPherson, who usually spells starter Anthony Calvillo in short yardage situations, was out with an injury. "I'm just happy for the opportunity to earn the trust of the coaches and my teammates."

It was an important touchdown for a team that, despite its 7-1 record, has had trouble finishing drives.

Calvillo added TD tosses to Cobourne and Ben Cahoon, while Larry Taylor had a 68-yard punt return touchdown for Montreal, which saw safety Mathieu Proulx collect his third and fourth interceptions of the season and Chip Cox get a key pick midway through the fourth quarter off Darian Durant.

Montreal swept its two-game season series with Saskatchewan, including a 43-10 win in Regina on July 18.

Rob Bagg and Gerran Walker had TD catches and Hugh Charles ran one in for the Roughriders (4-4), who have only two wins in their last 11 visits to Montreal.

Durant blamed himself for the loss, as the three interceptions and a failure to score on three attempts from the Montreal one-yard line late in first quarter looked to be the difference in a game that otherwise had a statistical edge for Saskatchewan.

Durant competed 19 passes for 326 yards, while league passing leader Calvillo was held to 170 on 19 throws. The Alouettes went into the game as the only club that allowed opponents fewer than 300 yards of net offence per game, but gave up an even 400 to the Riders.

"It's a team game and the fault doesn't lie with any individual," said Riders coach Ken Miller. "Darian played probably his best.

"He turned the ball over three times, but he made plays with his feet and was a leader for us. I'm really proud of the way the men battled, but our team still needs to be tuned up some."

Durant's favourite target was Weston Dressler, who caught eight balls for 179 yards. The Saskatchewan defence also sacked Calvillo four times and knocked down a few passes at the line. Montreal responded by running the ball, and Cobourne picked up 101 yards on 19 carries.

"We were in it until the end," said Dressler. "I think we showed we can complete with the best team in the league and I think we just have to keep working at it. We're really close to being a great football team."

Both teams dressed in retro uniforms, as Calvillo played his 200th game with the Alouettes in the red-and-white outfits they wore when they were a mediocre team in the 1960s.

Montreal jumped out to a 8-0 lead in the opening 5:20 on a punt single by Damon Duval and Taylor's TD on a 68-yard punt return, in which he burst up the middle before cutting to the right and outrunning his pursuers.

After the Montreal defence stuffed the 'Riders at the one, the Saskatchewan D forced the home side to concede a safety.

Then Durant found Bagg wide open for a 26-yard TD 3:33 into the second quarter. Jamie Boreham got a single on the ensuing kickoff for a 10-9 lead.

Duval struck back with an 18-yard field goal, but Durant found Walker for a 43-yard TD catch with 2:34 left in the half.

A final drive saw Calvillo hit Cahoon for his first TD of the season from the nine at 14:26 for a 19-17 half time lead. It was Cahoon's 117th straight game with at least one reception, the fourth longest streak all-time in the CFL. He ended up with five catches for 50 yards.

Leak's toss to Watkins was the only score of the third quarter. The Roughriders have been outscored 78-8 in the third period this season.

Cox stepped in front of Durant's pass intended for Dressler to put Montreal on the Roughriders 22. Four plays later, Calvillo found Cobourne for a 10-yard pass-and run score with 6:23 left to play.

A 26-yard toss to Dressler put Saskatchewan on the Montreal four, and Durant then pitched out to Charles for a TD. Chris Getzlaf caught the two-point conversion after some smart scrambling by Durant to make it an eight-point game with 4:07 left to play.

A late drive by the 'Riders ended on a turnover on downs at midfield and Montreal responded with a punt single.

Both teams are idle next week.

Montreal rush end Anwar Stewart had a sack, which left him two short of Elfrid Payton's team record of 52 in his career.

"I should have had about four sacks today," he said. "But it's a blessing just to be here for eight years. It's all about us getting after the quarterback."

The Alouettes sold out 20,202-seat Percival Molson Stadium for a 90th straight game.

The Roughriders were without slotback Andy Fantuz, who has a hamstring injury. Montreal tackle Josh Bourke left the game in the first half with an apparent left leg injury.