CFL.ca Staff

MONTREAL -- A pair of big games from a pair of unlikely sources lifted the Montreal Alouettes to a 31-10 win over the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday.

Running back Victor Anderson and kick returner Trent Guy each scored two touchdowns as the Alouettes took the battle for first place in the CFL East Division.

Montreal leads the Argonauts by four points with six regular season games left for both clubs.

Toronto went into Montreal looking to tie the Alouettes for the division lead and clinch the season series between the teams, but it was all Alouettes from an opening drive that saw Anderson score on a 40-yard pass and run.

Now the Alouettes hold the edge in the race for first place and the bye to the East final. They meet again Oct. 18 in Toronto.

“Our guys know this game didn't guarantee us anything,'' said Montreal coach Marc Trestman. “It didn't guarantee a championship or a bye week. If we're thinking farther ahead than Friday night (in Hamilton) we must be out of our minds.

“There are too many games left to play.''

Montreal led 17-6 at the intermission but the game turned on the opening drive of the second half when Swayze Waters' 41-yard field goal attempt went wide left.

Guy stopped the ball from going through the end zone, dropped it briefly, then ran it back up the sideline a team-record 129 yards for the Alouettes' special teams unit's first TD of the season. Head Coach Marc Trestman hugged coordinator Andy Bischoff at the bench.

“It is such a relief,'' said Guy. “It feels like a big weight is off my shoulders, but I'm not getting complacent.

“We wanted to get a big return this week and we got one.''

Anderson was in the spotlight in his first start since it was announced that Brandon Whitaker would miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. He didn't take long to make his mark, scoring a touchdown only 3:56 into the game in place of the star Alouettes running back.

“I just wanted to help this team win,'' said Anderson, who carried 17 times for 76 yards and caught three passes for another 51. “I never have personal goals.

“I'm a rookie, so I just do whatever's asked of me. It's exciting because we got the victory.''

After the game, Anderson was busy deflecting all the credit for his success towards his coaches and his teammates.

“The coaches did a great job scheming all week long,” he said.

“We had great meetings and great preparation on the field and I just wanted to go out and do what the coaches asked me, whether it was to block, run, catch or play special teams.”

With files from The Canadian Press