By Richard Obrand,
MontrealAlouettes.com

Montreal – It was almost obvious that this one would be one for the ages. After a rain delayed kickoff by 50 minutes, the Alouettes and Roughriders began what will likely be remembered as one of the great games of the 2008 season.

Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant threw three touchdowns for 353 yards and running back Wes Cates added 107 more on the ground as the Saskatchewan Roughriders improved to 4-0-0 in a thrilling 41-33 victory over the Alouettes at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

Alouette quarterback Anthony Calvillo turned in an almost perfect performance, throwing four touchdowns for 352 yards in the loss.

The 36-year old quarterback’s only miscue arrived with 2:26 remaining in the fourth quarter, when his pass intended for Kerry Carter was deflected into the hands of Roughrider Lance Frazier just inside the Alouette 20-yard line.

The quarterback’s second interception of the season put the final stake in a wild game that fit in perfectly with the 2008 CFL campaign.

As usual, the Alouettes started off strong. After kicked Damon Duval conceded an safety to put the Roughriders up 2-0, Calvillo found receiver Kerry Watkins 32 yards downfield for his fourth score of the year to put the Als up 7-2.

Following three consecutive field goals, two by Saskatchewan’s Luca Congi and one by Duval, perhaps the most surprising story of young 2008 season, Durant, who began the year as the Riders’ third-stringer, went to work.

He connected with Cates for a 25-yard score to put the Roughriders up 15-8 going into the half, marking the first time of the season that the Als trailed at the break.

The second half saw both teams zone into an “anything you can do, I can do better” mentality as Calvillo and Durant exchanged touchdowns. First it was Calvillo to Jamel Richardson, who continued to add to highlight reel with another impressive catch, then Durant to Neal Hughes, then A.C. to Avon Cobourne.

The Roughriders ran into controversy for the second-straight game as receiver Matt Dominguez caught a touchdown that seemed to be an intercepted by Alouette Marc Estelle.

With just three minutes remaining, the call was reviewed for a long period of time.

After much deliberation, they concluded that because the catch was made simultaneously, it was to be rewarded to Dominguez, putting the Roughriders to within two.

After a failed two-point conversion, the Alouettes lined up with very little coverage downfield, expecting the Roughriders to go for an onside kick as they were trailing by just two points with very little time remaining.

Saskatchewan kicked it deep, however, forcing Jason Armstead to down the ball at the Montreal 10-yard line.

It was then that Calvillo threw his most costly pass of the season.

Following the interception, Durant put the Roughriders up for good with a one-yard rushing score and Armstead fumbled on the ensuing kickoff to seal the deal.

The Alouettes are now 2-2-0, but are still tops in the East Division, and they will travel to B.C. next week to take on the Lions. (RDS, TSN, CKAC SPORTS, CJAD)