Ottawa Redblacks running back Travon Van tries to avoid Montreal Alouettes linebacker Kyries Hebert during first half CFL football action in Montreal on Thursday, September 1, 2016.Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press
Ottawa quarterback Trevor Harris went 27 for 40 for 282 yards and a touchdown as the RedBlacks defeated the Montreal Alouettes 19-14 on Thursday, snapping a two-game losing skid.
Ernest Jackson scored a touchdown for Ottawa (5-4-1) while kicker Chris Milo converted four field goals.
Kevin Glenn threw one touchdown and two interceptions for Montreal (3-7) in a low-scoring contest at Percival Molson Stadium.
The Alouettes were without receiver Duron Carter, who was serving a one-game suspension.
Ottawa was down 14-13 in the fourth quarter but back-to-back field goals by Milo gave the RedBlacks the victory.
Ottawa has been making a habit of losing games late. Recent defeats against B.C. and Toronto came on the opponent's final drive. But the RedBlacks held on to their five-point lead in Montreal as time wound down.
The Als, last place in the East Division, recorded a league-worst fifth loss at home (1-5).
With Ottawa already leading 16-14 in the dying minutes of the fourth, Glenn threw up an ill-advised pass that was intercepted by Mitchell White, all but sealing the contest for the RedBlacks.
Carter's offensive prowess was notably absent, especially for most of the first half. Until the last five minutes of the second quarter, Montreal did very little offensively.
Of the Alouettes' seven first-half drives, five ended with a punt and one with an interception, to the displeasure of the 19,117 in attendance.
The home side had 50 total yards of offence before Glenn put together a 62-yard touchdown drive.
The biggest play of the scoring drive was a 36-yard catch by Kenny Stafford. Glenn capped off the possession with a five-yard toss to Nik Lewis, who was all alone in the end zone for his second touchdown of the season.
Montreal was up 8-6 at the half.
Less than three minutes after the restart, Ottawa took a 13-8 lead when Harris found Jackson in the end zone for a 31-yard catch — the receiver's sixth TD of the year.
The scoring drive was twice kept alive by penalties against Montreal, including a 15-yarder on Jeffrey Finley for roughing the passer.
The Alouettes answered back on their ensuing drive, narrowing Ottawa's lead to just two points with a 52-yard field goal by Anthony Fera. Another field goal by Fera gave Montreal a 14-13 advantage before Milo converted back-to-back field goals of his own.
Notes: Montreal's Chip Cox recorded his 800th career tackle. He now ranks sixth all-time in CFL history. Thirteen Olympians were honoured at halftime, including bronze medallists Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion.