LIONS 38 ALOUETTES 18

MONTREAL – The B.C. Lions were in a tight battle with the Montreal Alouettes until defensive back Louchiez Purifoy broke things open with a fumble return touchdown.

Purifoy’s 47-yard scamper on the first play from scrimmage of the fourth quarter ended any chance of a Montreal comeback as the Lions downed the Alouettes 38-18 on a steamy Thursday night at Percival Molson Stadium.

“You could see it took the air out of them,” said Purifoy. “You could see they were getting into a groove on offence and all of a sudden it just set them down.”

Montreal had moved to within five points of the Lions at 13:14 of the third when Kevin Glenn started a drive with a 47-yard pass to Duran Carter and ended it with his own five-yard run up the middle for the TD. After the convert, B.C. conceded a single on Boris Bede’s 82-yard kickoff to make it 23-18.

The Alouettes (2-4), playing their third game in 11 days, had nothing left in the final 15 minutes to challenge again.

The Lions (4-2), were also on a short week after their 44-41 overtime loss in which they wasted a late lead in Calgary last week.

“We had a lot of newer guys in (on defence) and we knew they’d have to step up and they did,” said linebacker Solomon Elimimian. “The good thing about having a short week is the guys were hungry to get back on the field.

“Calgary’s a good team but we felt it was a game we let slip out of our hands. We played good ball.”

Jeremiah Johnson and Emmanuel Arceneaux also scored touchdowns as the Lions ended a run of three straight road games. Richie Leone booted five field goals while the Lions also forced a safety.

B.J. Cunningham had the other TD for Montreal while Bede managed to boot one short field goal, but saw his kicking woes continue with a missed placement and a shanked punt. Coach Jim Popp will consider replacing the second-year kicker, who has been good on fewer than half of his attempts this season.

“Moves could be made,” Bede acknowledged. “Jim’s been really patient with me.

“Eventually I’ll get something going. I have to pinpoint it and get rid of it. It’s not mechanical. It probably is mental. I’ve just got to figure it out.”

It was another solid game for B.C. starting quarterback Jonathan Jennings, who completed 27-of-32 passes for 331 yards and a touchdown, while Glenn went 18 for 27 for 231 yards.

Jennings got help from a defence that forced three turnovers.

Notes: Announced attendance was only 19,125. … It was a 200th CFL game for both Montreal receiver Nik Lewis and B.C. defensive back Ryan Phillips. Lewis got 29 receiving yards, one more than he needed to pass former Saskatchewan great Donald Narcisse for eighth place all-time with 12,368.

(Canadian Press)