If the Saskatchewan Roughriders were a little bit weary of playing the Montreal Alouettes, there was a good reason. They hadn't beaten the Als in three years.

But history didn't matter on this night, as Kenton Keith ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-19 victory over the top team in the East Division on Saturday night.

The Als looked like they were on their way to another easy victory over the Riders, building up an 18-0 lead in the first 20 minutes of the game.

Montreal Alouettes' Autry Denson (left) brings down Saskatchewan Roughriders' Corey Holmes. (CP PHOTO/Troy Fleece)
Montreal Alouettes' Autry Denson (left) brings down Saskatchewan Roughriders' Corey Holmes. (CP PHOTO/Troy Fleece)

But the Riders refused to back down, replying with 34 points in a 17-minute span in the second and third quarters.

If there was a little extra celebration on the grounds of Taylor Field at the end of the game, it was because the Riders hadn't beaten the Als at home in eight years.

Since 1996, the Riders hold a 2-16 overall record vs the Als.

Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo just couldn't penetrate the Riders defence, making 18 of 35 pass attempts for 234 yards. He threw one touchdown and one interception.

It didn't help that Calvillo was missing Ben Cahoon, who missed the game with a bruised shoulder.

Riders quarterback Henry Burris outshone his rival, keeping the Als defence with a variety of perfectly executed plays.

He went 20-for-35 for 254 yards, one TD and two interceptions.

With the defeat, the Als (12-2) suffer their first loss in seven games and will have to wait at least one more week to clinch first place in the CFL East.

For the Riders, it was their third straight victory.

Thanks in part to a favourable wind, the Als had no trouble putting up a few points against the Riders in the first quarter.

Als kicker Mark Mariscal scored the first points of the game on a 27-yard field goal. He was followed by Kwame Cavil's nine-yard touchdown reception from Calvillo. Mariscal picked up a punt single.

Another TD pass from Calvillo to Cavil, this one from 13 yards out, made it 18-0 at 4:49 of the second quarter.

Riders kicker Paul McCallum started his team off with a 17-yard field goal, but it was an impressive 53-yard touchdown by Chris Szarka that changed the momentum of the game.

Szarka caught the Als defence napping when he caught a short pass from Burris and ran into the end zone.

Keith exploited that defence again when he exploded for a 59-yard scoring run at 13:27 in the second quarter.

McCallum put the Riders ahead for good with a 47-yard field goal just before the half.

With files from CP Online