Calvillo sets all-time passing mark, leads Als over Argonauts 29-19

Anthony Calvillo became pro football’s all-time passing leader in spectacular fashion with a 50-yard TD pass to Jamel Richardson that cemented the Montreal Alouettes’ 29-19 win over the Toronto Argonauts on Monday afternoon.

Calvillo went into the game needing 258 yards to break Damon Allen’s all-time record of 72,381 yards. And it took until the final play of the third quarter for Calvillo to eclipse it when he found Richardson open over the middle for the touchdown.

The 39-year-old also had a 19-yard TD run while backup quarterback Adrian McPherson also scored for the Alouettes (9-5). Sean Whyte added two field goals as the two-time defending Grey Cup champions clinched a playoff spot for a 16th straight year and remained tied with Winnipeg atop the East Division.

Chad Owens scored on a punt return and Noel Prefontaine booted four field goals for the Argonauts (3-11), who were eliminated from playoff contention.

Play was stopped for about 10 minutes following Richardson’s TD as taped scoreboard tributes were played from Allen, NFL great Dan Marino, former CFL and NFL star Warren Moon and ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman. Allen, who played 23 seasons, attended the game with commissioner Mark Cohon.

Calvillo picked up 42 yards on the opening drive to set up Whyte’s 28-yard field goal but it was a tough first half for both offences.

Steven Jyles’ 46-yard toss to Spencer Watt allowed Prefontaine to tie it and, after Calvillo threw two incompletions, Owens twisted his way through for a 58-yard punt return TD, his first of the season, at 11:22.

On Montreal’s next possession, Calvillo threw only his fifth interception of the season to Willie Pile.

The teams traded field goals again before the Alouettes finally mounted a TD drive capped by McPherson’s five-yard run.

Prefontaine was good from 48 yards out on the final play of the first half to give Toronto a 16-13 lead.

Anwar Stewart sacked Jyles for a safety to start the second half before Calvillo capped a seven-play scoring drive with a 19-yard TD run.

After a Prefontaine field goal, Calvillo hit Kerry Watkins with a 20-yard completion before a Brendan Whitaker run put the Alouettes on the Toronto 50-yard line.

That set up the record-setting toss by the 18-yard veteran that brought the 23,960 spectators to their feet on a warm, sunny afternoon at Percival Molson Stadium.

During the tributes, Cohon urged Calvillo to ”please keep playing, at least a few more years.”

Calvillo, who has yet to decide whether to return next season, passed the 4,000-yard mark for the season and a 10th straight campaign. He completed 23-of-39 passes for 305 yards to bring his career total to 72,429.

On the record play, Richardson, the CFL’s top receiver, recorded his sixth 100-yard game in the last seven games and also registered his league-leading 11th TD. Whitaker rushed 17 times for 126 yards.

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