THE CANADIAN PRESS

WINNIPEG -- Anthony Calvillo showed once more why there's a spot for him in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Facing third down and four yards to go with his Montreal Alouettes trailing 40-34 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Calvillo threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Brian Bratton with 1:18 left in the game.

Alouettes kicker Damon Duval added a 19-yard field goal with 25 seconds left to make the final score 44-40.

The win boosted the defending Grey Cup champion's record to 9-3 in front of 26,154 fans at Canad Inns Stadium on Friday.

It was Calvillo's fifth touchdown pass of the game, tying a career high for the 17-year veteran.

"Our leader, Anthony Calvillo, showed why he's the best in the business at what he does," Montreal head coach Marc Trestman said.

"He's what glues this team together and they all stepped up their play because he kept his play so high throughout the game."

The Bombers, who had a 33-31 lead heading into the fourth quarter, fell to 3-9 with their sixth loss this season by seven or fewer points.

Calvillo explained he had two reads for the play and went for the long bomb when he only saw one safety.

"It's up to the receivers and the offensive linemen to do their jobs," said the 38-year-old QB.

"I got a good ball off, there was no people in front of me and Brian made a huge play for us."

Calvillo completed 36-of-54 passes for 477 yards and no interceptions.

He also threw an earlier touchdown pass to Bratton and added three more to receivers Jamel Richardson, S.J. Green and Andrew Hawkins.

Duval also connected on a 14-yard field goal and missed on a 42-yard attempt.

Montreal slotback Ben Cahoon reached a milestone in the game, catching five passes to give the 13-year vet 1,000 career receptions. He needs seven more to pass Terry Vaughn for the CFL all-time record (1,006).

"The offensive line, they do what they do and they give us time," said Bratton, a fourth-year player who had one TD entering the game.

"(Calvillo) always does what he does and puts the ball out there and gives you a chance. The ball was out there and I just had to go run and get it."

Bratton said the come-from-behind victory was "a character builder" for the team.

"Just to know that we can have our backs against the wall and we can just come out fighting," Bratton said.

"We fight to the end and we fight together, regardless of the situation or the circumstance. I just think it does a lot for this team confidence-wise, camaraderie-wise."

Montreal leading receiver Kerry Watkins left the game in the first quarter after Bomber defensive back Clint Kent landed on him.

Trestman said Watkins has an injury to his AC joint, which is a joint at the top of the shoulder. He was on the sidelines wearing a sling on his left arm.

Bombers quarterback Steven Jyles was 18-of-31 for 328 yards with one interception and four TD passes.

Rookie receiver Greg Carr had TD receptions of 71 and 74 yards in his CFL debut.

However, the six-foot-six Florida State product, who joined Winnipeg on Sept. 1, injured his right leg and left the game late in the third quarter.

Bomber third-year receiver Aaron Hargreaves also scored his first career touchdown on an 11-yard pass. Terrence Edwards caught his ninth TD of the season and linebacker Joe Lobendahn recovered a fumble and ran three yards for his first career TD.

Justin Palardy booted a 40-yard field goal and Duval conceded a safety to round out Winnipeg’s scoring.

The game wasn't without its controversy.

Two plays before Bratton's winning touchdown, Richardson was hit by Bomber safety Ian Logan and appeared to fumble the ball and Brandon Stewart picked it up.

The officials ruled it was an incomplete pass, a call that was upheld when the play was reviewed by the booth.

"I think we played a good enough game to win, unfortunately the referees inserted themselves in a negative way and caused us, I say, to lose the game," Winnipeg defensive end Phillip Hunt said.

"With the poor calls and judgments they made at the end of the game, I think it hindered our chances to win."

But Winnipeg also had some calls go their way.

The Bombers had a 33-31 lead heading into the fourth quarter when Bomber defensive end Odell Willis forced a critical turnover.

Willis hit Calvillo's arm when it was down at his side and the ball popped out. After the ball went off a Bombers' foot, Lobendahn picked it up to give Winnipeg the 40-31 lead at 2:19.

The play was reviewed because the ball went off defensive tackle Dorian Smith's foot, but the touchdown stood.

"We were one play short," Jyles said. "You have some games that go like that.

"All we can do is just keep getting better and keep fighting and press on."

Montreal had a 10-9 lead after the first quarter, but Winnipeg was ahead 26-17 at halftime.

NOTES: Hunt notched a quarterback sack to boost his league-leading total to 11. Montreal DE John Bowman also had a sack and is second with nine.