Alouettes beat Toronto Argonauts 23-20

Toronto Argonauts quarterback Zach Collaros, back, gets sacked by Montreal Alouettes line backer Kyries Hebert (34) during first half CFL football action in Toronto, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Troy Smith connected for touchdowns with Duron Carter and Arlen Bruce and also ran in a two point convert to help propel the Montreal Alouettes (8-10) to a 23-20 win over the Toronto Argonauts (11-7) Friday, in a game that has no implications on the standings going into the playoffs.

The former Heisman Trophy winner went 14 for 27 with 197 yards and one interception against a Toronto team that rested many veterans for the affair.

Rookie standout Duron Carter led the Als with 93 yards on just three receptions.

Tyrell Sutton led the Alouettes in rushing with 52 yards over nine rushes.

Troy Smith's 37-yard TD strike to Arland Bruce III with 2:47 was a key play in the win.

Montreal's offence struggled to mount a consistent attack against the Argos. However, the unit needed just three plays to go 71 yards for the go-ahead TD before Smith ran in for the two-point convert to put Montreal ahead by three points before a Rogers Centre gathering of 22,589.

Toronto was poised to get the ball back with just over a minute remaining but Hugo Lopez was flagged for hitting Montreal punter Burke Dales, allowing the Alouettes to maintain possession and run out the clock.

The game had no bearing on the East Division standings as Toronto (11-7) had cemented top spot to secure home-field advantage for the conference final Nov. 17. Montreal (8-10) was already assured of finishing third and will face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats -- who visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday -- in semifinal action next weekend in Guelph, Ont.

So the Als and Argos took vastly different approaches to the contest. Montreal, looking to establish much-needed momentum heading into the playoffs, went with all of its starters while Toronto sat out 17 of its regulars, including quarterback Ricky Ray as backups Zach Collaros, Trevor Harris and Mitchell Gale all took snaps.

But it was Toronto that consistently won the field-position battle and led 19-15 on a conceded safety to start the fourth. Harris erased the Argos' 15-11 half-time deficit with an 11-yard TD strike to Darvin Adams at 7:18 of the third although the convert was blocked.

-With a file from The Canadian Press