Argonauts top Alouettes 31-5 to take first place in East

Argonauts' Steve Slaton (20) celebrates with teammates Chris Van Zeyl, (centre) and Mike Bradwell after scoring a touchdown against the Montreal Alouettes during first half CFL football action in Montreal, Friday, August 1, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

MONTREAL -- Steve Slaton caught a pair of touchdowns passes from Ricky Ray as the Toronto Argonauts ended a three-game losing skid with a 31-5 CFL victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night.

Jamie Robinson scored on a late interception and Swayze Waters added two field goals for Toronto (2-4), which took over first place in the woeful East Division. The Argos also got four points on a pair of safeties in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter.

Montreal (1-4), did not score a touchdown for a second consecutive game despite switching back and forth between quarterbacks Troy Smith and Alex Brink, with Tanner Marsh also seeing action on short yardage plays.

Sean Whyte had a field goal and two singles for the Alouettes, who were coming off a bye week after a 41-5 defeat at B.C. two weeks ago. There were boos from the 20,692 at Percival Molson Stadium as they left the field at halftime.

Toronto rebounded from a 37-9 loss at Saskatchewan last week.

Slaton, a former Houston Texan, stepped up with a solid game both running and catching the ball with the Argos missing key receivers like Chad Owens and Andre Durie due to injuries.

Neither team was able to move the ball in the first half until Ray finally led a TD drive in the final minute capped by Slaton's 10-yard catch over the middle for a 10-5 lead at the intermission.

A long kickoff return by Robert Gill to open the second half and a 24-yard gain on a reverse by Slaton put the ball on the Montreal five, where Ray hit Slaton for a TD at 2:57.

Robinson stepped in front of Brink's throw to Eric Deslauriers and ran it back 46 yards for a TD with 1:33 left to play.

Waters had booted a 30-yard field goal on the final play of the first quarter, although he missed a 38-yarder and put 48-yard attempt off the left upright.

Montreal managed two singles and a 49-yard Whyte field goal in the opening half, as Smith started and was relieved in the second quarter by Brink. They combined for only 94 yards of net offence in the half.

The team's woes were highlighted by a third-and-two gamble at the 53, after calling a time out, on which they were called for having 13 men on the field, forcing them to punt.

Smith was back to start the second half, only to have Brink step in again midway through the third quarter.

Montreal receiver Mardy Gilyard's first CFL start didn't last long, as he left with an apparent knee injury in the first quarter after making two catches for 16 yards.

A bigger setback may have come in the fourth when left tackle Josh Bourque left with an injury. There was no update on his condition.

It was a tough game for umpire Ben Major, who was accidentally kicked in the face by Montreal linebacker Kyries Hebert. He got patched up and returned with a black eye and cuts.