Duron Carter caught a touchdown pass and set up a late field goal with a 45-yard reception from Josh Neiswander as the Montreal Alouettes downed the Saskatchewan Roughriders 17-12 on Sunday in a match-up of struggling CFL teams.

The win ended a three-game losing run for Montreal (5-8) and stretched the Roughrider's (8-5) string of losses to four.

Saskatchewan threatened in the final minute, but Chip Cox got Montreal's third interception of the day off Darian Durant in the end zone.

Sean Whyte kicked three field goals and a single for the Alouettes.

Weston Dressler caught a TD pass and Ricky Schmitt punted for three singles for the Roughriders, who also had a safety.

Despite near-perfect sunny weather and the largest crowd of the year at Percival Molson Stadium of 24,105, neither team used the conditions to move the ball consistently.

The highlight came about 10 minutes into the opening quarter, when Roughriders slotback Geroy Simon made history by hauling in his 1,018th career reception, breaking the record of former Alouette Ben Cahoon.

A message of congratulations from Cahoon was shown on the scoreboard, but the Riders will wait until they are at home Oct. 12 against Edmonton to celebrate his feat.

Whyte and Schmitt traded singles in the first quarter.

The next play after Whyte's boot, Durant hit Chris Getzlaf with a 70 yard pass, but the Alouettes defence stopped the Roughriders on three attempts from inside the five. Montreal conceded a safety 1:21 into the second quarter.

Another Saskatchewan drive died with Geoff Tisdale's interception in the Montreal end zone.

The rest of the half was a punting duel as neither side moved the ball until the final minute, when Neiswander completed a pair of passes to set up Whyte's 32 yard field goal for a 4-3 halftime lead.

Schmitt tied the game with a punt single on the opening drive of the second half.

Troy Smith was at quarterback for one drive to start the third and he hit Jerome Messam for a long gain, only to see the tailback fumble into the end zone for Scott McHenry to recover.

Neiswander was back in to hit Carter with a short pass and saw the slotback zig-zag his way for a 45-yard touchdown.

Durant struck back to open the fourth quarter, as he hit Taj Smith, Simon and Dresslser with passes before finding Dressler uncovered at the Montreal goal-line to tie the game at 3:05.

Montreal went ahead on Whyte's 40 yard boot at 6:18. After another Rider single, Whyte hit from 19 yards with 1:32 left to play.