Courtesy Montreal Gazette:

This game wasn’t about Anthony Calvillo or Marcus Brady. They have their quarterback spots solidified with the Alouettes.

But it might have been about Adrian McPherson, a Canadian Football League rookie who is making a strong case for himself in his attempt to enter the season as the third-string pivot.

McPherson replaced Brady at halftime and played the last two quarters. Not only does the former Florida State star make things happen with his feet - an extremely valuable commodity in the CFL - but he also led the Als on a five-play, 68-yard drive, culminating in his 37-yard touchdown pass to S.J. Green at 3:03 of the final quarter.

McPherson, who was expected to be replaced by Chris Leak in the fourth quarter, kept playing. He led the Als on a late seven-play, 96-yard drive, capped by a 60-yard pass-and-run scoring play to rookie receiver Keith Godding at 13:18.

But a late 17-yard field goal by Alexis Serna, his fourth of the game, carried the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a 19-16 victory over the Als before 29,553 Canad Inns Stadium spectators last night in the teams’ final exhibition game.

McPherson wasn’t perfect. He overthrew Green from deep in Montreal territory on one series. The ball was intercepted by cornerback Willie Amos, leading to a 15-yard field goal by Serna at 7:40 of the fourth quarter.

Winnipeg took the lead at 10:56 of the fourth quarter, after a five-yard pass from Ryan Dinwiddie to rookie Kerry Johnson. That capped a three-play, 50-yard drive that began with a 15-yard facemasking penalty against Als rookie Paul Woldu.

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