Alouettes' defence shines as Montreal opens season with win over Redblacks

Cody Fajardo threw for 261 yards and ran for a touchdown in his first game as the Alouettes quarterback, and Montreal hung on to beat the visiting Ottawa Redblacks 19-12 in the CFL regular-season opener for both squads.

Fajardo wasted no time getting going, finding receiver Austin Mack with a 61-yard heave on his first pass of the game before running in a one-yard touchdown in front of an announced crowd of 20,865 at Percival Molson Stadium.

Montreal is short a few starting receivers to begin the season after Greg Ellingson and Tyson Philpot joined Reggie White Jr. on the six-game injured list Friday. Mackled the Alouettes' group on Saturday with 120 yards on four receptions.

Both kickers were perfect in the game. Lewis Ward scored all of Ottawa's points, going four-for-four on field goals. Montreal's David Côté also went four-for-four.

Nick Arbuckle started under centre for the Redblacks with No. 1 quarterback Jeremiah Masoli ruled out at least the first two games of the season as he continues to recover from a broken leg suffered last season.

Arbuckle struggled, throwing three interceptions and 176 yards on 19 of 35 completions. Ottawa halfback Devonte Williams ran for 36 yards.

Defence is the name of the game!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFLGameday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFLGameday</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MTLAlouettes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MTLAlouettes</a> <a href="https://t.co/pMU5GANpdJ">pic.twitter.com/pMU5GANpdJ</a>

Montreal starting running back William Stanback, who missed most of last season after breaking his ankle, ran for42 yards on 16 attempts.Defensive back and free-agent signing Ciante Evans had two interceptions in the game.

The Redblacks had won 10 of their last 11 games