THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL -- Getting a team-record seven field goals from Damon Duval was fine, but Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo wants touchdowns.

It took until the fourth quarter, but Calvillo finally hit Kerry Watkins and Kerry Carter with TD passes as the Alouettes downed the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 37-14 in their CFL home opener before a full house of 25,012 at the newly expanded Percival Molson Stadium on Thursday night.

The defending Grey Cup champions, now 3-1, had been held without a TD in a 16-12 victory at British Columbia last week.

"We've been able to win thanks to the other two phases, defence and special teams, who have really been doing a good job of keeping us in the game," said Calvillo. "We know we have to do a better job of scoring touchdowns.

"Seven field goals -- that's great for Damon's stats, but we need more TDs."

It was a setback for Hamilton (1-3), which faces another tough test next week against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina.

Duval equalled his field goal total from Nov. 7 last season in Toronto, a one-game total that had been accomplished twice previously by Terry Baker.

The Alouettes could have tried for another field goal in the final minute to let Duval equal to the CFL record of eight in one game, but with the victory in hand, coach Marc Trestman elected to have back-up quarterback Chris Leak take a knee to kill off the clock.

"The first three games I was a little unfortunate but I was confident in my swing," said Duval, who also left a 51-yard attempt wide on the final play of the first half. "Sometimes it takes that first one to get in the groove.

"I missed one. It would have been nice to go 8-for-8."

The Ticats were coming off their first win of the season last week over Winnipeg, but they also were held out of the end zone until the final quarter.

Montreal led 19-6 when Calvilo found Watkins alone for a 32-yard TD pass at 2:13 of the fourth for the wide receiver's fourth of the season.

After Duval added his last placement of the game, Quinton Porter came on in relief of Kevin Glenn and struck back with a 16-yard TD strike to Arland Bruce, but Montreal marched straight back with Calvillo's eight-yard TD strike to Carter.

"I was going to (change quarterbacks) before that but it was a two-score game and I was going to give Glenn an opporunity," said coach Marcel Bellefeuille. "Once they scored, I decided to bring Quinton in and give him some playing time and see if we could spark our team.

"We had opportunities to get in the end zone a couple of times and didn't do it, that's what disappoints me the most."

Glenn completed 16 of 32 passes for 201 yards as the Ticats were held to 263 yards on offence, while Montreal had 387. Calvillo was good on 28 of 38 passes for 309 yards as Montreal did not commit any turnovers.

The game turned in the third quarter when John Bowman chased down Glenn to force a fumble that Ramon Guzman recovered at the Hamilton 22. Later, Michael Giffin blocked a John Palardy punt and took it to the Ticats 16. Both resulted in Montreal field goals.

Late in the first quarter, Hamilton was first and goal from the one, but third-string QB Adam Tafralis was stopped. DeAndra Cobb, held to 25 yards on eight carries, fumbled to teammate Simeon Rottier and the Ticats settled for a Sandro DeAngelis field goal. The struggling DeAngelis was 2-for-3, missing one that struck the uprights.

"We take pride and we don't like to give up TDs just because they're a yard off," said Bowman. "We want people to know it's not guaranteed just because you're on the one."

The Ticats have lost 10 of their last 11 meetings with Montreal.

A full house of 25,012 turned out on a near-perfect summer evening for the first game since Percival Molson Stadium was expanded by 5,000 seats in the off-season in a $29-million renovation. A new deck on the south grandstand and new seats in the east end zone were packed.

Notes:

The Montreal cover team kept dynamic first-year kick returner Marcus Thigpen quiet.

The Alouettes got a scare when Calvillo stayed down after twisting his left leg while being sacked by Garrett McIntyre midway through the second quarter, but he returned after a brief visit to the dressing room and didn't miss a play.

Calvillo said the knee will likely be sore for a few days, but he doubts it is anything serious.

Montreal has won 10 straight regular season games at home. Their last home loss was Oct. 26, 2008 against Winnipeg.