QB Adams Jr. leads Alouettes over Redblacks by 36-19 count

OTTAWA — Vernon Adams Jr. has made three straight starts for the Montreal Alouettes at quarterback — and it’s clear he’s finding his form.

Adams, who continues in relief for starter Antonio Pipkin, who was injured in Week 1, threw for a career high 327 yards and two touchdowns as the Alouettes defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 36-19 in Canadian Football League play Saturday.

“I’m just here to do whatever I can to make my team better, whether I’m backing up or starting,” said Adams, who also ran in two TDs.

Adams completed 23 of 30 passes for Montreal (2-2) and improved to 5-2 as a starter.

Dominique Davis was 23 of 37 passing for 268 yards for the Redblacks (2-2) and scored on a four-yard run with less than five minutes to play, but it wasn’t enough.

“They were the better team and we just came up with key plays when we needed them. I don’t question our guys’ work ethic or desire, but we need to come up with key plays when needed and eliminate the negative plays,” Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell said.

Ward gave the Redblacks their first lead of the game at 3:35 of the third quarter with a 50-yard field goal, but the next play saw Adams connect with a wide-open Quan Bray for a 75-yard catch and run touchdown, and just 16 seconds after the Redblacks took the lead, the Alouettes jumped back in front 15-12 after a failed conversion attempt.

“That’s football. That’s the ebbs and flows of the game. We knew we were going to have adversity and we knew how to handle that,” Bray said.