MONTREAL -- The Montreal Alouettes quarterback carousel has taken a promising turn with 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith. Guillermo Ochoa Jersey . The former Ohio State star who only joined the Alouettes in August threw three touchdown passes in his first CFL start as Montreal downed the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 36-5 to tighten the race for playoff positions on Sunday afternoon. "Its been cool," Smith said of his quick adaptation to 12-man football. "My teammates have helped me out tremendously. "The adaptation is definitely still going on. Im trying day in and day out to get things down pat. Its been fun." The team announced this week that CFL all-time passing leader Anthony Calvillo, who has been out since August with a concussion, will not return this season. That made finding a starter to finish out the campaign and take Montreal into the playoffs has been a priority. Tanner Marsh had a good stretch but then faltered, as did Josh Neiswander. Now it is Smiths turn, and he passed the first test by completing 17 of 35 passes for 247 yards, three TDs and no interceptions. "He did a great job," said coach Jim Popp. "I dont know if he was nervous. "We didnt run everything right. Its great to be able to take what we did today and improve on it. We know theres a lot of upside to what were doing. We were moving the ball and scoring and we got over that 30-point mark like we said we needed to do." S.J. Green, with two, and Arland Bruce were on the receiving end of TD throws, while Tyrell Sutton ran one in. Sean Whyte had two field goals as Montreal won for the third time in four games. The third-place Alouettes (7-9) are hoping to overtake Hamilton (8-8) for second place in the East Division and the right to play host to a playoff game. The teams meet again on Saturday in Guelph, Ont., with the winner taking the season series between the two clubs. The Montreal defence held CFL offensive player of the week C.J. Gable to no yards on three carries and only 39 yards on six catches. It also limited Henry Burris to 106 passing yards before he was replaced by Dan LeFevour late in the third quarter. Coach Kent Austin didnt know what to make of a team that was coming off winning its season series with first-place Toronto, who they can still catch for first place. They were anaemic on attack, and ruined a handful of positive plays with penalties. "Just generally speaking, for whatever reason, we werent ready to play and they were," said Austin. "They brought the game to us. "They were more physical than us. They just whipped us in all three areas of the game. We werent disciplined. We had too many penalties. Ive got to figure out why we werent ready to play like we have been the last couple of weeks. Ive got to get to the bottom of it. Ive got to get my team better prepared." The Ticats only scoring came from a Luca Congi field goal and a safety. "We executed our defence," said Montreal linebacker Shea Emry. "Weve had lots of games where we put that many points up and we let teams slip back in. "There were times we almost did that, but then we didnt let them capitalize on those penalties or plays." Smith has seen mostly spot duty since he signed, but after Neiswander struggled in a loss to Winnipeg last week, Popp decided to give the former Baltimore Raven and San Francisco 49er a start. Smith, the fourth Alouette quarterback to start a game this season, didnt disappoint as he threw for 207 yards and three TDs in the first half as Montreal opened a 31-3 lead. In the opening quarter, he hit Green for TDs of 64 and two yards. With his 11th and 12th of the season, Green reached a career high in TD catches in a season and passed the 1,000-yard mark for a third straight year. After Congis 26-yard field goal to open the second quarter, Sutton scored on a 19-yard run off tackle at 5:46. Whyte added a 32-yard boot after a 40-yard punt return by Bo Bowling at 12:21 and Smith hit Bruce with a sideline pass for a 26-yard score just ahead of halftime. Montreal slowed play down after the intermission, adding a field goal, while each team conceded a safety. Smith admitted he was a nervous at the start. His first two possessions were two-and-outs. But then he hit Bowling with a 12-yard pass and on the next play found Green wide open for a TD. He also showed he could use his feet, both to buy time for a pass while scrambling or to gain 16 yards on three rushes. "To start off, I was anxious," he said. "Some of my throws were not normal throws. The first completion to Bo Bowling was huge. Sometimes you just need something like that to get you going." Notes: Bowling returned after missing the opening 15 games with an ankle injury. . . The result tied the season series between the teams at one win each, as the Ticats beat Montreal 28-26 in Moncton, N.B. on Sept. 21. . . The Ticats wasted a chance to clinch a home playoff date. . . Burris rushed for one yard, leaving him five short of 5,000 for his career. Javier Hernandez Jersey . Advancing to the Champions League quarterfinals should be a formality after Lionel Messi scored a penalty and Dani Alves added a late second to secure a commanding 2-0 advantage over City in the round of 16 on Tuesday. Custom Mexico Jerseys . So much so that even a simple foul pop up to the first baseman turned into a run. Houstons four-run rally in the ninth inning to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Monday night was capped by a bizarre play that started as Crowe fouled out to first baseman Justin Smoak with runners on second and third. http://www.soccermexicojerseysteamstore.com/carlos-salcedo-mexico-jersey/ . And all things considered, the first 40 games have offered a little bit of everything from a hockey club that faced many questions in its first year under new management, with a new head coach and with a number of new faces in the lineup. However, with a recent dip in scoring, it seems some of the same old questions persist and several new ones have been raised after a somewhat troubling homestand.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - The New York Jets could be down two of their top receivers when they take on the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.Eric Decker and David Nelson will be game-time decisions after being listed as questionable Friday because of injuries that limited them this week. Both players were flying with the team to San Diego on Friday afternoon.Decker has not practiced all week because of an ailing right hamstring that has hampered him since New Yorks game at Green Bay in Week 2. Decker was listed as questionable, but said the hamstring feels better than it did Thursday.The muscle itself is healthier, 100 per cent, than it was, Decker said. Now, its just a matter of working everything around it and strengthening it back up.Coach Rex Ryan said its always a concern when it comes to hamstrings that it could be a lingering issue.But hes a pro and he knows his body, Ryan said. I think he works hard to get out there on the field, but yeah, sometimes its, Do you play him? Do you sit him? Do you do whatever? If you know what really helps a guy moving forward maybe you decide to sit a guy, but hes a guy that answers the bell.Nelson sprained his left ankle against Detroit last Sunday. He was also questionable after being limited at practice, something that surprised Ryan since it appeared earlier in the week that Nelsons sprain was severe. Nelson didnt practice Wednesday or Thursday.His ankle was unbelievable, Ryan said. Somme guys are unbelievable healers now. Mexico Jerseys. . Well see how he does, but I was shocked that he was able to go, even on a limited basis.Nelsons main concern was monitoring his ankle on the flight and trying to prevent any additional swelling.After a first day of practicing on it all week, thatll add some swelling to it, Nelson said. Also, a five-hour flight. So, were trying to find some remedies to do while were on the plane to keep that at bay as best we can.If one or both are unable to play, newly signed wide receivers T.J. Graham and Chris Owusu could see their first action with the Jets. They only other healthy receivers are Jeremy Kerley, Greg Salas, Saalim Hakim and Walt Powell.Cornerback Dee Milliner (quadriceps) fully practiced and will play for the first time since Week 2. Ryan was uncertain whether Milliner would start, leaving open the possibility that both Antonio Allen and Darrin Walls could get the call with Milliner coming in as a reserve.We havent decided that yet, Ryan said. Like I said, he will play, for sure. He is going to play.Right guard Willie Colon (knee) was a full participant at practice, as were right tackle Breno Giacomini (lower back), centre Nick Mangold (shoulder), running back Chris Johnson (ankle), safety Calvin Pryor (quadriceps) and nose tackle Damon Harrison (ankle). All will play against the Chargers.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '