Odell Willis tackles Montreal's SJ Green on Sunday in Montreal.  (photo courtesy of riderville.com)

Penalties and Anthony Calvillo sent the Saskatchewan Roughriders back under .500 as they lost 28-17 to the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday.

The Riders came in on a two-game winning streak, but four turnovers and 200 yards in penalties ended that quickly.

Drew Willy made his first career CFL start at quarterback for the Riders with Darian Durant sidelined with a hip flexor injury.  He went 22-of-34 for 225 yards passing with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Montreal had their steady veteran in Calvillo under centre and directed the Alouettes to the win, throwing 14-for-27 with 266 yards and a touchdown. 

Running back Brandon Whitaker was the offensive star for Montreal with 147 total yards, including a three-yard touchdown on the Alouettes opening drive of the game.  Whitaker did suffer a knee injury and leave early in the fourth quarter.

The Alouettes scored touchdowns on their first two possessions to give Willy an early hole to dig himself out of.  Calvillo hit Brian Bratton for an 8-yard touchdowan pass just before halftime to give the Als a 22-6 lead heading into the break.

The Riders started to claw their way back in the third quarter and opened with a pair of safeties to pull within two scores at 22-10.

Kory Sheets scored the lone offensive TD for the Riders on the day later in the third with a 33-yard touchdown catch.  The running back finished with 12 carries for 81 yards rushing and three catches for 37 yards.  Sheets’ TD was his league leading 10th.

Kicker Sandro DeAngelis had two shots at field goals in the third, but missed from 46 and 43-yards out to leave the Riders down 22-17 heading into the fourth.

With the Riders getting to within eight they would have a pair of chances to score late in the fourth, but Willy would throw a pair of interceptions to end any chance at coming back.

The Riders drop to 5-6 on the year and remain in a tie for third in the West Division after the Edmonton Eskimos fell 51-8 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats this week; Calgary moved into second at 7-4 with their 44-3 win over Winning; and BC is one game up at 8-3 after holding on for a 28-23 win over Toronto.

Next action for the Green & White comes against the Stampeders on Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.