TORONTO - Anthony Calvillo and the Montreal Alouettes are indeed the Beasts of the East.

Calvillo threw three touchdown passes to lead Montreal to its third straight win, a 32-14 decision over the Toronto Argonauts on Friday night. Calvillo has a CFL-high 20 touchdown passes this season as Montreal (5-3) improved to 5-0 within the East Division to take a four-point lead atop the standings.

“That’s huge,” Calvillo said. “All these games are going to add up, especially as you get to the second half of the season.

“We want to have every tie-breaker possible if it comes down to that because there’s so many games left and teams could turn it around and others could go downhill so we have to make sure that we go out there and keep putting up wins, especially when we’re playing Eastern opponents.”

Calvillo, who turns 36 next week, enjoyed some rare success against Toronto, completing 27-of-41 passes for 379 yards and the three TDs. He came in averaging just 184 yards passing against the Argos in 39 career matchups, with 33 touchdowns and 26 interceptions, including five in one game.

“It’s never that easy, I’ll tell you that,” Calvillo said. “I think it’s all of us.

“The receivers are getting open and buying into what Marc (Als rookie head coach Marc Trestman) and the rest of the coaching staff has brought to this team. Right now, we’re practising at a high, fast pace and we’re carrying that to the field and it’s working for us.”

Trestman, though, stopped well short of calling his team the best in the east.

“I don’t have any idea,” he said. “I know we have the best record but I don’t know that we’re the best team.

“I don’t know that it matters right now. It’s good to win games and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Running back Avon Cobourne was also a big part of Montreal’s success. He had five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown and 107 yards on 16 carries.

“I just feel like I’m a great player and that I’ve always been that player and there’s no limit to what more I can do,” Cobourne said. “I’m just going to keep getting better because I keep working for it.

“I just have to keep humble and stay focused on what I’m doing.”

Toronto (3-5) suffered its second straight loss to remain second in the division heading into a bye week for all four Eastern squads. But at least the Argos managed to score in the second half on Andre Talbot’s 20-yard TD catch at 11:56 of the fourth.

Toronto came in having scored a combined eight second-half points in its three previous games and was outscored 21-7 in the second half by Montreal. Argos head coach Rich Stubler is so concerned about his team that he’s cancelled plans to go golfing during the bye to watch game tape and hopefully find what’s ailing his squad.

“We have some good athletes and plans, we just have to figure out what we need to do better consistently,” Stubler said. “We need to put points on the board.

“We haven’t scored touchdowns all season. You have to do that in this league.”

Calvillo delivered the knockout blow at 5:01 of the third, hitting Brian Bratton on a four-yard TD pass to put Montreal ahead 18-7, to the dismay of the gathering of 30,521 with the Rogers Centre roof closed. Davis Sanchez set up the touchdown, intercepting Toronto’s Michael Bishop and returning it inside the Argos’ 10-yard line.

Bishop started the second half in place of starter Kerry Joseph despite Toronto trailing just 11-7. Joseph was 9-of-16 passing for 115 yards but was sacked three times and had trouble consistently leading the Argos offence, which mustered just 144 total first-half yards.

“It was just awful,” Joseph said. “We practise all right, play hard but we’re not being productive.

“It’s mind boggling, frustrating.”

Bishop finished 9-of-20 passing for 126 yards with a TD and interception as Toronto finished with 303 total yards.

“That’s the story of the game, a lot of incompletes,” said Bishop, who saw his first game action since July 10. “Our guys had the openings but couldn’t hold on.”

Stubler said he went back to having offensive co-ordinator Steve Buratto calling plays Friday night instead of leaving it up to his quarterbacks. When asked why he made the quarterback change, Stubler refused to discuss it.

But Trestman said Montreal was prepared to face either Joseph or Bishop.

“We talked about both quarterbacks,” he said. “They both strike the fear in you because of their ability to move around and make plays with their feet.

“I thought our defence did a good job and it started with our pass rush. We were co-ordinated very well up there I thought.”

Ben Cahoon had Montreal’s other touchdown. Damon Duval added two field goals - but saw his streak of 17 straight successful kicks end - three converts and two singles.

Toronto’s Mike Vanderjagt had two field goals, a convert and single.

NOTES - Cahoon caught a pass on the first play from scrimmage to extend his streak to 99 straight games with at least a catch. Toronto’s Arland Bruce III extended his streak to 48 straight contests as well … Montreal lost defensive back Randee Drew to a knee injury … Linebacker Kevin Eiben was among Toronto’s pre-game scratches. Eiben played last week against Hamilton after missing two games with a knee injury. Veteran quarterback Brad Banks was among Montreal’s scratches … Argos tackle Ross Weaver dressed for Friday’s game but the American will report to Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming next week to work in nuclear weapons-missile training for the U.S. Air Force. At halftime, the Argos made a video salute to Weaver, who received a nice ovation from the crowd.