MONTREAL - Let's get the party started.

The Montreal Alouettes ensured a major party atmosphere for the 96th Grey Cup next weekend on the shores of the St. Lawrence by securing a berth in the national final.

Alouette punt returner Larry Taylor brought back a Noel Prefontaine punt 64 yards for a second quarter score to spark Montreal to a come-from-behind 36-26 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos in the Saturday eastern final. Taylor would ice it with a 97-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Montreal will face the winner of the Saturday afternoon western final between the B.C. Lions and the Calgary Stampeders.

Eskimo special teamer Justin Cooper did his best to play the role of party pooper when he blocked a Damon Duval punt in the first quarter and dove on the loose ball for a opening major. But the Alouettes forced Ricky Ray's explosive offence to settle for two Prefontaine field goals for the rest of the half.

Ray did hit Kelly Campbell with a deep touchdown strike in the fourth quarter.

Montreal was trailing 13-5 in the second quarter when Als? quarterback Anthony Calvillo hit Jamel Richardson with an eight-yard scoring strike to narrow the lead to 13-12.

The major ignited the Als and the raucous Olympic Stadium crowd of 38,102, which became thunderous, forcing the Eskimos to a two and out on their subsequent possession..

The 'out' became a knockout when Taylor fielded the punt near midfield and found a lane to the outside for the major.

The Alouettes added to the lead on their first drive of the third quarter when Avon Colbourne found the end zone on a one-yard burst.
That gave the hosts a 26-13 lead.

Duval chipped in a 12-yard field goal to leave it Montreal 29-13 after three quarters.

But Taylor went back to work with his second major of the contest. Als' 36, Edmonton 13 and the celebrations were on.

Ray's strike to Campbell gave the Eskies some hope as did Tristan Jackson's punt return for a score with less than a minute to play.
But it wouldn't be enough.

For more on the eastern final check out catchat.thespec.com