HAMILTON, Ontario (Ticker) -- Danny McManus passed for three scores as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats blew a 17-point lead before recovering for a 37-26 victory over the Montreal Alouettes that moved them into first place in the Eastern Division.

Just over four minutes after Swift Burch recovered a fumble in the end zone to give Montreal a 25-20 lead, Ronald Williams scored on a three-yard run to put Hamilton (5-2) in front to stay, 27-25. Williams rushed for 106 yards on 23 carries.

McManus added a 20-yard touchdown pass to Trevor Shaw 16 seconds into the final period and Paul Osbaldiston tacked on an 18-yard field goal.

McManus completed 18-of-32 passes for 284 yards. He came out firing, throwing scoring strikes of 31 yards to Darren Flutie and 63 yards to Archie Amerson as the Tiger-Cats raced to 17-0 lead in the first quarter.

But the Alouettes (5-2) chipped away, getting within 20-18 at halftime as Thomas Haskins caught a 71-yard TD pass from Anthony Calvillo and ran for a one-yard score.

Calvillo was 14-of-32 for 249 yards with two interceptions for Montreal, which has lost two in a row after opening the season with five wins.