The Montreal Alouettes season opener in Calgary did not go as they wanted, as starting quarterback Troy Smith had trouble connecting with his receivers in a 29-8 victory for the Stampeders.

Steven Lumbala scored the only touchdown for the team, running the ball in from the one yard line with one second remaining.

Troy Smith went 17-40 for 125 yards while his Calgary counterpart Bo Levi MItchell went 16 for 25 for 313 yards.

Calgary had six 15-yard major penalties on the day but the Alouettes failed to score until the final second.

Brandon Whitaker lead the Alouettes in rushing with 59 yards over 12 carries, while Duron Carter hauled in four catches for 32 yards. Chad Johnson caught two passes for 20 yards in his CFL debut.

Mitchell combined with receiver Maurice Price for a 102-touchdown pass in the opening quarter and tossed to Anthony Parker for another major in the fourth.

Running back Jon Cornish scored on an 18-yard rush for the Stamps to start the fourth quarter. Rene Paredes kicked a pair of field goals and punter Rob Maver contributed two punt singles in the game at McMahon Stadium.

Troy Smith's season debut for the Alouettes marked the first time since 1999 a quarterback other than Anthony Calvillo was Montreal's opening-day starter. The CFL's all-time passing leader retired in January after 16 seasons with the Alouettes.

Smith, a former Heisman Trophy winner with Ohio State completed 17 of 40 passes for 127 yards. He was sacked four times and intercepted once.

Steven Lumbala scored Montreal's lone touchdown on a one-yard rush on the final play of the game. Former NFL star receiver Chad Johnson had two catches for 20 yards in his CFL debut.

Announced attendance at McMahon was 26,135.

Cornish rushed for his 36th career TD off a direct snap at 1:24 of the fourth quarter. The CFL's leading rusher and most outstanding player in 2013 was hit high and hard on the run later in the quarter by Montreal's Kyries Hebert.

Cornish lay on the field and the situation appeared grim as an ambulance was summoned.

It wasn't required however as the 29-year-old from New Westminster, B.C., got up and walked to the medical room accompanied by medical staff. Cornish totalled 67 yards on 14 carries before he left the game.

Herbert had been slapped with a major-foul penalty while Cornish was down. Calgary parlayed Montreal's 25-yard penalty into another touchdown as Mitchell threw to Parker in the end zone at 7:12.

Paredes, winner of the CFL's special-teams player award last season, booted a 25-year field goal at 4:32 of the third quarter to extend Calgary's lead to 14-0.

Maver added an 88-yard punt single 10:30. Als counterpart Sean Whyte replied with a 48-yard single in the final minute of the quarter.

Calgary's defence held the Als under 100 offensive yards in the first half. Charleston Hughes, Corey Macey and DeQuon Evans recorded sacks and Hughes also knocked down a pass.

Cornerback Fred Bennett would have collected two interceptions in the half had his second not been negated by Deron Mayo's horse-collar tackle on Smith.

The Stampeders improved to 45-9-1 since 2008 when they've led after the opening quarter.

Mitchell threw out of Calgary's end zone to Price for a 102-yard touchdown on the final play of the opening quarter. Price was left unprotected because a pair of Montreal defenders were covering receiver Jeff Fuller.

Paredes was good from 38 yards at 12:11 to make it 4-1. Whyte was wide on a 39-yard attempt midway through the first quarter.

Calgary collected a single point on their first possession of the game on a 78-yard point single from Maver.

The Stampeders head immediately into their bye week. Their next game is in Toronto against the Argonauts on July 12. The Als host the B.C. Lions on Friday.

With the Blue Bombers moving to the West Division, Montreal won't face an East Division rival until Aug. 1.