Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly hoists the Grey Cup after his teams win over the Ottawa Redblacks during the 103rd Grey Cup in Winnipeg, Man., Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015.
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After a field goal drew the Eskimos within 10 and the defense picked Burris off, Reilly hit Adarius Bowman for a 23-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone to help make it a 13-10 game.
It’s not the first time a Grey Cup team has had to do without a touchdown celebration. Burris, the CFL’s outstanding player this year, spent the week practising his club’s offensive game plan but knows he’ll see a different wrinkle or two from Chris Jones, the Eskimos head coach and architect of the league’s stingiest defence.
Ottawa (12-6) is making its appearance as the “Redblacks” in the championship game and they will face the Edmonton Eskimos (14-4), who are considered the favourite to win the Grey Cup this year. The city’s last CFL championship came in 1976 with the former Rough Riders.
The contest was a defensive battle for much of the game, especially in the second half as Edmonton outscored Ottawa just 9-4.
The Algonquin Loggersports Team traditionally slices a “wood cookie” off a log in the west endzone at Ottawa’s TD Place to mark a Redblacks touchdown. Edmonton’s offensive line finished fifth in sacks allowed with 47 but quarterback Mike Reilly is a very good runner and his mobility allows him to escape defensive pressure to either buy time, to look downfield or head upfield for costive yards.
Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell said he wasn’t angered by the officials’ call.
Before the 2014 season, the CFL became the first football league to make pass interference subject to video replay review. If you need motivation for this type of game then you’re probably in the wrong business. But obviously heartbroken, disappointed, all those things.
The Redblacks scored two quick touchdowns on their opening two drives to start the game and held a 13-10 lead following the first quarter.
Burris posted a CFL-record 481 completions this year and led the league in passing with 5,703 yards. Johnson said. “We got one game and one job and that’s to win”.
Watkins had an interception off an under-thrown Henry Burris pass while covering Williams in the first quarter. “And all the equipment guys are saying they are bad”. But we had ample opportunities to go down and put this game out of reach.
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A Chris Milo 33 yard field goal, and a Sean Whyte miss from 35 yards out was the difference in the 3rd quarter as Ottawa led 19-18 heading into the final 15 minutes. He also ran for 66 yards on 10 carries.
