Glen Johnson, the CFL’s vice-president of officiating, says the plan for Sunday’s championship game is essentially the same as league games for this season and last. He also ran for 66 yards on 10 carries. “If we play the way we should, I’ll just be kicking PATs (points after touchdowns)”.
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In the final quarter, the Redblacks’ lead was down to 20-18 until Lynch’s one-yard punch proved to be the knockout blow.
“These guys, they rejuvenated my whole career”, said the seven-year veteran, who’s been good on 24 of 26 field-goal attempts.
Reilly, who was named the Grey Cup’s most valuable player, said getting to a championship game is “an opportunity you get to have a handful of times if you’re lucky”.
“Just passing the time before we win”, he said laughing.
Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell said he wasn’t angered by the officials’ call.
The first two dozen Super Bowl halftime shows featured little more than marching bands, over-produced thematic salutes (Hollywood, Mardi Gras, the cast of Peanuts) and insulin shock-inducing Up with People performers. For Grey Cup, the league is using the Blue Bombers equipment staff to handle it, making it no different than a normal game according to Johnson.
Edmonton went 12-6 last season and tied Calgary with a 14-4 record this year, a foe they dispatched 45-31 in the CFL West Division final on the way to a nine-game winning streak.
In 2012, the Calgary Stampeders and league came to a compromise on the team’s mascot for the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto.
Ottawa regained the lead in the third on Chris Milo’s 33-yard field goal.
Other winners included B.C. Lions linebacker Adam Bighill (defensive player), Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ kick-returner Brandon Banks (special teams player) and Edmonton receiver Derel Walker (rookie). “Every one of these gentlemen had a positive impact on the growth of football in our country, and for that we are forever indebted to them”, CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge said in a statement.
Adarius Bowman and Shavers scored Edmonton’s touchdowns. Akeem Shavers added a two-point convert. Edmonton would get another single this one off the foot of punter Grant Shaw, Eskimos were now within one. Then after Edmonton’s Kendall Lawrence fumbled the ensuing kickoff, the RedBlacks veteran QB found Ernest Jackson for a 7 yard TD strike. Chris Milo missed the extra point.
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The Eskimos settled down after that as Reilly drove the ball down the field and Sean Whyte booted a 25 yard field goal.
