Mike Reilly might have been named the game’s most valuable player, but it was a heads-up call by coach Chris Jones that allowed the Edmonton Eskimos to end a 10-year Grey Cup drought.
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For two years, the Algonquin Loggersports Team has attended every Redblacks’ home game, celebrating touchdowns by revving up their chainsaws and slicing through a log emblazoned with the CFL team’s logo.
Henry Burris threw two early touchdowns as the Ottawa Redblacks clung to a 13-10 lead after the first quarter of the 103rd Grey Cup. That ended most of the offence we’d see; Burris did lead a 75-yard drive for a 33-yard Milo field goal in the third quarter, but then it was just a 69-yard punt single from Edmonton’s Grant Shaw (making it Ottawa 19, Edmonton 18) and Whyte clanking a 35-yard FG off the upright for no points. “And then Marcel (Ottawa GM Marcel Desjardins) rang the phone and I said ‘I’m coming'”.
Bar manager Budameir says it was different previous year when Vancouver hosted the Grey Cup.
“I talk to them about the stage being bigger, there are more cameras and there are more people and more people watching, but, the way to win the football game doesn’t change”. Eskimos lead 17-16 at the half. Running Back William Powell was a major offensive catalyst in a losing cause for the RedBlacks with 66 yards on 10 carries as well as a game leading 7 receptions for 57 yards. Ottawa defensive back Jovon Johnson will be appearing in his third Grey Cup game after winning one with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and losing the other with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The game was a disappointment for Redblacks fans who thought their team might be crowned champions at the end of their second season. In fact, 2005 was the last Grey Cup appearance for the Green and Gold.
“He’s a victor.” Eskimos head coach Chris Jones said. From there on, though, the Eskimos adjusted; Ottawa only managed two further field goals until the fourth quarter, and Edmonton scored 17 by the half. The Eskimos got a single point when Sean Whyte missed a 45-yard field goal with just under five minutes left in the first half. The game will also be streamed on TSN GO for TSN Subscribers. But a touchdown pass to Akeem Shavers with 12 seconds left gave the Eskimos a one-point lead heading into halftime. One of the Stampeders touchdown horses was allowed on the sidelines at the Rogers Centre but wasn’t permitted to gallop along the sidelines when Calgary scored due to safety concerns and a lack of space.
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Patrick Lavoie and Ernest Jackson caught touchdown passes from the 40-year-old Burris, who completed 22 of 29 attempts for 220 yards.
