64th Grey Cup
Encyclopedia
The 64th Grey Cup
was played on November 28, 1976, before 53,467 fans at the Exhibition Stadium
at Toronto. The Ottawa Rough Riders
defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders
by the score 23 to 20 in what is considered one of the most thrilling Grey Cup
games and with perhaps the most exciting plays in Grey Cup
history.
Touchdowns - Tony Gabriel
and Bill Hatanaka
Field Goals - Gerry Organ
(3)
Converts - Gerry Organ
(2)
Saskatchewan Roughriders - 20
Touchdowns - Steve Mazurak and Rob Richardson
Field Goals - Bob Macoritti (2)
Converts - Bob Macoritti (2)
graduate who would later attend Harvard University
) returning a punt for a 79 yard touchdown (then a CFL
record.) It was 10 - 0 for Ottawa in the first quarter.
Saskatchewan owned the second quarter. CFL legend Ron Lancaster
hit Steve Mazurak and Rob Richardson with touchdown passes and Bob Macoritti added a field goal. On defence, all star Ted Provost
intercepted a Tom Clements pass to set up a touchdown and middle linebacker Cleveland Vann
covered the field with his excellent play. Unfortunately, the Green Riders were without their longtime star running back, George Reed
, who had retired, and his talented replacement, Molly McGee, left the game with an injury. The halftime score was 17 to 10.
The teams traded field goals in the third quarter (20 - 13) but excitement was provided by Ottawa kicker Gerry Organ
's 52 yard fake punt run and the following interception by Cleveland Vann
.
Ottawa got another field goal in the fourth quarter (20 - 16), but was later stopped on a last minute goal line stand by Saskatchewan
. They got the ball back with little time remaining, and found themselves on the Green Rider
24 yard line with 20 seconds left.
Down by 4 points, Ottawa quarterback (and Notre Dame University grad) Tom Clements waved off the play from the bench. Canadian Football Hall of Fame
tight end Tony Gabriel
headed towards the end zone and faked a post pattern
and turned to the corner. Unfortunately for Ted Provost
, he fell for the fake. Gabriel's big hands brought down Clement's pass, with Provost and Ray Odums
streaking to catch up. It was a spectacular play, both in its execution, game winning importance, and in the dramatic way Gabriel's fake unfolded. The play is often simply referred to as "The Catch".
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
was played on November 28, 1976, before 53,467 fans at the Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
at Toronto. The Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
by the score 23 to 20 in what is considered one of the most thrilling Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
games and with perhaps the most exciting plays in Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
history.
Scoring
Ottawa Rough Riders - 23Touchdowns - Tony Gabriel
Tony Gabriel
Tony Gabriel is a former professional Canadian football pass receiver who played in the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1981. He played for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders...
and Bill Hatanaka
Field Goals - Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ is a former placekicker for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1971-1983 of the Canadian Football League.Organ was the winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1973 and is a two time CFL All-Star and a two time Grey Cup Champion . He also played in the 1981 Grey Cup Game in...
(3)
Converts - Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ is a former placekicker for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1971-1983 of the Canadian Football League.Organ was the winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1973 and is a two time CFL All-Star and a two time Grey Cup Champion . He also played in the 1981 Grey Cup Game in...
(2)
Saskatchewan Roughriders - 20
Touchdowns - Steve Mazurak and Rob Richardson
Field Goals - Bob Macoritti (2)
Converts - Bob Macoritti (2)
Game summary
After an early field goal, Ottawa increased their lead in record setting fashion, with Bill Hatanaka (a York UniversityYork University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
graduate who would later attend Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
) returning a punt for a 79 yard touchdown (then a CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
record.) It was 10 - 0 for Ottawa in the first quarter.
Saskatchewan owned the second quarter. CFL legend Ron Lancaster
Ron Lancaster
Ronald "Ron" Lancaster was one of the pre-eminent quarterbacks of the Canadian Football League during his playing career; after his retirement as a player, he was also coach and general manager in the same league, and a sports announcer for CBC Television...
hit Steve Mazurak and Rob Richardson with touchdown passes and Bob Macoritti added a field goal. On defence, all star Ted Provost
Ted Provost
Ted R. Provost is a former star high school, university and professional football player.As a high school athlete at Fairless High School he lettered three seasons as a quarterback and defensive back. He was also outstanding in basketball and track...
intercepted a Tom Clements pass to set up a touchdown and middle linebacker Cleveland Vann
Cleveland Vann
Cleveland Vann is a former Canadian Football League linebacker.An American import Vann was a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders who played the 1976 Grey Cup. He also played one season in the WFL, with the Southern California Sun, intercepting 3 passes. He tore his knee ligaments in a game in...
covered the field with his excellent play. Unfortunately, the Green Riders were without their longtime star running back, George Reed
George Reed
George Robert Reed, CM is a former American college football and Canadian Football League player. Reed, along with Mike Pringle and Johnny Bright, is one of the players most often mentioned as being the greatest running back in CFL history...
, who had retired, and his talented replacement, Molly McGee, left the game with an injury. The halftime score was 17 to 10.
The teams traded field goals in the third quarter (20 - 13) but excitement was provided by Ottawa kicker Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ is a former placekicker for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1971-1983 of the Canadian Football League.Organ was the winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1973 and is a two time CFL All-Star and a two time Grey Cup Champion . He also played in the 1981 Grey Cup Game in...
's 52 yard fake punt run and the following interception by Cleveland Vann
Cleveland Vann
Cleveland Vann is a former Canadian Football League linebacker.An American import Vann was a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders who played the 1976 Grey Cup. He also played one season in the WFL, with the Southern California Sun, intercepting 3 passes. He tore his knee ligaments in a game in...
.
Ottawa got another field goal in the fourth quarter (20 - 16), but was later stopped on a last minute goal line stand by Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. They got the ball back with little time remaining, and found themselves on the Green Rider
Green Rider
Green Rider is the first novel written by Kristen Britain and is the first book in its series.-Plot summary:...
24 yard line with 20 seconds left.
Down by 4 points, Ottawa quarterback (and Notre Dame University grad) Tom Clements waved off the play from the bench. Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
tight end Tony Gabriel
Tony Gabriel
Tony Gabriel is a former professional Canadian football pass receiver who played in the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1981. He played for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders...
headed towards the end zone and faked a post pattern
Post (route)
A post is a moderate to deep passing route in American football in which a receiver runs 10-20 yards from the line of scrimmage straight down the field, then cuts toward the middle of the field at a 45-degree angle.It is designed to stretch the opposing secondary deep down the field, opening holes...
and turned to the corner. Unfortunately for Ted Provost
Ted Provost
Ted R. Provost is a former star high school, university and professional football player.As a high school athlete at Fairless High School he lettered three seasons as a quarterback and defensive back. He was also outstanding in basketball and track...
, he fell for the fake. Gabriel's big hands brought down Clement's pass, with Provost and Ray Odums
Ray Odums
Ray Odums was a football player in the CFL and USFL. He played defensive back . From 1975 to 1984 Odums was DB for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the Calgary Stampeders. He was a CFL All-Star in 1980, 1981 and 1982. Later he played with the Memphis Showboats in the...
streaking to catch up. It was a spectacular play, both in its execution, game winning importance, and in the dramatic way Gabriel's fake unfolded. The play is often simply referred to as "The Catch".
Trivia
- All the points were scored by Canadians.
- This was the last Grey Cup championship for the Ottawa Rough Riders. The team folded in 1996.