75th Grey Cup
Encyclopedia
The 75th Grey Cup was the 1987
Canadian Football League
championship game that was played at BC Place Stadium
in Vancouver
, between the Edmonton Eskimos
and the Toronto Argonauts
. The Eskimos defeated the Argonauts 38-36, on Jerry Kauric
's last second field-goal.
, Marco Cyncar
, Brian Kelly
, Damon Allen
; FGs, Jerry Kauric
(3); cons., Kauric
(4), singles, Kauric
.
Toronto Argonauts - (36) TDs, Gil Fenerty (2), Doug Landry, Danny Barrett
; FGs, Lance Chomyc
(3); cons., Lance Chomyc
(3).
The Edmonton Eskimos
and Toronto Argonauts
engaged in a back-and-forth battle for Earl Grey
’s Cup
in 1987, which was determined with a late field goal.
The lead changed hands five times before Jerry Kauric
booted a 49-yard field goal to secure a two-point victory for the Eskimos.
The fireworks went off early when Henry ‘Gizmo’ Williams
fielded a missed field goal and out ran Toronto defenders for 115-yard return for a touchdown, setting a new Grey Cup record and giving the Eskimos the early lead. Toronto’s Lance Chomyc
missed on two field goals in the opening 15 minutes.
Trailing 10-3 in the second quarter, Argos fullback Gil Fenerty took a pass from Gilbert Renfroe
and ran 61 yards down the sidelines for Toronto’s first major. A costly interception set up Toronto’s second touchdown drive when Fenerty followed his blockers for a five-yard score.
Another costly turnover by the Eskimos put the Argos in front 24-10. Toronto’s Doug Landry picked up a fumble and ran 54 yards to the end zone.
Things appeared to go from bad to worse when Eskimos starting quarterback Matt Dunigan
went down to a head injury. But Edmonton had a quality backup pivot in Damon Allen
, who flipped a six-yard touchdown pass to Marco Cyncar
prior to halftime, cutting the deficit to 24-17. The drive began following a blocked punt by Stanley Blair
.
After outscoring the Argos 4-3 in the third quarter Edmonton restored its lead on the first play of the fourth quarter when Allen hit Brian Kelly
for a 15-yard touchdown pass, putting the Eskimos in front 28-27.
A Chomyc field goal put Toronto back in front. But Allen’s mobility caused fits for the Argos defence, and may have been the difference in the game. He gave the Eskimos a five-point edge with 6:39 remaining in the game with a 17-yard run on a bootleg.
Toronto was also forced to go to its backup quarterback when Renfroe was forced out with a knee injury. But his replacement, Danny Barrett
, was equal to the task. Barrett called his own number with 2:43 remaining, busting up the middle 25 yards for a major, giving the Argos a 36-35 lead.
But the Argos suffered a setback when they missed on an attempted two-point conversion. This allowed the Eskimos to win the game on Kauric’s field goal.
' 115 yard missed field goal return is the longest return in Grey Cup
history.
1987 CFL season
The 1987 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 34th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 30th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1987:...
Canadian Football League
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....
championship game that was played at BC Place Stadium
BC Place Stadium
BC Place is a multi-purpose stadium located at the north side of False Creek, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It serves as the home field for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer . Originally opened on June 19, 1983 as the...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, between the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
and the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
. The Eskimos defeated the Argonauts 38-36, on Jerry Kauric
Jerry Kauric
Jerry Kauric is a former placekicker who played in both the National Football League and Canadian Football League in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He played for the Cleveland Browns in 1990, and before that played for the Edmonton Eskimos and kicked the winning field goal for the Canadian Grey...
's last second field-goal.
Game summary
Edmonton Eskimos - (38) TDs, Henry WilliamsHenry Williams
- Politicians :* Henry Williams , British Member of Parliament for Brecon, elected 1604* Sir Henry Williams, 2nd Baronet , British Member of Parliament for Brecon and Breconshire...
, Marco Cyncar
Marco Cyncar
Marco Cyncar is a former Canadian Football League receiver who played eleven seasons for the Edmonton Eskimos. He was a member of four Grey Cup Championship teams in Edmonton....
, Brian Kelly
Brian Kelly (Canadian football player)
Brian Kelly was a Canadian Football League receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos who, in just nine years from 1979-1987 caught 575 passes for 11,169 yards and 97 touchdowns. Kelly was a member of 5 Grey Cup Championship teams in Edmonton. Kelly was the number 1 target of Eskimos Quarterback Warren...
, Damon Allen
Damon Allen
Damon Allen is a former professional quarterback in the Canadian Football League, most recently with the Toronto Argonauts. He is currently second in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards after he was surpassed for first place by the Montréal...
; FGs, Jerry Kauric
Jerry Kauric
Jerry Kauric is a former placekicker who played in both the National Football League and Canadian Football League in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He played for the Cleveland Browns in 1990, and before that played for the Edmonton Eskimos and kicked the winning field goal for the Canadian Grey...
(3); cons., Kauric
Jerry Kauric
Jerry Kauric is a former placekicker who played in both the National Football League and Canadian Football League in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He played for the Cleveland Browns in 1990, and before that played for the Edmonton Eskimos and kicked the winning field goal for the Canadian Grey...
(4), singles, Kauric
Jerry Kauric
Jerry Kauric is a former placekicker who played in both the National Football League and Canadian Football League in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He played for the Cleveland Browns in 1990, and before that played for the Edmonton Eskimos and kicked the winning field goal for the Canadian Grey...
.
Toronto Argonauts - (36) TDs, Gil Fenerty (2), Doug Landry, Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett is a former Canadian Football League quarterback and former quarterbacks coach at the University at Buffalo. He was previously the head coach of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders....
; FGs, Lance Chomyc
Lance Chomyc
Lance Chomyc is a former placekicker from 1985 to 1993 for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. In 1986 and 1991 he was a CFL All-Star. He now teaches English at Bear Creek Secondary School in Barrie, Ontario....
(3); cons., Lance Chomyc
Lance Chomyc
Lance Chomyc is a former placekicker from 1985 to 1993 for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. In 1986 and 1991 he was a CFL All-Star. He now teaches English at Bear Creek Secondary School in Barrie, Ontario....
(3).
The Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
and Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
engaged in a back-and-forth battle for Earl Grey
Earl Grey
Earl Grey is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1806 for General Charles Grey, 1st Baron Grey. He had already been created Baron Grey, of Howick in the County of Northumberland, in 1801, and was made Viscount Howick, in the County of Northumberland, at the same time as...
’s 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...
in 1987, which was determined with a late field goal.
The lead changed hands five times before Jerry Kauric
Jerry Kauric
Jerry Kauric is a former placekicker who played in both the National Football League and Canadian Football League in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He played for the Cleveland Browns in 1990, and before that played for the Edmonton Eskimos and kicked the winning field goal for the Canadian Grey...
booted a 49-yard field goal to secure a two-point victory for the Eskimos.
The fireworks went off early when Henry ‘Gizmo’ Williams
Gizmo Williams
Henry L. "Gizmo" Williams is a retired American and Canadian football kick returner and wide receiver...
fielded a missed field goal and out ran Toronto defenders for 115-yard return for a touchdown, setting a new Grey Cup record and giving the Eskimos the early lead. Toronto’s Lance Chomyc
Lance Chomyc
Lance Chomyc is a former placekicker from 1985 to 1993 for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. In 1986 and 1991 he was a CFL All-Star. He now teaches English at Bear Creek Secondary School in Barrie, Ontario....
missed on two field goals in the opening 15 minutes.
Trailing 10-3 in the second quarter, Argos fullback Gil Fenerty took a pass from Gilbert Renfroe
Gilbert Renfroe
Gilbert Renfroe is a former professional football quarterback.Renfroe played college football at Tennessee State University from 1982-1985. With the Tigers, he finished fourth all time in total offensive yards and passing yards...
and ran 61 yards down the sidelines for Toronto’s first major. A costly interception set up Toronto’s second touchdown drive when Fenerty followed his blockers for a five-yard score.
Another costly turnover by the Eskimos put the Argos in front 24-10. Toronto’s Doug Landry picked up a fumble and ran 54 yards to the end zone.
Things appeared to go from bad to worse when Eskimos starting quarterback Matt Dunigan
Matt Dunigan
Matt Dunigan is a former quarterback, coach, and executive in the Canadian Football League who is currently a CFL sportscaster for Canadian sports television channel TSN...
went down to a head injury. But Edmonton had a quality backup pivot in Damon Allen
Damon Allen
Damon Allen is a former professional quarterback in the Canadian Football League, most recently with the Toronto Argonauts. He is currently second in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards after he was surpassed for first place by the Montréal...
, who flipped a six-yard touchdown pass to Marco Cyncar
Marco Cyncar
Marco Cyncar is a former Canadian Football League receiver who played eleven seasons for the Edmonton Eskimos. He was a member of four Grey Cup Championship teams in Edmonton....
prior to halftime, cutting the deficit to 24-17. The drive began following a blocked punt by Stanley Blair
Stanley Blair
Stanley Blair is a former all-star and Grey Cup champion Canadian Football League cornerback.Coming out of the Southeastern Oklahoma State University football program, Blair joined the Edmonton Eskimos in 1987 and took the CFL by storm, capturing the Jackie Parker Trophy as best rookie in the West...
.
After outscoring the Argos 4-3 in the third quarter Edmonton restored its lead on the first play of the fourth quarter when Allen hit Brian Kelly
Brian Kelly (Canadian football player)
Brian Kelly was a Canadian Football League receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos who, in just nine years from 1979-1987 caught 575 passes for 11,169 yards and 97 touchdowns. Kelly was a member of 5 Grey Cup Championship teams in Edmonton. Kelly was the number 1 target of Eskimos Quarterback Warren...
for a 15-yard touchdown pass, putting the Eskimos in front 28-27.
A Chomyc field goal put Toronto back in front. But Allen’s mobility caused fits for the Argos defence, and may have been the difference in the game. He gave the Eskimos a five-point edge with 6:39 remaining in the game with a 17-yard run on a bootleg.
Toronto was also forced to go to its backup quarterback when Renfroe was forced out with a knee injury. But his replacement, Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett is a former Canadian Football League quarterback and former quarterbacks coach at the University at Buffalo. He was previously the head coach of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders....
, was equal to the task. Barrett called his own number with 2:43 remaining, busting up the middle 25 yards for a major, giving the Argos a 36-35 lead.
But the Argos suffered a setback when they missed on an attempted two-point conversion. This allowed the Eskimos to win the game on Kauric’s field goal.
Trivia
Gizmo WilliamsGizmo Williams
Henry L. "Gizmo" Williams is a retired American and Canadian football kick returner and wide receiver...
' 115 yard missed field goal return is the longest return 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.
West Division
- Semi-final (November 15 @ Edmonton, Alberta) Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
30-16 Calgary StampedersCalgary StampedersThe Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
- Final (November 22 @ Vancouver, British Columbia) Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
31-7 BC LionsBC LionsThe BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
East Division
- Semi-final (November 15 @ Toronto, Ontario) Toronto ArgonautsToronto ArgonautsThe Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
29-13 Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-CatsThe Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
- Final (November 22 @ Winnipeg, Manitoba) Toronto ArgonautsToronto ArgonautsThe Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
19-3Winnipeg Blue BombersWinnipeg Blue BombersThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...