76th Grey Cup
Encyclopedia
The 76th Grey Cup was the 1988
Canadian Football League
championship game that was played at Lansdowne Park
in Ottawa
, between the BC Lions
and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
. The Blue Bombers defeated the favoured Lions 22-21. This was the first Grey Cup game between two teams from west of Ontario, and the first to be won by a team which had only a .500 season.
; FGs, Trevor Kennerd
(4); cons., Kennerd
; singles, Trevor Kennerd
, Bob Cameron (2).
BC Lions (21) - TDs, Anthony Cherry, David Williams
; FGs, Lui Passaglia
; cons., Passaglia
(2); singles, Passaglia
(2); safety touch.
The Lions jumped to a 7-1 lead in the opening quarter as running back Anthony Cherry scored on a 14-yard run. Kennerd kicked a 22-yard field goal to pull the Bombers within one.
With the wind at his back in the second quarter, Kennerd tied the score with a 43-yard field goal. But Lions quarterback Matt Dunigan
connected with David Williams
on a 26-yard scoring play, giving BC a 14-7 advantage.
The Bombers got that one back on their next possession. Quarterback Sean Salisbury
threw a 35-yard touchdown strike to James Murphy
to pull Winnipeg even. BC’s Lui Passaglia
failed on a 41-yard field goal attempt near the end of the half, but it did give the Lions a 15-14 lead at intermission.
Passaglia and Kennerd exchanged field goals in the third quarter. The game was deadlocked at 19 heading into the final 15 minutes.
With 2:55 remaining, Trevor Kennerd
kicked a 30-yard field goal to put the Bombers in front for the first time in the game. With the score 22-19 in favour of the Bombers, the Lions marched 75 yards downfield to the Winnipeg seven-yard line. Dunigan’s pass was batted down and intercepted in the end zone by Winnipeg’s Mike Gray
to snuff out the drive.
The BC defence held and Winnipeg head coach Mike Riley
elected to give up a safety in favour of better field position, cutting the margin to just one. The ensuing kickoff was returned by BC’s Anthony Drawhorn
38 yards to the BC 45-yard line, but the ball was brought back to the 30 when Cherry was flagged on a rough play penalty. The Lions couldn’t get anything going and the Bombers held on for the win.
until the 2004 Grey Cup.
1988 CFL season
The 1988 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 35th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 31st Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1988:...
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 Lansdowne Park
Frank Clair Stadium
Frank Clair Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Lansdowne Park, on the southern edge of The Glebe neighbourhood, where Bank Street crosses the Rideau Canal.-Tenants:...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, between the BC Lions
BC Lions
The 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...
and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The 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...
. The Blue Bombers defeated the favoured Lions 22-21. This was the first Grey Cup game between two teams from west of Ontario, and the first to be won by a team which had only a .500 season.
Game summary
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (22) - TDs, James MurphyJames Murphy (football player)
"James"Quick"Murphy was a receiver for 8 seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.-Career:...
; FGs, Trevor Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd was a kicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League from 1980-1991. He was a three-time CFL All-Star and helped the Blue Bombers to three Grey Cup victories , including kicking the winning field-goal in the 1988 Grey Cup...
(4); cons., Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd was a kicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League from 1980-1991. He was a three-time CFL All-Star and helped the Blue Bombers to three Grey Cup victories , including kicking the winning field-goal in the 1988 Grey Cup...
; singles, Trevor Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd was a kicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League from 1980-1991. He was a three-time CFL All-Star and helped the Blue Bombers to three Grey Cup victories , including kicking the winning field-goal in the 1988 Grey Cup...
, Bob Cameron (2).
BC Lions (21) - TDs, Anthony Cherry, David Williams
David Williams (wide receiver)
David Williams is a former American football wide receiver. Williams was named consensus All-American twice at the University of Illinois, and is an inducted member of the College Football Hall of Fame....
; FGs, Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
; cons., Passaglia
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
(2); singles, Passaglia
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
(2); safety touch.
The Lions jumped to a 7-1 lead in the opening quarter as running back Anthony Cherry scored on a 14-yard run. Kennerd kicked a 22-yard field goal to pull the Bombers within one.
With the wind at his back in the second quarter, Kennerd tied the score with a 43-yard field goal. But Lions 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...
connected with David Williams
David Williams (wide receiver)
David Williams is a former American football wide receiver. Williams was named consensus All-American twice at the University of Illinois, and is an inducted member of the College Football Hall of Fame....
on a 26-yard scoring play, giving BC a 14-7 advantage.
The Bombers got that one back on their next possession. Quarterback Sean Salisbury
Sean Salisbury
Richard Sean Salisbury is an American football analyst, former NFL and CFL quarterback, and actor.-Early life:Salisbury attended Orange Glen High School in Escondido, California...
threw a 35-yard touchdown strike to James Murphy
James Murphy (football player)
"James"Quick"Murphy was a receiver for 8 seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.-Career:...
to pull Winnipeg even. BC’s Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
failed on a 41-yard field goal attempt near the end of the half, but it did give the Lions a 15-14 lead at intermission.
Passaglia and Kennerd exchanged field goals in the third quarter. The game was deadlocked at 19 heading into the final 15 minutes.
With 2:55 remaining, Trevor Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd was a kicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League from 1980-1991. He was a three-time CFL All-Star and helped the Blue Bombers to three Grey Cup victories , including kicking the winning field-goal in the 1988 Grey Cup...
kicked a 30-yard field goal to put the Bombers in front for the first time in the game. With the score 22-19 in favour of the Bombers, the Lions marched 75 yards downfield to the Winnipeg seven-yard line. Dunigan’s pass was batted down and intercepted in the end zone by Winnipeg’s Mike Gray
Mike Gray (Canadian football)
Mike Gray is a former award winning and all-star Canadian Football League defensive tackle and Grey Cup champion.After playing his college football at the University of Oregon Gray started pro career with the British Columbia Lions in 1985. He played 16 games and had 13 sacks, good for an all-star...
to snuff out the drive.
The BC defence held and Winnipeg head coach Mike Riley
Mike Riley
Michael Joseph "Mike" Riley is an American football coach, currently the head coach of the Oregon State Beavers of the Pacific-12 Conference...
elected to give up a safety in favour of better field position, cutting the margin to just one. The ensuing kickoff was returned by BC’s Anthony Drawhorn
Anthony Drawhorn
Anthony Drawhorn was a football player in the Canadian Football League for ten years. Drawhorn played as a cornerback, halfback, and free safety for five different teams. He was a CFL All-Star five times. He played college football at UNLV.Drawhorn has 3 children.-References:...
38 yards to the BC 45-yard line, but the ball was brought back to the 30 when Cherry was flagged on a rough play penalty. The Lions couldn’t get anything going and the Bombers held on for the win.
Trivia
The 50,604 in attendance was the largest crowd to witness a football game in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
until the 2004 Grey Cup.
West Division
- Semi-final (November 13 @ Regina, SaskatchewanRegina, SaskatchewanRegina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
) 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...
42-18 Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan RoughridersThe 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...
- Final (November 20 @ Edmonton, Alberta) 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...
37-19 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...
East Division
- Semi-final (November 13 @ Winnipeg, Manitoba) Winnipeg 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...
35-28 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 20 @ Toronto, Ontario) Winnipeg 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...
27-11 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...