94th Grey Cup
Encyclopedia
The 94th Grey Cup game took place on November 19, 2006, at Canad Inns Stadium
in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
before 44,786 fans. Ticket prices ranged from $141 and $275.The game decided the championship of the 2006 Canadian Football League season
. The BC Lions
defeated the Montreal Alouettes
, 25-14.
Festival consisted of four nights of entertainment at the Winnipeg Convention Centre
, special events at the brand-new MTS Centre
in the heart of the city, and a music festival in nightclubs around town. Regular fan favourite festivities include the CFL Player Awards and the Grey Cup Parade, the Grey Cup Gala Dinner, and the CFL Fan Experience – a family event featuring memorabilia, autographs, and interactive football. Famous musicians performed during the week long festival that included Kenny Rogers
, The Beach Boys
, Sam Roberts Band, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider
. At the game, Canadian Idol
winner, Eva Avila
sung the national anthem
and Nelly Furtado
performed at the halftime show, singing her two latest hits; "Promiscuous
" (with Saukrates
) and "Maneater
".
TSN
unveiled the TSN Top 50 CFL Players
list as part of the Grey Cup week festivities.
; FGs Paul McCallum
(6); cons., McCallum
.
Montreal Alouettes (14) - TDs, Robert Edwards
; FGs Damon Duval
; cons., Duval
; safety touch (2).
First Quarter
BC—FG McCallum 34-yard field goal 4:49 3 - 0 BC
BC—FG McCallum 35-yard field goal 12:26 6 - 0 BC
BC—FG McCallum 24-yard field goal 14:15 9 - 0 BC
Second Quarter
BC—TD Smart 25-yard run (McCallum convert) 4:12 16 - 0 BC
MTL—FG Duval 43-yard field goal 13:18 16 - 3 BC
BC—FG McCallum 30-yard field goal 15:00 19 - 3 BC
Third Quarter
MTL—Safety McCallum concedes in end zone 8:47 19 - 5 BC
MTL—TD Edwards 2-yard run (Duval convert)13:00 19 - 12 BC
Fourth Quarter
BC—FG McCallum 21-yard field goal 4:17 22 - 12 BC
BC—FG McCallum 47-yard field goal 6:28 25 - 12 BC
MTL—Safety McCallum concedes in end zone 13:17 25 - 14 BC
Montreal
won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. BC elected to go on defence on the first series, and Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo
threw two incomplete passes to begin the game. BC quarterback Dave Dickenson
responded with four consecutive passes before rushing for a 12-yard gain setting up a first down on the Montreal 32. Two plays later, BC settled for a Paul McCallum
34-yard field goal to go ahead 3-0.
The Als were forced to punt again on their second possession, putting the Lions on their own 18-yard line. Joe Smith
reeled off a 17-yard run on the first play, and after another first down, Dickenson hit Ryan Thelwell
with a 14-yard pass past midfield. Paris Jackson
made a 14-yard catch of his own but Buck Pierce
, filling in for Dickenson, was sacked for a nine-yard loss by Adriano Belli
. Dickenson came back in and hit Thelwell with a 16-yard pass, setting up a McCallum 35-yard field goal.
Aaron Hunt forced Calvillo to fumble on the next play, with Javier Glatt
recovering the ball on the Montreal 23. This set up another McCallum field goal, this one from 24 yards out. BC was in possession of the ball for 10:26 of the opening quarter.
The Als finally forced BC to punt early in the second quarter, but were pinned on their own two-yard line on a coffin corner punt. Montreal got one first down before being forced to punt again. Starting on his own 43-yard line, Jackson made a highlight reel 18-yard catch. Ian Smart took it 25 yards the rest of the way for the game’s opening touchdown.
After another two-and-out for the Als, the Montreal defence was able to stop the Lions on their own 28-yard line. Montreal got the ball back on its own 46 and got a couple of first downs to set up Damon Duval
field goal attempt from the 47 that was kicked wide left and returned out of the end zone to negate a single point.
The Als defence held again, giving Montreal possession on its own 48-yard line with 2:26 remaining in the half. Calvillo hit Ben Cahoon
for a 25-yard again. Duval was good on a 43-yard field goal, putting the Alouettes in flight.
McCallum booted a 30-yard field goal as the second half expired to put the Lions ahead 19-3.
Early in the third quarter, Dickenson appeared to fumble the ball on a sack by R-Kal Truluck
which was recovered by Chip Cox
who had nothing but daylight for a touchdown. But Jake Ireland
ruled Dickenson was down before the losing the ball, which was overturned by instant replay
, the first in Grey Cup
history. By rule, the Als got the ball on the BC 42, and were forced to punt. Duval got a coffin corner kick, pinning the Lions on their own one-yard line. McCallum ultimately conceded two points.
The Alouettes went to work from their own 35-yard line. Calvillo hit Mike Vilimek
on a 16-yard pass, then Cahoon with a 13-yard strike before calling his own number on a six-yard run. Robert Edwards
ran for seven yards, followed by Thyron Anderson’s 13-yard reception. Cahoon’s 11-yard grab and Edwards’ five-yard run before a BC offside penalty set up Edwards’ two-yard touchdown run. With the convert Montreal trailed 19-12.
Tim Strickland
almost came up with a diving interception on BC’s next series.
McCallum booted a 21-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to put the Lions in front by 10. He added a 47-yard field goal to tie a Grey Cup record with his sixth.
The most crucial play of the game came with 4:06 remaining in the 4th quarter. Calvillo drove the Alouettes down field within the Lions' 5 Yard line. On first down the Lions defense stuffed Edwards before the ball crossed the goal line. On the ensuing play, Calvillo again handed off to Edwards, but Javier Glatt
leaped over the Montreal offensive line and knocked the football from Edwards hands. Otis Floyd
recovered the ball for the Lions. At first, Jim Popp threw the challenge flag but later picked it up, a decision which would be criticized given the circumstance.
Even after such a swing in momentum, the Lions still had the ball at their one yard line. The ball was handed off to Smith, who gained short yardage. Faced with second and long, and possibility of a punt that would give Montreal great field position, Dickenson completed a crucial pass to Geroy Simon that gave the Lions a first down.
McCallum gave up another safety with 1:43 remaining to make the score 25-14, but the Alouettes couldn't get closer than the BC 15-yard line before time ran out.
Michael Bishop
spearheaded a late fourth quarter comeback, giving the Toronto Argonauts
a 31-27 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
in an East Division semifinal game at the Rogers Centre
.
Bishop completed touchdown passes to Arland Bruce and R. Jay Soward
in the final eight minutes, turning a 27-17 deficit into a chance to play the Montreal Alouettes
in the East Final.
Bishop came in for an ineffective Damon Allen
. Bishop finished 3-of-5 for 110 yards. Allen went 15-of-28 for 219 yard with a TD and an interception. Toronto head coach Mike "Pinball" Clemons
made the change under center to catch Winnipeg off guard and it worked.
Charles Roberts
had two touchdown runs for the Blue Bombers, who failed to hold on to the 10-point fourth-quarter lead. He ended with 30 rushed for 179 yards. After Winnipeg
went up 27-17 on Kevin Glenn
's 27-yard TD pass to Chris Brazzell
, the Argonauts began their comeback.
First, Bruce hauled in a 78-yard catch-and-run from Bishop, making it a 27-24 contest. Then, a little later, Bishop hit Soward for a 15-yard score to give the Argonauts the win. Winnipeg had one last chance, but Orlando Steinauer picked off Glenn inside the final minute at the Toronto 22. Glenn ended 12-of-22 for 224 yards with a TD and two picks.
Toronto led 6-3 after one quarter. The Argo's Noel Prefontaine
hit 37 and 28 yard field goals after Troy Westwood
opened the scoring with a 42-yarder for Winnipeg. Prefontaine made it a 7-3 game early in the second with a 25-yard single, but Westwood answered with a 23-yard field goal. Allen then hit Michael Palmer
with a 23-yard TD strike to make it 14-6 heading into halftime.
Winnipeg then scored 14 third-quarter points thanks to one-yard and 11-yard TD runs by Roberts. Toronto though drew within 20-17 on a Prefontaine 38-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
Kenton Keith
's 14-yard touchdown run with 2:20 remaining cemented a second-half comeback, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders
pulled out a gritty 30-21 win over the Calgary Stampeders
in the Western Division Semifinal at a chilly McMahon Stadium
.
Kerry Joseph
threw for 180 yards on 17-of-31 completions and one touchdown, and Keith finished the day with 141 yards on 16 carries and two scores. Defensive back, James Johnson
recorded two interceptions for the Roughriders, who ran off 25 unanswered points, 18 coming in the second-half. The Riders advanced to the West championship to take on the BC Lions
at BC Place Stadium
.
Henry Burris
completed 16-of-32 passes for 198 yards, no touchdowns, and was picked off four times and fumbled once. He did run for Calgary's only offensive touchdown in the game. Marcus Howell also took a punt 57 yards for a touchdown for the Stampeders, who hurt their cause by committing six turnovers. Trailing by nine points with little more than two minutes left, Calgary could not score on either of their last two possessions. On the first chance, kicker Sandro DeAngelis
pushed a 40-yard field goal attempt wide right. Their final charge saw Burris throw two balls into the end zone that were batted down by defenders, and the third-down attempt picked off to end the game.
Calgary led after one quarter, 4-3, on a DeAngelis 39-yard kick and a single. Things picked up in the second, as the Riders went ahead, 5-4, on a safety concession. The Stampeders regained the lead, 11-5, when Howell electrified the home crowd with his punt return touchdown. The lead was boosted to 14-5 on a successful 25-yard DeAngelis field goal attempt. Calgary increased the margin to 21-5 when Burris sneaked over the goal line amidst a mass of bodies from two yards out, but the Riders closed out the first half strongly. Joseph led the charge from his own 35 yard line and hooked up with Matt Dominguez
for a 22-yard strike, capping an eight-play, 75-yard drive which closed the gap to 21-12 at the break.
The Riders came out blazing in the second half. After taking the opening kickoff to their own 34, Keith found a seam up the middle on the first play from scrimmage and bolted 76 yards for the score, cutting the Calgary lead to two at 21-19. The lead was trimmed closer to 21-20 when Howell decided to run out of the back of the end zone rather than fielding a Luca Congi
punt, granting Saskatchewan a valuable point. When Congi split the uprights from 41 yards out with 10:26 left in the fourth, the Riders had their first lead since the second quarter. His three points were set up when Eddie Davis
intercepted a Burris pass which gave Saskatchewan the ball in Calgary territory.
Joseph and the Roughriders then put the nail in the Stampeders' coffin. A four-play, 66-yard drive was highlighted by Corey Grant
's 37-yard reception down to the Calgary 25. Two plays later, Keith's run provided insurance for the victory.
Robert Edwards
rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown as Montreal
advanced to the Grey Cup
with a 33-24 victory over the Toronto Argonauts
in the East Division final. The Alouettes will now face the BC Lions
for the CFL championship.
Anthony Calvillo
completed 14-of-22 passes for 252 yards with a touchdown and an interception for Montreal (11-8), who own a 4-1 record against the Argonauts in the last five East finals. Bishop
replaced an ineffective Damon Allen
in the second half and almost rallied Toronto to victory. The former Heisman Trophy
finalist from Kansas State University
completed 17-of-24 passes for 159 yards with two touchdowns and a pick for the Argonauts (11-9).
In what was most likely his last CFL action, Ricky Williams
ran nine times for 57 yards and a touchdown, while also catching three passes for 34 yards. Williams signed with Toronto after he violated the NFL's substance abuse policy for the fourth time, resulting in a one-year suspension from the league.
Trailing 30-10 in the fourth quarter, Bishop orchestrated two late scoring drives to pull Toronto within six. Bishop first hooked up with Michael Palmer
for an 11-yard touchdown that made it a 30-17 games. A pass-interference call in the end zone later in the fourth gave the Argonauts a first down on the one-yard and Williams dove across the goal line to cut Toronto's deficit to six, 30-24. However, Damon Duval
nailed a 44-yard field goal to ice the game and send Montreal to the Grey Cup.
The Alouettes drew first blood on Duval's 37-yard boot in the first quarter, but Toronto answered with Noel Prefonatine's 22-yard kick. Montreal then outscored Toronto 13-0 in the second quarter to take a 16-3 lead into the break. Duval connected on a 41-yard kick before Edwards' TD run from four yards out. Duval's 22-yard field goal with two seconds left in the first half gave the Alouettes a 13-point lead.
Toronto appeared to build some momentum to start the second half, as Bashir Levingston
returned the kickoff 50 yards deep into Montreal territory. However, on the Argonauts' first play from scrimmage, Mark Estelle
stepped in front of an Allen pass and ran it back 78-yards for at touchdown.
Bishop then took over for Allen on Toronto's next possession and found Arland Bruce for a 23-yard touchdown reception that made it 23-10. The Argonauts then got the ball back with a chance to build off the momentum from Bruce's TD, but an overturned call on a Williams' fumble changed the complexion of the game. Williams was originally ruled down on a run, but Montreal challenged the call and the ruling was reversed.
On the next play, Calvillo hooked up with Thyron Anderson for a 57-yard touchdown that made it a 30-10 game.
Dave Dickenson
completed 27-of-37 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns, as the BC Lions
destroyed the Saskatchewan Roughriders
, 45-18, to score a franchise playoff-record points total and reach the Grey Cup
against Montreal
. The Lions will play the Montreal Alouettes
, who beat the Toronto Argonauts
33-24 in the East Final. BC, who finished first in the West Division for the third straight season, lost the 2004 Grey Cup to Toronto and were downed by Edmonton
in the 2005 West Final.
Joe Smith
rushed for 116 yards on 19 carries for the Lions, who finished first in the West Division with the league's best record at 13-5. Paris Jackson
caught two touchdowns with 66 receiving yards and Jason Clermont
had 98 receiving yards on nine catches.
Kerry Joseph
completed 15-of-23 passes for 210 yards with one interception and one touchdown for the Roughriders (9-9), who qualified for the division final by upsetting Calgary
, 30-21. Kenton Keith
scored a pair of third-quarter touchdowns.
BC
got going on a 21-yard field goal by Paul McCallum
with 11:40 remaining in the first. Saskatchewan
answered on a 40-yarder by Luca Congi
with 2:39 to go for a 3-3 first quarter score. BC blew the game open with a 26-point second quarter. Dickenson hooked up with Jackson on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 11:55 left in the second. Congi then conceded a safety with 10:20 to go for a 12-3 BC lead. About five minutes later, Dickenson found Smith for a five-yard touchdown pass. McCallum kicked a 20-yard field goal with 1:26 remaining, and the Lions mustered another score when Dickenson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jackson with just 21 seconds on the clock.
Saskatchewan finally got a point as Congi converted a 22-yard single as time expired for a 29-4 advantage. McCallum kicked a 37-yard field goal with 9:38 to go in the third before the Roughriders got going. First, Joseph hooked up with Keith on a 38-yard touchdown pass with a little over two minutes to go. Then, after Geroy Simon fumbled, Keith kept the ball on the ground next for a four-yard rushing touchdown as time expired for a 32-18 Saskatchewan deficit.
The Lions put the game away in the fourth. McCallum kicked a pair of field goals of 18 yards and 41 yards, respectively. Smith then scored a six-yard rushing touchdown with 2:30 remaining for the final margin.
Canad Inns Stadium
Canad Inns Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located north of Polo Park Shopping Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Stadium, named for hotel chain Canad Inns, and originally completed in 1953, seats 29,533 for football...
in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
before 44,786 fans. Ticket prices ranged from $141 and $275.The game decided the championship of the 2006 Canadian Football League season
2006 CFL season
-2006 Rogers CFL Awards:* CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Geroy Simon , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions...
. 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...
defeated the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, 25-14.
Grey Cup Festivities
The Grey CupGrey 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...
Festival consisted of four nights of entertainment at the Winnipeg Convention Centre
Winnipeg Convention Centre
The Winnipeg Convention Centre is a major meeting and convention facility located in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.The publicly-owned facility was built in 1975, and was among the first such facilities built in Canada...
, special events at the brand-new MTS Centre
MTS Centre
The MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
in the heart of the city, and a music festival in nightclubs around town. Regular fan favourite festivities include the CFL Player Awards and the Grey Cup Parade, the Grey Cup Gala Dinner, and the CFL Fan Experience – a family event featuring memorabilia, autographs, and interactive football. Famous musicians performed during the week long festival that included Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
, The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, Sam Roberts Band, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider
Red Rider
Red Rider are a Canadian rock band popular in the 1980s. While the band achieved great success in Canada, in the US, the band never had a song in the Top 40....
. At the game, Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
winner, Eva Avila
Eva Avila
Eva Avila is a singer and songwriter. She won the fourth season of the CTV reality show Canadian Idol in 2006.-Early life:...
sung the national anthem
O Canada
It has been noted that the opening theme of "O Canada" bears a strong resemblance to the "Marsch der Priester" , from the opera Die Zauberflöte , composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and that Lavallée's melody was inspired by Mozart's tune...
and Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
performed at the halftime show, singing her two latest hits; "Promiscuous
Promiscuous (song)
"Promiscuous" is a dance-pop/R&B song by Canadian recording artist Nelly Furtado, from the album, Loose . It was written by Furtado, Timothy "Attitude" Clayton, Timbaland and Nate "Danja" Hills, with the latter pair handling production of the song...
" (with Saukrates
Saukrates
Karl Amani Wailoo , better known by his stage name Saukrates , is a Canadian rapper, singer, and record producer of Guyanese descent. He is the co-founder of Capitol Hill Music, and lead singer of hip-hop/R&B group Big Black Lincoln...
) and "Maneater
Maneater (Nelly Furtado song)
"Maneater" is a song written by Nelly Furtado, Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley, Jim Beanz and Nate "Danja" Hills for Furtado's third album, Loose . It was co-produced by Timbaland and Danja and includes influences of 1980s music by artists such as Eurythmics and Hall & Oates...
".
TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
unveiled the TSN Top 50 CFL Players
TSN Top 50 CFL Players
The TSN Top 50 CFL Players was a list of the greatest fifty Canadian Football League players, as selected by a panel of sixty former CFL players, then-current and former coaches, executives, and media members in 2006. The panel was assembled by sports television network TSN in partnership with the...
list as part of the Grey Cup week festivities.
Game summary
BC Lions (25) - TDs, Ian SmartIan Smart
Ian Smart is a CFL kick returner and running back who is currently a free agent. Smart wears number 2 and went to C.W. Post College where he rushed for 2,536 yards in 2001....
; FGs Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum is a professional Canadian football player currently playing as a placekicker and punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
(6); cons., McCallum
Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum is a professional Canadian football player currently playing as a placekicker and punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
.
Montreal Alouettes (14) - TDs, Robert Edwards
Robert Edwards (football player)
Robert Lee Edwards, III is a former NFL and CFL running back. Originally drafted by the New England Patriots, he also played for the Miami Dolphins and Montreal Alouettes before ending his career with the Toronto Argonauts....
; FGs Damon Duval
Damon Duval
Damon Duval is a professional Kicker and Punter for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Raised by his mother, Cynthia, Damon attended Central High School in Harrison, Tennessee. At age 13, he played professional soccer in the United States Indoor Soccer League as a Striker for...
; cons., Duval
Damon Duval
Damon Duval is a professional Kicker and Punter for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Raised by his mother, Cynthia, Damon attended Central High School in Harrison, Tennessee. At age 13, he played professional soccer in the United States Indoor Soccer League as a Striker for...
; safety touch (2).
First Quarter
BC—FG McCallum 34-yard field goal 4:49 3 - 0 BC
BC—FG McCallum 35-yard field goal 12:26 6 - 0 BC
BC—FG McCallum 24-yard field goal 14:15 9 - 0 BC
Second Quarter
BC—TD Smart 25-yard run (McCallum convert) 4:12 16 - 0 BC
MTL—FG Duval 43-yard field goal 13:18 16 - 3 BC
BC—FG McCallum 30-yard field goal 15:00 19 - 3 BC
Third Quarter
MTL—Safety McCallum concedes in end zone 8:47 19 - 5 BC
MTL—TD Edwards 2-yard run (Duval convert)13:00 19 - 12 BC
Fourth Quarter
BC—FG McCallum 21-yard field goal 4:17 22 - 12 BC
BC—FG McCallum 47-yard field goal 6:28 25 - 12 BC
MTL—Safety McCallum concedes in end zone 13:17 25 - 14 BC
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. BC elected to go on defence on the first series, and Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo is a Canadian Football League quarterback, currently playing for the Montreal Alouettes. He is the all-time professional football passing yards leader and first in all-time CFL passing yards...
threw two incomplete passes to begin the game. BC quarterback Dave Dickenson
Dave Dickenson
David Dickenson is a former professional Canadian football player with the Calgary Stampeders and the BC Lions. Dickenson also played quarterback collegiately at the University of Montana, where he led the Montana Grizzlies to the 1995 NCAA I-AA college football championship.-High school...
responded with four consecutive passes before rushing for a 12-yard gain setting up a first down on the Montreal 32. Two plays later, BC settled for a Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum is a professional Canadian football player currently playing as a placekicker and punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
34-yard field goal to go ahead 3-0.
The Als were forced to punt again on their second possession, putting the Lions on their own 18-yard line. Joe Smith
Joe Smith (football player)
Joseph O’Brien "Joe" Smith is a professional football player in the Canadian Football League who is a free agent. Smith plays the running back position...
reeled off a 17-yard run on the first play, and after another first down, Dickenson hit Ryan Thelwell
Ryan Thelwell
Ryan Thelwell is a professional Canadian football wide receiver for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He is known to the Lions' fans as "Automatic" . Thelwell played college football with the University of Minnesota...
with a 14-yard pass past midfield. Paris Jackson
Paris Jackson
Paris Jackson is a professional Canadian football slotback for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted sixth overall by the Lions in the 2003 CFL Draft and signed with the team on August 30, 2003...
made a 14-yard catch of his own but Buck Pierce
Buck Pierce
Buck James Pierce is a professional Canadian football quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Pierce signed with the Blue Bombers for the 2010 CFL season after he was released by the BC Lions, the team he spent the first five years of his professional career with...
, filling in for Dickenson, was sacked for a nine-yard loss by Adriano Belli
Adriano Belli
Adriano Belli is a former defensive tackle in the Canadian Football League. Belli is nicknamed "The Kissing Bandit" for his penchant for kissing people on their cheeks...
. Dickenson came back in and hit Thelwell with a 16-yard pass, setting up a McCallum 35-yard field goal.
Aaron Hunt forced Calvillo to fumble on the next play, with Javier Glatt
Javier Glatt
Javier Glatt is a retired professional Canadian football linebacker who played for eight seasons in the Canadian Football League...
recovering the ball on the Montreal 23. This set up another McCallum field goal, this one from 24 yards out. BC was in possession of the ball for 10:26 of the opening quarter.
The Als finally forced BC to punt early in the second quarter, but were pinned on their own two-yard line on a coffin corner punt. Montreal got one first down before being forced to punt again. Starting on his own 43-yard line, Jackson made a highlight reel 18-yard catch. Ian Smart took it 25 yards the rest of the way for the game’s opening touchdown.
After another two-and-out for the Als, the Montreal defence was able to stop the Lions on their own 28-yard line. Montreal got the ball back on its own 46 and got a couple of first downs to set up Damon Duval
Damon Duval
Damon Duval is a professional Kicker and Punter for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Raised by his mother, Cynthia, Damon attended Central High School in Harrison, Tennessee. At age 13, he played professional soccer in the United States Indoor Soccer League as a Striker for...
field goal attempt from the 47 that was kicked wide left and returned out of the end zone to negate a single point.
The Als defence held again, giving Montreal possession on its own 48-yard line with 2:26 remaining in the half. Calvillo hit Ben Cahoon
Ben Cahoon
Ben Cahoon is a former professional Canadian football slotback in the Canadian Football League who spent his entire career with the Montreal Alouettes...
for a 25-yard again. Duval was good on a 43-yard field goal, putting the Alouettes in flight.
McCallum booted a 30-yard field goal as the second half expired to put the Lions ahead 19-3.
Early in the third quarter, Dickenson appeared to fumble the ball on a sack by R-Kal Truluck
R-Kal Truluck
R-Kal K-Quan Truluck is a retired American professional football player. His full name translates to "ruler of the lake" in Swahili.-Early life:...
which was recovered by Chip Cox
Chip Cox
Chip Cox is a Canadian football linebacker for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.-High school career:...
who had nothing but daylight for a touchdown. But Jake Ireland
Jake Ireland
John "Jake" Ireland is a former referee in the Canadian Football League, who wore uniform number 62, and current lead replay official for the league's instant replay command centre.-Life:...
ruled Dickenson was down before the losing the ball, which was overturned by instant replay
Instant replay
Instant replay is the replaying of video footage of an event or incident very soon after it has occurred. In television broadcasting of sports events, instant replay is often used during live broadcast, to show a passage of play which was important or remarkable, or which was unclear on first...
, the first 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. By rule, the Als got the ball on the BC 42, and were forced to punt. Duval got a coffin corner kick, pinning the Lions on their own one-yard line. McCallum ultimately conceded two points.
The Alouettes went to work from their own 35-yard line. Calvillo hit Mike Vilimek
Mike Vilimek
Mike Vilimek was a professional Canadian football player who is currently retired. Vilimek played the fullback position. During the offseasons, Vilimek held marketing and business development positions at Ballard Power Systems, Protexis Inc., InsiderTrading Inc., and Serebra Learning Corp...
on a 16-yard pass, then Cahoon with a 13-yard strike before calling his own number on a six-yard run. Robert Edwards
Robert Edwards (football player)
Robert Lee Edwards, III is a former NFL and CFL running back. Originally drafted by the New England Patriots, he also played for the Miami Dolphins and Montreal Alouettes before ending his career with the Toronto Argonauts....
ran for seven yards, followed by Thyron Anderson’s 13-yard reception. Cahoon’s 11-yard grab and Edwards’ five-yard run before a BC offside penalty set up Edwards’ two-yard touchdown run. With the convert Montreal trailed 19-12.
Tim Strickland
Tim Strickland
Timothy Strickland is a former Canadian Football League linebacker who played six seasons in the CFL for the Montreal Alouettes. He was an Eastern Division All-Star three times.- External links :...
almost came up with a diving interception on BC’s next series.
McCallum booted a 21-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to put the Lions in front by 10. He added a 47-yard field goal to tie a Grey Cup record with his sixth.
The most crucial play of the game came with 4:06 remaining in the 4th quarter. Calvillo drove the Alouettes down field within the Lions' 5 Yard line. On first down the Lions defense stuffed Edwards before the ball crossed the goal line. On the ensuing play, Calvillo again handed off to Edwards, but Javier Glatt
Javier Glatt
Javier Glatt is a retired professional Canadian football linebacker who played for eight seasons in the Canadian Football League...
leaped over the Montreal offensive line and knocked the football from Edwards hands. Otis Floyd
Otis Floyd
Otis Floyd is a Retired gridiron football linebacker He most recently played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.-Professional career:...
recovered the ball for the Lions. At first, Jim Popp threw the challenge flag but later picked it up, a decision which would be criticized given the circumstance.
Even after such a swing in momentum, the Lions still had the ball at their one yard line. The ball was handed off to Smith, who gained short yardage. Faced with second and long, and possibility of a punt that would give Montreal great field position, Dickenson completed a crucial pass to Geroy Simon that gave the Lions a first down.
McCallum gave up another safety with 1:43 remaining to make the score 25-14, but the Alouettes couldn't get closer than the BC 15-yard line before time ran out.
Trivia
- This was BC Lions' fifth Grey Cup.
- After the game, the Lions broke the Grey CupGrey CupThe 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...
off its base during their on-field celebrations. - The last Grey Cup game to be hosted in Winnipeg before this was the 86th Grey Cup86th Grey CupThe 86th Grey Cup was held in 1998 in Winnipeg. The Calgary Stampeders won the game over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with a score of 26-24.-Game summary:...
in 19981998 CFL season-1998 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Mike Pringle , Montreal Alouettes*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Mike Morreale , Hamilton Tiger-Cats*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Joe Montford , Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
.
Scotiabank East Semi-Finals
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
3 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 27 |
| 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... |
6 | 8 | 0 | 17 | 31 |
Michael Bishop
Michael Bishop (football player)
Michael Paul Bishop is a professional football quarterback who is currently on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Practice Squad. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots....
spearheaded a late fourth quarter comeback, giving 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...
a 31-27 win over 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...
in an East Division semifinal game at the Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
.
Bishop completed touchdown passes to Arland Bruce and R. Jay Soward
R. Jay Soward
Rodney Jay Soward is a football player who currently plays for the IFL's Wenatchee Valley Venom as a wide receiver.-College career:...
in the final eight minutes, turning a 27-17 deficit into a chance to play the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
in the East Final.
Bishop came in for an ineffective 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...
. Bishop finished 3-of-5 for 110 yards. Allen went 15-of-28 for 219 yard with a TD and an interception. Toronto head coach Mike "Pinball" Clemons
Pinball Clemons
Michael Lutrell "Pinball" Clemons, O.Ont is the current Vice-Chair for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Clemons also played with the Argos for twelve seasons, and twice served as their head coach. His No. 31 jersey is one of only four that has been retired by the Argos...
made the change under center to catch Winnipeg off guard and it worked.
Charles Roberts
Charles Roberts (football player)
Charles Roberts is a free agent running back who most recently played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and BC Lions in the Canadian Football League.-College:...
had two touchdown runs for the Blue Bombers, who failed to hold on to the 10-point fourth-quarter lead. He ended with 30 rushed for 179 yards. After Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
went up 27-17 on Kevin Glenn
Kevin Glenn
Kevin Glenn, Jr. is a professional Canadian football quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
's 27-yard TD pass to Chris Brazzell
Chris Brazzell
Chris Brazzell is a retired Canadian Football League wide receiver.-College career:Brazzell played the final two seasons of his collegiate career with the Angelo State University Rams after playing the previous two years for the Blinn College Buccaneers...
, the Argonauts began their comeback.
First, Bruce hauled in a 78-yard catch-and-run from Bishop, making it a 27-24 contest. Then, a little later, Bishop hit Soward for a 15-yard score to give the Argonauts the win. Winnipeg had one last chance, but Orlando Steinauer picked off Glenn inside the final minute at the Toronto 22. Glenn ended 12-of-22 for 224 yards with a TD and two picks.
Toronto led 6-3 after one quarter. The Argo's Noel Prefontaine
Noel Prefontaine
Noel Prefontaine is a professional Canadian football punter / kicker with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.- Early years :...
hit 37 and 28 yard field goals after Troy Westwood
Troy Westwood
Troy Westwood is a Canadian Football League place kicker and punter who played 17 years for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers....
opened the scoring with a 42-yarder for Winnipeg. Prefontaine made it a 7-3 game early in the second with a 25-yard single, but Westwood answered with a 23-yard field goal. Allen then hit Michael Palmer
Michael Palmer
Michael Palmer is an American poet and translator. He attended Harvard University where he earned a BA in French and a MA in Comparative Literature. He has worked extensively with Contemporary dance for over thirty years and has collaborated with many composers and visual artists...
with a 23-yard TD strike to make it 14-6 heading into halftime.
Winnipeg then scored 14 third-quarter points thanks to one-yard and 11-yard TD runs by Roberts. Toronto though drew within 20-17 on a Prefontaine 38-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
Scotiabank West Semi-Finals
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
3 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 30 |
| Calgary Stampeders Calgary Stampeders The 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... |
4 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Kenton Keith
Kenton Keith
Kenton Jermaine Keith is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders as an undrafted free agent in 2003...
's 14-yard touchdown run with 2:20 remaining cemented a second-half comeback, as 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...
pulled out a gritty 30-21 win over the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The 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...
in the Western Division Semifinal at a chilly McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society....
.
Kerry Joseph
Kerry Joseph
Kerry Tremaine Joseph is a quarterback who is currently playing for the Edmonton Eskimos. He was born in New Iberia, Louisiana....
threw for 180 yards on 17-of-31 completions and one touchdown, and Keith finished the day with 141 yards on 16 carries and two scores. Defensive back, James Johnson
James Johnson (football player)
James Johnson is a professional Canadian football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League....
recorded two interceptions for the Roughriders, who ran off 25 unanswered points, 18 coming in the second-half. The Riders advanced to the West championship to take on 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...
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...
.
Henry Burris
Henry Burris
Henry Burris, Jr. is a professional Canadian and former American football player. Burris plays the quarterback position with the Canadian Football League Calgary Stampeders. Burris spent one year as a reserve quarterback for the National Football League's Chicago Bears...
completed 16-of-32 passes for 198 yards, no touchdowns, and was picked off four times and fumbled once. He did run for Calgary's only offensive touchdown in the game. Marcus Howell also took a punt 57 yards for a touchdown for the Stampeders, who hurt their cause by committing six turnovers. Trailing by nine points with little more than two minutes left, Calgary could not score on either of their last two possessions. On the first chance, kicker Sandro DeAngelis
Sandro DeAngelis
Sandro DeAngelis is a gridiron football placekicker with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He has also been a member of the Calgary Stampeders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. DeAngelis is the most accurate kicker in CFL history and he won his first Grey Cup championship with the...
pushed a 40-yard field goal attempt wide right. Their final charge saw Burris throw two balls into the end zone that were batted down by defenders, and the third-down attempt picked off to end the game.
Calgary led after one quarter, 4-3, on a DeAngelis 39-yard kick and a single. Things picked up in the second, as the Riders went ahead, 5-4, on a safety concession. The Stampeders regained the lead, 11-5, when Howell electrified the home crowd with his punt return touchdown. The lead was boosted to 14-5 on a successful 25-yard DeAngelis field goal attempt. Calgary increased the margin to 21-5 when Burris sneaked over the goal line amidst a mass of bodies from two yards out, but the Riders closed out the first half strongly. Joseph led the charge from his own 35 yard line and hooked up with Matt Dominguez
Matt Dominguez
Matt Pilar Dominguez is an American and Canadian football wide receiver free agent. He was originally signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football at Sam Houston State....
for a 22-yard strike, capping an eight-play, 75-yard drive which closed the gap to 21-12 at the break.
The Riders came out blazing in the second half. After taking the opening kickoff to their own 34, Keith found a seam up the middle on the first play from scrimmage and bolted 76 yards for the score, cutting the Calgary lead to two at 21-19. The lead was trimmed closer to 21-20 when Howell decided to run out of the back of the end zone rather than fielding a Luca Congi
Luca Congi
Luca Congi is a punter/placekicker playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League....
punt, granting Saskatchewan a valuable point. When Congi split the uprights from 41 yards out with 10:26 left in the fourth, the Riders had their first lead since the second quarter. His three points were set up when Eddie Davis
Eddie Davis (football player)
Eddie Davis is a defensive halfback with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He played his college football for Northern Illinois University. He is often teamed one-on-one with the oppositions best receiver. The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced his retirement on...
intercepted a Burris pass which gave Saskatchewan the ball in Calgary territory.
Joseph and the Roughriders then put the nail in the Stampeders' coffin. A four-play, 66-yard drive was highlighted by Corey Grant
Corey Grant
Corey Grant is a former professional wide receiver who most recently played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League....
's 37-yard reception down to the Calgary 25. Two plays later, Keith's run provided insurance for the victory.
Scotiabank East Championship
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
3 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
| Montreal Alouettes Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions... |
3 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 33 |
Robert Edwards
Robert Edwards (football player)
Robert Lee Edwards, III is a former NFL and CFL running back. Originally drafted by the New England Patriots, he also played for the Miami Dolphins and Montreal Alouettes before ending his career with the Toronto Argonauts....
rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown as Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
advanced to the 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...
with a 33-24 victory over 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...
in the East Division final. The Alouettes will now face 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...
for the CFL championship.
Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo is a Canadian Football League quarterback, currently playing for the Montreal Alouettes. He is the all-time professional football passing yards leader and first in all-time CFL passing yards...
completed 14-of-22 passes for 252 yards with a touchdown and an interception for Montreal (11-8), who own a 4-1 record against the Argonauts in the last five East finals. Bishop
Michael Bishop (football player)
Michael Paul Bishop is a professional football quarterback who is currently on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Practice Squad. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots....
replaced an ineffective 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...
in the second half and almost rallied Toronto to victory. The former Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
finalist from Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
completed 17-of-24 passes for 159 yards with two touchdowns and a pick for the Argonauts (11-9).
In what was most likely his last CFL action, Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams, Jr. is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
ran nine times for 57 yards and a touchdown, while also catching three passes for 34 yards. Williams signed with Toronto after he violated the NFL's substance abuse policy for the fourth time, resulting in a one-year suspension from the league.
Trailing 30-10 in the fourth quarter, Bishop orchestrated two late scoring drives to pull Toronto within six. Bishop first hooked up with Michael Palmer
Michael Palmer
Michael Palmer is an American poet and translator. He attended Harvard University where he earned a BA in French and a MA in Comparative Literature. He has worked extensively with Contemporary dance for over thirty years and has collaborated with many composers and visual artists...
for an 11-yard touchdown that made it a 30-17 games. A pass-interference call in the end zone later in the fourth gave the Argonauts a first down on the one-yard and Williams dove across the goal line to cut Toronto's deficit to six, 30-24. However, Damon Duval
Damon Duval
Damon Duval is a professional Kicker and Punter for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Raised by his mother, Cynthia, Damon attended Central High School in Harrison, Tennessee. At age 13, he played professional soccer in the United States Indoor Soccer League as a Striker for...
nailed a 44-yard field goal to ice the game and send Montreal to the Grey Cup.
The Alouettes drew first blood on Duval's 37-yard boot in the first quarter, but Toronto answered with Noel Prefonatine's 22-yard kick. Montreal then outscored Toronto 13-0 in the second quarter to take a 16-3 lead into the break. Duval connected on a 41-yard kick before Edwards' TD run from four yards out. Duval's 22-yard field goal with two seconds left in the first half gave the Alouettes a 13-point lead.
Toronto appeared to build some momentum to start the second half, as Bashir Levingston
Bashir Levingston
Bashir A. Levingston [ba-SHAR] is a professional Canadian football cornerback and kick returner in the Canadian Football League who is currently a free agent.-College football career:...
returned the kickoff 50 yards deep into Montreal territory. However, on the Argonauts' first play from scrimmage, Mark Estelle
Mark Estelle
Mark Estelle is a professional American and Canadian football defensive back for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League....
stepped in front of an Allen pass and ran it back 78-yards for at touchdown.
Bishop then took over for Allen on Toronto's next possession and found Arland Bruce for a 23-yard touchdown reception that made it 23-10. The Argonauts then got the ball back with a chance to build off the momentum from Bruce's TD, but an overturned call on a Williams' fumble changed the complexion of the game. Williams was originally ruled down on a run, but Montreal challenged the call and the ruling was reversed.
On the next play, Calvillo hooked up with Thyron Anderson for a 57-yard touchdown that made it a 30-10 game.
Scotiabank West Championship
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
3 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 18 |
| 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... |
3 | 26 | 3 | 13 | 45 |
Dave Dickenson
Dave Dickenson
David Dickenson is a former professional Canadian football player with the Calgary Stampeders and the BC Lions. Dickenson also played quarterback collegiately at the University of Montana, where he led the Montana Grizzlies to the 1995 NCAA I-AA college football championship.-High school...
completed 27-of-37 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns, as 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...
destroyed 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...
, 45-18, to score a franchise playoff-record points total and reach the 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...
against Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. The Lions will play the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, who beat 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...
33-24 in the East Final. BC, who finished first in the West Division for the third straight season, lost the 2004 Grey Cup to Toronto and were downed by Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
in the 2005 West Final.
Joe Smith
Joe Smith (football player)
Joseph O’Brien "Joe" Smith is a professional football player in the Canadian Football League who is a free agent. Smith plays the running back position...
rushed for 116 yards on 19 carries for the Lions, who finished first in the West Division with the league's best record at 13-5. Paris Jackson
Paris Jackson
Paris Jackson is a professional Canadian football slotback for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted sixth overall by the Lions in the 2003 CFL Draft and signed with the team on August 30, 2003...
caught two touchdowns with 66 receiving yards and Jason Clermont
Jason Clermont
Jason Clermont is a professional Canadian football slotback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League . Clermont started his professional career with the BC Lions after being selected in the 2002 CFL Draft...
had 98 receiving yards on nine catches.
Kerry Joseph
Kerry Joseph
Kerry Tremaine Joseph is a quarterback who is currently playing for the Edmonton Eskimos. He was born in New Iberia, Louisiana....
completed 15-of-23 passes for 210 yards with one interception and one touchdown for the Roughriders (9-9), who qualified for the division final by upsetting Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, 30-21. Kenton Keith
Kenton Keith
Kenton Jermaine Keith is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders as an undrafted free agent in 2003...
scored a pair of third-quarter touchdowns.
BC
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
got going on a 21-yard field goal by Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum is a professional Canadian football player currently playing as a placekicker and punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
with 11:40 remaining in the first. 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....
answered on a 40-yarder by Luca Congi
Luca Congi
Luca Congi is a punter/placekicker playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League....
with 2:39 to go for a 3-3 first quarter score. BC blew the game open with a 26-point second quarter. Dickenson hooked up with Jackson on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 11:55 left in the second. Congi then conceded a safety with 10:20 to go for a 12-3 BC lead. About five minutes later, Dickenson found Smith for a five-yard touchdown pass. McCallum kicked a 20-yard field goal with 1:26 remaining, and the Lions mustered another score when Dickenson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jackson with just 21 seconds on the clock.
Saskatchewan finally got a point as Congi converted a 22-yard single as time expired for a 29-4 advantage. McCallum kicked a 37-yard field goal with 9:38 to go in the third before the Roughriders got going. First, Joseph hooked up with Keith on a 38-yard touchdown pass with a little over two minutes to go. Then, after Geroy Simon fumbled, Keith kept the ball on the ground next for a four-yard rushing touchdown as time expired for a 32-18 Saskatchewan deficit.
The Lions put the game away in the fourth. McCallum kicked a pair of field goals of 18 yards and 41 yards, respectively. Smith then scored a six-yard rushing touchdown with 2:30 remaining for the final margin.