Posted on 11/25/2007 6:43:40 PM PST by Loyalist
TORONTO (CFL.ca wire) -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders have won their third Grey Cup in team history as they defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 in front of 52,230 at the 95th Grey Cup at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Quarterback Kerry Joseph drove the Roughriders 78 yards for their first offensive touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter putting the Roughriders ahead 23-14, connecting with Andy Fantuz on a 29-yard play. The drive was assisted on a pass interference penalty against Winnipeg's Kelly Malveaux.
The Blue Bombers pinned the Roughriders deep on their own nine-yard line on their next possession, and two incomplete passes later, Jamie Boreham conceded his third safety of the game, tying a Grey Cup record.
Troy Westwood’s 42-yard field goal with 3:47 remaining was helped set up by a pass interference call against Saskatchewan’s Lance Frazier who impeded Milt Stegall’s 41-yard reception attempt.
With one final drive by quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie and the Blue Bombers, James Johnson secured his third interception of the game, sealing the victory for the Roughriders and a Grey Cup record.
It was a nightmare start to the second half for the Blue Bombers. Under extreme pressure, Winnipeg quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie was stripped of the ball by John Chick which was recovered by Scott Schultz on the Winnipeg five-yard line. Dinwiddie was almost intercepted on a batted ball a play earlier, with Mike Abou-Mechrek almost coming up with the ball.
The Blue Bombers defence bailed Dinwiddie out, as Saskatchewan quarterback Kerry Joseph threw two incomplete passes resulting in a Luca Congi 17-yard field goal.
Dinwiddie came out firing after this, connecting on three passes for 85 yards, including a 50-yard strike to Derek Armstrong for Winnipeg’s first touchdown, giving the Blue Bombers a 14-13 lead. A 29-yard completion to Arjei Franklin was called back because of a holding penalty.
But Dinwiddie went to the well again with Stegall, but Johnson stepped in front of the receiver again for his second interception at midfield. Johnson tied a single game record shared with 10 others.
The Roughriders drove 50 yards, and appeared to be stopped on a third-and-inches gamble on the Winnipeg 10, but instant replay overturned the initial spot, giving Saskatchewan a first down. Winnipeg’s Anthony Malbrough batted an intended pass to D.J. Flick deep in the end zone, and the Roughriders had to settle for Luca Congi’s 12-yard field goal. Congi was successful on a 45-yard field goal as time expired in the half to give the Roughriders their first lead of the game.
It took a long time for Saskatchewan to finally get on the scoreboard, as with 2:34 remaining in the half, Dinwiddie was picked off by Johnson, who returned the ball 30 yards for a touchdown.
The Roughriders came close to getting their initial points of the game on the previous play. From the Winnipeg 13 yard line, Jerome Haywood forced Wes Cates to fumble while running towards the end zone, and after a mad scramble Ike Charlton of the Blue Bombers came up with the ball under a pile in the end zone.
It’s been that type of game for the Roughriders. Joseph, the CFL’s Outstanding Player in 2007, has struggled along with his receivers, going 7 for 20 for 88 yards, but has used his legs effectively to put a pair of promising drives together with runs of 35 and 24 yards. He also rushed eight yards for another first down late in the half.
Roughriders punter Boreham conceded a pair of safeties in the second quarter as the Blue Bombers have done a remarkable job of pinning the Roughriders deep in their territory.
Troy Westwood was good on a 16-yard field goal in the first quarter, but an assist could have been given to Stegall on the drive. The all-time CFL touchdown record holder, who may be playing his last game, caught passes of 16 and 42 yards to help set up the kick. The later was a highlight reel catch with Saskatchewan’s Eddie Davis providing almost perfect coverage.
The drive began when Joseph was intercepted by Greg Moss. Cam Hall drilled Joseph when he was making the throw to Jason French, and it was easily picked off with two Blue Bombers in the area.
It is clear Dinwiddie, making his first ever professional start at quarterback for the Blue Bombers, has made Stegall his favourite target. The Roughriders have begun to figure that out, as along with Johnson’s two interceptions they came close to picking off another pass intended for Stegall in the second quarter. The Winnipeg receiver has four catches for 85 yards.
The Roughriders had a chance to take a 3-0 early in the game lead but Congi missed a field goal from 42 yards out, kicking it left of the goal posts.
It was a slow start as both teams went two-and-out on their first possession.
Jason Nugent set a Grey Cup record with five special teams tackles, all in the first half.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
as I always say: if someone’s gonna win the greycup, let it be one of the Roughriders (or the other). Let’s face it — they had the cards and they played ‘em right.
Well, since Ottawa left the league in ‘96 there’s now only one Roughriders (with no space).
Congrats to Saskatchewan for their Grey Cup win. (I happen to be a CFL fan myself— unfortunately for me, I root for the closest team... league cellar-dweller Hamilton.)
I’m exuberant that we won, but it wasn’t an exiting game. It was defense that won us the game. Our receivers had rubbery hands tonight.
“(I happen to be a CFL fan myself—”
So am I. My first exposure to Canadian football was when I was an undergraduate at Simon Fraser University in Western Canada. I like the two downs for a first down rule, or you have to kick on the third down. The field is 10 yards longer and 5 or 6 yards wider. There is another man in Canadian football, generally a wide reciever. And you can have men in motion before the ball is snapped which can be pretty exciting if you watch football for excitement. :-)
Since moving back to the States I haven’t had much of a chance to watch Canadian ball but I do whenever the chance comes my way. Try it. You might like it.
Ah, the old Ti-Cats — I used to root for them back when they were really good, in the late 60s, early 70s, when I lived near N.Falls, NY, and they had a couple of ex-ASU players, Spagnola and Zuger.
What? Ottawa doesn’t have at team anymore? That’s how far outta the loop I have become.
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