Game Recap
Chad Kelly came off the bench to lead the Toronto Argonauts to a come from behind 24-23 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 109th Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday.
A key scramble for Kelly late in the fourth quarter in a 2nd and 15 situation led to the game winning touchdown A.J. Ouellette as the Argos hung to the win after a dramatic ending that featured a pair of blocked field goals, including the blocked attempt on the Bombers Mike Liegghio’s attempt to put Winnipeg ahead in the final minute.
It was a tentative start offensively on both sides to start out the game with both the Argonauts and Blue Bombers offences going two and out to begin the game.
The only three points of the game came from the foot of Argos kicker Boris Bede who connected with a 46 yard field goal to give Toronto the early advantage.
Bede had a chance to double the Argos lead early in second quarter, but missed on a 36 yard field goal.
Following the missed field goal on the next play, the Bombers passing game began to open up as Dalton Schoen hauled in a 39 yard reception. The drive would end with the Bombers taking the lead after Dakota Prukop plunging across the goal line on a third and one.
Toronto was able to provide a quick response of their own on the next possession with Bede tying the game with his second field goal of the game to draw the game even at 7-7.
Winnipeg was able to take the lead late in the half with Liegghio hitting his first field goal of the evening on a 45 yard attempt.
After a longer than usual halftime, the Argonauts came out firing in the second half, a blitzing Chris Edwards sacked Collaros to force a quick two play opening drive in the second half.
With a short field, the Argos were able to take advantage as they scored their first touchdown of the game as Ouellette ran in a three yard touchdown, as the double blue regained the lead.
Winnipeg didn’t wait long to regain the lead on the following drive that was set up by a couple of key plays. Collaros was able to scramble out of a near sack and was able to find a Schoen for 26 yard reception to give the Bombers a new set of downs. It appeared the Blue Bombers had stalled on midfield after Shawn Oakman sacked Collaros, but the play was deemed void as Edwards was called for an offside penalty.
With new life on the drive, the Bombers marched the ball into the endzone as Prukop picked up his second touchdown of the game.
The most explosive play of the game happened on the first play in the fourth quarter as the Bombers Janarion Grant set a new Grey Cup record with a 102 yard punt return for a touchdown as the Blue Bombers took their biggest lead of the night as they led 23-14.
Bede would make it a one possession game for Toronto with his third goal of the night.
Chad Kelly had to come in relief for McLeod Bethel-Thompson late in the fourth quarter as the Argos starting quarterback sustained an injury to his thumb.
It appeared the Argos backs were against the walls following a personal foul penalty to Brandon Banks that set up Toronto with a long 2nd & 20 situation.
Following an offside penalty, Kelly then scrambled out of the Bombers pass rush, to gain a key first down for Toronto. The drive would end after Ouellette would score his second touchdown of the night.
On the ensuing drive, after the Argos dropped several interceptions throughout the game, Henoc Muamba managed to intercept Collaros for the Argos first interception off the Bombers starting quarterback.
Toronto tried to extend their lead to four, but Nick Hallett was able to block Bede’s field goal attempt to keep the margin at one point.
A rollercoaster of emotions on both sides took place, as Robbie Smith sacked Collaros setting up 3rd & 13 for the Bombers. It appeared the Argos had the game with a sack, but the drive was extended as Smith was called for face masking.
Winnipeg was able to drive the ball down inside of Argos territory setting Liegghio with a 47 yard attempt to win the game. But the Argos were able to block a field goal of their own with Smith being able to redeem with his mistake by blocking the Bombers field goal attempt.
Kelly returned to the field for a pair of kneel downs as the Argos defeated the Bombers 24-23.
Toronto claims the league leading 18th Grey Cup and ends Winnipeg’s streak of Grey Cups at two.
Muamba was named both the Most Outstanding Canadian and Most Outstanding Player for the Argos.
Bethel-Thompson ended with 207 yards passing. Cameron Phillips led the Argos receivers with four catches for 96 yards.
Defensively, Toronto ended up with four sacks and a pair of interceptions.
On the Winnipeg side, Collaros had 183 yards passing with an interception. Brady Oliveira had 82 yards rushing with Schoen ending up with three receptions for 78 yards.
Post Game Thoughts.
He didn’t win a Grey Cup in his start as a player, but Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie earned a Grey Cup victory in his first appearance as a head coach.
“Just shows how mature a football club we became, you know we had a few penalties, no one hit the panic button, they believed that they were going to find a way to get it done, it was going to take a full 60 minutes, to finish like that, pretty unique.”
Dinwiddie said after the game that Bethel-Thompson dislocated his thumb in the fourth quarter which forced him to turn to his backup quarterback in Kelly.
“They were working on it, seeing if he (Bethel-Thompson) could throw, you never, you know, expect to have to put your backup quarterback in that situation. ” He added that the confidence that Kelly contains was on full display tonight.
For Muamba, Sunday’s Grey Cup win was the crowning moment for his career.
“Just eleven years of hard work, eleven years I’ve been playing this game and all I ever wanted was to be great and to reach the pinnacle, man there’s nothing like it. ”
The Canadian linebacker said that he found a way to redeem himself with an interception in the fourth quarter after dropping one earlier in the game after several of his teammates and coaches were provided him with plenty of encouragement.
“Who am I not to have the confidence in myself when I have some people around me that believe in me so much, so greatly, you know when that second came, there was no way I was going to let it drop.”
Muamba added that he was proud of the way Harris was able to come back to the team after suffering a torn pectoral injury that many believed would end his season.
“The living legend, the way you see how he works, the way that he’s committed, he didn’t have to play this game, this week, last week, he didn’t have to, but he did it for us, he believed in us, he committed to us.”
For Harris, the win on Sunday marks his third straight Grey Cup after winning a pair with the Blue Bombers. The Winnipeg native isn’t sure what type of reaction he will get when he returns home.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be allowed in Winnipeg again. I might get stopped at the Ontario border when I’m driving back.” said the former Blue Bomber.
He also noted the Argos win on Sunday felt very similar to the Bombers victory over Hamilton in 2019.
“It just gives the underdogs hope, you know, gives them a little fire, everyone counted us out in 2019, and everyone counted us out today. ”
On the other side, for the Blue Bombers, the Grey Cup loss was a tough pill to swallow, for a team that almost seemed poised to claim their championship after Grant set a Grey Cup record with his return.
From Bombers head coach, Mike O’Shea’s perspective, the Argos made the big play, at the most important time of the game.
“You got a championship game, that ends with a one point difference, put ourselves in a position to win it in the end, you know they made a play.”
The crazy ending of the game was something that even a football veteran like O’Shea has never seen before.
“I think there has been one or two this year total, 80 or 90 games whatever it has been, so two in the last, nobody is going to be, well, they’re going to be happy with that last one.”
Despite injuring his ankle last week in the Western Final, Collaros started for Winnipeg, and O’Shea was proud of his QB.
“He’s the best quarterback in the league for a reason.” He added “I wouldn’t want anybody else out there.”
Collaros was quick to give credit to the Argos after the game.
“Usually comes down to a couple of plays, there’s certainly we want back, but they played a great game. ”
Offensively, the Bombers quarterback felt that his squad couldn’t get into rhythm.
“We weren’t efficient on first downs running or passing the football, it starts with me, I got to do a better job to help the team win. ”
But for the Argos, Sunday will go down as a special day, and for Dinwiddie he says that this was a special Argos team.
“I’m happy for my players, I mean that’s why you coach football, you know I just love seeing them smile, love those guys, they did a lot for me.”
There was only one way Dinwiddie could describe the conclusion of the Grey Cup.
“It was a storybook ending.”
