hermhater
11-26-2007, 10:05 PM
Roughriders win 95th Grey Cup game
Don McGowan, CanWest News Service
There were cheers in Saskatchewan, tears in Manitoba.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 on Sunday in the 95th Grey Cup and became champions of the Canadian Football League.
A sellout crowd of close to 53,000 packed Rogers Centre to see the Roughriders - long considered the CFL's lovable losers - win just their third CFL title.
"It was a hard-fought victory that came down to the last 30 seconds," Roughriders defensive tackle Scott Schultz, a native of Moose Jaw, Sask., told CBC after the game. "It's unbelievable."
Saskatchewan defensive back James Johnson was named Most Valuable Player with a record three interceptions - the last coming with less than a minute to play and the Blue Bombers pushing for a game-winning touchdown.
Receiver Andy Fantuz of Chatham, Ont. - who was named the game's Outstanding Canadian - broke open a close match with a 29-yard touchdown catch that gave the Roughriders a 23-14 lead with about 11 minutes left to play.
It was the first time Winnipeg and Saskatchewan had met for the CFL championship.
The passionate fans from both Prairie cities brought Grey Cup fever to Toronto - and the vibe travelled halfway around the world.
At Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, the Saskatchewan provincial flag was hung over the main doorway the military base's recreation centre and by about 3 a.m. Kandahar time, a group of bleary-eyed Canadians stationed in the war-torn country were up and watching the game on TV.
"We're just lucky enough to be here in a situation to watch it," said Master Cpl. Charles Sanduliak of the Edmonton-based Lord Strathcona's Horse.
The Roughriders' first Grey Cup win came in 1966, the other in 1989 - when current Roughriders coach Kent Austin quarterbacked the team to a 43-40 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in what is considered a Grey Cup classic.
Despite being heavy underdogs, the Blue Bombers put up a fight, even though they were without their star quarterback, Kevin Glenn, who had suffered a broken arm in the East Division final a week earlier.
Second-year quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie filled in for Glenn and made his first start in the CFL. He threw one touchdown, but his three interceptions were costly.
The loss likely means a sour end to what is certain to be a hall-of-fame career for Winnipeg receiver Milt Stegall, one of the league's most colourful players. The 37-year-old 13-year veteran, who holds the league record for touchdowns scored, is expected to retire.
http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=3cc76eff-5f9c-40e2-aa1d-0a271935cacc&k=6330
Don McGowan, CanWest News Service
There were cheers in Saskatchewan, tears in Manitoba.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 on Sunday in the 95th Grey Cup and became champions of the Canadian Football League.
A sellout crowd of close to 53,000 packed Rogers Centre to see the Roughriders - long considered the CFL's lovable losers - win just their third CFL title.
"It was a hard-fought victory that came down to the last 30 seconds," Roughriders defensive tackle Scott Schultz, a native of Moose Jaw, Sask., told CBC after the game. "It's unbelievable."
Saskatchewan defensive back James Johnson was named Most Valuable Player with a record three interceptions - the last coming with less than a minute to play and the Blue Bombers pushing for a game-winning touchdown.
Receiver Andy Fantuz of Chatham, Ont. - who was named the game's Outstanding Canadian - broke open a close match with a 29-yard touchdown catch that gave the Roughriders a 23-14 lead with about 11 minutes left to play.
It was the first time Winnipeg and Saskatchewan had met for the CFL championship.
The passionate fans from both Prairie cities brought Grey Cup fever to Toronto - and the vibe travelled halfway around the world.
At Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, the Saskatchewan provincial flag was hung over the main doorway the military base's recreation centre and by about 3 a.m. Kandahar time, a group of bleary-eyed Canadians stationed in the war-torn country were up and watching the game on TV.
"We're just lucky enough to be here in a situation to watch it," said Master Cpl. Charles Sanduliak of the Edmonton-based Lord Strathcona's Horse.
The Roughriders' first Grey Cup win came in 1966, the other in 1989 - when current Roughriders coach Kent Austin quarterbacked the team to a 43-40 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in what is considered a Grey Cup classic.
Despite being heavy underdogs, the Blue Bombers put up a fight, even though they were without their star quarterback, Kevin Glenn, who had suffered a broken arm in the East Division final a week earlier.
Second-year quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie filled in for Glenn and made his first start in the CFL. He threw one touchdown, but his three interceptions were costly.
The loss likely means a sour end to what is certain to be a hall-of-fame career for Winnipeg receiver Milt Stegall, one of the league's most colourful players. The 37-year-old 13-year veteran, who holds the league record for touchdowns scored, is expected to retire.
http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=3cc76eff-5f9c-40e2-aa1d-0a271935cacc&k=6330