Congratulations are due for the Edmonton Eskimos — 2015 Grey Cup champions. The Eskimos downed the sweetheart Ottawa Redblacks 26 – 20 in front of 36,634 at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg.
The sellout crowd was thanks in part to local sponsors saving the tails of organizers and gobbling up the remaining couple of thousand tickets. I hope, and I’m almost sure, those tickets found their way into deserving hands.
No matter where your from, in Canada or around the world, you have to love the Grey Cup game. Where else in pro sport do we find a week-long festival before the hardware is awarded to the eventual champs? Nowhere.
Edmonton Eskimos 2015 Grey Cup Champions
The Redblacks, a two year old franchise, were represented in the Grey Cup for the first time ever. The Eskimos were trying to win the Grey Cup for the 14th time in their rich franchise history. Quite the contrast.
The Redblacks cut into the Eskimos early, scoring a touchdown from the CFL’s most outstanding player, quarterback Henry Burris, to fullback Patrick Lavoie. Lavoie is an unlikely, and maybe forgotten about, target for Burris, whose team had four 1000-yard receivers in the regular season.
Edmonton returner Kendial Lawrence had the ball knocked loose on the kickoff return and Ottawa DB Antoine Pruneau scooped up the ball.
Eskimo cornerback Patrick Watkins intercepted a Burris pass. The usually stellar Watkins did poorly in the last game of the regular season, and even worse in the Western Final. That pick must have felt great.
After throwing a first down to wideout Kenny Stafford, Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly tossed his first Grey Cup touchdown pass to wide receiver Adarius Bowman. 13 – 10 in favour of the Redblacks at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter the defences settled in. When the Eskimo offence stumbled, the defence picked up their play with consecutive sacks of Burris and a redeemed Patrick Watkins almost had his second interception of the day.
Reilly started spreading the ball around his other targets, including Akeem Shavers, Shamawd Chambers, and super-rookie Derel Walker, and saw some success as the half approached.
Although early on it looked like the Redblacks might dominate, the half ended up 17 – 16 for the Eskimos. On to the halftime show and Fall Out Boy. They enjoyed huge applause from the capacity crowd. One of their songs, “Centuries”, really fit the sports bill.
The second half was a defensive battle with a field goal from Ottawa’s Chris Milo and a punt single from Edmonton’s Grant Shaw in the third quarter. An Eskimo fake punt for a first down did not result in points after place kicker Sean Whyte hit the uprights on his field goal attempt.
A 19 – 18 Redblacks score line had to be a dream scenario for the league and broadcaster, TSN, as the game headed into the fourth quarter. But the scenario was grimmer for Ottawa, knowing that Edmonton outscored their opposition 107 – 22 in fourth quarters over their previous nine contests.
The pivots were under huge pressure on both sides from the opposing front sevens. The hits were getting harder. A single point was scored by Ottawa on a 72 yard punt. On Edmonton’s next possession they chewed up some clock and the Redblacks took two critical pass interference penalties, essentially handing the Eskimos three opportunities from the one yard line.
Edmonton backup quarterback Jordan Lynch leaped over the pile for the eventual winning points. Edmonton elected to go for a two point conversion and made good on it. After allowing a sack on Burris on the subsequent drive, Ottawa was forced to punt. Edmonton made a few first downs and assumed the victory formation for the final two plays.
The 103rd Grey Cup game finished 26 – 20, notching the 14th championship win for the Edmonton Eskimos.
The Award Winners
Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly, who was named the CFL’s toughest player by his colleagues for the second straight year, was named the game’s most outstanding player. Reilly went 21 for 35 attempts passing with 269 yards. He tossed 2 touchdowns and had no interceptions. He also added 66 yards rushing on 10 carries.
Shamawd Chambers was selected the game’s most outstanding Canadian with 49 yards receiving on just two catches.
The Reaction
Fans from all over jumped on social media voice their pleasure and pain.
https://twitter.com/fakegainer/status/671335207081926658
This was a worthwhile, even delightful week spent being reminded all the things the Super Bowl should be, and never will.
— Ray Ratto (@RattoIndy) November 30, 2015
FALL OUT BOY PLAYED DURING THE GREY CUP OMG I SHOULD START WATCHING FOOTBALL OMG
— This Barbie Wears Masks (@Ccaleighc) November 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/kenstevens10/status/671296525864054785
Even the Prime Minister was stoked…
Congratulations @EdmontonEsks on winning the 103rd #GreyCup! And congrats to Most Valuable Canadian @ShamawdChambers
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 30, 2015
This really was a Grey Cup game and festival to remember. It definitely put a shine on what was arguably a disastrous 2015 CFL season. With so many other greats in the past I’ll hesitate to call it a classic, but I believe Winnipeg (the city) and the the Grey Cup committee salvaged what could have been an overall awful year in the Manitoba capital. Please allow me to be one of the first to exclaim… Is it June yet?
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