69th Grey Cup
Encyclopedia
The 69th Grey Cup
was played on November 22, 1981 at the Olympic Stadium
in Montreal
, Quebec in front of 52,487 fans. The 1981 Grey Cup game is considered to be one of the ten best Grey Cup games of all time.
CFL football fans saw an unexpectedly exciting game, as the 22.5 point underdog Ottawa Rough Riders
, sporting a woeful record of 5 wins and 11 losses, came within 3 seconds of denying the Edmonton Eskimos
. The Esks, with a 14-1-1 record, were almost the victims of what would have been the biggest upset in the history of the Grey Cup
.
This was the final appearance in the Grey Cup game for the Ottawa Rough Riders. CFL Hall of Fame legends Tom Wilkinson
(Edmonton) and Tony Gabriel
(Ottawa) played their final game in the 69th Grey Cup
as did veteran Edmonton centre Bob Howes
. Future US Congressman J.C. Watts
was Ottawa's quarterback. He won the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player
(Offensive) award.
Ottawa – FG – Gerry Organ
34 yards
Ottawa – FG – Gerry Organ
37 yards
Ottawa – TD – Jim Reid
1 yard run (Gerry Organ
convert)
Second Quarter
Ottawa – TD – Sam Platt 14 yard run (Gerry Organ
convert)
Edmonton – Single – Dave Cutler 24 yards missed Field Goal
Third Quarter
Edmonton – TD – Jim Germany
2 yard run (Dave Cutler convert)
Edmonton – TD – Warren Moon
1 yard run (Dave Cutler convert)
Fourth Quarter
Ottawa – FG – Gerry Organ
28 yards
Edmonton – TD – Warren Moon
1 yard run (Marco Cyncar
2 point convert pass from Moon)
Edmonton – FG – Dave Cutler 27 yards
field goals.
The most controversial play in this closely fought game came in the last 4 minutes. Ottawa tight end Tony Gabriel
, playing with torn knee ligaments, caught a vital 20 yard pass while Eskimo defender Gary Hayes
literally hung off his back. But, completely unexpectedly, the referee called pass interference penalties on both players, wiping out the gain. Gabriel was stunned and argued his case on field. Ottawa soon lost possession of the ball and lost the game. Gabriel, his knee finally disabling him and denied this last moment of greatness, would not play again.
Dave Cutler kicked the game winning 27 yard field goal with seconds left on the clock.
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...
was played on November 22, 1981 at the Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Montreal)
The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...
in 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...
, Quebec in front of 52,487 fans. The 1981 Grey Cup game is considered to be one of the ten best Grey Cup games of all time.
CFL football fans saw an unexpectedly exciting game, as the 22.5 point underdog Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
, sporting a woeful record of 5 wins and 11 losses, came within 3 seconds of denying the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
. The Esks, with a 14-1-1 record, were almost the victims of what would have been the biggest upset in the history of 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...
.
This was the final appearance in the Grey Cup game for the Ottawa Rough Riders. CFL Hall of Fame legends Tom Wilkinson
Tom Wilkinson (football player)
Tom Wilkinson was a football quarterback for several teams in the Canadian Football League.He was born in Iowa on January 4, 1943 but moved to Wyoming with his parents in 1945. Tom Wilkinson played high school football in the small town of Greybull, Wyoming. He is the second of three professional...
(Edmonton) and Tony Gabriel
Tony Gabriel
Tony Gabriel is a former professional Canadian football pass receiver who played in the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1981. He played for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders...
(Ottawa) played their final game in the 69th 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...
as did veteran Edmonton centre Bob Howes
Bob Howes
Bob Howes is a former professional Canadian football offensive lineman who played fourteen seasons in the Canadian Football League, mainly for the Edmonton Eskimos. He was a part of six Grey Cup championship teams with the Eskimos...
. Future US Congressman J.C. Watts
J.C. Watts
Julius Caesar "J. C." Watts, Jr. is an American politician from Oklahoma who was a college football quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners and professionally in the Canadian Football League. Watts served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 as a Republican, representing the 4th...
was Ottawa's quarterback. He won the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player
Grey Cup Most Valuable Player
The Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player award is awarded annually to the player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup Game, the Canadian Football League's championship game.-Grey Cup Most Valuable Player Award winners:...
(Offensive) award.
Box Score
First QuarterOttawa – FG – Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ is a former placekicker for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1971-1983 of the Canadian Football League.Organ was the winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1973 and is a two time CFL All-Star and a two time Grey Cup Champion . He also played in the 1981 Grey Cup Game in...
34 yards
Ottawa – FG – Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ is a former placekicker for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1971-1983 of the Canadian Football League.Organ was the winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1973 and is a two time CFL All-Star and a two time Grey Cup Champion . He also played in the 1981 Grey Cup Game in...
37 yards
Ottawa – TD – Jim Reid
Jim Reid (Canadian football)
Jim Reid is a former Canadian football fullback who played in the Canadian Football League for most of his career with the Ottawa Rough Riders....
1 yard run (Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ is a former placekicker for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1971-1983 of the Canadian Football League.Organ was the winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1973 and is a two time CFL All-Star and a two time Grey Cup Champion . He also played in the 1981 Grey Cup Game in...
convert)
Second Quarter
Ottawa – TD – Sam Platt 14 yard run (Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ is a former placekicker for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1971-1983 of the Canadian Football League.Organ was the winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1973 and is a two time CFL All-Star and a two time Grey Cup Champion . He also played in the 1981 Grey Cup Game in...
convert)
Edmonton – Single – Dave Cutler 24 yards missed Field Goal
Third Quarter
Edmonton – TD – Jim Germany
Jim Germany
Jim Germany , was a star running back in the Canadian Football League.He played his college football at New Mexico State University, where he inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1994. Drafted by the NFL's St...
2 yard run (Dave Cutler convert)
Edmonton – TD – Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
1 yard run (Dave Cutler convert)
Fourth Quarter
Ottawa – FG – Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ
Gerry Organ is a former placekicker for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1971-1983 of the Canadian Football League.Organ was the winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1973 and is a two time CFL All-Star and a two time Grey Cup Champion . He also played in the 1981 Grey Cup Game in...
28 yards
Edmonton – TD – Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
1 yard run (Marco Cyncar
Marco Cyncar
Marco Cyncar is a former Canadian Football League receiver who played eleven seasons for the Edmonton Eskimos. He was a member of four Grey Cup Championship teams in Edmonton....
2 point convert pass from Moon)
Edmonton – FG – Dave Cutler 27 yards
| Teams | 1 Q | 2 Q | 3 Q | 4 Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Eskimos | 0 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 26 |
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 13 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
Game summary
Ottawa unexpectedly built up a lead of 20 to 1 at halftime on touchdowns by Jim Reid and Sam Platt and two Gerry OrganGerry Organ
Gerry Organ is a former placekicker for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1971-1983 of the Canadian Football League.Organ was the winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1973 and is a two time CFL All-Star and a two time Grey Cup Champion . He also played in the 1981 Grey Cup Game in...
field goals.
The most controversial play in this closely fought game came in the last 4 minutes. Ottawa tight end Tony Gabriel
Tony Gabriel
Tony Gabriel is a former professional Canadian football pass receiver who played in the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1981. He played for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders...
, playing with torn knee ligaments, caught a vital 20 yard pass while Eskimo defender Gary Hayes
Gary Hayes
Gary Hayes is a former defensive back in the National Football League. He played three seasons with the Green Bay Packers.-References:...
literally hung off his back. But, completely unexpectedly, the referee called pass interference penalties on both players, wiping out the gain. Gabriel was stunned and argued his case on field. Ottawa soon lost possession of the ball and lost the game. Gabriel, his knee finally disabling him and denied this last moment of greatness, would not play again.
Dave Cutler kicked the game winning 27 yard field goal with seconds left on the clock.