72nd Grey Cup
Encyclopedia
The 72nd Grey Cup was the 1984
Canadian Football League
championship game that was played at Commonwealth Stadium
in Edmonton
, between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
. The Blue Bombers dominated the Tiger-Cats in a 47-17 victory.
(2), Joe Poplawski
, Stan Mikawos
, Jeff Boyd
; FGs, Trevor Kennerd
(4); cons., Kennerd
(5).
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (17) - TDs, Dieter Brock
, Rocky DiPietro
; FGs, Bernie Ruoff
; cons., Ruoff
(2).
Before the game, most of the experts believed this was a mismatch on paper, and they turned out to be correct.
But not before the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
, surprised Winnipeg
, and its fans, by jumping to an early 14-3 first quarter lead. Winnipeg's quarterback, Tom Clements was ineffective in the opening 15 minutes, getting picked off two times by Felix Wright
and Mark Streeter. Both interceptions led to Hamilton scores. Former Bombers pivot Dieter Brock
scored on a 15-yard scamper, and completed a seven-yard pass to Rocky DiPietro
for the other major.
But the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
would eventually dominate and take over the game. The Bombers' got their initial points on a 25-yard field goal by Trevor Kennerd
to close out the opening quarter, then went on to score 27 points in the second quarter.
Clements improved as the game wore on, completing a 12-yard touchdown pass to Joe Poplawski
to put Winnipeg in the lead for good. Clements played the game with a rib injury.
The turning point of the game came 2:26 before halftime when Brock was levelled by Winnipeg linebacker Tyrone Jones. The ball was knocked loose and nose tackle Stan Mikawos
picked up a loose football and ran 22 yards for a touchdown. This put the Bombers in front 24-17.
Willard Reaves
, the CFL Most Outstanding Player, scored a pair of touchdowns on three-yard runs. His action was limited due to an injured shoulder, but did rush for 64 yards.
Winnipeg's backup quarterback John Hufnagel
completed a four-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Boyd
in the fourth quarter to complete the rout.
Bombers cornerback, David Shaw
intercepted a Brock pass in the second quarter, returning the ball 26 yards to the Hamilton 28 to help set up one of Reaves’ scores.
Bernie Ruoff
booted a 20-yard field goal for Hamilton in the second quarter. Kennerd kicked four field goals for Winnipeg.
Winnipeg scored 44 unanswered points, shutting out the Ticats in the final 30 minutes.
This was the first Grey Cup win for the Bombers since 1962.
1984 CFL season
The 1984 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 31st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 27th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1984:...
Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
championship game that was played at Commonwealth Stadium
Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)
Commonwealth Stadium is a sports stadium located in the Norwood Area of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, primarily used by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. The stadium is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton.- History :...
in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
. The Blue Bombers dominated the Tiger-Cats in a 47-17 victory.
Game summary
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (47) - TDs, Willard ReavesWillard Reaves
Willard Sheldon Reaves is a former Canadian Football League running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also played in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins....
(2), Joe Poplawski
Joe Poplawski
Joe Poplawski is a former professional Canadian football receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League from 1978 to 1986....
, Stan Mikawos
Stan Mikawos
Stan Mikawos is a former Canadian football player. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mikawos played college football at North Dakota. He played professional football in the Canadian Football League as a defensive tackle for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1982 to 1996...
, Jeff Boyd
Jeff Boyd
Jeff Boyd was a Canadian Football League receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Toronto Argonauts who, in a 9 year career from 1983–1991, caught 69 touchdown passes. He won two Grey Cups, 1984 with Winnipeg and 1991 with Toronto.-References:...
; FGs, Trevor Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd was a kicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League from 1980-1991. He was a three-time CFL All-Star and helped the Blue Bombers to three Grey Cup victories , including kicking the winning field-goal in the 1988 Grey Cup...
(4); cons., Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd was a kicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League from 1980-1991. He was a three-time CFL All-Star and helped the Blue Bombers to three Grey Cup victories , including kicking the winning field-goal in the 1988 Grey Cup...
(5).
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (17) - TDs, Dieter Brock
Dieter Brock
Ralph "Dieter" Brock , is a former Canadian Football League and National Football League player and now works as a coach...
, Rocky DiPietro
Rocky Dipietro
Rocky DiPietro is a former Canadian Football League receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. During his 14 year career as a slotback and wide receiver, DiPietro became the CFL's all-time pass reception leader in 1989 and had a career total of 706 receptions for 9,762 yards and 45 touchdowns...
; FGs, Bernie Ruoff
Bernie Ruoff
Bernie Ruoff is a former punter and placekicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1975-1979 and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1980-1987 of the Canadian Football League. He finished his CFL career in 1988, playing 5 games for the British Columbia Lions...
; cons., Ruoff
Bernie Ruoff
Bernie Ruoff is a former punter and placekicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1975-1979 and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1980-1987 of the Canadian Football League. He finished his CFL career in 1988, playing 5 games for the British Columbia Lions...
(2).
Before the game, most of the experts believed this was a mismatch on paper, and they turned out to be correct.
But not before the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
, surprised Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, and its fans, by jumping to an early 14-3 first quarter lead. Winnipeg's quarterback, Tom Clements was ineffective in the opening 15 minutes, getting picked off two times by Felix Wright
Felix Wright
Felix Carl Wright , is a former professional American football player who played safety from 1985-1992 for the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League....
and Mark Streeter. Both interceptions led to Hamilton scores. Former Bombers pivot Dieter Brock
Dieter Brock
Ralph "Dieter" Brock , is a former Canadian Football League and National Football League player and now works as a coach...
scored on a 15-yard scamper, and completed a seven-yard pass to Rocky DiPietro
Rocky Dipietro
Rocky DiPietro is a former Canadian Football League receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. During his 14 year career as a slotback and wide receiver, DiPietro became the CFL's all-time pass reception leader in 1989 and had a career total of 706 receptions for 9,762 yards and 45 touchdowns...
for the other major.
But the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
would eventually dominate and take over the game. The Bombers' got their initial points on a 25-yard field goal by Trevor Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd
Trevor Kennerd was a kicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League from 1980-1991. He was a three-time CFL All-Star and helped the Blue Bombers to three Grey Cup victories , including kicking the winning field-goal in the 1988 Grey Cup...
to close out the opening quarter, then went on to score 27 points in the second quarter.
Clements improved as the game wore on, completing a 12-yard touchdown pass to Joe Poplawski
Joe Poplawski
Joe Poplawski is a former professional Canadian football receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League from 1978 to 1986....
to put Winnipeg in the lead for good. Clements played the game with a rib injury.
The turning point of the game came 2:26 before halftime when Brock was levelled by Winnipeg linebacker Tyrone Jones. The ball was knocked loose and nose tackle Stan Mikawos
Stan Mikawos
Stan Mikawos is a former Canadian football player. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mikawos played college football at North Dakota. He played professional football in the Canadian Football League as a defensive tackle for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1982 to 1996...
picked up a loose football and ran 22 yards for a touchdown. This put the Bombers in front 24-17.
Willard Reaves
Willard Reaves
Willard Sheldon Reaves is a former Canadian Football League running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also played in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins....
, the CFL Most Outstanding Player, scored a pair of touchdowns on three-yard runs. His action was limited due to an injured shoulder, but did rush for 64 yards.
Winnipeg's backup quarterback John Hufnagel
John Hufnagel
John Coleman Hufnagel is a Canadian football coach and former pro quarterback. He is currently the head coach of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League...
completed a four-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Boyd
Jeff Boyd
Jeff Boyd was a Canadian Football League receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Toronto Argonauts who, in a 9 year career from 1983–1991, caught 69 touchdown passes. He won two Grey Cups, 1984 with Winnipeg and 1991 with Toronto.-References:...
in the fourth quarter to complete the rout.
Bombers cornerback, David Shaw
David Shaw (football player)
David Shaw was a football player in the Canadian Football League for twelve years. Shaw played defensive back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1975-1986. He was a CFL All-Star five times and was a part of the Blue Bombers Grey Cup championship team in 1984...
intercepted a Brock pass in the second quarter, returning the ball 26 yards to the Hamilton 28 to help set up one of Reaves’ scores.
Bernie Ruoff
Bernie Ruoff
Bernie Ruoff is a former punter and placekicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1975-1979 and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1980-1987 of the Canadian Football League. He finished his CFL career in 1988, playing 5 games for the British Columbia Lions...
booted a 20-yard field goal for Hamilton in the second quarter. Kennerd kicked four field goals for Winnipeg.
Winnipeg scored 44 unanswered points, shutting out the Ticats in the final 30 minutes.
Trivia
- The game pitted two all star quarterbacks, Brock and Clements, (winners of the CFL's Most Outstanding Player AwardCFL's Most Outstanding Player AwardThe Most Outstanding Player Award is annually awarded to the best player in the Canadian Football League. The Most Outstanding Player award can be compared to the National Football League's Most Valuable Player, otherwise known as the "MVP" award...
) that had been recently traded for each other.
- This was the first Grey CupGrey CupThe 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...
game in EdmontonEdmontonEdmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, played in -10 degree C weather.
- Winnipeg's 27 points in the second quarter was a new Grey CupGrey CupThe 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...
record for most points in a quarter. However, the Blue Bombers would eventually break that record in the 1990 Grey Cup game when they ended up scoring 28 points in the third quarter of that game.
This was the first Grey Cup win for the Bombers since 1962.
West Division
- Semi-final (November 4 @ Winnipeg, Manitoba) Winnipeg Blue BombersWinnipeg Blue BombersThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
55-20 Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe 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...
- Final (November 11 @ Vancouver, British Columbia) Winnipeg Blue BombersWinnipeg Blue BombersThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
31-14 BC LionsBC LionsThe BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
East Division
- Semi-final (November 4 @ Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, OntarioHamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
) Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-CatsThe Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
17-11 Montreal Concordes
- Final (November 11 @ Toronto, Ontario) Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-CatsThe Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
14-13 Toronto ArgonautsToronto ArgonautsThe Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
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