85th Grey Cup
Encyclopedia
The 85th Grey Cup
(Canadian Football League
championship) was held in 1997
in Edmonton
before 60,431 fans. The heavily favoured Toronto Argonauts
won the game over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
with a score of 47-23.
, Adrion Smith
, Robert Drummond
, Mike "Pinball" Clemons, Derrell Mitchell
; FGs, Mike Vanderjagt
(4); cons., Vanderjagt
(5).
Saskatchewan Roughriders (23) - TDs, Reggie Slack
, Mike Saunders, Shawn Daniels; FGs, Paul McCallum
; cons., McCallum
(2).
First Quarter
SSK—FG McCallum 28 yard field goal
TOR—TD Mitchell 34 yard pass from Flutie (Vanderjagt convert)
Second Quarter
TOR—TD Drummond 6 yard pass from Flutie (Vanderjagt convert)
SSK—TD Daniels 3 yard run
TOR—FG Vanderjagt
TOR—FG Vanderjagt 12 yard field goal
Third Quarter
TOR—TD Smith 95 yard run off the kickoff (Vanderjagt convert)
TOR—TD Flutie 10 yard run (Vanderjagt convert)
TOR—TD Clemons pass from Flutie (Vanderjagt convert)
Fourth Quarter
SSK—TD Saunders 51 yard pass from Slack (McCallum convert)
TOR—FG Vanderjagt
TOR—FG Vanderjagt
SSK—TD Slack 1 yard run (McCallum convert)
The game started well for Saskatchewan, with Shannon Baker returning the opening kick-off 74 yards deep into Toronto territory. Five plays later, the Roughriders scored a 28-yard field goal from Paul McCallum
.
After the two teams exchanged interceptions, the Argonauts engineered a 32-yard drive culminating in a touchdown strike from quarterback Doug Flutie
to Derrell Mitchell
to put Toronto in the lead, 7-3. Doug Flutie then marched the Argos down the field again and hit Robert Drummond
with a 6-yard touchdown pass to stretch the margin to 14-3.
Saskatchewan edged closer with 3-yard touchdown plunge from Shawn Daniels, but the convert failed, leaving the score 14-9. Then, on the final play of the first half, Toronto kicker Mike Vanderjagt
kicked two field goals, to extend the lead to 20-9 going into the locker room.
The turning point in the game came on the first play of the second half. Toronto kick returner Adrion Smith
caught the ball on his own 15 yard line, started toward the right sideline for a record 95 return for a touchdown. Shortly after an interception, Flutie engineered a 73-yard drive, and called his own number from 10 yards out to score again. Still in the third quarter Flutie spotted Mike "Pinball" Clemons open in the end zone for the third touchdown in the quarter. The score after three quarters was 41-9.
Saskatchewan scored in the fourth quarter when Mike Saunders hauled in a 51-yard touchdown pass from scrambling quarterback Reggie Slack
. Vanderjagt added two more field goals for Toronto and Slack plunged in from 1 yard out to round out the scoring.
* Cross over from West Division
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...
(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) was held in 1997
1997 CFL season
The 1997 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 44th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 40th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1997:...
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...
before 60,431 fans. The heavily favoured Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The 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...
won the game over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
with a score of 47-23.
Game summary
Toronto Argonauts (47) - TDs, Doug FlutieDoug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
, Adrion Smith
Adrion Smith
Adrion "Pee Wee" Smith was a football player in the CFL for twelve years. Smith played defensive back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Memphis Mad Dogs and Toronto Argonauts from 1994–2005. He was a CFL All-Star four times and won three Grey Cup Championships with the Argos...
, Robert Drummond
Robert Drummond (football player)
Robert Drummond is a former gridiron football running back.While Drummond played American football for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League, he competed in the Canadian Football League from 1994 to 2002...
, Mike "Pinball" Clemons, Derrell Mitchell
Derrell Mitchell
Derrell Lavoice "Mookie" Mitchell is a former Canadian Football League slotback.-Junior College Career:Mitchell attended Joliet Junior College...
; FGs, Mike Vanderjagt
Mike Vanderjagt
Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt , is a professional American and Canadian football placekicker and punter who has played in the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League and National Football League...
(4); cons., Vanderjagt
Mike Vanderjagt
Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt , is a professional American and Canadian football placekicker and punter who has played in the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League and National Football League...
(5).
Saskatchewan Roughriders (23) - TDs, Reggie Slack
Reggie Slack
Reggie Slack is an American-born Canadian and American football quarterback.Slack was Auburn University's starting quarterback in 1989 when the Crimson Tide from the University of Alabama came to Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time in the history of the Iron Bowl rivalry...
, Mike Saunders, Shawn Daniels; FGs, Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum is a professional Canadian football player currently playing as a placekicker and punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
; cons., McCallum
Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum is a professional Canadian football player currently playing as a placekicker and punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
(2).
First Quarter
SSK—FG McCallum 28 yard field goal
TOR—TD Mitchell 34 yard pass from Flutie (Vanderjagt convert)
Second Quarter
TOR—TD Drummond 6 yard pass from Flutie (Vanderjagt convert)
SSK—TD Daniels 3 yard run
TOR—FG Vanderjagt
TOR—FG Vanderjagt 12 yard field goal
Third Quarter
TOR—TD Smith 95 yard run off the kickoff (Vanderjagt convert)
TOR—TD Flutie 10 yard run (Vanderjagt convert)
TOR—TD Clemons pass from Flutie (Vanderjagt convert)
Fourth Quarter
SSK—TD Saunders 51 yard pass from Slack (McCallum convert)
TOR—FG Vanderjagt
TOR—FG Vanderjagt
SSK—TD Slack 1 yard run (McCallum convert)
The game started well for Saskatchewan, with Shannon Baker returning the opening kick-off 74 yards deep into Toronto territory. Five plays later, the Roughriders scored a 28-yard field goal from Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum
Paul McCallum is a professional Canadian football player currently playing as a placekicker and punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League...
.
After the two teams exchanged interceptions, the Argonauts engineered a 32-yard drive culminating in a touchdown strike from quarterback Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
to Derrell Mitchell
Derrell Mitchell
Derrell Lavoice "Mookie" Mitchell is a former Canadian Football League slotback.-Junior College Career:Mitchell attended Joliet Junior College...
to put Toronto in the lead, 7-3. Doug Flutie then marched the Argos down the field again and hit Robert Drummond
Robert Drummond (football player)
Robert Drummond is a former gridiron football running back.While Drummond played American football for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League, he competed in the Canadian Football League from 1994 to 2002...
with a 6-yard touchdown pass to stretch the margin to 14-3.
Saskatchewan edged closer with 3-yard touchdown plunge from Shawn Daniels, but the convert failed, leaving the score 14-9. Then, on the final play of the first half, Toronto kicker Mike Vanderjagt
Mike Vanderjagt
Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt , is a professional American and Canadian football placekicker and punter who has played in the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League and National Football League...
kicked two field goals, to extend the lead to 20-9 going into the locker room.
The turning point in the game came on the first play of the second half. Toronto kick returner Adrion Smith
Adrion Smith
Adrion "Pee Wee" Smith was a football player in the CFL for twelve years. Smith played defensive back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Memphis Mad Dogs and Toronto Argonauts from 1994–2005. He was a CFL All-Star four times and won three Grey Cup Championships with the Argos...
caught the ball on his own 15 yard line, started toward the right sideline for a record 95 return for a touchdown. Shortly after an interception, Flutie engineered a 73-yard drive, and called his own number from 10 yards out to score again. Still in the third quarter Flutie spotted Mike "Pinball" Clemons open in the end zone for the third touchdown in the quarter. The score after three quarters was 41-9.
Saskatchewan scored in the fourth quarter when Mike Saunders hauled in a 51-yard touchdown pass from scrambling quarterback Reggie Slack
Reggie Slack
Reggie Slack is an American-born Canadian and American football quarterback.Slack was Auburn University's starting quarterback in 1989 when the Crimson Tide from the University of Alabama came to Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time in the history of the Iron Bowl rivalry...
. Vanderjagt added two more field goals for Toronto and Slack plunged in from 1 yard out to round out the scoring.
Trivia
- Doug Flutie, who threw for 350 yards, claimed Most Valuable Player honours along with a brand new Dodge DakotaDodge DakotaThe Dodge Dakota is a mid-size pickup truck from Chrysler's Ram division. From its introduction through 2009, it was marketed by Dodge. The first Dakota was introduced in 1986 as a 1987 model alongside the redesigned Dodge Ram 50...
, while Paul MasottiPaul MasottiPaul Masotti is a former professional Canadian football player and current front office executive with the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts...
was named Most Valuable CanadianMost Valuable CanadianMost Valuable Canadian or Canadian MVP may refer to:* the Dick Suderman Trophy winner for Most Valuable Canadian player of the Grey Cup game* the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award winner for best Canadian player in the Canadian Football League...
. While on air live, and upon being named Grey Cup MVP, Flutie handed the keys to the Dakota over to Masotti. When his generosity was acknowledged by the announcer, Flutie remarked "I have one (a MVP truck) from last year." (When he was also MVP.)
- The game was originally slated to be held at Memorial StadiumMemorial Stadium (Baltimore)Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
in Baltimore, Maryland, but the Baltimore StallionsBaltimore StallionsThe Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
' relocation to Montreal, Quebec a year earlier along with the ownership situation struggle in Montreal made it impossible to hold the game in that city. The league then awarded the game to 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...
at the 1996 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...
weekend. If the Stallions would have been playing in 1997, it would have marked the first Grey Cup game to be held outside of CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
West Division
- Semi-final (November 2 @ Calgary, Alberta) Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan RoughridersThe Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
33-30 Calgary StampedersCalgary StampedersThe Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
- Final (November 9 @ Edmonton, Alberta) Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan RoughridersThe Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
31-30 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...
East Division
- Semi-final (November 2 @ Montreal, Quebec) Montreal AlouettesMontreal AlouettesThe Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
45-35 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...
*
- Final (November 9 @ Toronto, Ontario) 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...
37-30 Montreal AlouettesMontreal AlouettesThe Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
* Cross over from West Division