91st Grey Cup
Encyclopedia
The 91st Grey Cup was the 2003
Canadian Football League
championship game played between the Edmonton Eskimos
and the Montreal Alouettes
on November 16 at Taylor Field
, in Regina, Saskatchewan
before 50,909 fans. The two teams had played during the previous year
with Montreal winning, but this time the Eskimos won the game by a score of 34-22.
(2), Ricky Ray
; FGs Sean Fleming (2); cons., Fleming (4).
Montreal Alouettes (22) - TDs, Pat Woodcock
, Sylvain Girard
, Ben Cahoon
; cons. Matt Kellett
(3); singles, Kellett
(1).
First Quarter
EDM—TD Pringle 4 run (Fleming convert) 2:43 7-0 EDM
Second Quarter
EDM—TD Tucker 41 pass from Ray (Fleming convert) 2:25 14 - 0 EDM
MTL—TD Woodcock 4 pass from Whitaker (Kellett convert) 9:25 14 - 7 EDM
MTL—TD Girard 32 pass from Calvillo (Kellett convert) 11:37 14 - 14
EDM—TD Tucker 15 pass from Ray (Fleming convert) 13:37 21 - 14 EDM
MTL—TD Cahoon 27 pass from Calvillo (Kellett convert) 14:10 21 - 21
EDM—FG Fleming 27 14:49 24 - 21 EDM
Third Quarter
MTL—Single Kellett 70 9:59 24 - 22 EDM
Fourth Quarter
EDM—TD Ray 1 run (Fleming convert) 1:28 31 - 22 EDM
EDM—FG Fleming 17 14:31 34 - 22 EDM
Montreal coach Don Matthews
surprised many experts by playing rookie cornerbacks D.J. Johnson and Rob Brown. Brown got the call in place of an injured Omar Evans
, while Johnson started because Matthews felt Johnson was better in man-to-man coverage. Even though the inexperience of his young cornerbacks may have cost him the game, Matthews made no apologies for sticking with Brown and Johnson.
After Edmonton running back Mike Pringle opened the scoring with a four-yard TD run on the opening drive, Edmonton took a commanding 14-0 lead in the second quarter when Ray connected with Tucker on a 41-yard touchdown pass, capping a four-play, 70-yard drive.
Ben Cahoon
made a spectacular, one-handed catch in tight coverage to put the Alouettes on Edmonton's four-yard line. Montreal called an unusual option play when Anthony Calvillo
pitched the ball to running back Deonce Whitaker who tossed a four-yard touchdown to a wide-open Pat Woodcock
.
On Edmonton's next possession, Pringle fumbled, and Montreal went straight to work, as Calvillo hit Silvain Girard on a 32-yard TD pass to tie the game. After a Keith Stokes
fumble later in the quarter, Ray hooked up with a streaking Tucker with 1:23 left in the quarter on a 20-yard TD passing play, restoring the Eskimos' seven-point advantage.
Montreal struck back on the next drive. Calvillo threw a 27-yard TD to Cahoon with 50 seconds left in the half to tie the score at 21-21, but Edmonton took a 24-21 lead into the intermission when Sean Fleming connected on a 27-yard field goal following another Stokes fumble deep in Montreal's half.
The Eskimo defence took over in the second half, holding Montreal to a single point in the third quarter, while Ray scored early in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run to give the Eskimos a 31-22 lead. The turning point in the game came one play earlier when a Montreal fumble recovery was negated by an offside call on D.J. Johnson, sapping the life out of the Alouettes.
Fleming booted a 27-yard field goal with 29 seconds left to seal the victory for Edmonton.
Pringle eclipsed the record of 359 career yards rushing in Grey Cup games set by Winnipeg legend Leo Lewis
.
Jason Tucker
, had two touchdowns and seven receptions for 132 yards, winning game MVP honours
in the process. Ben Cahoon made six catches for 148 yards and was voted most outstanding Canadian
.
This was Edmonton's 12th championship and first since defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
in the 1993 Grey Cup final
.
Ricky Ray completed 22 of 32 pass attempts for 301 yards. Anthony Calvillo was 22 for 37 for 371 yards.
Edmonton and Montreal have met in 11 Grey Cup
clashes. The Alouettes prevailed in 1974, the Ice Bowl of 1977, and 2002.
The Eskimos have won in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2003 and 2005.
* Cross over from West Division
2003 CFL season
The 2003 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 50th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 46th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2003:...
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 played between 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...
and the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The 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...
on November 16 at Taylor Field
Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field
Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field is a sports stadium located in Regina, Saskatchewan which is used primarily to play Canadian football. It has been the home of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders in rudimentary form since 1910 and as a complete stadium since 1936...
, in Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
before 50,909 fans. The two teams had played during the previous year
90th Grey Cup
The 90th Grey Cup was the 2002 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Montreal Alouettes on November 24 at Commonwealth Stadium, in Edmonton, Alberta...
with Montreal winning, but this time the Eskimos won the game by a score of 34-22.
Game summary
Edmonton Eskimos (34) - TDs, Mike Pringle, Jason TuckerJason Tucker
Jason Tucker is a former American and Canadian football slotback.-High school career:Tucker attended Robinson High School in Robinson, Texas where he excelled in football, and track and field, particularly long jumping where he was a state finalist his junior and senior years...
(2), Ricky Ray
Ricky Ray
Ricky Ray is a Canadian and American football quarterback who has played in the Canadian Football League and af2, as well as spending time on a roster in the National Football League...
; FGs Sean Fleming (2); cons., Fleming (4).
Montreal Alouettes (22) - TDs, Pat Woodcock
Pat Woodcock
Patrick Ian Woodcock is a Canadian football wide receiver who is currently a free agent.Woodcock attended American College at Syracuse University between 1997 and 2000 and he attended Holy Trinity Catholic High School, which is located in Kanata, Ontario...
, Sylvain Girard
Sylvain Girard
Sylvain Girard is a retired professional Canadian football wide receiver who played eight seasons for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He won a Grey Cup championship with the Alouettes in 2002. Girard announced his retirement from professional football on February 28, 2007...
, Ben Cahoon
Ben Cahoon
Ben Cahoon is a former professional Canadian football slotback in the Canadian Football League who spent his entire career with the Montreal Alouettes...
; cons. Matt Kellett
Matt Kellett
Matt Kellett is a former placekicker who played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League for the British Columbia Lions from 1998, 2001–2002, the Edmonton Eskimos from 1999–2001, the Montreal Alouettes in 2004 and the Ottawa Renegades in 2005 of the Canadian Football League. He won one Grey...
(3); singles, Kellett
Matt Kellett
Matt Kellett is a former placekicker who played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League for the British Columbia Lions from 1998, 2001–2002, the Edmonton Eskimos from 1999–2001, the Montreal Alouettes in 2004 and the Ottawa Renegades in 2005 of the Canadian Football League. He won one Grey...
(1).
First Quarter
EDM—TD Pringle 4 run (Fleming convert) 2:43 7-0 EDM
Second Quarter
EDM—TD Tucker 41 pass from Ray (Fleming convert) 2:25 14 - 0 EDM
MTL—TD Woodcock 4 pass from Whitaker (Kellett convert) 9:25 14 - 7 EDM
MTL—TD Girard 32 pass from Calvillo (Kellett convert) 11:37 14 - 14
EDM—TD Tucker 15 pass from Ray (Fleming convert) 13:37 21 - 14 EDM
MTL—TD Cahoon 27 pass from Calvillo (Kellett convert) 14:10 21 - 21
EDM—FG Fleming 27 14:49 24 - 21 EDM
Third Quarter
MTL—Single Kellett 70 9:59 24 - 22 EDM
Fourth Quarter
EDM—TD Ray 1 run (Fleming convert) 1:28 31 - 22 EDM
EDM—FG Fleming 17 14:31 34 - 22 EDM
Montreal coach Don Matthews
Don Matthews
Don Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", is a former head coach of several teams in the Canadian Football League and is the second winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 wins...
surprised many experts by playing rookie cornerbacks D.J. Johnson and Rob Brown. Brown got the call in place of an injured Omar Evans
Omar Evans
Omar Evans is a former Canadian Football League defensive back who has played for the Montreal Alouettes, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Calgary Stampeders, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.-Achievements:...
, while Johnson started because Matthews felt Johnson was better in man-to-man coverage. Even though the inexperience of his young cornerbacks may have cost him the game, Matthews made no apologies for sticking with Brown and Johnson.
After Edmonton running back Mike Pringle opened the scoring with a four-yard TD run on the opening drive, Edmonton took a commanding 14-0 lead in the second quarter when Ray connected with Tucker on a 41-yard touchdown pass, capping a four-play, 70-yard drive.
Ben Cahoon
Ben Cahoon
Ben Cahoon is a former professional Canadian football slotback in the Canadian Football League who spent his entire career with the Montreal Alouettes...
made a spectacular, one-handed catch in tight coverage to put the Alouettes on Edmonton's four-yard line. Montreal called an unusual option play when Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo is a Canadian Football League quarterback, currently playing for the Montreal Alouettes. He is the all-time professional football passing yards leader and first in all-time CFL passing yards...
pitched the ball to running back Deonce Whitaker who tossed a four-yard touchdown to a wide-open Pat Woodcock
Pat Woodcock
Patrick Ian Woodcock is a Canadian football wide receiver who is currently a free agent.Woodcock attended American College at Syracuse University between 1997 and 2000 and he attended Holy Trinity Catholic High School, which is located in Kanata, Ontario...
.
On Edmonton's next possession, Pringle fumbled, and Montreal went straight to work, as Calvillo hit Silvain Girard on a 32-yard TD pass to tie the game. After a Keith Stokes
Keith Stokes
Keith Stokes is a professional Canadian and American football wide receiver who currently plays for the Philadelphia Soul.-Junior college career:...
fumble later in the quarter, Ray hooked up with a streaking Tucker with 1:23 left in the quarter on a 20-yard TD passing play, restoring the Eskimos' seven-point advantage.
Montreal struck back on the next drive. Calvillo threw a 27-yard TD to Cahoon with 50 seconds left in the half to tie the score at 21-21, but Edmonton took a 24-21 lead into the intermission when Sean Fleming connected on a 27-yard field goal following another Stokes fumble deep in Montreal's half.
The Eskimo defence took over in the second half, holding Montreal to a single point in the third quarter, while Ray scored early in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run to give the Eskimos a 31-22 lead. The turning point in the game came one play earlier when a Montreal fumble recovery was negated by an offside call on D.J. Johnson, sapping the life out of the Alouettes.
Fleming booted a 27-yard field goal with 29 seconds left to seal the victory for Edmonton.
Trivia
Montreal Coach Don Matthews had previously won five Grey Cup championships.Pringle eclipsed the record of 359 career yards rushing in Grey Cup games set by Winnipeg legend Leo Lewis
Leo Lewis
Leo Lewis was a famed American College football player for Lincoln University of Missouri in the 1950s , who continued his success with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League ....
.
Jason Tucker
Jason Tucker
Jason Tucker is a former American and Canadian football slotback.-High school career:Tucker attended Robinson High School in Robinson, Texas where he excelled in football, and track and field, particularly long jumping where he was a state finalist his junior and senior years...
, had two touchdowns and seven receptions for 132 yards, winning game MVP honours
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:...
in the process. Ben Cahoon made six catches for 148 yards and was voted most outstanding Canadian
Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian
The Dick Suderman Trophy for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup game, the championship of the Canadian Football League....
.
This was Edmonton's 12th championship and first since defeating 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...
in the 1993 Grey Cup final
81st Grey Cup
The 81st Grey Cup was the 1993 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta...
.
Ricky Ray completed 22 of 32 pass attempts for 301 yards. Anthony Calvillo was 22 for 37 for 371 yards.
Edmonton and Montreal have met in 11 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...
clashes. The Alouettes prevailed in 1974, the Ice Bowl of 1977, and 2002.
The Eskimos have won in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2003 and 2005.
West Division
- Semi-final (November 2 @ Winnipeg, Manitoba) 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...
37-21 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... - Final (November 9 @ Edmonton, Alberta) 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...
30-23 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...
East Division
- Semi-final (November 5 @ 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...
28-7 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 @ MontrealMontrealMontreal 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...
, QuebecQuebecQuebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
) 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...
30-26 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...