Grey Cup Weekend is always packed with the activities of its attendant festival, but it goes without saying the big game and the conferring of the championship title is by far the most exciting event. To help you get ready for this year’s showdown in Edmonton on November 25, here’s a roundup of the last 10 winners.
105th Grey Cup: Toronto Argonauts
Coming off a 9-9 season, the Argos faced a tough battle against the Calgary Stampeders— who were appearing in their fourth Grey Cup in six years—at Ottawa’s TD Place Stadium on November 26, 2017. The Stamps looked ready to break their Grey Cup losing streak, going up 17-8 at halftime. But Argos running back Cassius Vaughn had other ideas, making a 109-yard return to score a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown and set a Grey Cup record.
104th Grey Cup: Ottawa REDBLACKS
In a thrilling upset at Toronto’s BMO Field on November 27, 2016, the REDBLACKS edged out the Calgary Stampeders 39-33. Though Ottawa dominated for the first two quarters, the Stamps found their footing in the second half and had an explosive 16-point fourth quarter. Still, REDBLACKS QB Henry Burris’ 18-yard touchdown pass to Ernest Jackson in overtime brought an end to a 40-year-long Grey Cup drought for the nation’s capital.
103rd Grey Cup: Edmonton Eskimos
The Eskimos capped off a great year with a victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS 26-20 on Winnipeg’s Investors Group Field on November 29, 2015. Though the REDBLACKS opened strong with a pair of quick touchdowns, the Eskimos equalized once their offence took the field. An incredible 72-yard punt by Chris Milo put the REDBLACKS up 20-18 in the fourth quarter, but controversial penalties put Edmonton’s Jordan Lynch in position to score the winning touchdown.
102nd Grey Cup: Calgary Stampeders
The Stamps extended their regular-season dominance with a 20-16 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Vancouver’s B.C. Place on November 30, 2014. The Ticats worked hard to shrink Calgary’s early lead, and with less than a minute left, Hamilton fans thought a miracle had occurred when Brandon Banks made a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown. But the play was called back for an illegal block, allowing the Stamps to finish what they started.
101st Grey Cup: Saskatchewan Roughriders
It couldn’t have been sweeter for Riders fans to witness Saskatchewan’s only professional sports franchise win the Grey Cup at Regina’s Taylor Field with a 45-23 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on November 24, 2013. An electrifying performance by running back Kory Sheets was the biggest reason why. Along with scoring two touchdowns, he rushed for 197 yards, setting a Grey Cup record.
100th Grey Cup: Toronto Argonauts
A Canada-wide celebration of the championship’s centenary culminated in the Argos’ 35-22 win over the Calgary Stampeders at Toronto’s Rogers Centre on November 25, 2012. Having beaten Calgary twice during the regular season, the home team made short work of their visitors, going up 24-6 by halftime; although the Stampeders made a valiant effort to push back in the second half, it was to no avail. Argos running back Chad Kackert rushed the ball for 133 yards and caught another eight passes, securing him the honour of Grey Cup MVP.
99th Grey Cup: B.C. Lions
Before a home crowd of more than 54,000 at Vancouver’s B.C. Place on November 27, 2011, the Lions beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 34-23, ending dramatic seasons for both teams. While the Lions lost their first five games before winning 11 of their last 13, the Blue Bombers had a rockier second half after winning seven of their first eight. But the Lions gave their visitors little chance of a comeback, never ceding the lead they established in the first quarter.
98th Grey Cup: Montreal Alouettes
In the Alouettes’ second consecutive Grey Cup battle with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the Eastern champs eked out a 21-18 win at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium on November 28, 2010. Control of the game seesawed through the first three quarters, and the teams were tied at 11 at the start of the fourth. The Alouettes went up with a field goal, and the two traded touchdowns before an interception gave Montreal control of the final minutes.
97th Grey Cup: Montreal Alouettes
The margin of victory couldn’t have been slimmer for the Alouettes in a 28-27 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium on November 29, 2009. It was the Roughriders’ game for most of the duration, QB Darian Durant continually finding ways to penetrate Montreal’s defence. Yet when the Roughriders earned a 10-yard penalty for a premature celebration in the game’s dying seconds, the Alouettes capitalized by turning a 33-yard field-goal attempt into a three-point conversion.
96th Grey Cup: Calgary Stampeders
With over 66,000 fans at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, the Stamps’ 22-14 win over the Alouettes on November 23, 2008, attracted the second-biggest crowd for a Grey Cup ever. While the home team’s offence started strong in the first half, the Stamps owned the second, sealing their victory with a dramatic interception by Shannon James and a 50-yard field goal by Sandro DeAngelis.