Ottawa wins Grey Cup, beating Calgary 39-33 in OT

The Ottawa Redblacks are the 104th Grey Cup champions after defeating the Calgary Stampeders Sunday night at BMO Field 39-33.

This championship is the Redblacks’ first Grey Cup win.

Calgary was favoured by double digits heading into the game after finishing with a 15-2-1 regular-season record, while the Redblacks at 8-9-1 were the first team to finish first in a division with a losing record.

REDBLACKS quarterback Henry Burris injured his knee during warm-ups and was nearly unable to start the game, but would go on to account for five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) while throwing for 461 yards, including the game-winner.

The Stampeders turned the game into a thriller, however, charging back from 20 points down and forcing overtime on a Rene Paredes field goal with time expiring in regulation.

The Ottawa defence also had a big game, containing Mitchell, the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player, and the Calgary offence.

“We were right there, knocking”, said Stampeders head coach, Dave Dickenson.

Mitchell and the Stampeders answered that touchdown with an efficient drive of their own. The Redblacks went to gadget plays with their first play of the second half, attempting the flea flicker against Calgary.

The nearly ideal threw an interception in the fourth quarter that Ciante Evans didn’t have to move to catch.

She had reason to complain, given she bought her ticket well before the Toronto Argonauts, who are the hosts of this year’s Grey Cup, slashed prices last month in an effort to fill the stadium. “We could have went undefeated (but) when you lose the Grey Cup it means nothing”.

A 37 yard field goal off the foot of Ray Early gave the Redblacks their second lead of the first quarter. The convert cut Ottawa’s lead to 33-30, setting up Glenn Love’s recovery of an on-side kick for Calgary that started the heart-stopping final 90 seconds of play. Too many throws were off-target and Mitchell, who threw just eight interceptions all season, had two in the first half.

He was picked off three times by Ottawa. The married father of two boys aged 10 and seven will take the off-season to ponder his future after leading Ottawa to back-to-back Grey Cup appearances.

“You have to give Ottawa credit”.

2016 is here and many of us are looking for ways to become more financially savvy, pay off debts. Did we just score?’

Calgary went into the game the heavy favourites. Burris wasn’t with the Redblacks when they took to the field but rejoined his teammates after undergoing treatment that reportedly included having the joint frozen. It ranks as one of the most exciting, most riveting games in Grey Cup history. But they still didn’t get the job done.

As the Redblacks celebrated the city’s latest triumph on the field, third-string quarterback Danny O’Brien came over to receiver Brad Sinopoli, named the game’s Most Valuable Canadian, and planted a big wet one on him.

“They kind of fed off that”.