Eskimos, Redblacks to meet in 103rd Grey Cup

But Ottawa converted in a big way, as quarterback Henry Burris hit Greg Ellingson for a 93-yard pass-and-run touchdown.

It was heartbreak in Ottawa as the Hamilton Tiger-cats faced the Redblacks in the CFL East final Sunday afternoon. Burris and Ellingson were both teammates in Steeltown in 2013.

Masoli’s 2015 regular-season debut came against the Redblacks in the November 7 finale at TD Place stadium.

“You can’t beat that moment”, said Burris.

“We thought it would be a good idea to camp out”. “That’s the reason in the off-season, when Greg became available; I was on the phone, waking [RedBlacks GM Marcel Desjardins] to sign him”. But Burris said knew from the start of the season this group of players would be successful.

Then after shedding Emmanuel Davis’s attempted tackle, Ellingson streaked untouched into the end zone.

“It’s nice to play against my old team but it’s more about going to the Grey Cup and winning it”, Ellingson said.

“I’ve talked about playing on so many special teams, but this has that special aura”, he said. I think that’s what you’re going to see on Sunday – in a big game he’s going to step up.

Henry Burris, who was six years old when the Ottawa Rough Riders fell 26-23 to the Edmonton Eskimos in the 1981 Grey Cup, had a career year for the Redblacks setting multiple personal and league records at the age of 40.

The Redblacks have gone from dead last in the league one year ago to being one game away from the Grey Cup.

Head coach Rick Campbell was in a similar frame of mind. “We’ll be happy for a few more hours and tee it up one more time”.

“Then after that game we can discuss more things about Ottawa football history”.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are hoping the third time will be the charm.

Campbell says he’s liked what he’s seen from the team so far preparation wise, but expects things to improve every day leading up to the game.

“We went from 2-16 to a trip to the Grey Cup by doing the right things, believing in each other and constantly working on putting the final pieces of the puzzle together”. “We all have a great opportunity and he recognizes that”.

His allegiance will be a little different this time.

It’s been 34 years since that Grey Cup appearance.

On Sunday, Ottawa and Hamilton meet for the third time in four weeks.

Hamilton (10-8) finished tied with Toronto for second but got the higher positioning after winning that season series. The Ticats dispatched the Argos 25-22 in the East Division semifinal last weekend.

Jeff Mathews took over at quarterback but after his ups and downs he suffered an injury in the second-last game against Ottawa, leaving Hamilton’s offence in the hands of Jeremiah Masoli. The former Oregon Duck was 30-of-42 passing for 349 yards with two TDs and an interception.

“This is the Eastern Final and all the chips are on the table and everyone’s going to bring out everything that they’ve got”, receiver Chris Williams said.

“That speaks volumes about the young man”. Medlock booted the converts, two field goals and a single. The CFL on TSN panel reacts to the incredible East Final.

Late in the fourth quarter in a tie game, Ottawa was facing 2nd-and-25 from their 17-yard line with the prospect of punting the ball back to Hamilton who would get good field position.

Milo isn’t one to gloat about the turn of events.

“The way I’m looking at this is these guys have been the East champions the last two years, so until someone knocks them out, they’re the champions”, said Campbell.