The 108th Grey Cup, the championship match of the Canadian Football League (CFL), was hosted in Hamilton at Tim Hortons Field this Dec 12. on a relatively warmer winter day of only -2?. The game was an epic fight between the two teams, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers became repeat Grey Cup Champions, winning 33-25 in overtime.
The halftime show was headlined by the Canadian band Arkells. They played a number of their classics and brought out The Lumineers and K.Flay.
The game was dominated by each team’s outstanding defense. Defensive lineman, Steven Richardson, and defensive tackle, Jake Thomas, were the bulwarks of the Winnipeg defense, picking up four tackles each, with Richardson getting two quarterback sacks and Thomas one. The Tiger-Cats’ defense was helmed by linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox, who got eight tackles, and Ja’Gared Davis got one sack. The game remained tight and was pushed into overtime, where the game was inevitably decided.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Darvin Adams in the first possession of overtime. Collaros found Rasheed Bailey in the end zone for another touchdown and the two-point conversion.
Collaros was named the game MVP, passing over 240 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions during the game. The Tiger-Cats’ quarterback, Jeremiah Masoli, passed for 185 yards for two touchdowns and the one game-ending interception, making a strong case for why he should be a starting quarterback candidate for Hamilton in 2022.
The CFL western conference has not been idle. Free agency is a month away, with a number of key players across the conference being extended. Calgary Stampeders extend on their contracts with wide receiver Reggie Begelton and defensive lineman Folarin Orimolade. Winnipeg keeps the Bombers’ strong defensive line intact for next season, extending the contracts of defensive lineman Willie Jefferson, defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat, and defensive tackle Jake Thomas. Defensive back Nick Hallett, who excelled on special teams this season, signs a two-year contract with Winnipeg, and gets to continue playing on the same team as his brother, Noah.
So far, the Montreal Alouettes signed former Alouette quarterback, champion, and star, Anthony Calvillo, as their new quarterback coach. The Tiger-Cats have to make a tough decision as to who they place their trust in as starting quarterback next season. Both quarterbacks Dane Evans and Jeremiah Masoli’s contracts are due to expire before the 2022 season. There is a long time between now and the preseason kickoff in May. We will have to wait and see because a lot can happen and big changes are along the horizon for most teams.
Image: Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press Denette
Teryn Midzain is an English Major with ambitious goals to write movies and a full-time nerd, whose personality and eccentrics run on high-octane like the cars he loves. More importantly, Teryn loves sports [Formula One], and doesn’t care who knows. When not creating and running deadly schemes in his D&D sessions, Teryn tries to reach the core of what makes the romantic and dramatic World of Sports, the characters and people that make the events so spectacular.
