THE CANADIAN PRESS

CALGARY -- The Grey Cup spotlight will be clearly on quarterbacks Anthony Calvillo and Darian Durant on Sunday.

Calvillo, 37, has played a major role this year in leading the Montreal Alouettes to a CFL-best 15-3 record and a second straight berth in the league championship game. But the Saskatchewan Roughriders, in their second Grey Cup since '07, counter with youngster Durant, a fourth-year player in his first full season as the club's starter.

Cavillo was sensational in 2009, completing a stellar 72 per cent of his passes. His completion average was the best he's enjoyed since joining the CFL in 1994 with the expansion Las Vegas Posse.

But it's not just that Calvillo was an accurate passer, he was also great in protecting the football. He threw just six interceptions in 550 pass attempts, the fewest picks given up by a CFL starter, meaning the Alouettes' offence rarely beat itself.

On Thursday, Calvillo was named the CFL's outstanding player for the second straight year and third time overall. He became just the fourth player in league history to win the award three or more times, joining Canadian Football Hall of Famers Jackie Parker, Russ Jackson and Doug Flutie.

Calvillo has flourished the past two seasons under head coach Marc Trestman's pass-first offensive approach and it's no coincidence the Alouettes find themselves in the Grey Cup for the second straight year and seventh time since 2000. But Montreal has won just one Grey Cup title over that span.

Durant, 27, has played a big role in leading Saskatchewan back to the Grey Cup. In his first full season as the club's starter, he finished fourth among CFL passer with 4,438 yards with 24 TDs -- second only to Calvillo's 26. He also had a deft touch, completing 60.4 per cent of his passes but did throw 24 interceptions.

Still, Durant led the Riders to a 10-7-1 record and first place in the West Division for the first time since 1976.

But unlike Calvillo, Durant is also a threat to run. He had 501 yards rushing this season and averaged a sparkling 8.3 yards per attempt.

Here's a look at other players worth watching:

John Chick and Stevie Baggs: It's hard to put one of Saskatchewan's stellar defensive ends ahead of the other because, frankly, they combine to give rival offensive lines fits. That's because both are effective pass rushers and create blocking-assignment difficulties. If the decision is made to double-team one, then that leaves the other with just a single blocker. Doubling both isn't sound logic, either, as then that leaves two lineman to handle the Riders' tackles. Baggs finished the season with 12 sacks, leaving him tied for the league lead with B.C.'s Ricky Foley and Montreal's John Bouman. Chick, the CFL's top defensive player this season, was right behind with 11.

Avon Cobourne: The Montreal Alouettes running back presents a defence with two challenges. First of all, the five-foot-eight, 200-pound tailback is a powerful runner capable of getting the tough yards inside. But he's also quick enough to get to the edge and eat up huge chunks of real estate. Cobourne was sixth in CFL rushing with 1,214 yards but averaged 5.4 yards per attempt and ran for a league-high 13 TDs. But Cobourne can do more than just run. He also had 56 catches for 458 yards and two TDs, giving the Als offence the luxury of not having to tinker with its lineup on passing downs.

Rob Bagg: The 24-year-old native of Kingston, Ont., has been a great story for the Roughriders. Undrafted in 2007, the Queen's product came to Regina as a free agent and had 59 catches for 807 yards and five touchdowns this season. His emergence has made it easier for the Riders to get on without injured receiver Weston Dressler. Former Western star Andy Fantuz receives most of the acclaim within the Riders' Canadian receiving corps, but Bagg has emerged as a solid target for Durant and is capable of getting a lot of yards after the catch.

Larry Taylor: Montreal's electrifying special-teams dynamo led the CFL with 788 punt-return yards and two TDs. He was also third in kickoff return and returned a missed field goal 115 yards for a TD in a game against Winnipeg. Taylor was named the league's top special-teams player this season, and for good reason. He's a threat to score every time he touches the ball and helps give the Alouettes' high-powered offence good field position, something that often goes unheralded.