November 23, 2005

Grey Cup Memories: 1974

Editor's note: The Eskimos and Alouettes will meet in the Grey Cup this Sunday for the 11th time. CFL.ca looks back at their 10 previous meetings.

1974 – Montreal Alouettes 20, Edmonton Eskimos 7

The Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos renewed a Grey Cup rivalry from the 1950s at a rain-soaked Empire Stadium in Vancouver, only this time there was positive ending for the team from Quebec.

After three unsuccessful tries, the Alouettes were finally victorious over the Eskimos in the final on the strength of their backup quarterback Sonny Wade. Wade replaced an ineffective Jimmy Jones early in the second quarter and was able to jumpstart the Montreal offence.

The Eskimos were also forced to turn to their backup pivot, albeit for a different reason. Tom Wilkinson was knocked out of the game by Montreal defensive end Junior Ah You in the first quarter, injuring his shoulder. Bruce Lemmerman got the call in relief, but was clearly not as effective as the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player. Ah You received a 15-yard roughing penalty on the play.

Wilkinson stayed in the game long enough to complete Edmonton's only touchdown drive. Calvin Harrell caught a swing pass and ran eight yards, fumbling the ball but recovering it in time for the touchdown. Wilkinson would return later in the game, but was hampered by his bad shoulder.

Trailing 7-0 in the second quarter, Montreal kicker Don Sweet missed on a 50-yard field goal attempt, but managed to gain a single point.

Ah You then made another significant play when he knocked the ball out of Edmonton fullback Roy Bell's hands on a hard hit. Phil Price recovered the ball and two plays later, the Alouettes had their only touchdown. Larry Sherrer scored on a five-yard end sweep.

The Alouettes took an 11-7 lead into halftime on another Edmonton miscue. Dickie Harris intercepted a Lemmerman pass returning the ball to the Edmonton 30. Three plays later, Sweet kicked an 18-yard field goal.

Montreal gained another three points on an Eskimos turnover in the third quarter. Ward Smith recovered Warrington's fumble on the Edmonton 33, and Sweet booted a 27-yard field goal to make it a 14-7 score.

Sweet went on to split the uprights from 27 and 25 yards out in the fourth quarter to set a record for field goals in a Grey Cup final with four. Sweet would set the current standard of six three years later.

Wade completed 10 of 25 passes for 139 yards, but many attempts were dropped because of the slippery ball. Steve Ferrughelli rushed for 59 yards while Sherrer added 50 from the ground.