THE CANADIAN PRESS
The Ottawa REDBLACKS and Calgary Stampeders punched their tickets to the 104th Grey Cup presented by Shaw in impressive fashion on Sunday afternoon and left no doubt who should be playing in next week’s title game. In both games, there was a defining moment for the victorious side and the statements those moments made will ring true all week long.
Statement #1
Ottawa’s statement came late in a 35-23 win over Edmonton in the Eastern Final. After opening up a commanding 17-3 lead at halftime, turnovers and mistakes (not to mention apocalyptic weather) hurt the REDBLACKS in the second half. In fact, after a perfectly executed 57-yard touchdown hookup from Mike Reilly to Adarius Bowman on third-and-five, the Eskimos had trimmed the lead to five in the fourth quarter.
And that’s when Ottawa was heard from loudest. With a second consecutive trip to the Grey Cup, and a chance to redeem last year, on the line, the REDBLACKS put together their most important drive of the season.
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Starting at their own 40, only a penalty slowed the REDBLACKS on their 70-yard march to the end zone in what was a stunning response at the most crucial of times. Henry Burris completed two passes on the seven-play drive and Kienan Lafrance ran the ball in for a major while racking up 42 of his 157 rushing yards on the day.
It was a drive that I certainly didn’t see coming. The REDBLACKS were having trouble getting out of their own way for much of the second half and it was Edmonton who had seized all the momentum. For Ottawa to do what it did in that situation showed a lot of resolve and cemented why it belongs in next week’s Grey Cup showdown.
This was a slightly frustrating season in Ottawa. Yes, the REDBLACKS won the East Division’s regular season crown and earned home field in Sunday’s game, but they also finished below .500 a year after competing for a Grey Cup. The REDBLACKS had a lot questioned heading into this year’s post-season, but one thing we can’t question anymore is their championship caliber.
Championship teams get things done when they matter the most, and that’s why Ottawa is East Division Champion in 2016. The REDBLACKS made that statement loud and clear with their final drive on home field this season.
Statement #2
The Calgary Stampeders must have been watching Ottawa’s triumph over Edmonton because they didn’t want to wait to make a statement of their own. While the REDBLACKS waited until the fourth quarter for their seminal moment, the Stamps decided to produce theirs early; as early as you can get, in fact.
Calgary’s first touches of the football in the Western Final had me convinced they were going to advance to their second Grey Cup game in three years. Roy Finch’s 46-yard kickoff return on the opening play of the game was foreshadowing of what was to come, both on the ensuing drive and the rest of the afternoon.
I know the Stamps were helped by a long pass interference penalty that set up first and goal on their opening drive, but it didn’t matter. Finch set the table, Bo Levi Mitchell hit Bakari Grant for 18 yards on the first play from scrimmage and Calgary finished its opening possession with a 57-yard touchdown drive that took just over two minutes.
Normally I’d think a team like the BC Lions could shake an early score against off, but everything about the way the Stamps went about their business to open this game made this a little different for me. The way Calgary fired on all cylinders from the very get-go almost made you think they used the “rust vs. rest” argument as motivation, because that was as shiny and polished a start as you’ll ever seen.
Head Coach Dave Dickenson put an exclamation mark on Calgary’s early statement by punching in a two point conversion to make it 8-0. It was the type of emphatic move that underlined just how dominant the Stamps were going to be for the rest of the afternoon. What followed were 24 second-quarter points and a blowout win over the Lions.
Calgary has been making statements all season long, so to see them open the Western Final the way they did wasn’t really a surprise. For me, though, it was akin to the Stamps yelling “we told you we were the best”. They’re the best of the West, we know that, and another opening drive like that on Sunday and we’ll probably be talking about them raising a 104-year-old trophy above their heads.
Bright futures
If I’m a fan of the Eskimos or the Lions, I’m disappointed of course, but I’m also feeling good about what’s to come. Both teams lost to opponents that simply outplayed them on Sunday afternoon, but both teams have very positive outlooks for 2017.
Edmonton accomplished a lot in 2016 despite not being able to repeat as Grey Cup Champions. With so much change year over year, I don’t think anyone was surprised to see the Eskimos get off to a rocky start. Jason Maas was a rookie head coach and the team underwent massive personnel changes over the winter.
When Edmonton finally got rolling, though, it was as competitive as anyone. It took some time for the team and Maas to get comfortable, the same way it took time for certain players to cement themselves in new roles. It was a growing process the Eskimos won’t have to go through the same way come training camp.
Yes, Edmonton will have to deal with the departure of receiver Derel Walker. One half of Edmonton’s dynamic duo, Walker is likely to try his hand south of the border this off-season. That doesn’t mean the future doesn’t look bright, though, because with wins in five of their last six games, the Eskimos were certainly starting to come together at the end of the season.
BC has a lot to look forward to as well. First and foremost, the Lions have their quarterback for years to come. While Jonathon Jennings had his struggles in his first Western Final, I have no doubt about his ability to get the job done in this league. For my money, Jennings is the most explosive pivot in the CFL thanks to his raw athletic gifts and his ability to make something out of nothing.
It might be on defence where things are most promising for the Lions, though. BC was a top three team in virtually every defensive category in 2016 and still has an outstanding core of players to build around. Led by linebackers Solomon Elimimian and Adam Bighill, this group looks like one to be reckoned with once again next year.
And finally there’s the Wally factor. Many questioned Wally Buono’s return to the sidelines for this season, but it paid off in spades. The Lions finished the season with the league’s second-best record and proved just how important experienced, proven coaching can be. I think BC is in very good hands for next season.
Quick hits
It’s fitting the Stamps and REDBLACKS are meeting in the 2016 Grey Cup because the CFL Awards that precede the title game will be a showdown between the two teams as well. Bo Levi Mitchell and Ernest Jackson will go head-to-head in the MOP race, but they aren’t the only ones.
Jerrell Gavins celebrates following Ottawa’s Eastern Final win on Sunday (The Canadian Press)
Derek Dennis and Jon Gott are finalists for the league’s Most Outstanding Offensive lineman while DaVaris Daniels and Jason Lauzon-Seguin will fight it out for the Most Outstanding Rookie crown. Oh, and let’s not forget the coaches; Dave Dickenson and Rick Campbell are up for AGF Coach of the Year before they go head-to-head in the most important game of the year.
Finally, it’s fitting to see the University of Calgary and Laval meeting for the 52nd Vanier Cup on Saturday. These two teams, who have met twice for Canada’s national collegiate title since 2010, have been the prototype for consistency in university football for the last decade. No. 1 Laval will be favored, but this Dinos team isn’t one to be underestimated.
