Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca
TORONTO — Among other things, the 105th Grey Cup should be remembered for one of the single greatest turning points of all-time.
Down a score with the opponent in field goal range, it seemed as though slim had left the building for the Argos and their dwindling Grey Cup hopes.
What happened next will go down in Grey Cup lore.
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Cassius Vaughn‘s 109-yard scoop-and-score sent the Argos to an unexpected championship and the Stamps to their second straight Grey Cup heartbreak.
Nothing will match that moment on the snow-covered turf at TD Place, but what were some other turning points in the 2017 season? We break down one for every team:
BC Lions
Aug. 13, 2017
Self-destruction in Riderville
Jonathon Jennings threw four interceptions in the Lions’ loss to Saskatchewan (The Canadian Press)
At 5-2, the Lions were making a strong case as a contender for the highly-competitive West Division. Then came along their visit to Riderville in Week 8. It wasn’t a moment in that game but the entire outing that helped turn the tide for the Orange and Black.
Maybe ‘self-destruction’ is harsh, but it succinctly describes the Lions’ 41-8 loss to Saskatchewan in Week 8. New Mosaic Stadium was a house of nightmares for the Jonathon Jennings, who threw four interceptions while the Lions turned the ball over seven times, dropping the rematch with Saskatchewan in very one-sided fashion.
Wally Buono’s team never did recover from that loss, spurring a 2-9 run while missing the post-season for the first time in 20 years.
Edmonton Eskimos
Oct. 2, 2017
Just call the Gable Guy
One of the biggest turning points outside of the white lines came from the Edmonton Eskimos. Brock Sunderland’s acquisition of C.J. Gable added a new dimension to the Esks’ offence, ending a six-game losing streak with a one-sided Thanksgiving win over the Als.
Gable would rush for 367 yards in four games, while the Esks would win their next six in a row before bowing out in the Western Final.
Note that the star running back has since signed an extension, giving the Eskimos momentum heading towards 2018 as they look to play host in the 106th Grey Cup.
Calgary Stampeders
Nov. 26, 2017
Kamar Jorden‘s fumble
At the risk of beating a dead horse, there was no bigger turning point for the Stampeders in 2017 than Cassius Vaughn’s Grey Cup-changing fumble return touchdown.
The CFL’s top-ranked team overcame some late-season adversity — a three-game losing streak — and looked poise to make last year’s Grey Cup demons nothing more than a minor nuisance and a distant afterthought.
Already up a touchdown with time running out, a field goal in that situation likely puts the game out of reach. Instead, the Stampeders will spend another season facing difficult questions while they try to get back to a third straight Grey Cup.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Aug. 25, 2017
Statement made
After a slow start, the Riders had just gotten back to .500 and finally beaten a West Division team in a blowout win over BC. But the real statement came a week later, when they picked off Mike Reilly twice for touchdowns and delivered 54-31 blow at Commonwealth Stadium.
It wasn’t just the decisiveness of the victory but the magnitude of the situation. That evening was a huge victory for Chris Jones in his old team’s building, as the Riders showed once and for all they’re one of the big dogs in the West.
The win was part of a 9-4 run for the Riders, who should be considered a strong contender in 2018 in their third year under Jones. You can think back to that late-summer night in Edmonton as the turning point of it all.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Aug. 17, 2017
Unseating the undefeated Esks
Matt Nichols’ career game helped the Bombers hand the Eskimos their first loss of the season (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)
The upstart Bombers continued figuring things out in 2017, winning 12 games and hosting their first playoff game since 2011. While they’ve flirted with contention the last couple of years, the biggest ‘aha’ moment came in the middle of August when they took on the undefeated Eskimos.
Weeks after falling to the Grey Cup favourite Stamps, the Bombers had another chance to tango with a contender — and this time came through. Led by an incredibly efficient Matt Nichols, who went 32-of-40 for 390 yards and a touchdown, the Bombers won 33-26, ending Edmonton’s perfect 7-0 start to the season.
The win unofficially signaled the Bombers’ arrival at the CFL’s adult table — the upper echelon of the West Division.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Sept. 4, 2017
First win on Labour Day
The holiday Monday in September is always special for the Argos and Ticats and especially Hamiltonians. Yet despite a miserable start to the season for the Ticats, a storm was brewing — literally and figuratively — going into the annual Labour Day classic.
A two-hour weather delay couldn’t put a damper on a true classic for the Ticats, who won their first game with June Jones and Jeremiah Masoli in charge. While Hamilton wouldn’t bounce back to make the playoffs, the 24-22 win did kick-start a 6-4 run to end the season for the Black and Gold.
With Jones back on as head coach paired with some late-season success, the outlook is positive for the Ticats going into 2018. That started with a win on Labour Day.
Toronto Argonauts
Sept. 16, 2017
Argos run Wilder
The emergence of James Wilder Jr. helped the Argos turn their season around in September (The Canadian Press)
The obvious choice here is, yes, Cassius Vaughn’s fumble return touchdown in the Grey Cup. But without the emergence of a dominant running game led by breakout star James Wilder Jr., there might not have been a post-season for Toronto let alone a ticket to the big game.
The Argos’ up-and-down season changed for the better when Wilder combined for 257 yards that afternoon in Toronto, and over the next couple of months their rushing attack transformed from one of the worst in the CFL to one of the best.
A 34-26 win over Edmonton started an 8-2 run for the Boatmen, including the 105th Grey Cup.
Ottawa REDBLACKS
Nov. 12, 2017
Eguavoen intercepts Harris
In a season of ebbs and flows, there were plenty of possible turning points for the Grey Cup’s host city. But despite everything that happened, good or bad, Rick Campbell’s team found itself on home field needing just two wins to return to the Grey Cup.
With both offences humming, Riders linebacker Samuel Eguavoen‘s first-quarter interception on Trevor Harris near the Rider goal line was the turning point Saskatchewan needed to go on the road and book a ticket to the Eastern Final.
The REDBLACKS never did recover, and it’s that play that may haunt their quarterback this off-season, especially after having to watch the Argos win the Grey Cup on their turf.
Montreal Alouettes
July 27, 2017
‘The comeback’
Andrew Harris‘ game-winning touchdown vs. the Als was a highlight of the 2017 season (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)
A three-win season means plenty of things gone awry for a football team. While it’s unfair to pinpoint one game for the team’s problems, no one can forget Montreal’s Week 6 loss to Winnipeg.
The Als were minutes away from a tough road win and a .500 record through six games, but the Bombers had other ideas. Down two scores, Matt Nichols led one of the most memorable comebacks in recent history, generating two touchdown drives — including a last-play touchdown run from Andrew Harris — to lead Winnipeg to victory.
Montreal won the following week, but wouldn’t win another game in 2017, quickly falling out of contention in the East.
