Following a 2014 regular season in which the team achieved a franchise best 15-3 record, the Calgary Stampeders’ Grey Cup hopes, the club’s benchmark for success given their high expectations, faced a lone obstacle – the CFL’s Eastern Champs, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The Tiger-Cats and Stampeders faced off Sunday afternoon at Vancouver’s B.C. Place for the 102nd Grey Cup Championship Game.
The Stampeders dominated the first half and survived a late Ti-Cat surge en route to a 20-16 win which gave the club its seventh Grey Cup Championship.
Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was named the Most Outstanding Player of the game.
Scoring recap:
The Stampeders won the coin toss and have deferred to the second half. The 102nd Grey Cup Championship Game will begin with the Stampeders kicking to the Ti-Cats.
We're underway! Hamilton QB Zach Collaros orchestrated a short initial drive which stalled and ended in a punt.
The Stampeders were unable to move the ball on their first possession.
Hamilton survived a Nic Grigsby fumble which cost the team 26 yards. A punt combined with a No Yards penalty gives the Stampeders ball on the Ti-Cats side of the field.
Bo Levi Mitchell found a wide open Eric Rogers for a 28 yard reception. A Drew Tate 1 yard rushing touchdown ends the drive. The Stampeders are up 7-0 with 5:04 remaining in the first quarter.
The second quarter began with the Stamps completing a 7 play, 66 yard drive culminating in Drew Tate's second rushing TD of the game. 14-0 Stampeders early in the second. 14:01 remaining in the half.
The Ti-Cats appeared to be building momentum in the second quarter but a Justin Medlock FG attempt, which would have put Hamilton on the scoreboard, was blocked at the line by Demonte Bolden. Stamps ball late in the half.
The Stampeders ensuing drive ended with an 11 yard FG from Rene Paredes. 17-0 Calgary, with just over 2 minutes left in the second quarter.
The Ti-Cats are on the board. Zach Collaros found Brandon Banks on a 45 yard pass for the major. The convert has the Tabbies down 10 with just over a minute left in the half.
At the half, the Stampeders are up 17-7.
Bo Levi Mitchell's first half numbers: 14-17 for 220 yards, 83 of which went to Eric Rogers, the Stamps receiving yards leader at halftime.
The third quarter begins with an unproductive Stampeders drive which ends with a costly punt. Brandon Banks brings the ball to midfield and Stampeders punter Rob Mavers hobbled off the field after taking a big hit.
The Stampeders opened the second half scoring with a Rene Paredes FG. The 20 yard chip shot has the Stamps' up 20-7 with 4:20 remaining in the the 3Q.
Rob Mavers remains on the Stampeders' sideline. Paredes will assume punting duty.
Hamilton has reduced the Stamps' lead. A Justin Medlock 25 yard field goal with 11:55 remaining in the game has the Ti-Cats down 10. Stampeders 20 - Ti-Cats 10.
Ti-Cats corner Delvin Breaux intercepted an errant Bo Levi Mitchell pass to swing momentum in Hamilton's favour. The Ti-Cats have the ball on the Stampeders' 40 yard line with 9:30 remaining in the 4Q.
The Stampeders defensive line comes up big stuffing Nic Grigsby runs from four and two yards out. Hamilton settles for Medlock's second field goal of the game. The Stampeders are up 20-13 following the 12 yard FG.
With 2:05 remaining in the game, the Stampeders have the ball following Medlock's third field goal of the day, a 37 yard kick. The Stampeders lead 20-16
With 0:55 remaining, Calgary is forced to punt. The Paredes kick is returned by Brandon Banks for the score, but an illegal block negates the touchdown. Hamilton will begin their final drive of the fourth quarter deep in their own end.
Final score: Stampeders 20 - Ti-Cats 16.
The 102nd Grey Cup Championship Game Most Outstanding Player: Bo Levi Mitchell