Saskatchewan Roughriders: 2025 Grey Cup Champions

 

WINNIPEG — The Saskatchewan Roughriders are champions once again.

Saskatchewan scored three rushing touchdowns and came down with a trio of interceptions to take down the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 in the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg.

After trailing 7-1 at the end of the first quarter, the Riders scored 24 unanswered points to take a commanding lead in the second half. Montreal battled back to make it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter, but Saskatchewan was able to halt the Alouettes comeback attempt with a fumble forced near the goal line.

AJ Ouellette scored once and Tommy Stevens added a pair of majors at Princess Auto Stadium to help the Riders capture their first Grey Cup win since 2013.

Marcus Sayles, Rolan Milligan Jr. and Tevaughn Campbell each added an interception in a dominating night for the Green and White defence.

Montreal’s starting pivot Davis Alexander was under pressure all game, finishing with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Backup pivot Shea Patterson and running back Stevie Scott III scored Montreal’s touchdowns on the ground.

It was Alexander’s first loss a starter in the CFL.

Saskatchewan’s defence opened the game with a statement. After a quick first down for the Alouettes, Marcus Sayles jumped a deep ball from Alexander to earn the game’s first takeaway. Montreal’s defence was able to stop the Green and White’s following march, as Kabion Ento knocked down a second-and-three attempt. The Riders added one point to the board when Jesse Mirco‘s punt was downed in the end zone for a single.

Montreal’s next drive didn’t go far, but punter Joseph Zema was able to pin down the Roughriders on their own three-yard line. That made things difficult on Harris and the offence, who ended up having to punt deep into their own territory after a second-and-nine pass to Kian Schaffer-Baker fell incomplete. The return gave Montreal good field position and they immediately capitalized. Alexander aimed deep and found a streaking Tyson Philpot, who gained 37 yards before he was downed by defensive back Tevaughn Campbell at the 16-yard line. The Canadian receiver followed up with another first-down catch to set up first-and-goal, but Saskatchewan’s defence raised the wall on two straight plays to force third-and-goal from the one-yard line. Third time is the charm, though, as Patterson broke the plane of goal to score the first touchdown of the night and give Montreal a 7-1 lead late in the first quarter.

The Roughriders responded with their own long march. Harris connected with Schaffer-Baker on a jumping pass and the veteran receiver added yards-after-the-catch to move the ball into Montreal territory. The pivot then threw another dart, this time to Emilus, who also gained ground after the catch to set up first-and-10 from the 12-yard line. On second-and-five, Emilus was tackled short of the sticks, forcing the Roughriders to make a decision on third down. Harris and the offence stayed out there, but a short pass attempt fell incomplete as the Alouettes forced the turnover on downs. However, the Riders challenged the ruling on the field and upon review, the Alouettes were flagged for defensive pass interference. Stevens came in for the first-and-goal and added his own rushing touchdown to give Saskatchewan an 8-7 lead with the point after by Brett Lauther.

A punt by the Alouettes allowed the Riders a chance to add to their lead. Harris got things going by throwing a short pass to Ajou Ajou on an in-breaking route, before connecting with Schaffer-Baker for another first down across midfield. The quarterback then found a wide-open Ouellette in the flat for a 32-yard gain. A holding penalty pushed the Green and White back, but they rallied back to make it third-and-one. Stevens converted again to give Saskatchewan first-and-goal from the five, and Ouellette finished the job with his trademark tackle-breaking ability coming through on a five-yard touchdown run. The score gave Corey Mace’s squad a 15-7 lead with 2:38 to go in the first half.

After two quick punts by both teams, Montreal got the ball back with 31 seconds left in the second quarter. Alexander moved the ball with his legs, then connected with Cole Spieker over the middle to enter Saskatchewan territory with three seconds left. The pivot escaped the pocket in an attempt to throw it deep, but the pass with intercepted by Rolan Milligan Jr. to end the half.

Mario Anderson Jr. opened the third quarter with a long kickoff return that set up the Riders in Montreal territory. Harris connected with Schaffer-Baker for a quick first down, then found Tommy Nield deep between the hashes for a 34-yard gain all the way to Montreal’s one-yard line. Stevens took care of business once more, scoring his second touchdown of the night, again on a one-yard sneak. The major extended the Riders lead to 22-7 with 11:59 to go in the third quarter.

Later in the third, Alexander got the Als on the move with a 24-yard pass to Charleston Rambo. Two plays later, the pivot escaped the pocket and tried to find someone deep, but instead found Campbell for the game’s third takeaway. The turnover led to three more points for the Riders via Lauther’s leg from 48 yards away.

Montreal kept fighting as Alexander threw a strike to Snead to move the ball across midfield and kickstart a scoring drive for the Als. The signal-caller then planted his back foot and threw another dart, this time to Philpot, who dodged an incoming Campbell to advance the ball into the red zone. A pass interference penalty on Saskatchewan’s defence inched the ball closer to the end zone, and Scott III capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. The point after made it 25-14 at the break between the final two quarters.

The defence forced a quick two-and-out to send Alexander and the offence back onto the field. Montreal turned to the quick passing game to move the ball, gaining a pair of first downs with Philpot and running back Travis Theis. A roughing the passer penalty against Saskatchewan moved the sticks to the 11-yard line, but the Roughriders defence was able to make a stop and force the field goal attempt. The kick made it a one-possession game with 7:47 left in the fourth quarter.

Harris quickly moved the Riders into scoring position, but Lauther’s field goal attempt sailed wide right to keep the lead at eight points. Jason Maas’ team almost made the most of it, shifting field position with a deep pass from Alexander to Snead that went for 51 yards to the Saskatchewan 24-yard line. Scott III added another first down on the ground, but a fumble near the goal line by Patterson was recovered by Campbell in the end zone, keeping Saskatchewan’s lead intact.

Harris and the offence were able to burn some of the clock, but were forced to punt it back to Montreal with a little over a minute left in the game. The Alouettes gained a couple of first downs, but a late attempt by Alexander fell incomplete as the Riders won their first Grey Cup since 2013.

Montreal Carabins: 2023 Vanier Cup Champions

Jonathan Senecal and a stout Montreal Carabins defence proved too much for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on Saturday afternoon in Kingston, Ont.

Senecal's second-half touchdown led Montreal to a hard-fought 16-9 Vanier Cup win over a game Thunderbirds squad. The Carabins' defence didn't surrender a touchdown and finished the season allowing just seven field goals in their four playoff victories.

"We were confident coming in with the way our defence was playing," said Montreal head coach Marco Iadeluca. "When your defence plays that kind of football, going into any game you have to feel comfortable.

"And then we have number 12 [Senecal] at quarterback, which is just spectacular."

Seneca was awarded the Hec Crighton Trophy on Thursday as Canadian university football's most outstanding player. He added Vanier Cup MVP honours after completing 11-of-26 passes for 171 yards and an interception, as well as a team-high 50 yards rushing on 10 carries with the TD.

Senecal's seven-yard touchdown run at 8:47 of the third put Montreal ahead 16-6. The drive followed Kieran Flannery-Fleck's 14-yard punt that gave the Carabins possession at their 38-yard line.

"This is what we wanted," Senecal said. "We worked hard for 16 weeks and were able to come out on top, it's just a great feeling.

"Our defence is the best in the country and they just prove that week after week. They just make everything easier."

Montreal linebacker Nicky Farinaccio earned top defensive player honours.

UBC makes it interesting

UBC made it very interesting, pulling to within 16-9 on Kieran Flannery-Fleck's 24-yard field goal at 9:48 of the fourth. The Thunderbirds marched from their 51-yard line to the Montreal 16-yard line before settling for three points.

Later, UBC drove to the Montreal 33-yard line before Garrett Rooker's pass on third-and-four fell incomplete with just over two minutes to play. After their defence held, the Thunderbirds took over at their own 35 with 1:30 remaining, but Rooker's pass on third-and-four gave the Carabins possession at the UBC 41 with 1:02 to play.

That led to a Philippe Boyer punt, which gave UBC a final possession at its 18-yard line with 3.8 seconds to play. Rooker completed his pass to Jason Soriano, but he was tackled short of centre field.

Montreal to face UBC in Vanier Cup after downing Western in Uteck Bowl

"We knew going in we had to be able to move the ball and score some points and we just weren't able to," said UBC head coach Blake Nill. "We moved the ball at times but I thought we had a couple of situations where you'd like to have back but that's the way the game is played.

"Montreal is a very good football team. We're a good team too, we just didn't make enough plays."

'Toughest team we played all year'

Coach Iadeluca had nothing but praise for the Thunderbirds.

"That was the toughest team we played all year," he said. "They were resilient on offence, very athletic on defence.

"But I am so proud of this football team. They work hard, they're disciplined, they wanted this from day one and kept their eye on the prize the whole time."

Rooker finished 26-of-40 passing for 278 yards before an energetic Richardson Stadium gathering of 7,100 on a cool, breezy, overcast afternoon. Isaiah Knight ran for a game-high 73 yards on 15 carries.

Montreal's defence also came up big early in the fourth, stopping Knight cold on third-and-two at the Carabins' 53-yard line to protect their 10-point lead.

These two teams met in the 2015 Vanier Cup, which UBC won 26-23 in Quebec City. The Thunderbirds made their seventh appearance overall, having won four times, while Montreal was in the title game for a fourth occasion, also winning in 2014.

UBC held the edge in total offence with 345 yards to 323 for Montreal, but the Carabins dominated the rushing game with 163 yards to 84 for the Thunderbirds.

City of champions

With the Carabins' win, Montreal becomes the first city since 1980 to boast Vanier Cup and Grey Cup champions in the same year. Last week, the Alouettes upset the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28-24 in Hamilton to secure the franchise's first CFL title since 2010.

Edmonton last claimed the Vanier Cup-Grey Cup double title 43 years ago.

Iraghi Muganda had Montreal's other touchdown. Boyer booted the converts while the other points came on a safety.

Flannery-Fleck finished with three field goals for UBC.

Flannery-Fleck's 41-yard field goal at 14:09 of the second quarter cut Montreal's half-time lead to 9-6. The Carabins threatened to extend their advantage with Carl Chabot taking Senecal's third-and-four completion to the UBC six-yard line on the quarter's final play.

It appeared Chabot had room to maybe get out of bounds, stop the clock and give Montreal a final opportunity to at least try a short field goal. Then again, UBC made an interesting decision to decline a holding penalty against the Carabins that gave them their third-and-four situation instead of second and long.

UBC mounted a promising drive from its 23-yard line but it ended with Knight's fumble that the Carabins recovered at their own 39 with 6:02 left in the quarter.

Flannery-Fleck put UBC on the scoreboard with a 32-yard field goal at 4:01.

Muganda's 18-yard TD run at 12:17 of the first put Montreal ahead 9-0. The Carabins went ahead 2-0 at 7:10 when Flannery Fleck conceded the safety.

Vanier Cup headed to Saskatchewan for 1st time

The Vanier Cup will head to Saskatchewan for the first time.

U Sports announced Saturday the '25 Vanier Cup will be played in Regina. The 60th edition of Canadian university football's championship game will go at Mosaic Stadium and coincide with the University of Regina's 50th anniversary.

It will be just the third time ever the Vanier Cup is held in Western Canada.

U Sports also announced Quebec City will host the '26 Vanier Cup. It has staged the game seven times.

Montreal Alouettes: 2023 Grey Cup Champions

The Grey Cup is heading back to Montreal.

The final game of the 2023 CFL season was played on Sunday at Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field in front of a sellout crowd, where the Montreal Alouettes defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a 28-24 score.

Montreal’s Tyson Philpot scored the winning touchdown with just 13 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Winnipeg carried a 17-14 lead into the fourth quarter, where the only score of the third frame was a 23-yard receiving touchdown from Montreal’s Cole Spieker.

Winnipeg got the scoring started in the first quarter, nailing a 25-yard field goal off the foot of kicker Sergio Castillo to take a 3-0 lead with 8:32 to go in the opening frame. A quick first drive from the Alouettes quickly gave the ball back to Winnipeg just over a minute later on their own 44-yard line. On the ensuing drive, Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira scored the first touchdown of the day, a five-yard run up the middle to give Winnipeg a two-score lead.

Montreal replied with a major score of their own on the next drive, with the Alouettes’ William Stanback breaking open a 35-yard rush touchdown to get his side back within a single score with five seconds left in the opening frame.

The second quarter wasn’t quite as high-scoring, with Winnipeg stopping Montreal at the 1-yard line with eight seconds left in the opening half to keep the score at 17-7.

It’s safe to say this wasn’t quite the match up most were predicting when the CFL playoffs got underway earlier this month.

Toronto Argonauts: 2022 Grey Cup Champions

REGINA — All week long, the Toronto Argonauts heard about a team trying to make history. 

On Sunday at the 109th Grey Cup, they decided to take control of that narrative and stunned the two-time defending champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24-23. 

McLeod Bethel-Thompson made 15 of 28 passes for 203 yards before dislocating his thumb in the fourth-quarter. He was replaced by backup QB Chad Kelly who made 4-6 passes for 43 yards and had a key scramble that helped set up a touchdown. Argos’ defensive lineman Robbie Smith made a game-saving field goal block to secure the dramatic win, giving the Boatmen their 18th Grey Cup.

Zach Collaros was 14-23 for 183 yards, a touchdown and an interception on an injured ankle, as the Bombers’ bid to become the CFL’s first three-peat champion in 42 years fell short.

Janarion Grant set a Grey Cup record with his 102-yard fourth-quarter punt return touchdown.

The Argos triumphed in front of a raucous, Winnipeg-friendly crowd at Mosaic Stadium, which saw the Twisted Tea Halftime Show that featured Jordan Davis, Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line and Canada’s own Josh Ross keep fans entertained for the entirety of their Sunday night.

It was Bethel-Thompson and the Argos that opened the scoring. Stuck at Winnipeg’s 39-yard line, the Argos got a 46-yard field goal from Boris Bede at 4:44 to open the game’s scoring.

Winnipeg’s defence put its stamp on the game next, when Jackson Jeffcoat sacked Bethel-Thompson and linebacker Jesse Briggs recovered at the Bombers’ 49-yard line. The play snuffed out a drive that featured a Harris run that saw him hurdle the Bombers’ defence to get extra yards; a play that Harris let his former teammates on the Blue and Gold sideline hear about.

The Bombers came through the first quarter with their offence struggling. Collaros and his offensive teammates generated just one first down for 29 net yards of offence.

The Argos opened the second quarter with a promising drive that came to an end with a Bede 36-yard field goal attempt that sailed to his right and yielded a single. That pushed the score to 4-0 at 2:56.

Collaros’ first Collaros-like play of the game came on the drive that followed Bede’s miss. He worked from the pocket and connected with Dalton Schoen on a 39-yard play that got the Bombers to the Argos’ 31-yard line. Dakota Prukop came in to relieve Collaros on short yardage and eventually powered his way into the end zone, capping an eight-play, 70-yard drive. Marc Liegghio‘s convert went through at 7:31, putting the Bombers in front 7-4.

The Argos evened up the game on the ensuing drive. While they didn’t find the end zone, Bede got a second attempt from 36 yards and put it through the uprights to tie the game 7-7 at 11:13.

Collaros and the Bombers tried to close the half out with a bang. After failing to connect with Schoen on a play where he was thinking end zone, Collaros tested his ankle with a rush out of the pocket that set up Liegghio’s first field goal of the night. Liegghio’s 45-yarder made it 10-7 with 21 seconds left in the half.

The Argos were able to get Bede out for a 52-yard field goal attempt with four seconds left, but the kicker saw his second attempt of the night miss the mark. The Bombers took their three-point edge into the half.

Toronto tried to leave its offensive struggles in the first half. Bethel-Thompson led a four-play, 34-yard drive that finally got the team into the end zone, with running back A.J. Ouellette breaking through at 3:09 of the third quarter. Bede’s convert put the Argos up 14-10.

Collaros responded with a lengthy 13-play 7:12 drive that tested him as his team gradually made its way up the field. He showed elusiveness getting out of the pocket to complete a pass to Drew Wolitarsky. He took a sack from Shawn Oakman (that came back on an offside call) that saw him take weight on his right leg. On second-and-seven, he found Schoen again to get to Toronto’s 22-yard line. Once again, Prukop finished off the drive from a yard out. Liegghio’s convert put the Bombers up 17-14 at 11:31.

If the Argos sought to make a statement to open the third, the Bombers used the first play of the fourth quarter to make theirs.

Grant took John Haggerty‘s 51-yard punt back 102 yards for a key return touchdown to help open up a 23-14 Bombers’ lead. Grant’s return touchdown — his second of the post-season — set a Grey Cup record. Liegghio was unable to connect on the convert.

Toronto looked to respond but once again was stranded on Winnipeg’s side of the field. Bede made his third field goal of the night at 2:20 — another 36-yard shot — to get his team back within six, at 23-17.

If the increasingly loud fans decked out in blue behind the Bombers’ bench had started the celebration, they were slowed when Prukop was intercepted by Shaq Richardson, setting the Argos up on their own 20-yard line. With Bethel-Thompson holding his wrist on the Argos’ sideline, the team turned to backup Kelly.

Argos’ returner Javon Leake appeared to have a touchdown run in him himself, but was thwarted at Winnipeg’s 31-yard line by special teamer Shayne Gauthier. Kelly returned to lead the offence and had an impressive run from the pocket that got a penalty-addled drive back on track at Winnipeg’s 16-yard line. Ouellette took a handoff from the five-yard line and ran in for his second touchdown of the night, tying the game. Bede’s convert put the Argos back in front 24-23 with 3:24 left in the game.

Collaros took the field at his own 36, looking for a way to get his team back in front. His first pass of the drive was reeled in by Muamba, who’d narrowly missed out on a first-half pick. Kelly and the Argos went back on the field at the Bombers’ 43-yard line looking for the win.

Bede returned to the field to line up a 43-yarder and had it blocked by Nick Hallett, allowing the Bombers to get the ball back on their own 29 with under two minutes to play. On second-and-five, Argos’ d-lineman Robbie Smith snuck around the edge and sacked Collaros, forcing the Bombers into a must-have third down. Brought down again, an Argos’ facemask call gave Collaros life.

At his own 41-yard line, Collaros found Greg Ellingson for the first down he was looking for, moving the Bomers to the Toronto 45-yard line. A Chris Edwards knockdown sent the Bombers back into third down, forcing the team to turn to Liegghio for a 47-yard attempt that was blocked by Smith, making up for his earlier penalty.

The Argos closed out the final seconds of the game celebrating in victory formation, while their sideline celebrated their historic win in front of a stunned Mosaic Stadium crowd.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 2019 Grey Cup Champions

CALGARY — The CFL’s longest championship drought is over, as Winnipeg native Andrew Harris scored twice and Justin Medlock kicked six field goals to lead the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a 33-12 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw.

Four-time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban rocked a McMahon Stadium gathering of 35,439 at halftime on Sunday night, while Harris set a Bombers Grey Cup record with 134 rushing yards to lead Winnipeg to its first Grey Cup since 1990. Harris became the first Blue Bomber to rush for more than 100 yards in a Grey Cup in 61 years, and only the second in franchise history.

Defensive end Willie Jefferson had three of the Bombers’ six sacks on Ticats quarterback Dane Evans, forcing two fumbles as part of a seven turnover night for the Winnipeg defence. Hamilton, meanwhile, lost Most Outstanding Player Brandon Banks to an apparent leg injury in the third quarter.

Harris opened the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run off an Adam Bighill fumble recovery, and later hauled in an 18-yard pass from Chris Streveler to give Winnipeg a 17-6 lead in the second quarter that would not be relinquished. The Bombers’ running back was named Grey Cup Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Canadian, becoming the first in CFL history to win both honours.

Bombers starting quarterback Zach Collaros had a clean game, finishing 17-of-23 for 170 yards, while Streveler completed all three of his passing attempts for 39 yards and a touchdown. Kenny Lawler led the Bombers with 52 yards on three catches.

Tyrell Sutton rushed for 86 yards on 11 carries for the Ticats, who also had a strong effort from Jaelon Acklin with his game-high 88 yards on five catches. In the first Grey Cup start of his career, Evans threw for 203 yards on 16-of-27 passing for the Ticats with one touchdown and two interceptions. Bralon Addison scored the Ticats’ lone touchdown.

Edmonton Eskimos: 2015 Grey Cup Champions

WINNIPEG -- It’s hard to find a more aggressive coach than Chris Jones, and on Sunday it paid off for the Eskimos.

Jordan Lynch scored a one-yard touchdown on third down with 3:22 left, sending the Edmonton Eskimos to a 26-20 victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS in the 103rd Grey Cup presented by Shaw.

Mike Reilly threw touchdown passes to Adarius Bowman and Akeem Shavers while completing 21 of 25 passes for 269 yards, while Edmonton’s defence allowed only four second-half points to guide the Eskimos to their first Grey Cup since 2005.

The REDBLACKS opened with a scoring surge with a pair of touchdowns on their opening two drives, but the Eskimos battled back to take the lead at halftime. After entering the fourth quarter behind, Edmonton scored the go-ahead touchdown on a drive fueled by two pass interference penalties.

Henry Burris threw for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the loss, but was also intercepted by Patrick Watkins and failed to generate a touchdown after the opening two drives.

While the focus was on Ottawa’s big four entering Sunday, it was Maurice Price getting the REDBLACKS’ offence moving out of the gate. Price caught a pass over the middle on second and 10 to give Burris and the REDBLACKS a first down and that got things moving.

On the next play, Burris hit Ellingson on the slant over the middle to move the sticks again. Two runs by first-year CFL running back William Powell kept the drive alive, then inside the 25 Burris hit Chris Williams on the right sideline to put Ottawa inside the four.

On first down Burris went play action, then pulled the ball down and hit Patrick Lavoie to put the REDBLACKS in the end zone.

Burris went 5-for-6 on the game’s opening drive for 60 yards and a touchdown, giving the REDBLACKS the first strike and a 7-0 lead in the 103rd Grey Cup only 3:43 into the game. The score capped off a seven-play, 73-yard drive as Ottawa set exactly the right tone for the game.

The REDBLACKS’ early momentum went from a spark to a surge on the very next play. Esks’ shifty returner Kendial Lawrence fumbled Edmonton’s first kick return of the game as Jake Harty forced a loose ball, and there to recover was Damaso Munoz.

Powell sprinted up the heart of the Esks’ defence for 15 on the first play of the next drive, then Burris made his sixth straight completion on a slant over the middle to Ernest Jackson for 15 more.

With a first-and-goal from the 10, the 40-year-old Burris wasn’t fooling around. After a run was stopped on first down, Burris threaded the needle to Jackson in the end zone for a seven-yard score.
Chris Milo missed the extra point, but Burris’ second touchdown of the game and seventh straight completion put the REDBLACKS ahead 13-0 before Reilly and the Eskimos’ offence could even touch the football.

The Eskimos needed a response from their offence, which scrimmaged from the 32-yard-line on its first possession of the game. A completion to Bowman and a pass interference penalty against Antoine Pruneau set up a three-pointer by Sean Whyte to get the Eskimos on the board.

While the drive didn’t end the way the Green and Gold had hoped, it started turn the momentum a little bit in the Eskimos’ favour. That continued on the defensive side of the ball when Burris looked to go long on second down, only to be intercepted by cornerback Patrick Watkins.

Already Reilly’s favourite target, Stafford moved the sticks with a key second down conversion and held onto the ball in Ottawa territory for a 24-yard pickup. After running for a first down, the Eskimos’ gunslinging quarterback hit Bowman on the corner route for a 23-yard touchdown and just like that it was a new ballgame.

Reilly’s first career Grey Cup touchdown pass made it a 13-10 game with two minutes left in the opening quarter, capping off a five-play, 60-yard scoring drive over 2:30 span.

Now it was the REDBLACKS needing an answer, but they were victimized by the game’s first sack as Marcus Howard got to Burris and took him down. Howard was hit with a 15-yard penalty on the play to give Ottawa a second chance on the drive, but an Odell Willis sack right after forced Ottawa to punt while putting an end to the opening 15 minutes.

The REDBLACKS appeared to have another big defensive play when Brandyn Thompson scooped up a fumble and returned it for seven, but it was negated by an offside penalty by Justin Capicciotti. On the same drive though Jonathan Williams sacked Reilly, forcing the Eskimos to punt as the defences settled in.

A catch-and-run by Powell set up Milo’s first field goal of the night to make it 16-10 Ottawa, while the Eskimos missed a 45-yard field goal try and the REDBLACKS were forced to punt.

Down six with under two minutes left, the Esks’ offence looked to strike and take the lead before halftime. Shamawd Chambers got the drive started with a gain into REDBLACKS’ territory on his second catch of the game, then Reilly kept things moving with some fancy footwork.

A pass to Walker for 17 yards along the right sideline gave the Eskimos another first down, and then with the clock ticking and under half a minute left, Reilly found a wide open Akeem Shavers for a 13-yard pickup inside the two.

Reilly went right back to the rookie running back on the next play, and with 12 seconds left in the half the Eskimos took their first lead of the game – 17-16. That 85-yard drive on which Reilly completed all five passing attempts sent the Eskimos into halftime with the lead.

The REDBLACKS took the lead back on a 33-yard field goal following a seven play, 75-yard drive to make it 19-17. Edmonton cut the lead in half with a single point on a punt, but the defences dominated the third quarter as the contest became about field position.

Late in the third though the Eskimos began to tilt the field in their favour. A third down conversion moved the sticks and then a catch by Cory Watson moved the Eskimos into Ottawa territory. Reilly used his legs to keep the sticks moving again, but a stalled drive proved costly.

Whyte missed his second field goal of the game, putting this try off the uprights from 35 yards out leaving the REDBLACKS up by a point, 19-18 entering the fourth and final quarter.

A close game entering the fourth quarter appeared to be in Edmonton’s favour, as the Esks had outscored opponents 107-22 in fourth quarters during their current nine-game winning streak – an average margin of eight points.

In the fourth quarter the defensive duel continued though. The REDBLACKS added a single point to their lead on a 72-yard punt by Milo, while their defence responded with a two-and-out against Reilly.

The Eskimos’ defence rose to the occasion though and the next time Reilly got the ball back he got aggressive. The veteran pivot fired down the right sideline and while his pass fell to the turf, an interference penalty against Abdul Kanneh gave Edmonton a first down at the 47.

Reilly went long again on the very next play, and this time after a challenge by Chris Jones there was another pass interference. After the penalty moved the Eskimos to the Ottawa 10, a completion to Nate Coehoorn put the Esks at the one.

Down two with under four minutes left facing a third and goal from the one, Jones opted to gamble on scoring the go-ahead touchdown. And after a second effort, short-yardage quarterback Jordan Lynch was able to power his way over the line to give Edmonton a 26-20 lead following the two-point conversion with 3:22 remaining.

Burris moved the sticks with a 14-yard completion to Price on second down as the REDBLACKS moved near midfield, but Ottawa's drive quickly stalled after that. An incompletion by Burris and then a sack forced Rick Campbell's hand in punting the football away with two minutes left, and his offence never got the ball back as the Eskimos moved the chains three times to melt away the clock.
The win marks Edmonton's 10th in a row, all with Reilly under centre since he returned from a knee injury to start the Labour Day rematch against Calgary.

In those 10 games the Eskimos defeated division rival Calgary three times to not only win the West but ultimately represent the West in the Grey Cup.

The loss for Ottawa is a disappointing end to a campaign the city will never forget, as the REDBLACKS mounted one of the greatest turnarounds in CFL history in going from two wins a year ago to 12 wins and a Grey Cup appearance this year.

Burris had a career season for the REDBLACKS and won Most Outstanding Player for his efforts at age 40, while Ottawa boasted four 1,000-yard receivers and the CFL's number one-ranked offence.

Montreal Carabins: 2014 Coupe Vanier Cup Champions

MONTREAL (CIS) – A field goal block by Mathieu Girard of Laval, Que., with 51 seconds remaining secured the Montreal Carabins their first CIS football national title with a come-from-behind 20-19 victory over the McMaster Marauders in the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium before a crowd of 22,649.

Montreal, appearing in its first Vanier Cup final, trailed for much of the game, not taking the lead until a Louis-Philippe Simoneau (La Presentation, Que.) field goal with 2:45 left in the contest. A strong McMaster defence contained the Carabins's offensive output, limiting the victors to 221 yards of net offence, compared to 337 yards by the Marauder offence.

Montreal receiver Regis Cibasu (Kinshasa, Congo) garnered the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy as the game MVP, reeling in six passes for a team-high 90 yards.

Carabins defensive back Anthony Coady (Montreal) took the Bruce Coulter Award as the defensive MVP after snagging two interceptions.

Montreal head coach Danny Maciocia becomes the first person to lead a team to both Grey Cup and Vanier Cup titles as a head coach, having earned a Grey Cup ring in 2005 as the bench boss of the Edmonton Eskimos.

"This is an amazing and exciting group of players. Winning in front of our fans here in Montreal is phenomenal. It's huge. I can't even put into words how it feels to share this with our families and friends," said Maciocia, whose team capped a thrilling playoff run that included a 12-9 overtime win over Laval in the Quebec final and a 29-26 victory over Manitoba in the Uteck Bowl.

"It was a total team effort. I was fortunate to be the one to make that play," said Girard. "We believe all year that we could win. I can leave the Carabins program in peace. When I chose to play at the University of Montreal, I was asked if I wanted to be part of history."

For the Carabins, quarterback Gabriel Cousineau (Montreal) made good on 17 of 33 passes, amassing 196 yards and throwing one touchdown. Along with Cibasu, his favourite target was Mikhaïl Davidson (Montreal), who caught eight passes for 81 yards.

The Carabins become just the third team in history to win a Vanier Cup title in their home town, joining the Toronto Varsity Blues (1965, 1993) and Laval Rouge et Or (2010, 2013). McMaster was appearing in its third Vanier Cup in four years, having claimed the 2011 championship, and now has a 1-3 record overall in Vanier Cup appearances.

In the losing effort, McMaster place kicker Tyler Crapigna (Nepean, Ont.) accounted for 13 of McMaster's 19 points, booting four field goals, which was one shy of matching a Vanier Cup single-game record. Wayne Moore (Etobicoke, Ont.) led the ground attack with 111 yards on 11 carries, and scored the loan Marauder touchdown. Quarterback Marshall Ferguson (Kingston, Ont.) connected on 27 of 41 passes for 195 yards, throwing a pair of interceptions. On defence, lineman Mark Mackie (London, Ont.) dominated with two sacks, in addition to four solo tackles.

"It's disappointing for sure. Anytime you come this close, it's gonna sting," said McMaster coach Stefan Ptaszek.

A 22-yard Crapigna field goal on McMaster's opening drive gave the Marauders an early lead. The McMaster defence shut down Montreal in the early going, holding the Carabins to 24 yards of net offence and two first downs in the opening quarter. A second Crapigna field goal, from 35 yards, gave McMaster a 6-0 advantage going into the first intermission.

Montreal got on the score sheet on their first drive of the second quarter, tallying three points on a 9-yard field goal by Simoneau. McMaster responded on the ensuing possession, capping a four-play, 75-yard drive with a 50-yard touchdown run by Wayne Moore, and leaving the tally 13-3 at halftime.

Montreal opened the second half by recovering a McMaster fumble on the opening kickoff return, and Philip Enchill (Montreal) latter claimed its first major of the contest with a nine-yard pass from Cousineau. Crapigna added a pair of field goals to boost McMaster's lead to 19-10 entering the final quarter.

The Carabins chipped away at McMaster's lead with a three-yard touchdown run by Sean Thomas Erlington (Montreal). Montreal finally took a 20-19 lead – its first of the game – with Simoneau kicking a 13-yard field goal with 2:45 remaining. McMaster drove the ball to the Montreal 24 yard line and Crapigna set up a straight-on field goal from 31 yards out, which Girard blocked.

SCORING SUMMARY

Ted Morris Memorial Trophy (Game MVP): Régis Cibasu, Montreal
Bruce Coulter Award: Anthony Coady, Montreal

MTL 0-3-7-10: 20
MAC 6-7-6-0: 19

FIRST QUARTERMAC - FIELD GOAL Tyler Crapigna 22yds 03:58 (MAC 3-0)
MAC - FIELD GOAL Tyler Crapigna 35yds 12:42 (MAC 6-0)

SECOND QUARTERMTL - FIELD GOAL Louis-Philippe Simoneau 9yds 03:25 (MAC 6-3)
MAC - TOUCHDOWN Wayne Moore 35yds run 05:38 (convert Tyler Crapigna) (MAC 13-3)

THIRD QUARTERMTL - TOUCHDOWN Philip Enchill 9yds pass from Gabriel Cousineau 02:15 (convert Louis-Philippe Simoneau) (MAC 13-10)
MAC - FIELD GOAL Tyler Crapigna 43yds 09:54 (MAC 16-10)
MAC - FIELD GOAL Tyler Crapigna 29yds 14:07 (MAC 19-10)

FOURTH QUARTERMTL - TOUCHDOWN Sean Thomas-Erlington 3yds run 04:12 (convert Louis-Philippe Simoneau) (MAC 19-17)
MTL - FIELD GOAL Louis-Philippe Simoneau 13yds 12:15 (MTL 20-19)

Attendance: 22,649

ALL-TIME VANIER CUP RESULTS

2014 Montréal 20, McMaster 19 (Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, Montreal)
2013 Laval 25, Calgary 14 (TELUS-UL Stadium, Quebec City)
2012 Laval 37, McMaster 14 (Rogers Centre, Toronto)
2011 McMaster 41, Laval 38 OT (BC Place Stadium, Vancouver)
2010 Laval 29, Calgary 2 (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City)
2009 Queen's 33, Calgary 31 (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City)
2008 Laval 44, Western 21 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton)
2007 Manitoba 28, Saint Mary's14 (Rogers Centre, Toronto)
2006 Laval 13, Saskatchewan 8 (Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon)
2005 Wilfrid Laurier 24, Saskatchewan 23 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton)
2004 Laval 7, Saskatchewan 1 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton)
2003 Laval 14, Saint Mary's 7 (SkyDome, Toronto)
2002 Saint Mary's 33, Saskatchewan 21 (SkyDome, Toronto)
2001 Saint Mary's 42, Manitoba 16 (SkyDome, Toronto)
2000 Ottawa 42, Regina 39 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1999 Laval 14, Saint Mary's 10 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1998 Saskatchewan 24, Concordia 17 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1997 UBC 39, Ottawa 23 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1996 Saskatchewan 31, StFX 12 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1995 Calgary 54, Western 24 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1994 Western 50, Saskatchewan 40 OT (SkyDome, Toronto)
1993 Toronto 37, Calgary 34 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1992 Queen's 31, Saint Mary's 0 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1991 Wilfrid Laurier 25, Mount Allison 18 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1990 Saskatchewan 24, Saint Mary's 21 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1989 Western 35, Saskatchewan 10 (SkyDome, Toronto)
1988 Calgary 52, Saint Mary's 23 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1987 McGill 47, UBC 11 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1986 UBC 25, Western 23 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1985 Calgary 25, Western 6 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1984 Guelph 22, Mount Allison 13 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1983 Calgary 31, Queen's 21 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1982 UBC 39, Western 14 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1981 Acadia 18, Alberta 12 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1980 Alberta 40, Ottawa 21 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1979 Acadia 34, Western 12 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1978 Queen's 16, UBC 3 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1977 Western 48, Acadia 15 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1976 Western 29, Acadia 13 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1975 Ottawa 14, Calgary 9 (CNE Stadium, Toronto)
1974 Western 19, Toronto 15 (CNE Stadium, Toronto)
1973 Saint Mary's 14, McGill 6 (CNE Stadium, Toronto)
1972 Alberta 20, Waterloo Lutheran 7 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1971 Western 15, Alberta 14 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1970 Manitoba 38, Ottawa 11 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1969 Manitoba 24, McGill 15 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1968 Queen's 42, Waterloo Lutheran 14 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1967 Alberta 10, McMaster 9 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1966 StFX 40, Waterloo Lutheran 14 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)
1965 Toronto 14, Alberta 7 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto)

NOTE 1: Rogers Centre was formerly called SkyDome (1989-2003 Vanier Cups)
NOTE 2: TELUS-UL Stadium was formerly called PEPS Stadium (2009-2010 Vanier Cups)
NOTE 3: Waterloo Lutheran now Wilfrid Laurier

ABOUT THE 50TH TELUS VANIER CUP

Canadian Interuniversity Sport will celebrate the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup throughout its 2014 football season. For the first time in history, the championship game will be staged in Montreal - at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium - on Saturday, November 29, at 1 p.m. ET, live on Sportsnet and Radio-Canada.

Official TELUS Vanier Cup website (including ticket information) www.vaniercup.com

ABOUT CANADIAN INTERUNIVERSITY SPORT

Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, over 11,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 56 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca or follow us on:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CIS_SIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cissports
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/universitysport
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/CIS_SIC

Calgary Stampeders: 2014 Grey Cup Champions

VANCOUVER -- The city of Calgary is finally getting the celebration it deserves.

The league’s most dominant regular season team claimed its first Grey Cup since 2008 on Sunday night in Vancouver, as the Stamps earned a 102nd Grey Cup victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 20-16.

It was an emotional night in Vancouver that ended in heartbreak for the Ticats, after a Brandon Banks punt return touchdown late in the fourth quarter that would have given them the lead was called back on a holding penalty inside the final minute.

Drew Tate ran for two touchdowns and Bo Levi Mitchell was a magician, as the CFL’s highest-scoring team was too much for the upstart Ticats to handle. The Stamps bolted out to a 17-0 first-half lead and never looked back.

While the centre of attention this week was leading rusher and New Westminster native Jon Cornish, Mitchell stole the show, throwing for 334 yards on 25-of-34 passing. His performance was one among the Grey Cup’s greatest, completing 22 of his first 25 passes while marking the third-highest completions streak in Grey Cup history with 10 in a row during the third quarter.

The Ticats roared back in the second half, led by a stingy defence that upped the pressure on Mitchell and forced a key fourth-quarter interception. But on offence they just couldn’t overcome Calgary’s stingy red zone defence, settling for three Justin Medlock field goals.

The loss marked the second straight Grey Cup appearance and loss for the Ticats, as the season ends on a disappointing note for the CFL’s youngest team and one that took a key step forward in its development.

After exchanging punts, the Stampeders took the early momentum on what appeared to be a routine second-and-short play just six minutes into the opening quarter. There to meet Grigsby behind the line of scrimmage was Deron Mayo, whose shoulder jarred the ball loose and put it on the turf.

The Ticats managed to recover and punt, but the big defensive play seemed to jolt a Stampeder offence that began the game with a two-and-out.

Standing comfortably behind the league’s top-ranked offensive line, Mitchell took his time and found an open Eric Rogers to his right for a 27-yard gain.

After moving the chains with a second-down completion to Tim St. Pierre, Mitchell went to Lewis on a slip screen up the middle and the Stamps’ veteran receiver really got the crowd roaring, bowling over defenders on the way to a 13-yard gain to the Hamilton goal line.

Finishing off the drive was the CFL’s regular-season rushing touchdowns leader, Tate with a 1-yard run to make it a 7-0 Calgary lead. The sneak capped off a five-play, 55-yard drive taking 3:00 off the clock.

A quick two-and-out by Calgary’s defence got Mitchell and co. back on the field quickly, and the Stamps’ highest-scoring offence went right back to work. With the ball at his own 44, Mitchell connected with Rogers for a 12-yard gain to get things started.

Cornish was stuffed on first down and the Stamps took two procedure penalties as the Ticats’ faithful turned up the volume, but Mitchell, poised and confident in the pocket, again outwaited Hamilton’s secondary before hooking up with Simon Charbonneau-Campeau for a 23-yard pickup.

That play could have been circled right away in the game summary, as the Stampeders looked to turn it into something bigger. Mitchell completed his next two passes to put Calgary on the doorstep, before a pass interference penalty on Brandon Stewart in the end zone moved the ball from the 11 to the one.

Finishing off the drive with his second touchdown of the game was Tate, capping off a 66-yard drive over 4:21 to make it 14-0 Calgary with 14:01 left in the game’s opening half.

With the most of three quarters still to play, the Ticats had plenty of time to get things around. Just in time they started to figure out that stingy Stampeder defence, as Collaros led the offence deep into scoring range after connecting with Banks for a 36-yard pickup on a play he made first with his legs.

But the Ticats couldn’t finish with seven, and that proved costly. The 26-yard field goal attempt by Justin Medlock was blocked by Demonte Bolden, and the Tabbies came away empty-handed.

The 24-year-old Mitchell stayed in tune, again moving the Stampeders into the red zone on a 43-yard completion to Rogers to kick-start the drive. A screen pass to Price got Calgary in nice and close, but the Ticat defence didn’t break this time, forcing an 11-yard chip shot by Rene Paredes to make it 17-0.

That stop for Hamilton’s defence was a big one, as the offence continued its forward momentum. After electing to start at the 35 instead of taking the kickoff, the Ticats quickly moved into scoring position. Then, after not finishing on the last drive, Collaros found Banks streaking in behind coverage for a 45-yard touchdown.

The fastest man on the field finished off a quick scoring drive and a busy first half, putting the Ticats down 17-7 after digging an early hole.

While Tate and his two touchdowns led the Stampede, the 24-year-old native of Katy, Texas was the star of the first half, completing 14-of-17 passes for 220 yards. Collaros meanwhile wasn’t totally outmatched, throwing for 155 yards and a touchdown on 9-of-13 passing.

With a 10-point lead at halftime, the Stampeder offence began chewing up the clock. Mitchell continued his completions streak to 10 straight with another six in a row, until finally an incompletion put an end to the drive.

Still, the Stampeders were able to melt 6:32 off the clock early in the third, extending their lead to 20-7 on a 19-yard field goal by Paredes.

The Ticats were able to cut the deficit to 20-10 early in the fourth quarter on a Medlock field goal, before a big play on defence provided an enormous opportunity to really get back in the game.

With Mitchell in a groove, the Ticats were able to get some pressure on the evasive scrambler. The gambler finally got himself into trouble, forcing a pass into coverage and eventually the hands of Delvin Breaux for the game’s first interception.

Hamilton’s drive stalled in goal-to-go when Grigsby was stuffed on a second-down run, but another Medlock field goal cut the Ticats’ deficit to 20-13 with just 5:35 remaining.

The Ticats’ hungry front-four seemed to apply more and more pressure as the game progressed, including late in the game when it mattered most. A Calgary two-and-out put the ball right back in the hands of the offence, which took over with 3:55 left in the game.

Collaros then scrambled and found Tasker for a 22-yard gain over the middle, before completions to Madu and Bakari Grant moved the Ticats to the Calgary 18 just inside the three-minute warning.

But a batted pass by Lemon and a sack by Corey Mace forced a third Medlock field goal, making it 20-16 with just over two minutes remaining.

Back on the field and needing a first down to ice the game, Mitchell was able to move the chains once on a completion to McDaniel before eventually being stopped short on a second-down completion.

The ensuing punt was a game-changer. The Ticats set up the wall and Banks broke containment, sprinting for what appeared to be a go-ahead touchdown along the right sideline. But the play was called back on a hold, forcing the Ticats to start at their own 12 with 35 seconds remaining.

Pinned in his own end, Collaros was sacked by Lemon -- the eventual back-breaker in a game the Stampeders would narrowly hold on to win, 20-16
.

Laval Rouge et Or: 2013 Vanier Cup Champions

The Laval Rouge et Or football machine keeps rumbling along like an unstoppable tank.

Pascal Lochard led a running game that piled up 449 net rushing yards as the Rouge et Or wore down the young Calgary Dinos for a 25-14 victory in the Vanier Cup game on Saturday afternoon.

It was Laval's second Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship in a row, their third in four years and their record eighth overall in only 17 years since its well-financed football program started.

"It's incredible to go back to back and win it here in front of our fans," said Laval quarterback Alex Skinner, who got nowhere trying to throw the ball against a tough Calgary defensive secondary and just ran it on nearly every play in the second half.

Among Laval's trio of running backs, the 2012 Vanier Cup MVP Maxime Boutin got 190 yards, Lochard had 198 and Guillaume Bourassa had 30, while graduating receiver Guillaume Rioux had a 31-yard run.

The team set Vanier Cup records for rushing yards — breaking their own mark of 373 set last year — and rushing first downs with 26.

Lochard had Laval's only touchdown in the fourth quarter. Boris Bede, despite struggling with his kicking all afternoon, managed to tie a Vanier Cup record with five field goals.

Big crowd

The win on a chilly, windy day in front of a raucous, overflow crowd of 18,543 at 12,000-seat Telus Stadium kept Laval undefeated at 12-0 this season. Calgary fell to 11-1.

Jake Harty and Chris Dopko scored touchdowns for the Dinos, who were looking to avenge a 29-2 loss at Laval in the 2010 Vanier Cup game.

Calgary has not won a Vanier Cup since 1995 and was not expected to reach the title game this year after losing 19 starters, including 11 on defence, from last year's squad.

But they found a way to stay in the game and took over momentum in the third quarter when quarterback Andrew Buckley got the passing game going for a pair of TDs and a brief 14-12 lead. But Laval's running game took over the rest of the way, eating up the clock with long drives.

"For a while, things were going good, but there was no way we were able to compete on the line of scrimmage," said Dinos coach Blake Nill. "To be honest, we made two big plays.

"We had a screen play to (Mercer) Timmis and a long pass to (Rashaun) Simonise, and we were able to put the ball in the end zone twice. But at the end, we just couldn't stop the run. We tried putting bigger people in and to make adjustments, but we just flat out couldn't stop them."

Buckley went 19-for-29 for 247 yards and also rushed for 82 yards, but there was little else to the Calgary attack besides Harty's nine catches for 112 yards. Laval's top-ranked rush defence held Timmis to 33 yards on 12 carries.

The Rouge et Or dominated territorially, but ran into a bend-but-don't-break Calgary defence that kept the visitors in the game until the final quarter. Skinner was 8-for-21 for only 93 yards.

The Dinos got through the first half down only 6-0 thanks partly to some bad Laval penalties and place kicking. A 42-yard TD run by Maxime Boutin and an 80-yard punt return by Guillaume Rioux were called back for holding.

"We let them in the game," said Laval coach Glen Constantin, who got a seventh Vanier Cup title to go with one loss — an overtime setback to McMaster in 2011 in Vancouver. "We had our opportunities in the first quarter.

"There were 14 points called back and we knew that if those guys kept close we'd be in difficulty. But our kids showed a lot of grit. They just took over. They're proud guys."

The Rouge et Or moved to the Calgary 23 on the opening drive, but Bede missed right on a 30-yard field goal attempt and settled for a single. A 37-yard attempt with the wind to open the second quarter hit an upright and fell for no points.

Bede finally made one from 40 yards midway through the second quarter, but Constantin took the points off the board due to a roughing the kicker call. Three plays later, Bede was good again from 19 yards.

The Dinos conceded a safety with 2:18 left in the half.

Lochard, the game MVP, carried on seven consecutive plays to the Calgary three to open the second half and Bede was good from 10 yards.

The Dinos bounced back, as Buckley hit Simonise with a 42-yard pass to help set up Harty's six-yard TD run around the right side at 7:59 to cut Laval's lead to two points.

Laval blocked a punt to set up a 16-yard Bede boot, but the Dinos marched back on a 39-yard screen pass to Timmis to set up Buckley's six-yard TD toss to Dopko. Laval answered with Bede's fourth field goal of the day.

Skinner kept the ball on the ground all the way as Laval marched 89 yards on seven plays for Lochard's eight-yard TD run at 9:12.

Constantin did not look pleased as his players doused him in Gatorade with time still on the clock, but another drive that ended with Bede's fifth field goal of the game from 12 yards clinched it in the final minute.

Despite the loss, Nill saw the Vanier Cup as prime experience for a young team.

"That's the nature of the beast — we're not mature enough yet to compete here when it counts," he sad. "This will be a huge experience for them.

"But like I told the kids: that's the fifth time I've ended up No. 2 and I can't deal with that. If you want to be No. 1, you've got to beat these guys (Laval). We were doing it on their home turf and I thought our guys did very well."