Roughriders win 95th Grey Cup Game

[Habsfan84]

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have come full circle in their quest for Canadian football's most coveted prize.
Eighteen years after winning their last Grey Cup at Toronto's SkyDome, the Riders defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 on Sunday to capture the trophy on the same field at Rogers Centre.
It is Saskatchewan's third Grey Cup win and their first since 1989, when Dave Ridgway's last minute field goal earned a thrilling 43-40 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
By contrast, the 2007 edition of Canada's fall classic was dominated by defence and special teams. Saskatchewan defensive back James Johnson, who picked off Bombers quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie three times - with one of the interceptions for a touchdown - was named the game's Most Valuable Player. He is the first defensive player to be named Grey Cup MVP since Baltimore defensive back Karl Anthony took it in 1994.

"I'm trying not to cry. I'm trying to hold back,' said Johnson after the game.

"It's a great feeling, I can't believe it. It was a hell of a game. We played great as a team. It's so exciting to have the Cup."
Riders receiver Andy Fantuz, who scored the team's only offensive touchdown in the fourth quarter, was named Most Valuable Canadian. But the former Western Mustang was quick to credit Joseph - the league's Most Outstanding Player - for his big night.
"He made plays when he needed to," Fantuz told TSN after the game. "He's an outstanding leader, we wouldn't have won the game without him and its an honour to play with him."
Joseph, who admitted he didn't play his best game on Sunday, was relieved to get the big win and dedicated it to Rider Nation. "It's a great feeling, a remarkable feeling," Joseph told TSN after the game.
"We deserve this and the people of Saskatchewan deserve this. They deserve this more than anyone. They persevered all these years just as we have and we're going home to give them a great party."
Riders general manager Eric Tillman, who has relied on Joseph in Saskatchewan and in their days together with the Ottawa Renegades, said his star player's contribution to the team extended far beyond the stat sheets.
"He's a selfless guy, he's a great football player, but he's an even better human being," Tillman said after the game. "We have a lot of substance and a lot of character, but in the end, character matters."
Tillman, who has also won Grey Cups as GM of the B.C. Lions and Toronto Argonauts, has a special place in his heart for this victory.
"There's no place like Saskatchewan," Tillman told TSN after the game. "I'm happy for players, staff and our organization, but I'm most happy for our fans. When you support a team the way they have for generations - first, second, third and fourth generations - and you see them all in the stands, it's impossible to put into words."
The victory was especially sweet for Riders head coach Kent Austin, who as a quarterback led the Roughriders to their 1989 championship and was named best offensive player.
"I'm so happy for my guys and proud my staff, words are inadequate right now on how I feel about these guys," he said.
"To work as hard as we did - for the players to work as hard as they did, for the staff to work as hard as they did - from training camp all the way forward and to culminate it with a championship, that why you play."
In a storyline that has been stretched out well over the last seven days, Dinwiddie made his first career start on the CFL's biggest stage. He got the start after No. 1 quarterback Kevin Glenn broke his left arm in last weekend's 19-9 East Division final against the Toronto Argonauts. No quarterback had ever made his first start in the Grey Cup or Super Bowl, and the 27-year-old finished the day going 15-of-32 passing for 225 yards and three interceptions.
"With three turnovers, you can't win football games like that," Dinwiddie told reporters after the game.
"Our defence kept us in it and for the most part, we did some good things. But at the end, we didn't make the plays to win it."
The first quarter was a low-scoring affair, with the Riders held pointless after kicker Luca Congi missed a 42-yard field-goal attempt early in the stanza.
The Bombers got things going from there, with defensive back Greg Moss picking off Riders quarterback Kerry Joseph for the first interception of the game. Dinwiddie then grabbed the spotlight, leading a seven-play, 61-yard drive - including 16 and 42-yard bombs down the middle to Milt Stegall - that led to a 15-yard field goal by Troy Westwood.
After a couple of Winnipeg safeties conceded by Jamie Boreham in the second quarter, the Riders continued to struggle on offence. Joseph ran for 25 yards and hit D.J. Flick with a long pass to get into into the red zone later on, but a fumble recovery off Wes Cates by Bombers linebacker Ike Charlton in the end zone left them scoreless.
Saskatchewan finally got in the game on Winnipeg's next possession, as Dinwiddie's pass intended for Stegall was picked off by Johnson for a 30-yard interception return.
Starting at their own 21-yard line, the Riders capped off the second quarter on a high note. They took advantage of a 24-yard reception by Cates and an 18-yard pass to Fantuz for a 45-yard field goal by Congi to lead by three at the half.
The Bombers' offence in the third quarter was a roller coaster ride to say the least.
The struggles started at 1:51 of the stanza when Saskatchewan lineman John Chick sacked Dinwiddie and forced a fumble recovery for Rider teammate Scott Schultz. Congi split the uprights from 17 yards out for a 13-7 lead. Dinwiddie settled down on the very next possession, hitting receiver Derick Armstrong for a 50-yard touchdown and a 14-13 Winnipeg lead. But later in the quarter, the former Boise State star was picked off by again by Johnson and Congi's third field goal of the game put the Riders ahead by two.
Joseph was quick to follow that up, hitting Fantuz with a 29-yard touchdown pass - and the Riders' first offensive touchdown of the game - to pad the lead by nine.
The Bombers showed they had plenty of fight left and came right back, closing the gap with their third safety of the game and Westwood's second field goal of the night. But with just under a minute left in the game, Johnson picked off Dinwiddie again for his third interception of the game and a Rider victory.
The Bombers were looking for their 11th Grey Cup title, with their last championship won 17 years ago to the day - a 50-11 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos on November 25, 1990. It's the team's 13th loss at the Grey Cup, tying the Riders for most losses in the final.
"It doesn't get any easier, losing Grey Cup games," said Westwood. "But congratulations to the Roughriders, they're a good team, and I'm happy for the people of Saskatchewan."
Westwood, who was also a member of the Bombers squad that lost in Montreal in 2001, doesn't have any plans to call it quits just yet. "I don't think this is the end for me," he said. "I think I can still make a contribution."
The same can't be said for future Canadian Football Hall of Famer Milt Stegall, who may have played his last CFL match. The veteran slotback didn't speak after the game and will undoubtedly take some time to decide on his playing career.
"Don't take it personally," he told reporters as he walked off the field in his street clothes.