93rd Grey Cup - Game Summary

Game Summary

Edmonton Eskimos (38) - TDs, Ed Hervey, Tony Tompkins, Ricky Ray, Jason Tucker; FGs Sean Fleming (3); cons., Fleming (3); 2-point cons., Tucker (1).

Montreal Alouettes (35) - TDs, Eric Lapointe (2), Anthony Calvillo, Dave Stala; FGs Damon Duval (2); cons., Duval (4); singles, Duval (1).

First Quarter
EDM—FG Fleming 18 yard field goal 8:03 3 - 0 EDM
MTL—Single Duval 56 yard kick went through end zone :18 3 - 1 EDM
Second Quarter
EDM—TD Hervey 9 yard pass from Ray (Fleming convert) 11:11 10 - 1 EDM
Third Quarter
MTL—TD Lapointe 1 yard run (Duval convert) 11:14 10 - 8 EDM
EDM—FG Fleming 35 yard field goal 4:04 13 - 8 EDM
MTL—TD Lapointe 1 yard run (Duval convert) 3:03 15 - 13 MTL
MTL—FG Duval 13 yard field goal 1:16 18 - 13 MTL
EDM—TD Tompkins 96 yard kickoff return (Fleming convert) 1:03 20 - 18 EDM
Fourth Quarter
MTL—TD Calvillo 1 yard run (Duval convert) 9:34 25 - 20 MTL
EDM—TD Ray 1 yard run (Ray to Tucker - two point convert) 1:03 28 - 25 EDM
MTL—FG Duval 28 yard field goal 0:00 28 - 28
Overtime
MTL—TD Stala 30 yard pass from Calvillo (Duval convert) 35 - 28 MTL
EDM—TD Tucker 11 yard pass from Ray (Fleming convert) 35 - 35
EDM—FG Fleming 36 yard field goal 38 - 35 EDM

The game opened with a ceremonial coin toss by Prime Minister Paul Martin to determine who would start the game with possession of the football. As Martin came out to toss the coin, he was greeted with a rousing chorus of boos from the crowd, to which the prime minister responded with a smile and a wave to the crowd. Martin, a Liberal, was at the time embroiled in the sponsorship scandal.

The game got off to a slow start, with Edmonton holding a 10-1 lead going into half-time, thanks to a Sean Fleming field goal and a Ricky Ray touchdown pass to Ed Hervey. A rouge by Montreal kicker Damon Duval accounted for the Alouettes' point.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair. The Alouettes came on strong in the third quarter, scoring on a pair of goal-line plunges by backup running back Éric Lapointe, with the Eskimos notching a Fleming field goal in reply. After an Edmonton turnover, the Alouettes ended up with a Duval field goal, an 18-13 lead. On the ensuing kickoff Edmonton returner Tony Tompkins scored a 96-yard touchdown, the longest kickoff return in Grey Cup history. The third quarter ended with the Eskimos leading 20-18.

Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo scored on an one-yard bootleg that caught Eskimos linebacker Marcus Winn out of position. With the Alouettes leading 25-20, the Eskimos had one last chance to take the lead. Facing third-and-four in Montreal territory, Ray hit Derrell Mitchell on a deep out pattern to get a first down, and a trio of penalties left the Eskimos first-and-goal at the Alouettes' one yard line. Ricky Ray punched it in for his second touchdown of the night, and hooked up with Jason Tucker on the two-point conversation for a 28-25 Edmonton lead with only a minute left.

The Alouettes struck back with a Duval field goal as time expired, tying the game at 28-28.

Montreal went first in the overtime shootout, and Calvillo passed to Dave Stala in the right corner of the endzone to give Montreal a 35-28 lead. Edmonton replied with Ray hitting Jason Tucker on an 11-yard score.

In the second overtime, the Eskimos were unable to convert on second and four and kicker Fleming converted a field goal to bring the score to 38-35, with Montreal's turn in hand.

The second overtime featured an unusual if illegal play. On first down, Calvillo faced a heavy Edmonton rush and tried to throw the ball away. Edmonton defensive end Joe Montford knocked the ball down at the line, but Calvillo was able to catch it. Calvillo then illegally threw the ball again into the endzone to wide receiver Kerry Watkins who, without an Eskimo within five yards, dropped the game winning (albeit illegal) pass. The play resulted in a 10 yard penalty against the Alouettes for an illegal forward pass, putting them on the 45 yard line. On 1st and 20, Calvillo was sacked by Charles Alston for a 13 yard loss, which pushed the ball out of Duval's field goal range. An incomplete pass on second down and a long injury break set the stage for third and 33. An Eskimos blitz forced Calvillo to scramble ten yards down the left sideline. Anticipating a tackle, Calvillo kicked the ball forward in order to keep Montreal's Grey Cup hopes alive, but the ball was recovered by Eskimo linebacker A.J. Gass.