- 69th Grey Cup
The 69th
Grey Cup was played on November 22, 1981 at the Olympic Stadium inMontreal , Quebec in front of 52,487 fans. The 1981 Grey Cup game is considered to be one of the ten best Grey Cup games of all time [http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/GreyCup/2006/11/13/2339461.html ] .CFL football fans saw an unexpectedly exciting game, as the 22.5 point underdogOttawa Rough Riders , sporting a woeful record of 5 wins and 11 losses, came within 3 seconds of denying theEdmonton Eskimos . The Esks, with a 14-1-1 record, were almost the victims of what would have been the biggest upset in the history of theGrey Cup .Box Score
First Quarter
Ottawa – FG –
Gerry Organ 34 yards
Ottawa – FG –Gerry Organ 37 yards
Ottawa – TD –Jim Reid 1 yard run (Gerry Organ convert)Second Quarter
Ottawa – TD –
Sam Platt 14 yard run (Gerry Organ convert)
Edmonton – Single – Dave Cutler 24 yards missed Field GoalThird Quarter
Edmonton – TD –
Jim Germany 2 yard run (Dave Cutler convert)
Edmonton – TD –Warren Moon 1 yard run (Dave Cutler convert)Fourth Quarter
Ottawa – FG –
Gerry Organ 28 yards
Edmonton – TD –Warren Moon 1 yard run (Marco Cyncar 2 point convert pass from Moon)
Edmonton – FG – Dave Cutler 27 yardsGame Summary
Ottawa unexpectedly built up a lead of 20 to 1 at halftime on touchdowns by Jim Reid and Sam Platt and two
Gerry Organ field goals.The most controversial play in this closely fought game came in the last 4 minutes. Ottawa tight end
Tony Gabriel , playing with torn knee ligaments, caught a vital 20 yard pass while Eskimo defenderGary Hayes literally hung off his back. But, completely unexpectedly, the referee called pass interference penalties on both players, wiping out the gain. Gabriel was stunned and argued his case on field. Ottawa soon lost possession of the ball and lost the game. Gabriel, his knee finally disabling him and denied this last moment of greatness, would not play again.Dave Cutler kicked the game winning 27 yard field goal with seconds left on the clock.
Trivia
CFL Hall of Fame legends Tom Wilkinson (Edmonton) and
Tony Gabriel (Ottawa) played their final game in the 69thGrey Cup as did veteran Edmonton centreBob Howes .Future US Congressman
J.C. Watts was Ottawa's quarterback. He won theGrey Cup Most Valuable Player (Offensive) award.This was the final appearance in the Grey Cup game for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
sequence
prev=68th Grey Cup
list=Grey Cup games
next=70th Grey Cup
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