Lions Blast Als To Win Grey Cup

Posted November 19, 2006 12:00 pm.

This article is more than 5 years old.

Historically speaking, the Grey Cup final produces close, hard-fought contests. Not this time.

Instead , Paul McCallum kicked a Grey Cup record-tying six field goals, as the British Columbia Lions defeated the Montreal Alouettes 25-14 to claim the CFL’s top prize Sunday.

Unquestionably the CFL’s best team during the regular season, the Lions won their fifth Grey Cup with relative ease.

Despite the fact that Montreal was in its fifth Grey Cup game in seven years and B.C. hadn’t won since 2000 or been there for two seasons, the Als looked sloppy from almost the minute they took the field in front of 44,786 in Winnipeg.

Ian Smart added a touchdown to McCallum’s field goals for B.C., while Montreal got points on a Damon Duval field goal, two safeties from the defence, and a ground touchdown from Robert Edwards. But it was also Edwards that fumbled on the one-yard line with just four minutes left in the game to kill a late comeback for his team. B.C.’s Otis Floyd’s recovered to seal the win for the Lions.

McCallum tied a record shared by three other kickers, including his kicking coach Don Sweet in 1977, Hamilton’s Paul Osbaldiston in 1986 and Edmonton’s Edmonton’s Sean Fleming in 1993.

And though his accomplishment was overshadowed by a disappointing loss, Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo also made a dent in the record books, getting the 87 yards he needed to pass Doug Flutie for the most career Grey Cup passing yards. Montreal slotback Ben Cahoon also broke Als great Hal Patterson’s record of 29 career Grey Cup catches.

But despite the offensive milestones, Montreal was hardly potent with the ball. They entered the game seven-point underdogs and only moved the pigskin into B.C. territory twice in the first half before heading into the locker room down 19-3.

Montreal’s offence kept things much closer in the second half, but B.C.’s was just active enough to keep them at arm’s length.

As they have often done this year, the Lions used all three of their quarterbacks. Dave Dickenson’s backups Buck Pierce and Jarious Jackson both came in for short running plays.

The Lions are now 5-4 in Grey Cup games while the Alouettes are 5-10. B.C coach Wally Buono, going against Grey Cup rookie Jim Popp, improved his record in championship games to 4-4.

It was a fifth trip in seven years to the Grey Cup game for the Alouettes, but their only win was in 2002 in Edmonton. The Lions lost a Grey Cup to Toronto in 2004.

And so ends the 2006 CFL season. But the silver lining is clear, 2007 brings new life to the Toronto Argonauts, and the Grey Cup final to Toronto’s Rogers Centre.

Grey Cup Championships by City

Toronto (22)

Argonauts, 15 (1914, 1921, 1933, 1937-38, 1945-47, 1950, 1952, 1983, 1991, 1996-97, 2004); University of Toronto, 4 (1909-11, 1920); Balmy Beach, 2 (1927, 1930); RCAF Hurricanes, 1 (1942).

Hamilton (15)

Tiger-Cats, 8 (1953, 1957, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1972, 1986, 1999); Tigers, 5 (1913, 1915, 1928-29, 1932); Alerts, 1 (1912); Flying Wildcats, 1 (1943).

Edmonton (13)

Eskimos, 13 (1954-56; 1975, 1978-82, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2005).

Winnipeg (10)

Blue Bombers, 9 (1939, 1941, 1958-59, 1961-62, 1984, 1988, 1990); Winnipegs, 1 (1935).

Ottawa (9)

Rough Riders, 7 (1940, 1951, 1960, 1968-69, 1973, 1976); Senators, 2 (1925-26).

Montreal (7)

Alouettes, 5 (1949, 1970, 1974, 1977, 2002); HMCS St-Hyacinthe-Donnacona, 1 (1944); Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, 1 (1931).

Calgary (5)

Stampeders, 5 (1948, 1971, 1992, 1998, 2001).