Saskatchewan Rides Past Bombers To Win Grey Cup
Posted November 25, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
When Andy Fantuz hauled in a 35-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, the Saskatchewan Roughriders were in prime position to end an 18-year Grey Cup drought on the same field on which they won their previous title.
Minutes later, that’s exactly what they did with a 23-19 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 95th CFL title game.
It was only the third Grey Cup triumph in Roughriders history and their first since they defeated Hamilton in the 1989 CFL championship game, which was also played at the Rogers Centre, then known as the SkyDome.
For their part, the Bombers did their best to keep pace without star quarterback Kevin Glenn, but backup Ryan Dinwiddie made too many mistakes, turning the ball over early to Riders cornerback James Johnson, who scored a first half TD on an interception return that proved to be the difference.
Luca Congi kicked three field goals in an otherwise mistake-filled game for rookie head coach Kent Austin’s Roughriders.
Troy Westwood had a pair of field goals for Winnipeg , which also earned six points on safeties, but in the end they lacked that big-play punch that Fantuz demonstrated the value of.
It was a final result the fans at Rogers Centre seemed pleased with, since Saskatchewan green was the predominant colour in the stands packed with 52,230 spectators. They had something to cheer for with each of Dinwiddie’s three interceptions — all to Johnson for a Grey Cup record — as well as Lenny Kravitz’ halftime performance.
With the lead 10-7 Riders, the game changed in the opening minutes of the third when the Bombers reestablished their lead with a 50-yard touchdown catch by Derick Armstrong. It was the last time Winnipeg would see the lead however, and Fantuz helped put the game out of reach with his big score at 8:31 of the fourth.
Johnson was named the game MVP.
