108th Grey Cup Recap: Dirty Dozen

When the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won the 107th Grey Cup in 2019, it was an emotional win. It was the Bombers' first Grey Cup Championship since 1990--at the time, the longest drought in Canadian Football League history. The 108th Grey Cup saw the same ending: the Blue Bombers emerging as Grey Cup Champions. Like the last one, it was emotional, but for a different reason: because they had to wait just over two years to defend their championship, and they were successful.

The 108th Grey Cup in Hamilton, Ontario actually started slow; not a lot of offense. The Bombers had a 7-0 lead, but it wasn't due to a touchdown. Two field goals sandwiching a rouge--seven the hard way. However, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats emerged with a TD and a field goal of their own, and at halftime, the home team had a 10-7 lead. The second half was stronger for Hamilton, as their ended up increasing their lead to as many as 12 points--22-10. With a two score lead this late and home field, the Tiger-Cats seemed to be in a prime position to end their long Grey Cup drought, but the Bombers changed things. A field goal, touchdown, and PAT ended cutting their deficit to two points, and a single made it 22-21. Another Bombers drive resulted in a field goal that gave them their first lead since the 2nd quarter, and another single made it 25-22 for the defending champions.

The Tiger-Cats' last chance drive led to a field goal that forced overtime, the first Grey Cup to reach overtime since 2016, which was won by the Ottawa Redblacks (who were in their 3rd season of play). The Bombers won the toss, and their opening possession as a successful one: touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion. The TiCats had to match it to keep their hopes alive, but a bobbled interception ended their hopes. Final score: Blue Bombers 33, Tiger-Cats 25, in overtime.

On the 12th day of the 12th month, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won their 12th Grey Cup in franchise history. It is also back-to-back for the Bombers, who became the first team to win back-to-back Grey Cups since the Montréal Alouettes achieved this feat in 2009 (97th) and 2010 (98th). The Bombers' total of 12 Grey Cups is the third-most in the CFL, behind the Toronto Argonauts (17) and the Edmonton Elks (14).

As for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, this was a heartbreaking loss, especially since was on their home field. The Tiger-Cats' drought continues; they are the only team to have never won the Grey Cup in this century, as their last championship came in 1999 (87th). While they became the first team to play the Grey Cup at home since the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2013 (101st), they became the first team to lose the game on their home field since the Alouettes in 2008 (96th). Since I started watching the CFL in 2013, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have reached the Grey Cup four times. Based on that alone, they have an excellent chance of making it back in 2022.

So the 2021 Canadian Football League season is over. What a season it was; a very fun sprint that ended with a thrilling Grey Cup Championship. Most likely, 2022 will bring back the normal schedule, 18-game schedule starting in June, and the Grey Cup Playoffs taking place in November. The 109th Grey Cup will emanate from Regina, Saskatchewan (most likely) in the last Sunday in November. But that's next season. Right now, it's congratulations to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for their amazing overtime win, and for repeating as Grey Cup Champions!

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