Argonauts best Stampeders in 100th Grey Cup

If you weren’t sitting on your couch Nov. 25 at 4 p.m. with your TV tuned to the 100th Grey Cup, what the hell is wrong with you?

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never watched a CFL game in the past or just don’t give a damn; this time you have no excuse. The 100th Grey Cup was a moment not just in sports history, but also in Canadian history.

Put it in perspective. There have only been 46 Super Bowls. The Stanley Cup (when in the NHL) has been won 94 times, and it’s highly unlikely it’s going to be awarded this year.

Plus, you can’t deny the Grey Cup unites Canadians. The Grey Cup Festival leading up to the big game lets fans from all teams celebrate and poke fun at each other.

There will never be a riot over a CFL loss, guaranteed (although a watermelon fight isn’t out of the question).

Unfortunately for Calgary Stampeder fans, the game didn’t end the way we wanted it to. Nor was it the battle to end that many fans expected. Frankly, the whole thing was a boring mess — a big, boring mess that is now a piece of a history.

Great.

To begin this prestigious event, the one and only Burton Cummings sang “O, Canada.” Ok, that’s a bit of a stretch. He ruined our anthem and brought zero energy into the crowd. The man SAT down, changed the lyrics and used a drum machine circa 1975. God help us all.

For Stampeders fans, one major highlight came before the real game even started. Governor General David Johnson was selected to perform the ceremonial kick and did so splendidly.

Photo: Vern McGill

I’ll be the first to sign the petition to give him a CFL contract. It was the best ceremonial kick I’ve ever seen.

The first quarter started out with a bang for the Stamps. Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray flung his first throw straight into the hands of Calgary defensive back Quincy Butler. However, the momentum was short lived.

The Stampeders couldn’t capitalize on the play and missed a big opportunity to put points on the board, a theme that would continue throughout the rest of the game.

And the Stampeder’s follies began. Glenn and Cornish fudged up a hand-off that led to Cornish being charged with a fumble. A later facemask penalty against the Stamps gave the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player of 2012, Chad Owens, the first touchdown of the game.

The Stamp’s only points in the first quarter came from a lone field goal as our (usually) stellar running back Jon Cornish couldn’t get past the Argo’s defence for some big gains.

In contrast, the Argo’s RB Chad Kackert was well on his way to ruining the Stamp’s Grey Cup dreams.

1st Q final: Toronto 7, Calgary 3

As the second quarter began, Calgary’s quarterback Kevin Glenn was intercepted on his second throw resulting in a touchdown for Toronto. But, the Argos didn’t stop there.

In the game’s most controversial moment, Argos receiver Dontrelle Inman caught a long pass but was well covered by the Stamp’s Brandon Smith. Inman landed half out of bounds, half on the goal line, prompting the play to be called on the one-yard line.

A challenge by the Argos that Inman had actually scored proved unsuccessful, yet they got the points on the next play.

2nd Q final: Toronto 24, Calgary 6

After a lip-synched performance by Justin Bieber, the third quarter was a flop for the Stampeders too. Apparently even an extended half-time nap wasn’t enough to fuel the team up. But, the Argos had lost some of their momentum too.

Both teams were only able to each score a field goal in the third. The Argo’s Adriano Belli was disqualified after a so-called altercation with the Stamp’s Jon Gott, giving Calgary an opportunity to pounce.

But alas, all Calgary would get out the situation was the Argo’s conceding a safety after a great punt by the Stamp’s Rob Maver. Calgary just couldn’t get things-a-movin’.

3rd Q final: Toronto 27, Calgary 11

With 15 minutes left on the clock to do some damage, Stampeders fans knew there was still a chance they could be bringing the Grey Cup home to the West. It simply didn’t happen.

Some hurtful penalties and another touchdown by the Argos put the Stamps down by three majors with just over five minutes left. The Stamps were able to put their only touchdown up on the board but it wasn’t enough.

It just wasn’t in the cards, boys. Better luck next year.

Final: Toronto 35, Calgary 22