Argonauts storm back to win Grey Cup

Rudi Schuller

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Argonauts storm back to win Grey Cup image

Despite being overwhelming underdogs, the Toronto Argonauts claimed the Grey Cup with a 27-24 comeback victory over the Calgary Stampeders on Sunday.

An 11-point fourth quarter allowed the Argos to storm back against a Calgary team that had enjoyed two separate leads, including an eight-point advantage to start the final 15 minutes of play. Veteran quarterback Ricky Ray led the charge with 297 passing yards and a touchdown pass, while DeVier Posey had 175 yards receiving (including a 100-yard touchdown reception).

Watch: Ray and Posey connect for longest TD pass in Grey Cup history

The Stampeders, who also fell short at the same hurdle last year, seemed well on the way to claiming the Grey Cup until a fumble with less than five minutes remaining turned the tide. Toronto's Cassius Vaughn scooped up the loose ball on the Argos' one-yard line and somehow managed the scramble the entire distance of the field for the major.

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Vaughn's touchdown set a record for the longest fumble return in Grey Cup history, setting the tone for an unlikely comeback that ultimately saw Ray win the fourth Grey Cup of his illustrious career.

Snowbound

The weather in Ottawa grabbed much of the early attention, as there hasn't been a Grey Cup with as much snow since 1996.

Social media was abuzz with pictures and video of the stunning scenes as snow plows moved tons of the fluffy stuff from the field, while players attempted to navigate the slippery surface at TD Place.

The snow tapered off in the second half (although it still kept coming down), but the conditions noticeably affected the players on both sides.

Without the first-half blizzard, however, we never would've been treated to the sight of halftime performer Shania Twain being pulled to the stage via dog sled.

Canadiana at its best.

Wilder leashed

One of the players notably affected by the wintry conditions was James Wilder Jr. The Argos' running back had a breakout first season in the CFL, earning him the league's Most Outstanding Rookie Award for 2017.

It was expected that Sunday would see Wilder feature prominently, but the 25-year-old was hardly more than a footnote in the first half as he only ran for seven yards in the opening 30 minutes.

A change of footwear at the break aided Wilder immensely, and he was able to have an impact early in the third quarter with a two-yard touchdown run to bring his team to within a possession of taking the lead.

Even so, Wilder finished his first Grey Cup with an underwhelming 13 rushing yards and 18 receiving yards. He probably doesn't mind given the outcome of the game, though.

Monster Messam

One man who didn't seem negatively affected by the conditions was Brampton, Ont. native Jerome Messam. The Stampeders running back didn't put up huge numbers in terms of yardage, but his two touchdowns paced Calgary to the lead that it held until the fourth quarter.

His first touchdown of the night was a prototypical Messam, as the 32-year-old rumbled in for a six-yard run in the second quarter.

Messam did something different in the third quarter, receiving a pass at the Toronto three-yard line en route to his second touchdown of the night.

While the Stampeders will feel aggrieved with losing another Grey Cup final, Messam is certainly not to blame.

Rudi Schuller