The 94th Grey Cup game took place on November 19, 2006, at
Canad Inns Stadium
Canad Inns Stadium (also known as Winnipeg Stadium) was a multipurpose stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
The stadium was located at the corner of St. James Street and Maroons Road, immediately north of the Polo Park Shopping Centre and the ...
in
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...
,
Manitoba
Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...
before 44,786 fans. Ticket prices ranged from $141 and $275.
The game decided the championship of the
2006 Canadian Football League season. The
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place.
The Lions played their first season ...
defeated the
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes (Canadian French, French: Les Alouettes de Montréal) are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has folded and been revived twice. The Alouettes compete in the Canadian F ...
, 25–14.
Grey Cup Festivities
The
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
Festival consisted of four nights of entertainment at the
Winnipeg Convention Centre
The RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg (formerly the Winnipeg Convention Centre) is a major meeting and convention centre located in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
It has five levels including indoor parking for 729 vehicles, and three levels ...
, special events at the brand-new
MTS Centre
Canada Life Centre (formerly MTS Centre and Bell MTS Place) is an indoor arena in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. The arena is the home of the National Hockey League's Winnipeg Jets and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.
T ...
in the heart of the city, and a music festival in nightclubs around town. Regular fan favourite festivities include the
CFL Player Awards and the
Grey Cup Parade, the
Grey Cup Gala Dinner, and the
CFL Fan Experience – a family event featuring memorabilia, autographs, and interactive football. There was also a
Trailer Park Boys
''Trailer Park Boys'' is a Canadian mockumentary sitcom television series created by Mike Clattenburg that began airing in 2001 as a continuation of his 1999 film bearing the same name. The show follows the misadventures of a group of trailer pa ...
breakfast featuring
Randy
Randy is a given name, popular in the United States and Canada. It is primarily a masculine name. It was originally derived from the names Randall, Randolf, Randolph, as well as Bertrand and Andrew, and may be a short form (hypocorism) of the ...
, and
Mr. Lahey. Famous musicians performed during the week-long festival that included
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences but also charted mo ...
,
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and frie ...
,
Sam Roberts Band
Sam Roberts (born October 2, 1974) is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter who has released seven
albums. His debut EP '' The Inhuman Condition'', reached the Canadian charts in 2002. He and his bandmates have released three albums as Sam Roberts a ...
,
Tom Cochrane and Red Rider. At the game,
Canadian Idol
''Canadian Idol'' is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show ''Pop Idol''. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore ...
winner,
Eva Avila
Eva Avila (born Eva Gougeon-Ávila on 25 February 1987) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and actress. She won the fourth season of the CTV reality show ''Canadian Idol'' in 2006.
Early life
Avila was born in Gatineau, Quebec. Her father intr ...
sung
the national anthem and
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado (; ; born December 2, 1978) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Furtado has sold over 40 million records worldwide making her one of the most successful Canadian artists.
She first gained fame with her trip hop-inspired deb ...
performed at the halftime show, singing her two latest hits; "
Promiscuous
Promiscuity is the practice of engaging in sexual activity frequently with different Sexual partner, partners or being indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners. The term can carry a moral judgment. A common example of behavior viewed as pro ...
" (with
Saukrates
Karl Amani Wailoo (born March 6, 1978), better known by his stage name Saukrates (; "Socrates"), is a Canadian rapper, singer, and record producer. He is the co-founder of Capitol Hill Music, and lead singer of the hip-hop/ R&B group Big Black L ...
) and "
Maneater".
TSN unveiled the
TSN Top 50 CFL Players The TSN Top 50 CFL Players was a list of the greatest fifty Canadian Football League players, as selected by a panel of sixty former CFL players, then-current and former coaches, executives, and media members in 2006. The panel was assembled by spor ...
list as part of the Grey Cup week festivities.
Game summary
BC Lions (25) - TDs,
Ian Smart
Ian Smart (born February 28, 1980 in Kingston, Jamaica) is a CFL kick returner and running back who is currently a free agent. He attended C.W. Post College and rushed for 2,536 yards in 200
In 2003, Smart attended New York Jets training camp ...
; FGs
Paul McCallum (6); cons.,
McCallum.
Montreal Alouettes (14) - TDs,
Robert Edwards; FGs
Damon Duval
Damon Duval (born April 3, 1980) is an American former professional placekicker and punter. Duval played college football for Auburn University, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He played professionally for the Jacksonville Jagu ...
; cons.,
Duval
Duval is a surname, literally translating from French language, French to English language, English as "of the valley". It derives from the Normans, Norman "Devall", which has both English and French ties. Variant spellings include: Davolls, Deav ...
; safety touch (2).
First Quarter
BC—FG McCallum 34-yard field goal 4:49 3 - 0 BC
BC—FG McCallum 35-yard field goal 12:26 6 - 0 BC
BC—FG McCallum 24-yard field goal 14:15 9 - 0 BC
Second Quarter
BC—TD Smart 25-yard run (McCallum convert) 4:12 16 - 0 BC
MTL—FG Duval 43-yard field goal 13:18 16 - 3 BC
BC—FG McCallum 30-yard field goal 15:00 19 - 3 BC
Third Quarter
MTL—Safety McCallum concedes in end zone 8:47 19 - 5 BC
MTL—TD Edwards 2-yard run (Duval convert)13:00 19 - 12 BC
Fourth Quarter
BC—FG McCallum 21-yard field goal 4:17 22 - 12 BC
BC—FG McCallum 47-yard field goal 6:28 25 - 12 BC
MTL—Safety McCallum concedes in end zone 13:17 25 - 14 BC
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. BC elected to go on defence on the first series, and Alouettes quarterback
Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo (born August 23, 1972) is the quarterbacks coach for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and is a former professional Canadian football quarterback. He was professional football's all-time passing yards ...
threw two incomplete passes to begin the game. BC quarterback
Dave Dickenson
David Dickenson (born January 11, 1973) is a Canadian football head coach with the Calgary Stampeders and former professional player with the Stampeders and the BC Lions where he won the 2006 Grey Cup and was named the game's MVP. Dickenson als ...
responded with four consecutive passes before rushing for a 12-yard gain setting up a first down on the Montreal 32. Two plays later, BC settled for a
Paul McCallum 34-yard field goal to go ahead 3–0.
The Als were forced to punt again on their second possession, putting the Lions on their own 18-yard line.
Joe Smith reeled off a 17-yard run on the first play, and after another first down, Dickenson hit
Ryan Thelwell
Ryan Thelwell (born April 6, 1973) is a Jamaican-Canadian former professional wide receiver of American football and Canadian football. Thelwell was originally drafted 9th overall by the Lions in the 1998 CFL Draft and by the San Francisco 49ers ...
with a 14-yard pass past midfield.
Paris Jackson
Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (born April 3, 1998) is an American model, actress, and singer. She is the second child and only daughter of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe.
In 2020, Jackson signed a deal with Republic Records. Her first sing ...
made a 14-yard catch of his own but
Buck Pierce
Buck James Pierce (born November 15, 1981) is the offensive coordinator of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and a retired professional quarterback who played nine seasons for the BC Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. H ...
, filling in for Dickenson, was sacked for a nine-yard loss by
Adriano Belli
Adriano Belli (born August 25, 1977) is a retired football player who played in the CFL and NFL. Belli is nicknamed "The Kissing Bandit" for his penchant for kissing people on their cheeks. He has gained a reputation for being a kind and f ...
. Dickenson came back in and hit Thelwell with a 16-yard pass, setting up a McCallum 35-yard field goal.
Aaron Hunt forced Calvillo to fumble on the next play, with
Javier Glatt
Javier Glatt (born October 10, 1981, in Calgary, Alberta) is a retired professional Canadian football linebacker who played for eight seasons in the Canadian Football League. He was most recently a member of the Edmonton Eskimos, but spent seven y ...
recovering the ball on the Montreal 23. This set up another McCallum field goal, this one from 24 yards out. BC was in possession of the ball for 10:26 of the opening quarter.
The Als finally forced BC to punt early in the second quarter, but were pinned on their own two-yard line on a
coffin corner punt. Montreal got one first down before being forced to punt again. Starting on his own 43-yard line, Jackson made a highlight reel 18-yard catch. Ian Smart took it 25 yards the rest of the way for the game's opening touchdown.
After another two-and-out for the Als, the Montreal defence was able to stop the Lions on their own 28-yard line. Montreal got the ball back on its own 46 and got a couple of first downs to set up
Damon Duval
Damon Duval (born April 3, 1980) is an American former professional placekicker and punter. Duval played college football for Auburn University, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He played professionally for the Jacksonville Jagu ...
field goal attempt from the 47 that was kicked wide left and returned out of the end zone to negate a single point.
The Als defence held again, giving Montreal possession on its own 48-yard line with 2:26 remaining in the half. Calvillo hit
Ben Cahoon
Ben Cahoon (born July 16, 1972) is a former professional Canadian football slotback who spent his entire career with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He won the award for the Most Outstanding Canadian in the CFL two years i ...
for a 25-yard again. Duval was good on a 43-yard field goal, putting the Alouettes in flight.
McCallum booted a 30-yard field goal as the second half expired to put the Lions ahead 19–3.
Early in the third quarter, Dickenson appeared to fumble the ball on a sack by
R-Kal Truluck which was recovered by
Chip Cox
Chip Cox (born June 24, 1983) is an American former professional Canadian football linebacker He most recently played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he spent 13 years of his career. He is a two-time Grey C ...
who had nothing but daylight for a touchdown. But
Jake Ireland ruled Dickenson was down before the losing the ball, which was overturned by
instant replay
Instant replay or action replay is a video reproduction of something that recently occurred which was both shot and broadcast live.
The video, having already been shown live, is replayed in order for viewers to see again and analyze what had j ...
, the first in
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
history. By rule, the Als got the ball on the BC 42, and were forced to punt. Duval got a coffin corner kick, pinning the Lions on their own one-yard line. McCallum ultimately conceded two points.
The Alouettes went to work from their own 35-yard line. Calvillo hit
Mike Vilimek
Mike Vilimek (born January 5, 1979) is a former professional Canadian football player. Vilimek played the fullback position. During the offseasons, Vilimek held marketing and business development positions at Ballard Power Systems, Protexis Inc. ...
on a 16-yard pass, then Cahoon with a 13-yard strike before calling his own number on a six-yard run.
Robert Edwards ran for seven yards, followed by
Thyron Anderson's 13-yard reception. Cahoon's 11-yard grab and Edwards' five-yard run before a BC offside penalty set up Edwards' two-yard touchdown run. With the convert Montreal trailed 19–12.
Tim Strickland
Timothy Strickland (born January 13, 1977) is a former Canadian Football League linebacker who played six seasons in the CFL for the Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes (French: Les Alouettes de Montréal) are a professional Canadian foo ...
almost came up with a diving interception on BC's next series.
McCallum booted a 21-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to put the Lions in front by 10. He added a 47-yard field goal to tie a Grey Cup record with his sixth.
The most crucial play of the game came with 4:06 remaining in the 4th quarter. Calvillo drove the Alouettes down field within the Lions' 5 Yard line. On first down the Lions defense stuffed Edwards before the ball crossed the goal line. On the ensuing play, Calvillo again handed off to Edwards, but
Javier Glatt
Javier Glatt (born October 10, 1981, in Calgary, Alberta) is a retired professional Canadian football linebacker who played for eight seasons in the Canadian Football League. He was most recently a member of the Edmonton Eskimos, but spent seven y ...
leaped over the Montreal offensive line and knocked the football from Edwards hands.
Otis Floyd recovered the ball for the Lions. At first, Jim Popp threw the challenge flag but later picked it up, a decision which would be criticized given the circumstance.
Even after such a swing in momentum, the Lions still had the ball at their one-yard line. The ball was handed off to Smith, who gained short yardage. Faced with second and long, and possibility of a punt that would give Montreal great field position, Dickenson completed a crucial pass to Geroy Simon that gave the Lions a first down.
McCallum gave up another safety with 1:43 remaining to make the score 25–14, but the Alouettes couldn't get closer than the BC 15-yard line before time ran out.
Trivia
*This was BC Lions' fifth Grey Cup.
*After the game, the Lions broke the
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
off its base during their on-field celebrations.
*The last Grey Cup game to be hosted in Winnipeg before this was the
86th Grey Cup
The 86th Grey Cup (Canadian Football League championship) was held in 1998 in Winnipeg. The Calgary Stampeders won the game over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with a score of 26–24.
Game summary
Calgary Stampeders (26) - TDs, Jeff Garcia, Kelvin Ande ...
in
1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The '' Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently ...
.
*This was the final Grey Cup held at Canad Inns Stadium.
2006 CFL playoffs
Division Semi-finals
''November 5''
East Semi-Final
Michael Bishop spearheaded a late fourth quarter comeback, giving the
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based in Toronto, Ontario ...
a 31–27 win over the
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a professional Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blue Bombers compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West division. They play their home games at IG Fiel ...
in an
East Division semifinal game at the
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre (originally SkyDome) is a multi-purpose retractable roof stadium in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated at the base of the CN Tower near the northern shore of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989 on the former Railway Lands, it ...
.
Bishop completed touchdown passes to
Arland Bruce and
R. Jay Soward
Rodney Jay Soward (born January 16, 1978) is a former gridiron football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft, but only played one season after multiple suspensions derailed his career ...
in the final eight minutes, turning a 27–17 deficit into a chance to play the
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes (Canadian French, French: Les Alouettes de Montréal) are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has folded and been revived twice. The Alouettes compete in the Canadian F ...
in the East Final.
Bishop came in for an ineffective
Damon Allen
Damon L. Allen (born July 29, 1963) is a former professional quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is currently fourth in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards after he ...
. Bishop finished 3-of-5 for 110 yards. Allen went 15-of-28 for 219 yard with a TD and an interception. Toronto head coach
Mike "Pinball" Clemons
Michael Lutrell "Pinball" Clemons (born January 15, 1965) is an American-Canadian sports executive and former running back and return specialist who serves as general manager for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He i ...
made the change under center to catch Winnipeg off guard and it worked.
Charles Roberts had two touchdown runs for the Blue Bombers, who failed to hold on to the 10-point fourth-quarter lead. He ended with 30 rushed for 179 yards. After
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...
went up 27–17 on
Kevin Glenn
Kevin Glenn, Jr. (born June 12, 1979) is a former American professional Canadian football quarterback. He was originally signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played co ...
's 27-yard TD pass to
Chris Brazzell, the Argonauts began their comeback.
First, Bruce hauled in a 78-yard catch-and-run from Bishop, making it a 27–24 contest. Then, a little later, Bishop hit Soward for a 15-yard score to give the Argonauts the win. Winnipeg had one last chance, but
Orlando Steinauer
Orlondo Steinauer (born June 9, 1973) is the president of football operations and head coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). As a player, he played professional Canadian football as a Safety (football position), ...
picked off Glenn inside the final minute at the Toronto 22. Glenn ended 12-of-22 for 224 yards with a TD and two picks.
Toronto led 6–3 after one quarter. The Argo's
Noel Prefontaine
Noel Michael Prefontaine (born December 23, 1973) is a former professional Canadian football punter and placekicker in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Early years
Prefontaine was born to a French Canadian father and a Vietnamese mother at ...
hit 37- and 28-yard field goals after
Troy Westwood
Troy Westwood (born March 21, 1967) is a former professional Canadian football place kicker and punter who played 18 years for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted 48th overall in the 6th round of the 1991 CF ...
opened the scoring with a 42-yarder for Winnipeg. Prefontaine made it a 7–3 game early in the second with a 25-yard single, but Westwood answered with a 23-yard field goal. Allen then hit
Michael Palmer with a 23-yard TD strike to make it 14–6 heading into halftime.
Winnipeg then scored 14 third-quarter points thanks to one-yard and 11-yard TD runs by Roberts. Toronto though drew within 20–17 on a Prefontaine 38-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
West Semi-Final
Kenton Keith
Kenton Jermaine Keith (born July 14, 1980) is a former American football running back. He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2003 Then the National Football League Colts (NFL) in 2007. He played ...
's 14-yard touchdown run with 2:20 remaining cemented a second-half comeback, as the
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division.
The Roughriders were founded in 1 ...
pulled out a gritty 30–21 win over the
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium and are the third-old ...
in the
Western Division Semifinal at a chilly
McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society.
The stadium is between the downtown core and the University of Calgary, north ...
.
Kerry Joseph
Kerry Tremaine Joseph (born October 4, 1973) is an American former gridiron football quarterback and current coach. He is the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was born in New Iberia, ...
threw for 180 yards on 17-of-31 completions and one touchdown, and Keith finished the day with 141 yards on 16 carries and two scores. Defensive back,
James Johnson James Johnson may refer to:
Artists, actors, authors, and musicians
*James Austin Johnson (born 1989), American comedian & actor, ''Saturday Night Live'' cast member
*James B. Johnson (born 1944), author of science nonfiction novels
*James P. John ...
recorded two interceptions for the Roughriders, who ran off 25 unanswered points, 18 coming in the second-half. The Riders advanced to the West championship to take on the
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place.
The Lions played their first season ...
at
BC Place Stadium
BC Place is a multi-purpose stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Located at the north side of False Creek, it is owned and operated by the BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo), a crown corporation of the province.
The venue is currently ...
.
Henry Burris
Henry Armand Burris Jr. (born June 4, 1975) is a gridiron football coach, former professional quarterback, and a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He is currently an offensive quality control coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the ...
completed 16-of-32 passes for 198 yards, no touchdowns, and was picked off four times and fumbled once. He did run for Calgary's only offensive touchdown in the game.
Marcus Howell also took a punt 57 yards for a touchdown for the Stampeders, who hurt their cause by committing six turnovers. Trailing by nine points with little more than two minutes left, Calgary could not score on either of their last two possessions. On the first chance, kicker
Sandro DeAngelis
Sandro DeAngelis (born May 1, 1981) is a former professional gridiron football placekicker. He last played during the 2013 season for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He had also played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, ...
pushed a 40-yard field goal attempt wide right. Their final charge saw Burris throw two balls into the end zone that were batted down by defenders, and the third-down attempt picked off to end the game.
Calgary led after one quarter, 4–3, on a DeAngelis 39-yard kick and a single. Things picked up in the second, as the Riders went ahead, 5–4, on a safety concession. The Stampeders regained the lead, 11–5, when Howell electrified the home crowd with his punt return touchdown. The lead was boosted to 14–5 on a successful 25-yard DeAngelis field goal attempt. Calgary increased the margin to 21–5 when Burris sneaked over the goal line amidst a mass of bodies from two yards out, but the Riders closed out the first half strongly. Joseph led the charge from his own 35-yard line and hooked up with
Matt Dominguez for a 22-yard strike, capping an eight-play, 75-yard drive which closed the gap to 21–12 at the break.
The Riders came out blazing in the second half. After taking the opening kickoff to their own 34, Keith found a seam up the middle on the first play from scrimmage and bolted 76 yards for the score, cutting the Calgary lead to two at 21–19. The lead was trimmed closer to 21–20 when Howell decided to run out of the back of the end zone rather than fielding a
Luca Congi
Luca Congi (born June 15, 1983) is a former professional Canadian football punter/ placekicker. He was drafted 12th overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2006 CFL Draft. He played CIS football at Simon Fraser University for the Simon Fr ...
punt, granting Saskatchewan a valuable point. When Congi split the uprights from 41 yards out with 10:26 left in the fourth, the Riders had their first lead since the second quarter. His three points were set up when
Eddie Davis intercepted a Burris pass which gave Saskatchewan the ball in Calgary territory.
Joseph and the Roughriders then put the nail in the Stampeders' coffin. A four-play, 66-yard drive was highlighted by
Corey Grant
Corey Grant (born December 22, 1976) is the head coach for the Carleton Ravens football team of U Sports. He is a former professional wide receiver in the Canadian Football League where he played for 11 years and won two Grey Cup championships. ...
's 37-yard reception down to the Calgary 25. Two plays later, Keith's run provided insurance for the victory.
Division finals
''November 12''
East Final
Robert Edwards rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown as
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
advanced to the
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
with a 33–24 victory over the
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based in Toronto, Ontario ...
in the
East Division final. The Alouettes will now face the
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place.
The Lions played their first season ...
for the CFL championship.
Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo (born August 23, 1972) is the quarterbacks coach for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and is a former professional Canadian football quarterback. He was professional football's all-time passing yards ...
completed 14-of-22 passes for 252 yards with a touchdown and an interception for Montreal (11–8), who own a 4–1 record against the Argonauts in the last five East finals.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
replaced an ineffective
Damon Allen
Damon L. Allen (born July 29, 1963) is a former professional quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is currently fourth in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards after he ...
in the second half and almost rallied Toronto to victory. The former
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...
finalist from
Kansas State University
Kansas State University (KSU, Kansas State, or K-State) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Manhattan, Kansas, United States. It was opened as the state's land-grant college in 1863 and was the first public instit ...
completed 17-of-24 passes for 159 yards with two touchdowns and a pick for the Argonauts (11–9).
In what was most likely his last CFL action,
Ricky Williams
Errick Miron (born Errick Lynne Williams Jr.; May 21, 1977) is an American former football running back who played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and one season in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
After playing baseball an ...
ran nine times for 57 yards and a touchdown, while also catching three passes for 34 yards. Williams signed with Toronto after he violated the NFL's substance abuse policy for the fourth time, resulting in a one-year suspension from the league.
Trailing 30–10 in the fourth quarter, Bishop orchestrated two late scoring drives to pull Toronto within six. Bishop first hooked up with Michael Palmer for an 11-yard touchdown that made it a 30–17 games. A pass-interference call in the end zone later in the fourth gave the Argonauts a first down on the one-yard and Williams dove across the goal line to cut Toronto's deficit to six, 30–24. However,
Damon Duval
Damon Duval (born April 3, 1980) is an American former professional placekicker and punter. Duval played college football for Auburn University, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He played professionally for the Jacksonville Jagu ...
nailed a 44-yard field goal to ice the game and send Montreal to the Grey Cup.
The Alouettes drew first blood on Duval's 37-yard boot in the first quarter, but Toronto answered with
Noel Prefonatine's 22-yard kick. Montreal then outscored Toronto 13–0 in the second quarter to take a 16–3 lead into the break. Duval connected on a 41-yard kick before Edwards' TD run from four yards out. Duval's 22-yard field goal with two seconds left in the first half gave the Alouettes a 13-point lead.
Toronto appeared to build some momentum to start the second half, as
Bashir Levingston returned the kickoff 50 yards deep into Montreal territory. However, on the Argonauts' first play from scrimmage,
Mark Estelle
Mark Estelle (born July 29, 1981) is a former professional American and Canadian football defensive back. He played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League from 2006 to 2011. He also played for the Houston Texans of the Nationa ...
stepped in front of an Allen pass and ran it back 78-yards for at touchdown.
Bishop then took over for Allen on Toronto's next possession and found
Arland Bruce for a 23-yard touchdown reception that made it 23–10. The Argonauts then got the ball back with a chance to build off the momentum from Bruce's TD, but an overturned call on a Williams' fumble changed the complexion of the game. Williams was originally ruled down on a run, but Montreal challenged the call and the ruling was reversed.
On the next play, Calvillo hooked up with
Thyron Anderson for a 57-yard touchdown that made it a 30–10 game.
West Final
Dave Dickenson
David Dickenson (born January 11, 1973) is a Canadian football head coach with the Calgary Stampeders and former professional player with the Stampeders and the BC Lions where he won the 2006 Grey Cup and was named the game's MVP. Dickenson als ...
completed 27-of-37 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns, as the
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place.
The Lions played their first season ...
destroyed the
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division.
The Roughriders were founded in 1 ...
, 45–18, to score a franchise playoff-record points total and reach the
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
against
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
. The Lions will play the
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes (Canadian French, French: Les Alouettes de Montréal) are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has folded and been revived twice. The Alouettes compete in the Canadian F ...
, who beat the
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based in Toronto, Ontario ...
33–24 in the East Final. BC, who finished first in the
West Division for the third straight season, lost the 2004 Grey Cup to Toronto and were downed by
Edmonton
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...
in the 2005 West Final.
Joe Smith rushed for 116 yards on 19 carries for the Lions, who finished first in the West Division with the league's best record at 13–5.
Paris Jackson
Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (born April 3, 1998) is an American model, actress, and singer. She is the second child and only daughter of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe.
In 2020, Jackson signed a deal with Republic Records. Her first sing ...
caught two touchdowns with 66 receiving yards and
Jason Clermont
Jason Clermont (born May 24, 1978) is a former professional Canadian football slotback who retired after ten seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the BC Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders. Clermont started his professional career wit ...
had 98 receiving yards on nine catches.
Kerry Joseph
Kerry Tremaine Joseph (born October 4, 1973) is an American former gridiron football quarterback and current coach. He is the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was born in New Iberia, ...
completed 15-of-23 passes for 210 yards with one interception and one touchdown for the Roughriders (9–9), who qualified for the division final by upsetting
Calgary
Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, makin ...
, 30–21.
Kenton Keith
Kenton Jermaine Keith (born July 14, 1980) is a former American football running back. He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2003 Then the National Football League Colts (NFL) in 2007. He played ...
scored a pair of third-quarter touchdowns.
BC got going on a 21-yard field goal by
Paul McCallum with 11:40 remaining in the first.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...
answered on a 40-yarder by
Luca Congi
Luca Congi (born June 15, 1983) is a former professional Canadian football punter/ placekicker. He was drafted 12th overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2006 CFL Draft. He played CIS football at Simon Fraser University for the Simon Fr ...
with 2:39 to go for a 3–3 first quarter score. BC blew the game open with a 26-point second quarter. Dickenson hooked up with Jackson on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 11:55 left in the second. Congi then conceded a safety with 10:20 to go for a 12–3 BC lead. About five minutes later, Dickenson found Smith for a five-yard touchdown pass. McCallum kicked a 20-yard field goal with 1:26 remaining, and the Lions mustered another score when Dickenson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jackson with just 21 seconds on the clock.
Saskatchewan finally got a point as Congi converted a 22-yard single as time expired for a 29–4 advantage. McCallum kicked a 37-yard field goal with 9:38 to go in the third before the Roughriders got going. First, Joseph hooked up with Keith on a 38-yard touchdown pass with a little over two minutes to go. Then, after Geroy Simon fumbled, Keith kept the ball on the ground next for a four-yard rushing touchdown as time expired for a 32–18 Saskatchewan deficit.
The Lions put the game away in the fourth. McCallum kicked a pair of field goals of 18 yards and 41 yards, respectively. Smith then scored a six-yard rushing touchdown with 2:30 remaining for the final margin.
References
External links
Official website*
{{2006 CFL season by team
Grey Cup
Montreal Alouettes
BC Lions
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
Grey Cups hosted in Winnipeg
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...
2000s in Winnipeg
2006 in Canadian television
November 2006 sports events in Canada