CALGARY B次元官网网址� A historic first half by Andrew Harris ended the Winnipeg Blue BombersB次元官网网址� dubious championship drought and continued the Hamilton Tiger-CatsB次元官网网址� Grey Cup misery.
The 32-year-old Winnipeg native scored rushing and receiving TDs as the Bombers stunned Hamilton 33-12 in the 107th Grey Cup before 35,439 spectators at McMahon Stadium.
Harris put an exclamation mark on his stellar performance Sunday by becoming the first player ever to be named the gameB次元官网网址檚 top player and Canadian.
Ladies and gentlemen, your MVP and Most Outstanding Canadian, !
B次元官网网址� WPG Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers)
Harris (134 yards rushing, six catches for 35 yards) becomes the first Canadian to be named Grey Cup MVP since the legendary Russ Jackson of the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1969.
Harris and Co. earned $16,000 apiece while Hamilton players B次元官网网址� who wore their home black uniforms and were 10-0 this season at Tim Hortons Field B次元官网网址� received $8,000. More importantly, the Bombers secured their first Grey Cup title since 1990.
HamiltonB次元官网网址檚 last title came in B次元官网网址�99 and suffered its 16th straight loss at McMahon Stadium, the previous 15 coming against the home-town Calgary Stampeders.
SundayB次元官网网址檚 victory was especially sweet for Harris and Winnipeg starter Collaros.
Harris, who earned his first Grey Cup in 2011 with B.C., served a two-game suspension for a positive drug test. That led to his being snubbed in voting for the leagueB次元官网网址檚 individual honours despite leading the CFL in rushing for a third straight season (1,380 yards).
Collaros had spent time this season with Saskatchewan and Toronto B次元官网网址� ultimately he was traded by both teams B次元官网网址� before landing with Winnipeg in October. HeB次元官网网址檇 missed significant time recovering from a season-opening concussion suffered against Hamilton, which earned Ticats linebacker Simoni Lawrence a two-game suspension.
Hamilton came in as the solid favourite after a dominant B次元官网网址�19 season. The Ticats posted a CFL-best 15-3 regular-season mark, a single-season franchise record.
HamiltonB次元官网网址檚 high-power offence led the CFL in points per game (30.6), yards per game (395.8), passing yards (313.3 per game), first downs (398) and TDs (57). It featured receivers Brandon Banks (CFLB次元官网网址檚 top player after 112 catches, 1,550 yards and 13 TDs) and Bralon Addison (95 catches, 1,236 yards, seven TDs).
On Thursday night, Banks was named the CFLB次元官网网址檚 outstanding player. He was joined on the podium by teammates Chris Van Zeyl (lineman), Frankie Williams (special teams) and head coach Orlondo Steinauer (coach).
Winnipeg (11-7, third in West Division) became the first third-place finisher to win the Grey Cup since the B次元官网网址�05 Edmonton Eskimos. And after going 3-6 during the season on the road, the Bombers ended their dubious streak with a third straight road victory and fourth overall under Collaros.
29 years.... THE WAIT IS OVER!
B次元官网网址� CFL (@CFL)
WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 tenacious defence certainly did its part with seven turnovers B次元官网网址� three coming on TicatsB次元官网网址� first four possessions B次元官网网址� and six sacks. The Bombers had a plus-13 turnover ratio in the playoffs and didnB次元官网网址檛 commit one themselves.
Hamilton pulled to within 24-12 with EvansB次元官网网址� four-yard TD strike to Addison at 11:43 of the third but the two-point convert was unsuccessful. Banks suffered a lower-body injury in the drive and didnB次元官网网址檛 return. Justin Medlock booted a 41-yard field goal with three seconds left in the third and a 17 yarder with 6:33 left in the fourth to stretch WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 lead to 30-12.
An 18-yard Medlock field goal with three minutes to play put Winnipeg ahead 33-12. His 38-yard boot at 3:48 of the third gave the Bombers a 24-6 advantage.
Medlock finished with two converts, six field goals and a single.
HamiltonB次元官网网址檚 Lirim Hajrullahu kicked two field goals.
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The combination of Harris and an aggressive defence staked Winnipeg to an emphatic 21-6 half-time lead. Harris ran five times for 53 yards and a TD while registering four catches for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Collaros was an efficient 13-of-17 passing for 105 yards as WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 offence held the ball for over 17 minutes.
But HamiltonB次元官网网址檚 offensive line had no answer for WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 rugged defensive line, which continually pressured starter Dane Evans. The BombersB次元官网网址� defence was especially staunch in the first with three turnovers on the TicatsB次元官网网址� opening four possessions.
Hamilton forced Winnipeg to settle for MedlockB次元官网网址檚 16-yard field goal at 14:45 of the second. BombersB次元官网网址� backup Chris Streveler put Winnipeg ahead 18-6 at 8:34 with a 17-yard TD strike to Harris, the four-play, 50-yard march was set up by Janarion GrantB次元官网网址檚 32-yard punt return.
Medlock booted a 45-yard field goal at 4:55 to stake Winnipeg to an 11-6 lead. It came after HajrullahuB次元官网网址檚 47-yard boot 28 seconds into the quarter but the BombersB次元官网网址� lead to 8-6.
Harris opened the scoring with a 15-yard TD run at 3:23 of the first. It was set up by Adam BighillB次元官网网址檚 recovery of EvansB次元官网网址� fumble at the Hamilton 15-yard line.
Hajrullahu provided HamiltonB次元官网网址檚 first points with a 44-yard field goal at 6:18 before Medlock missed from 48 yards out for the single at 8:42.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
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