64th Grey Cup

The 64th Grey Cup was played on November 28, 1976, before 53,467 fans at the Exhibition Stadium at Toronto. The Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders by the score 23 to 20 in what is considered one of the most thrilling Grey Cup games and with perhaps the most exciting plays in Grey Cup history.^[1]

Scoring

Ottawa Rough Riders - 23
Touchdowns - Tony Gabriel and Bill Hatanaka
Field Goals - Gerry Organ (3)
Converts - Gerry Organ (2)

Saskatchewan Roughriders - 20
Touchdowns - Steve Mazurak and Rob Richardson
Field Goals - Bob Macoritti (2)
Converts - Bob Macoritti (2)

Game summary

After an early field goal, Ottawa increased their lead in record setting fashion, with Bill Hatanaka (a York University graduate who would later attend Harvard University) returning a punt for a 79 yard touchdown (then a CFL record.) It was 10 - 0 for Ottawa in the first quarter.

Saskatchewan owned the second quarter. CFL legend Ron Lancaster hit Steve Mazurak and Rob Richardson with touchdown passes and Bob Macoritti added a field goal. On defence, all star Ted Provost intercepted a Tom Clements pass to set up a touchdown and middle linebacker Cleveland Vann covered the field with his excellent play. Unfortunately, the Green Riders were without their longtime star running back, George Reed, who had retired, and his talented replacement, Molly McGee, left the game with an injury. The halftime score was 17 to 10.

The teams traded field goals in the third quarter (20 - 13) but excitement was provided by Ottawa kicker Gerry Organ's 52 yard fake punt run and the following interception by Cleveland Vann.

Ottawa got another field goal in the fourth quarter (20 - 16), but was later stopped on a last minute goal line stand by Saskatchewan. They got the ball back with little time remaining, and found themselves on the Green Rider 24 yard line with 20 seconds left.

Down by 4 points, Ottawa quarterback (and Notre Dame University grad) Tom Clements waved off the play from the bench. Canadian Football Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gabriel headed towards the end zone and faked a post pattern and turned to the corner. Unfortunately for Ted Provost, he fell for the fake. Gabriel's big hands brought down Clement's pass, with Provost and Ray Odums streaking to catch up. It was a spectacular play, both in its execution, game winning importance, and in the dramatic way Gabriel's fake unfolded. The play is often simply referred to as "The Catch".

Trivia

• All the points were scored by Canadians.
• This was the last Grey Cup championship for the Ottawa Rough Riders (the team folded in 1996) and the last playoff game for the Saskatchewan Roughriders until 1988.

References

• "Grey Cup: 1976". Canadian Football League. 

1. ↑ Sekeres, Matthew (2006-11-26). "Our last Grey Cup ever?". The Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2009-02-10.