73rd Grey Cup
Encyclopedia
The 73rd Grey Cup was the 1985
Canadian Football League
championship game that was played at Olympic Stadium
in Montreal
, between the BC Lions
and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
. The BC Lions easily handled the Tiger-Cats with a 37-24 victory.
; FGs, Lui Passaglia
(5); cons., Passaglia
(3); single, Passaglia
.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (24) - TDs, Ron Ingram
, Johnny Shepherd
, Steve Stapler; FGs, Bernie Ruoff
; cons., Ruoff
(3).
First Quarter
BC - TD Armour 84 yard pass from Dewalt (Passaglia convert)
BC - FG Passaglia
Second Quarter
BC - FG Passaglia
HAM - TD Ingram 35 yard pass from Hobart (Ruoff convert)
HAM - TD Shepherd 00 yard pass from Hobart (Ruoff convert)
BC - TD Armour 59 yard pass from Dewalt (Passaglia convert)
BC - FG Passaglia
Third Quarter
BC - FG Passaglia
BC - FG Passaglia
Fourth Quarter
HAM - FG Ruoff
BC - Single Passaglia
BC - TD Sandusky 66 yard pass from Dewalt (Passaglia convert)
HAM - TD Stapler 35 yard pass from Hobart (Ruoff convert)
The 1980s proved to be a decade of halting Grey Cup
droughts.
The Toronto Argonauts
ended 30 seasons of futility by recapturing the title in 1983
. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers
ended a 21-year drought without a national title the following year.
It was the BC Lions
turn in 1985. The Lions hadn’t won a Grey Cup since their inaugural championship in 1964. Fittingly, their opponent in 1985 was the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
, the same team they defeated for their first title. It was the second straight trip to the final for the Ticats.
The Lions jumped out to a quick start when five minutes in, quarterback Roy Dewalt
and receiver Ned Armour combined on an 84-yard passing play for a major. BC added two field goals to take a 13-0 advantage early in the second quarter.
But much like they did the previous season, the Ticats made it interesting. Hamilton recovered a fumble by Lions running back Freddie Sims at the BC 50. It led to rookie quarterback Ken Hobart
’s 35-yard touchdown strike to Ron Ingram
, cutting the margin to six.
Late in the opening half, Hobart broke free from the Hamilton 33 and utilized great blocking to get to the BC 15. Two plays later, Johnny Shepherd
leaped high to snag a touchdown reception, giving the Ticats a 14-13 advantage with 1:35 remaining in the first half.
After failing to get a first down on their next possession, the Lions were forced to punt. Hamilton’s Mitchell Price and Grover Covington
bore down on B.C.’s Lui Passaglia
in an attempt to block the kick and Passaglia, seeing the danger, wisely kept the ball and scrambled to his right, resulting in a first down.
BC then went for the dagger. Dewalt hit Armour again on a 59-yard touchdown play, giving the Lions the lead for good. Shortly after, James "Quick" Parker
forced Hobart into a fumble, setting up a Passaglia 24-yard field goal. Instead of a one-point lead at halftime, Hamilton was in a hole 23-14.
The Lions never looked back. Passaglia booted another two field goals for five in the game, and Dewalt threw another big touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, a 66-yarder to Jim Sandusky
.
Hobart would hit Steve Stapler for a 12-yard touchdown late in the game, but it was too little, too late, and the BC Lions won their second Grey Cup championship.
1985 CFL season
The 1985 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 32nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 28th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1985:...
Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
championship game that was played at Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Montreal)
The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, between the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
. The BC Lions easily handled the Tiger-Cats with a 37-24 victory.
Game summary
BC Lions (37) - TDs, Ned Armour (2), Jim SanduskyJim Sandusky
Jim Sandusky was a Canadian Football League receiver for the BC Lions and the Edmonton Eskimos who, in a 12 year career from 1984–1996, caught 586 passes for 9737 yards and 69 touchdowns. Sandusky played college football at San Diego State University and was the Most Valuable Player of the 1984...
; FGs, Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
(5); cons., Passaglia
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
(3); single, Passaglia
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (24) - TDs, Ron Ingram
Ron Ingram
Ronald Walter Ingram was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 114 games in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks, and Detroit Red Wings. He was born in Toronto, Ontario....
, Johnny Shepherd
Johnny Shepherd
Johnny Shepherd was a star college football running back and the Rookie of the Year in the Canadian Football League.-College career:...
, Steve Stapler; FGs, Bernie Ruoff
Bernie Ruoff
Bernie Ruoff is a former punter and placekicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1975-1979 and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1980-1987 of the Canadian Football League. He finished his CFL career in 1988, playing 5 games for the British Columbia Lions...
; cons., Ruoff
Bernie Ruoff
Bernie Ruoff is a former punter and placekicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1975-1979 and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1980-1987 of the Canadian Football League. He finished his CFL career in 1988, playing 5 games for the British Columbia Lions...
(3).
First Quarter
BC - TD Armour 84 yard pass from Dewalt (Passaglia convert)
BC - FG Passaglia
Second Quarter
BC - FG Passaglia
HAM - TD Ingram 35 yard pass from Hobart (Ruoff convert)
HAM - TD Shepherd 00 yard pass from Hobart (Ruoff convert)
BC - TD Armour 59 yard pass from Dewalt (Passaglia convert)
BC - FG Passaglia
Third Quarter
BC - FG Passaglia
BC - FG Passaglia
Fourth Quarter
HAM - FG Ruoff
BC - Single Passaglia
BC - TD Sandusky 66 yard pass from Dewalt (Passaglia convert)
HAM - TD Stapler 35 yard pass from Hobart (Ruoff convert)
The 1980s proved to be a decade of halting Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
droughts.
The Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
ended 30 seasons of futility by recapturing the title in 1983
71st Grey Cup
The 71st Grey Cup was the 1983 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, between the Toronto Argonauts and the hometown BC Lions...
. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
ended a 21-year drought without a national title the following year.
It was the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
turn in 1985. The Lions hadn’t won a Grey Cup since their inaugural championship in 1964. Fittingly, their opponent in 1985 was the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
, the same team they defeated for their first title. It was the second straight trip to the final for the Ticats.
The Lions jumped out to a quick start when five minutes in, quarterback Roy Dewalt
Roy Dewalt
Roy Dewalt is a former Canadian Football League quarterback who, in a career lasting nine years, played for the BC Lions between 1980 and 1987, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Rough Riders in 1988....
and receiver Ned Armour combined on an 84-yard passing play for a major. BC added two field goals to take a 13-0 advantage early in the second quarter.
But much like they did the previous season, the Ticats made it interesting. Hamilton recovered a fumble by Lions running back Freddie Sims at the BC 50. It led to rookie quarterback Ken Hobart
Ken Hobart
Kenneth Charles "Ken" Hobart is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the USFL and CFL, where he played from 1985-90.-Collegiate career:...
’s 35-yard touchdown strike to Ron Ingram
Ron Ingram
Ronald Walter Ingram was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 114 games in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks, and Detroit Red Wings. He was born in Toronto, Ontario....
, cutting the margin to six.
Late in the opening half, Hobart broke free from the Hamilton 33 and utilized great blocking to get to the BC 15. Two plays later, Johnny Shepherd
Johnny Shepherd
Johnny Shepherd was a star college football running back and the Rookie of the Year in the Canadian Football League.-College career:...
leaped high to snag a touchdown reception, giving the Ticats a 14-13 advantage with 1:35 remaining in the first half.
After failing to get a first down on their next possession, the Lions were forced to punt. Hamilton’s Mitchell Price and Grover Covington
Grover Covington
Grover Covington is a former Canadian Football League defensive end for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.-Personal life:...
bore down on B.C.’s Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia
Lui Passaglia is a former professional Canadian football player. Passaglia was the placekicker/punter for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for a record-breaking 25 years and scored more points in that time than any professional gridiron football player in history...
in an attempt to block the kick and Passaglia, seeing the danger, wisely kept the ball and scrambled to his right, resulting in a first down.
BC then went for the dagger. Dewalt hit Armour again on a 59-yard touchdown play, giving the Lions the lead for good. Shortly after, James "Quick" Parker
James Parker (football player)
James "Quick" Parker, is a former Canadian football player who was a leading defensive player in the Canadian Football League...
forced Hobart into a fumble, setting up a Passaglia 24-yard field goal. Instead of a one-point lead at halftime, Hamilton was in a hole 23-14.
The Lions never looked back. Passaglia booted another two field goals for five in the game, and Dewalt threw another big touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, a 66-yarder to Jim Sandusky
Jim Sandusky
Jim Sandusky was a Canadian Football League receiver for the BC Lions and the Edmonton Eskimos who, in a 12 year career from 1984–1996, caught 586 passes for 9737 yards and 69 touchdowns. Sandusky played college football at San Diego State University and was the Most Valuable Player of the 1984...
.
Hobart would hit Steve Stapler for a 12-yard touchdown late in the game, but it was too little, too late, and the BC Lions won their second Grey Cup championship.
Trivia
- The BC LionsBC LionsThe BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
won despite being without Mervyn FernandezMervyn FernandezMervyn "Swervin' Mervyn" Fernandez is a former professional American and Canadian football player who played wide receiver with the NFL Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders and the Canadian Football League BC Lions....
, the CFL's Most Outstanding Player AwardCFL's Most Outstanding Player AwardThe Most Outstanding Player Award is annually awarded to the best player in the Canadian Football League. The Most Outstanding Player award can be compared to the National Football League's Most Valuable Player, otherwise known as the "MVP" award...
winner, and all star running back Keyvan JenkinsKeyvan JenkinsKeyvan Lewis Jenkins is a former running back who played 8 seasons in the Canadian Football League. He also played two seasons in the National Football League. He won the Grey Gup for the BC Lions in 1985, and with the Calgary Stampeders in 1992....
, both lost to injuries.
- The entire 1985 BC Lions team were inducted into the BC Sports Hall of FameBC Sports Hall of FameFor over 40 years, the community has entrusted the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum with the responsibility to collect, preserve, study, and interpret materials that relate to British Columbia’s rich sport history...
in 2000.
West Division
- Semi-final (November 10 @ Winnipeg, Manitoba) Winnipeg Blue BombersWinnipeg Blue BombersThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
22-15 Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
- Final (November 17 @ Vancouver, British Columbia) BC LionsBC LionsThe BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
42-22 Winnipeg Blue BombersWinnipeg Blue BombersThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
East Division
- Semi-final (November 10 @ Montreal, Quebec) Montreal Concordes 30-20 Ottawa Rough RidersOttawa Rough RidersThe Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
- Final (November 17 @ Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, OntarioHamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
) Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-CatsThe Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
50-26 Montreal Concordes