73rd Grey Cup

73rd Grey Cup
BC Lions Hamilton Tiger-Cats
(13–3) (8–8)
37 24
Head coach: 
 Head coach: 
1234 Total
BC Lions 101368 37
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 014010 24
Date November 24, 1985
Stadium Olympic Stadium
Location Montreal
Most Valuable Player

Offence: Roy Dewalt

Defence: James "Quick" Parker
Most Valuable Canadian Lui Passaglia
Referee Jake Ireland
Attendance 56,723
Broadcasters
Network CBC, CTV, SRC
Announcers CBC: Don Wittman, Ron Lancaster, Brian Williams, Steve Armitage, Dave Hodge.
< 72nd Grey Cup 74th Grey Cup >

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.

Game summary

BC Lions (37) - TDs, Ned Armour (2), Jim Sandusky; 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.

Trivia

1985 CFL Playoffs

West Division

East Division

External links

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