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Venue:
Exhibition Stadium
Location:
Toronto, ON
Date:
November 28
Attendance:
53,467
Winning
Coach: George Brancato
Outstanding
Offensive Player: Tom Clements, QB, Ottawa
Outstanding
Defensive Player: Cleveland Vann, LB, Saskatchewan
Outstanding
Canadian: Tony Gabriel, TE, Ottawa
The Ottawa
Rough Riders and Saskatchewan Roughriders engaged in an epic battle
for Earl Grey’s hallowed mug in 1976. The outcome was in doubt
until the final stages when Tony Gabriel made one of the more
memorable catches in Grey Cup history, giving Ottawa an upset
victory.
Leading
3-0 in the first quarter, the East Riders scored their first major of
the game on a special teams play. Rookie Bill Hatanaka received a
Saskatchewan punt and 70 yards later reached the end zone, the first
punt return for a touchdown in Grey Cup history. Ottawa had a 10-0
lead after 15 minutes.
Saskatchewan’s
offence got going in the second quarter. But running back Molly McGee
suffered a rib injury before the end of the half, and the Green
Riders were never the same after this.
It proved
to be the most successful quarter for the Saskatchewan offence. Ron
Lancaster threw a pair of touchdown passes to Steve Mazurak and Rob
Richardson within the space of two minutes. Ted Provost intercepted a
Tom Clements pass to set up Richardson’s touchdown.
Saskatchewan took a 17-10 lead into halftime.
Ottawa
kicker Gerry Organ put his club in great field position in the third
quarter when he faked a punt and ran 52 yards to the Saskatchewan 21.
It went for naught, however, as on the next play Saskatchewan’s
Cleveland Vann intercepted Clements. Both clubs exchanged field goals
in the quarter.
Ottawa was
in better field position with less than two minutes remaining in
regulation. On a third-down gamble on the Saskatchewan goal line,
Clements was stopped on a draw play as Ottawa turned over the ball on
downs. But the defence of the East Riders held, giving the Ottawa
offence one last opportunity.
With 20
seconds remaining and trailing 20-16, Clements decided to change the
play sent to him from the sidelines. Gabriel faked a post pattern,
then went to the corner, catching Clements 24-yard pass for the
winning touchdown, Ottawa’s only offensive TD in the game.
Ironically, it was Gabriel who sunk Saskatchewan’s Grey Cup
fortunes in 1972 with three key catches late in that game.
All the
points were scored by Canadian players. Saskatchewan’s Bob
Macoritti booted two field goals and a pair of converts, while Organ
was good on three field goals and two converts.
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The Ottawa Invaders are having an early-bird season ticket sale. Two sets, two shirts, $49.00.