Inside the CFL: Argonauts won when it mattered

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on November 24, 2022.

The 109th Grey Cup had everything. Back and forth action, a record punt return touchdown, blocked kicks and a 24-23 victory for the Argos who won their seventh straight Grey Cup game going back to 1991, all but two as the underdog.

Much to the delight of most of the Green and White clad fans at Mosaic stadium, the Argos stole a page from Winnipeg’s play book by coming up big in the fourth quarter. They scored the last 10 points of the game.

It was a game dominated by defence (Argo linebacker Henoc Muamba was named MVP and Most Outstanding Canadian of the game) and special teams, with the offences struggling. The number of commercials in the TSN telecast was absolutely ridiculous and I wondered how an offence could establish any momentum. Sure enough, after the game, Bomber quarterback Zach Collaros said, “We did not get into a rhythm offensively at any point in the game.”

The same was true of the opposition until Argo Chad Kelly relieved starter McLeod Bethel-Thompson 3:37 into the final frame and engineered the last seven points. A lot of mistakes were made on both sides but that just spiced up the gridiron stew on a cold Saskatchewan night and provided fans with one of the most entertaining Grey Cups ever. In a year of declining attendance, once again the Grey Cup was the CFL’s salvation.

How about a 24-gun salute for the Argonauts? The Boatmen said ‘Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead.’ When they fell behind the overwhelming favourite Blue Bombers, their rallying cry was, “We’ve just begun to fight.”

The only respect for the underdogs was in their own dressing room. Almost no one picked them to win. TSN commentator Milt Stegall described Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson as the best of the worst quarterbacks. Although not one single Argo lineman made All-Canadian, they won the battle of the trenches, sacking Bomber pivots four times. Zach Collaros looked confused most of the game, even though he had his team ahead late in the fourth quarter. Credit the Scullers’ defence with the victory.

When everyone says a team has no chance to win, that’s when they run through the dressing room wall to get to the field and prove them wrong. The Argos played with fire and enthusiasm from beginning to end.

Was it an upset? On July 4, Winnipeg won by a single point. Nov. 20, the Argos’ margin of victory was one point. Personnel-wise, both teams were pretty much the same both games. During the season, Winnipeg won games they should have lost, vice- versa Toronto. The Argos were certainly the better team in the 109th Grey Cup.

While the Bombers won most of the league awards, Toronto took the only one that counted. The Blue Bombers had a splendid opportunity to make history but came up short. Making the big game three straight years is a tremendous accomplishment. Helmet’s off to them.

It was a day of redemption for both Argo coach Ryan Dinwiddie and quarterback Chad Kelly. Dinwiddie made his first CFL start in the 2007 Grey Cup because pivot Kevin Glenn broke his hand in the Eastern Final. The Bombers lost 23-19 to Saskatchewan. The youngster threw for 225 yards and a touchdown but had three interceptions. Coaches and teammates always insist you win as a team and lose as a team. Not this bunch. Bomber Boss Doug Berry placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of Dinwiddie. James Johnson made all the picks and was named Most Valuable, the last time since last Sunday a defensive player was so honoured. Dinwiddie retired as a backup in 2011 and started coaching, coming over from Calgary in 2019 and winning it all.

How could the Argos lose with a quarterback named Kelly? Keep an eye on this guy. He was released by two NFL clubs for off-field problems, not because he couldn’t play. The troubled young man has a rap sheet as long as your arm, going back to high school. By winning the national championship Sunday he removed a family curse. His uncle Jim Kelly lost four Super Bowls in a row as quarterback of the Buffalo Bills. If Chad Kelly can keep his nose clean, he could be a star in our league.