95th Grey Cup - Game Summary

Game Summary

Saskatchewan Roughriders (23) - TDs, James Johnson, Andy Fantuz; FGs Luca Congi (3); cons., Congi (2).

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (19) - TDs, Derick Armstrong; FGs Troy Westwood (2); cons., Westwood; safety touch (3).

First Quarter

WPG -- FG Westwood 16-yard field goal 12:37

Second Quarter

WPG -- Safety Boreham concedes in end zone 3:18

WPG -- Safety Boreham concedes in end zone 7:07

SSK -- TD Johnson 30-yard interception return (Congi convert) 12:26

SSK -- FG Congi 45-yard field goal 15:00

Third Quarter

SSK -- FG Congi 17-yard field goal 1:51

WPG -- TD Armstrong 50-yard pass by Dinwiddie (Westwood convert) 4:03

SSK -- FG Congi 12-yard field goal 11:11

Fourth Quarter

SSK -- TD Fantuz 29-yard pass by Joseph (Congi convert) 3:30

WPG -- Safety Boreham concedes in end zone 6:29

WPG -- FG Westwood 42-yard field goal 11:13

Defensive back James Johnson set a Grey Cup record with three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders won their first championship in 18 years on Sunday defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Roughriders last won a championship in 1989, when current coach Kent Austin was the starting quarterback.

In the first quarter, Winnipeg's Troy Westwood scored the game's first points with a 16-yard field goal. In the second quarter Saskatchewan would concede a pair of safeties for a 7-0 Winnipeg lead before Johnson's first interception of the game, which resulted in a Roughrider touchdown and a 7-7 tie. A last second quarter drive before Lenny Kravitz entertained the crowd at halftime was capped by a 45-yard Congi field goal to give the Riders a 10-7 lead into halftime.

The game turned in the early moments of the second half. The Roughriders had a chance to take the game by the throat when John Chick sacked Ryan Dinwiddie for a fumble recovery on the Riders' 10, but the defence held to force a 17-yard field goal for a 13-7 Rider lead.

On the next possession, Dinwiddie hit Derick Armstrong with a 50-yard touchdown pass. The excitable novice quarterback jumped in the air and then taunted by pointing at the Saskatchewan bench. But on Winnipeg's next possession, Johnson picked off a Dinwiddie pass for his second interception of the game and the Riders marched the ball to the Winnipeg 11.

Then came a key play.

Saskatchewan quarterback, Kerry Joseph looked to be stopped on a third-and-one plunge, but a review re-spotted the ball for a first down. When Bombers coach Doug Berry tried to challenge, he was slapped with a five-yard delay of game penalty. But the Bomber defence came up big again, holding the Riders to a 12-yard field goal and a 16-14 lead at 11:11 of the third quarter.

However, in the fourth quarter, Joseph found Andy Fantuz up the middle and the big slotback broke three tackles as he plowed into the end zone for a nine-point Riders lead, but a third safety of the game and a 42-yard Westwood field goal cut the lead to four points with 3:37 left to play.

But a final Winnipeg drive ended in Johnson's third pick of the game to seal the game and the franchises third Grey Cup championship