VANCOUVER - Bo Levi Mitchell carried the Calgary Stampeders to a Grey Cup title Sunday.
Mitchell threw for 334 yards as Calgary held on for a thrilling 20-16 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at B.C. Place. The six-foot-two, 196-pound Texan was calm and precise on the field, completing 25-of-34 passes in his first career Grey Cup start. He was named the game’s outstanding player.
At one point, Mitchell threw 10 straight completions, tying him for the third-longest streak in Grey Cup history before a boisterous B.C. Place Stadium gathering of 52,056 - 1,423 short of a sellout.
“This is something I worked my entire life for,” said Mitchell. “To come to the Grey Cup and have a game like this and have the guys do what we did tonight after so much work, it’s such an indescribable feeling.”
Mitchell credited Stampeders offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson for some of his success.
“I’m not the same person without him,” he said. “That guy gets me so prepared, there’s no stone unturned. He is a dangerous coach to have on your team. When you do, you’re not going to lose very often.”
But the West Division champions needed two late defensive stands and some luck to secure the victory.
A Delvin Breaux interception of Mitchell put Hamilton at the Calgary 50-yard line. Quarterback Zach Collaros marched the offence to the three-yard line before the Stampeders’ defence stiffened, resulting in Justin Medlock’s 17-yard field goal at 9:25 of the fourth quarter to pull to within 20-13.
Hamilton regained possession at its 41-yard line with under four minutes remaining and marched to the Calgary 23. Cory Mace’s sack stalled the drive and set up Medlock’s 37-yard field goal to cut the Stampeders’ lead to 20-16 with just over two minutes remaining.
Brandon Banks brought Ticats supporters to their feet with 35 seconds left when he returned a Rene Paredes punt 90 yards for a TD, but it was nullified by an illegal block penalty. Instead of having the lead, Hamilton took over at its 12-yard line.
After the game, Banks stormed out of the Ticats’ locker-room before the media were allowed in. When a reporter tried to speak to him he kept walking but turned around to say “I ain’t talking to nobody.”
Calgary earned its third straight win this season over Hamilton, which after a 1-6 start to the season rallied to a 9-9 mark to finish atop the East Division.
Paredes had to handle punting duties in the second half after incumbent Rob Maver suffered an abdominal injury after being hammered on a Hamilton punt return. The six-foot, 201-pound Maver was hit from the blindside by Justin Hickman, a six-foot-two, 265-pound defensive lineman, and remained on the field for some time before eventually walking off on his own.
Paredes said he withdrew from his teammates during the game so he could concentrate.
“I wasn’t nervous,” said Paredes. “I was just trying to stay focused and stay calm.”
Calgary also lost receiver Maurice Price to an ankle injury in the second half.
Calgary earned its second Grey Cup win since ‘08 when John Hufnagel was named head coach/GM.
The iconic trophy appeared to suffer some damage as the Stampeders celebrated on the field, with the top portion coming loose from the base.
Hamilton’s Grey Cup drought continues with their last CFL championship coming in Vancouver in ‘99 when they beat the Stampeders 32-21.
Ticats receiver Andy Fantuz was named the oustanding Canadian after making six catches for 81 yards.
“We’re just going to have to get back to the drawing board and remember this for next year,” said Fantuz.
It’s also the second straight Grey Cup loss for the Ticats, who lost 45-23 last year in Regina to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Backup quarterback Drew Tate had two TDs for Calgary. Paredes added the converts and two field goals.
Banks scored Hamilton’s touchdown. Medlock booted the convert and two field goals.
A blocked field goal by Calgary’s Demonte Bolden loomed large in Calgary taking a 17-7 halftime lead. The burly defensive lineman, in his first game since breaking his leg in September, batted down Medlock’s 26-yard try with the Stampeders leading 14-0.
The six-foot-five, 285-pound Bolden began his CFL career in Hamilton, playing two seasons there (‘09-’10) before joining the Stampeders in 2012.
Mitchell countered by marching Calgary 87 yards on eight plays, setting up Paredes’ 11-yard field goal at 12:43. But Collaros countered smartly, hitting Banks on a 45-yard TD pass at 13:39 to make it a 10-point game.
Mitchell was a one-man show in the first half, hitting 14-of-17 passes for 220 of Calgary’s 232 net yards. Despite Hamilton’s terrible start, Collaros completed 9-of-13 attempts for 155 yards and a TD, accounting most of the Ticats’ 185 first-half offensive yards.
It was a dreadful opening quarter for Hamilton, which posted -12 yards rushing and just four net yards. Calgary had 120 net yards, thanks to Mitchell’s 117 passing yards.
Tate’s one-yard TD run 48 seconds into the second capped a 10-play, 66-yard drive and came after Hamilton’s Brandon Stewart was called for pass interference in the end zone. Tate opened the scoring at 9:48 of the first with a one-yard touchdown that ended a five-play, 55-yard march.
Members of the Stampeders receive $16,000 for the win while the Ticats earn $8,000 apiece.