The CFL concluded the 2023 season on Sunday night with the 110th Grey Cup title game from Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario, between the Eastern Division champion Montreal Alouettes and the Western Division champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
This was the first-ever meeting between these two teams in the Grey Cup. Winnipeg was a heavy favorite coming into this game. The game had a heartfelt rendition of the Canadian national anthem sung, a terrific halftime performance by Green Day, and a great game that featured an underdog winning.
In the first quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo kicked a 25-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 8:35 left. Later in the first quarter, Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira got a good block in front of him to score a five-yard touchdown which extended the Blue Bombers lead to 10-0 with 2:44 left of the first quarter.
Late in the first quarter, Montreal running back William Stanback ran to his left with two Winnipeg players on him to score a 32-yard touchdown. The officials reviewed to play to make certain his knee was not down before breaking the goal line. The replay confirmed that Stanback broke the goal line. Winnipeg led 10-7 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Winnipeg’s special teams came up with a big play when Brandon Alexander stripped the ball out of Montreal returner James Letcher Jr.’s arm and was recovered by Mike Benson. The turnover would lead to a Dakota Prukop one-yard touchdown which made it 17-7 with 2:52 left.
Late in the second quarter, Montreal’s offense marched down to the Blue Bombers’ one-yard line. On third down, Montreal backup quarterback Caleb Evans tried to score the touchdown with a quarterback sneak but the defense was there to shut him down forcing a turnover. Winnipeg led Montreal 17-7 at halftime.
Winnipeg had 187 yards on offense. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 8 of 11 passes (73%) for 112 yards. Running back Brady Oliveira had nine carries for 69 yards, and one touchdown, and wide receiver Kenny Lawler made two catches for 68 yards. Winnipeg’s defense made one sack and forced two turnovers.
Montreal had 163 yards on offense. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 10 of 12 passes (83%) for 123 yards. Running back William Stanback had five carries for 40 yards, and one touchdown, and wide receiver Austin Mack made three catches for 51 yards. Montreal’s defense made two sacks.
In the third quarter, Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Cole Speiker which cut the Blue Bombers lead to 17-14 with 13 minutes left. Later in the third quarter, Winnipeg was threatening to score again.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros dropped back to throw the ball to Kenny Lawler in the endzone but Kabion Ento leaped up in the air to make the interception. However, Montreal’s offense could not take advantage of the turnover. Winnipeg led 17-14 with one quarter left to play.
In the fourth quarter, Montreal was set up in a bubble screen. Quarterback Cody Fajardo threw a short pass to his left side toward Austin Mack. Mack got some great blocking in front of him to score a 13-yard touchdown which put Montreal ahead 21-17 with 10:56 left of the game.
Later in the fourth quarter, Winnipeg got the lead back when backup quarterback Dakota Prukop scored a four-yard touchdown which made it 24-21 with 5:15 left. Down 24-21 with 1:55 left in the game, Montreal saved its best for last.
Montreal’s offense marched up to their 55-yard line before Winnipeg linebacker Shayne Gauthier sacked Cody Fajardo for an eight-yard loss. Like Rocky Balboa, Montreal got up and kept fighting. On the next play, Cody Fajardo scrambled for a 13-yard gain on the Blue Bombers’ 50-yard line. On third down, Fajardo threw a 31-yard pass to Cole Speiker with 38 seconds left.
On the next play, Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tyson Philpot and the crowd erupted with cheer while Winnipeg fans were in disbelief after last year’s Grey Cup loss to Toronto. Montreal led 28-23 with 13 seconds left.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 14-yard pass to Dalton Schoen who ran out of bounds at the Alouettes’ 54-yard line with three seconds left. On the last play, Winnipeg did go for a Hail Mary. Instead, Collaros threw a short pass to punter Jamieson Sheahan. Sheahan punted the ball with the hopes of Winnipeg getting to the ball but Montreal was there to cover it up and the game was over.
For the first time in 13 years, the Montreal Alouettes are Grey Cup champions defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by the final score of 28-23. This was the Alouettes’ eighth Grey Cup in franchise history and the first for new owner Pierre Karl Peladeau.
Montreal overcame obstacles in the last two games against the two best teams in the CFL and now can call themselves champions. Head Coach Jason Maas prepared this team and they responded in a big way when a lot of people counted them out. Montreal played the role of Rocky Balboa and they knocked out Ivan Drago.
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo was named Grey Cup MVP and wide receiver Tyson Philpot was named Most Valuable Canadian.
Montreal had 373 yards on offense. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 21 of 26 passes (81%) for 290 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and two carries for 18 yards. Running back William Stanback had nine carries for 68 yards and one touchdown.
Montreal wide receivers Tyson Philpot, Austin Mack, and Cole Speiker combined with 19 catches for 228 yards, and three touchdowns. Montreal’s defense made 49 tackles, four sacks, and forced two turnovers.
Winnipeg will have a tough off-season. This is the second time they have lost the Grey Cup. Last year, it was a blocked field goal, this year was a game-winning touchdown. Winnipeg will have to make some tough decisions heading into free agency. In this game, they looked overconfident and didn’t seem to make adjustments at halftime to secure a win.
Winnipeg had 368 yards on offense. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 19 of 23 passes (83%) for 236 yards, one interception, and one carry for four yards. Running back Brady Oliveira had 19 carries for 119 yards and one touchdown.
Winnipeg wide receiver Kenny Lawler made three catches for 77 yards. Winnipeg’s defense made 35 tackles, two sacks, and two turnovers.
