Re: 1994 - Canada vs USA
Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 12:17 pm
A brief summary.
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The game did not go into overtime.As members of the 1994 Grey Cup champion B.C. Lions prepare for induction into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, players and coaches remember a remarkable playoff run capped by an overtime field goal for the ages
By Megan Stewart, Vancouver Courier August 20, 2010
The Lions second-to-last drive ended at Baltimore's 30-yard line for Passaglia's second-to-last field goal attempt at 37 yards.With one minute and two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, he marched to the 39-yardline to kick the field goal and secure the 1994 Grey Cup over Baltimore, a team of American athletes menacing for top spot of the Canadian Football League in the first year of U.S. expansion.
In the 1994 WDSF in Edmonton after Passaglia made a field goal to lead 24-23, Damon Allen and the Eskimos had more than enough time to get back to FG goal range of their own, but the Lions defence rose to the occasion and forced them to give the ball away on downs. The Lions kneeled to put the time away. It's good that the article mentioned and acknowledged the role of Kent Austin.The B.C. Lions head coach for three years in the 1990s also calls the 1994 season final the greatest Grey Cup ever played in the history of the CFL. Each playoff win, including the championship itself, came down to the final play of the game with no time left on the clock.
To reach the November final at B.C. Place, the Lions twice knocked off opponents after coming from behind, each time on the last play of the fourth quarter to win the contest by a single point.
The Lions had never won a playoff match-up in Edmonton. Against the Eskimos in the quarter-final, a late-minute interception and a 41-yard run by Charlie Gordon led to near-purrfect football by the Lions. An injured Kent Austin drove for 49-yards and Passaglia put home a 27-yard field goal to go ahead by one point and end Edmonton's season.
While with 12 seconds remaining at scrimmage McManus completed a pass to Darren Flutie, it certainly wasn't the last play of the game. The last play started with 5 seconds left.With 12 seconds remaining, McManus wound up for the last play of the game. He found Darren Flutie, brother of the opposing quarterback Doug, between two Calgary defenders just inside the line. "He was supposed to be in the deep corner of the end zone," McManus said this week. "But I saw something, he saw something and we saw it at the same time."
I guess it's because Wally wanted to give their Stampeders a eight point lead if the FG was successful, forcing the Lions to make them a two-scoring play to tie the game. With an eight point lead, even if the Lions managed to get a TD they still had to complete a 2-point conversion, and that would only tie the game. So I'd say that did make sense at the time.Toppy Vann wrote:With Wally winning 36 - 31 why on frigging earth did Wally go for a FG that the Lions blocked? I couldn't believe my eyes when they went for a FG.
Catch no controversy for B.C.'s Alexander
November 28, 1994|By Roch Eric Kubatko and Ken Murray | Roch Eric Kubatko and Ken Murray,Sun Staff Writers
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Replays were inconclusive, but B.C. Lions receiver Ray Alexander didn't need a second look.
Alexander insisted that he held on to a 34-yard pass from Danny McManus with 1:36 left in last night's Grey Cup, even though the ball popped free as he and Baltimore CFLs cornerback Irvin Smith hit the turf at B.C. Place.
The controversial play didn't lead directly to a score -- kicker Lui Passaglia missed wide right from 37 yards -- but when Charles Anthony was tackled at the Baltimore 2 on his return, B.C. was in business.
Two plays later, Baltimore had to punt. The Lions took over on the CFLs' 34, and after two short runs, Passaglia won the game with a 38-yard kick.
Baltimore players argued that the pass to Alexander, who took advantage of his 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame, should have been ruled incomplete, but he disagreed.
"We both had our hands on it when we went down," he said. "He had one hand in there, I got two on it. I had it when I went down and hit the ground."
Alexander, a 10-year pro out of Florida A&M, had a game-high five catches for 119 yards.
MVP confusion
In a confusing awards announcement, Passaglia was named Most Valuable Player on post-game television by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., but the Football Reporters of Canada checked the ballots and concluded that Baltimore's Karl Anthony had won. Passaglia was voted the game's top Canadian.
League officials said Anthony won even though Passaglia was presented with the keys to a truck on television.
"All I know is that without Lui, we've got nothing," B.C. coach Dave Ritchie said.
On the defensive
After the Lions' 48-31 loss to Baltimore last month, Ritchie said the Lions could beat the CFLs "as long as they have 3 and 33," referring to cornerback Karl Anthony and halfback Ken Watson.
Each of the Baltimore defensive backs had a first-half interception yesterday, but the CFLs lost anyway.
Redskins connection
The CFLs' Alvin Walton and B.C.'s Barry Wilburn were teammates when the Washington Redskins won the Super Bowl in 1988. Yesterday, Walton outdid his friend, intercepting a pass and lateraling to Karl Anthony for a touchdown. Wilburn was called for pass interference in the end zone to keep alive a Baltimore scoring drive.
End of the line for 3 Lions
At least three Lions played their last game yesterday. Cornerback Less Browne, offensive tackle Rob Smith and safety Sean Foudy each announced his retirement this season.
Browne leaves as the CFL's all-time leader in interceptions with 87, 21 more than runner-up Larry Highbaugh. He had 11 this year.
Smith was voted the league's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 1992 while with the Ottawa Rough Riders.
Foudy has been limited to 13 regular-season games in the past two years because of injuries, including seven shoulder dislocations.
Drummond in familiar role
Just a couple of months ago, Robert Drummond was out of a job. Yesterday, he reinforced his image as the CFLs' super sub, filling in at fullback for ailing Peter Tuipulotu.
Drummond was signed by Baltimore as a free agent on Sept. 4 and appeared in seven regular-season games, catching nine passes for 149 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown against B.C. on Oct. 22.
Yesterday wasn't the first time he has bailed out the CFLs. In the Eastern Division semifinal Nov. 12 against the Toronto Argonauts at Memorial Stadium, Drummond stepped in for injured tailback Mike Pringle and rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
He was back at his more familiar, receiving-oriented position yesterday, though it was his first start there. He had two catches for 38 yards and carried once for 12 yards.
Et cetera
John Congemi and Jearld Baylis served as Baltimore's captains for the coin toss, which B.C. won. . . Neither team had a sack in the first half, but B.C.'s Henry Newby, Doug Petersen, Angelo Snipes and Andrew Stewart had one each in the second. So did Baltimore's O. J. Brigance. . . Much-maligned B.C. running back Cory Philpot ran for 109 yards, and backfield mate Sean Millington had 85. . . . Tickets that normally sold for $100 were going at half-price yesterday morning. . . . Jan Carinci, a Toronto native and a member of B.C.'s radio broadcast crew, is a former Maryland Terrapin who was a three-year starter for Jerry Claiborne. Carinci played wingback at Maryland from 1977 to 1980.
For One Football Player, Pickup Was Just A Mirage
December 09, 1994
Baltimore's Karl Anthony received an impressive parting gift for his efforts in a losing cause while playing the 82nd Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia:
A pickup truck.
The B.C. Lions' Lui Passaglia's received an impressive parting gift for his efforts in a winning cause while playing the 82nd Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia:
A pickup truck.
The only logistical setback: There was only one pickup truck.
Canadian writers, voting for the game's Most Outstanding Player with about two minutes left in the game, picked Anthony (who delivered two big plays in the first half).
After Passaglia's game-winning 38-yard field goal, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. announced that Passaglia had won the Most Outstanding Player award, and with it, the Dodge Ram pickup. Passaglia even got the keys.
When the mistake was realized, he had to give them back.
Anthony was told by a league official last week that he would eventually get the truck. Passaglia didn't lose out, either. He was named the top Canadian in the game, and Chrysler has announced that it is going to give him a truck for a year.
Anthony remains in idle while awaiting his pickup
ON THE CFL
December 04, 1994|By KEN MURRAY
Karl Anthony lost a Grey Cup ring but gained a pickup truck last Sunday night.
At least he thinks he gained a pickup truck.
The veteran Baltimore cornerback was voted the Most Outstanding Player in the 82nd Grey Cup, a 26-23 loss to the B.C. Lions in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Anthony made two big plays in the first half -- a diving interception in the first quarter and a 36-yard touchdown run with a lateral after Alvin Walton's second-quarter pickoff.
The voting, by Canadian writers, was done with two minutes left BTC in the game -- before Lui Passaglia's game-winning 38-yard field goal.
In the chaotic aftermath, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., which telecast the game, announced that Passaglia had won the Most Outstanding Player award, and with it, the Dodge Ram pickup. Somehow, Passaglia even got the keys.
Then, when the mistake was realized, he had to give them back.
Anthony was told in the locker room that he had won the award, but no presentation was ever made. Contrary to a popular rumor, he did not refuse the truck.
"If I was awarded the truck, I would not not accept it," he said. "That would be crazy. No one talked to me about it."
Until he talked with a league official Thursday, Anthony was still in the dark. But Paul Brule, the Canadian Football League's vice president for business development, told Anthony he would get the truck after all. Brule just didn't know when.
Passaglia was named the top Canadian in the game. According to Greg Fulton, another CFL executive, Chrysler is going to give Passaglia a truck for a year.
Robbie wrote:I guess it's because Wally wanted to give their Stampeders a eight point lead if the FG was successful, forcing the Lions to make them a two-scoring play to tie the game. With an eight point lead, even if the Lions managed to get a TD they still had to complete a 2-point conversion, and that would only tie the game. So I'd say that did make sense at the time.Toppy Vann wrote:With Wally winning 36 - 31 why on frigging earth did Wally go for a FG that the Lions blocked? I couldn't believe my eyes when they went for a FG.
Bedlam ensued. Security was lax - there's a surprise for Vancouver - and a trickle of fans turned into a torrent as the Lions celebrated on the field. A stage was brought out but was never used. Instead, the Grey Cup was presented inside the Lions' locker room.
Passaglia was announced as the game's outstanding player and awarded a Dodge truck. Millington was named the outstanding Canadian and given a trip to the Caribbean.
After the presentation, the CBC's Mark Lee asked the running back if this game proved Canadians can compete without quotas.
"I'm living proof of that right here," said Millington. "I'm playing. I'm Canadian. Vancouver-bred. I can compete. We can all compete."
Yet, somehow, the voting got screwed up on the outstanding player awards. Later, it was determined Baltimore's Anthony, interesting selection there, was the outstanding player and Passaglia who, aside from the late drama had a substandard kicking game, was named outstanding Canadian.
Whatever. This game had a slightly deeper meaning for those involved.
"We had all the characters," says Millington, who's still miffed by the awards snub. "It was like a gang of convicts. They all came from different backgrounds with different histories but for whatever reason, when we got on the field together, we played.
maybe they (the rings) hadnt been made yet?Robbie wrote:
Another picture of Lui showing off his three GC rings. Again, where is his fourth ring he won after the 2006 GC?