VANCOUVER -- The Toronto Argonauts are the 111th Grey Cup champions.
The Argonauts defence was solid from start to finish, creating five turnovers and intercepting Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros four times on their way to a 41-24 victory at B.C. Place in Vancouver.
The victory is Toronto's second Grey Cup in the last three years.
The Argonauts held Winnipeg without a first down on the Blue Bomber’s first drive, and on the ensuing punt, Janarion Grant got off a 23-yard return to give Toronto solid field position at the Bombers’ 54.
A 29-yard gain on a pass from Toronto quarterback Nick Arbuckle to Deonta McMahon got the Argonauts into the red zone, but the Winnipeg defence would hold on a goalline stand, and a 13-yard field goal by Lirim Hajrullahu would give the Argos a 3-0 lead 7:02 into the game.
The two teams settled into back-and-forth of defensive stops until just over two minutes remained in the opening quarter.
It was Collaros’ turn to come up with a big play for his team, hitting Ontaria Wilson with a 49-yard pass down the sideline to set the Bombers up at the Toronto 17 yard line.
Three plays later, back-up quarterback Terry Wilson slammed the ball over the line from three yards out, and Winnipeg had a 7-3 lead with four seconds left in the first quarter.
The Bombers got things rolling midway through the second quarter, with Collaros completing a 22-yard pass to Kenny Lawler and 27-yard toss to Wilson to get Winnipeg down to the Toronto eight. A sack by Argos defensive lineman Robbie Smith snuffed that drive, though, and Winnipeg would get a 20-yard field goal from Sergio Castillo for a 10-3 lead.
Toronto came right back down the field on their next possession. Damonte Coxie had a leaping 39-yard catch to get the Argonauts down to the Winnipeg 15, but it was the Bombers’ turn to get a key sack, with Willie Jefferson taking down Arbuckle at the Winnipeg 28. Hajrullahu hit a 35-yard field goal, and it was a four-point game with 2:10 to play in the half.
The Argos got the ball right back two plays later on Benjie Franklin’s fourth interception of the playoffs, and nine plays later, Hajrullahu -- who had suffered an apparent ankle injury on the previous field goal -- booted a 45-yarder to get Toronto within one with 16 seconds remaining in the first half.
Toronto put together a short drive to open the second half, but it ended with a key point, as Bombers punter John Haggerty got off a 67-yard boot into the Argos end zone for the rouge and a 10-10 tie 2:28 into the second half.
The Argonauts picked up their second turnover of the game on their next possession. Bombers punt returner Lucky Whitehead fumbled on a punt return after a hit by Fraser Sopik, and Jack Cassa recovered at the Winnipeg 17 yard line to put Toronto in excellent scoring position.
One play later, Toronto had their first lead of the game.
A play-action pass by Arbuckle to the right flat for Kevin Mital saw the Argos receiver get around the corner and go all the way to the end zone for the major with 6:19 to play in the third quarter.
Winnipeg got their first turnover of the game on Toronto’s next possession, as defensive back Terrell Bonds hauled in an interception at the Winnipeg 40.
Bombers running back Brady Olivera got off a 35-yard run down to the Toronto 35 on the ensuing drive, and Castillo would hit a 40-yard field goal with 2:18 to play in the third, to make it a 17-13 game.
Collaros suffered an unusual injury on the play, with a cut to his index finger forcing him to leave the game for repairs.
Winnipeg had a blocked punt by Michael Ayers on the next series, but a loose ball foul gave Toronto the ball back and a first down at their own 27 yard line on the final play of the third quarter.
The string of turnovers continued on the Argos next drive, this time with Jefferson leaping at the line and hauling in an Arbuckle pass to set up Winnipeg at the Toronto 35.
Wilson took over at quarterback for Winnipeg, and a pass interference call on a throw to Kevens Ciercius over the middle set the Bombers up at the Argos 15. Two cracks at the endzone were unsuccessful, and a Castillo field goal made it 17-16 2:23 into the fourth quarter.
Arbuckle went to work on Toronto’s next possession and engineered a seven play, 60-yard drive that ended with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dejon Brissett for a 24-16 lead with 7:08 to play in the game.
Collaros returned for the Bombers’ next series wearing a glove on his throwing hand. His first pass attempt came up short, and DaShaun Amos would get the pick at the Toronto 49 before running it all the way back to the Winnipeg 16.
An objectionable conduct penalty to Winnipeg’s Deatrick Nichols set Toronto up at the eight-yard line, but the Argos would be unable to find the endzone, leading to a 14-yard Hajrullahu field goal and at 27-16 lead with 5:13 to play.
Toronto’s defence came up huge again on Winnipeg’s next drive, and this time it put points on the board. Argos defensive back Robert Priester snared a Collaros pass at the Toronto 49 and took it all the way to the house for a pick-six and a 34-16 edge with 3:23 to play.
The 61-yard interception touchdown was the second-longest in Grey Cup history.
Wynton McManis got in on the interception-fest the next time Winnipeg had the ball, picking off Collaros at the Toronto 48 and going all the way to the Winnipeg four before being tripped up.
Ka’Deem Carey ran it in from there, and Toronto had a 41-16 edge with 2:17 to play.
Olivera ran in for Winnipeg’s final major from the one-yard line and the Grey Cup’s final points with 53 seconds to play.
The Stats
Arbuckle had a solid performance overall despite his last-second start due to Chad Kelly's broken ankle suffered in the East Final and was named the Grey Cup MVP.
The veteran back-up completed 26-of-37 passes for 252 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while also carrying twice for 11 yards.
Arbuckle also did a great job of spreading the ball around, finding nine different receivers on the night. Brissett -- who was named the Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian -- led the way with three catches for 45 yards, Makai Polk had four catches for 42 yards.
Carey led the ground game, rushing 15 times for 79 yards and his touchdown.
Collaros completed 15-of-30 passes for 202 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions.
Wilson caught five passes for 99 yards, while CFL Most Outstanding Player Oliveira had 11 catches for 84 yards and his major.
Toronto had 322 yards of total offence, Winnipeg 283 yards.
