82nd Grey Cup - Game Summary

Game Summary

BC Lions (26) - TDs, Charles Gordon, Danny McManus; FGs, Lui Passaglia (4); cons., Passaglia (2).

Baltimore F. C. (23) - TDs, Tracy Ham, Karl Anthony; FGs, Donald Igwebuike (3); cons., Igwebuike (2).

First Quarter
BC - FG Passaglia 47-yard field goal 2:24
Second Quarter
BAL - TD Ham 1-yard run (Igwebuike convert) 8:39
BAL - TD Anthony 46-yard lateral interception return from Walton (Igwebuike convert) 9:21
BC - TD Gordon 17-yard interception return (Passaglia convert) 12:48
BAL - FG Igwebuike 17-yard field goal 14:08
Third Quarter
BAL - FG Igwebuike 26-yard field goal 4:34
BC - TD McManus 1-yard run (Passaglia convert) 9:39
BC - FG Passaglia 42-yard field goal 14:08
Fourth Quarter
BC - FG Passaglia 27-yard field goal 3:09
BAL - FG Igwebuike 29-yard field goal 8:26
BC - FG Passaglia 38-yard field goal 15:00

The Grey Cup, exclusively a Canadian event for the first 82 seasons of its existence, became an international affair when Baltimore became the first U.S.-based club to vie for the trophy. The appearance of an American team in the Grey Cup united Canadian fans for the first time behind the Lions as representatives of Canada. The 82nd Grey Cup is considered by many to be one of the ten best Grey Cup games of all time, because it was a nail-biter from start-to-finish.

Kent Austin started at quarterback for the Lions, which was somewhat of a surprise given that his backup, Danny McManus, engineered a last-second victory over the Calgary Stampeders in the West Final. Austin was playing with a tender left shoulder, but it didn’t prevent him from moving the Lions downfield to set up Lui Passaglia’s 47-yard field goal for the initial points of the game.

Baltimore responded in the second quarter to take a 14-3 lead. Quarterback Tracy Ham put Baltimore on the scoreboard on a one-yard run, while Alvin Walton picked off an Austin throw and completed a lateral pass to Karl Anthony who scampered 36 yards for Baltimore’s second touchdown.

The Lions got a defensive touchdown of their own when Charles Gordon intercepted a pass by Ham and scored on a 17-yard return. Baltimore added a late field goal by Donald Igwebuike to take a 17-10 halftime lead.

Austin, who was playing with an injured shoulder, was ineffective for B.C., getting intercepted three times. With a minute remaining in the first half, head coach Dave Ritchie turned to Danny McManus. A week earlier in the Western Final, McManus had also relieved an injured Austin and orchestrated a second-half come-back.

Baltimore added to its lead with another field goal. But the momentum shifted in B.C.’s favour late in the third quarter. Setting up for a 34-yard field goal, holder Darren Flutie took the ball, jumped to his feet and ran to his right to the 10-yard line, giving the Lions a first down. Three plays later, McManus scored on a third down gamble.

B.C. tied the score with 52 seconds remaining in the third quarter on Passaglia’s 42-yard field goal. The score was deadlocked at 23-23 after both clubs exchanged field goals in the fourth quarter.

Passaglia had an opportunity to kick a 37-yard field goal with 1:02 left in regulation, but he missed. However, Baltimore was unable to advance the ball on their next possession, going two-and-out, and giving the ball back to BC with excellent field position. Passaglia received another opportunity for the winning kick with no time remaining, and he made good on a 38-yard attempt to keep the Grey Cup in Canada. Passaglia's last-second field goal was named the greatest play in BC Lions history in 2007.