Zach Collaros’ 13-yard TD strike to Darvin Adams in time beyond regulation earned the Winnipeg Blue Bombers an exciting 33-25 Gray Cup win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on a windy Sunday night time.
After hitting Adams to cap the opening possession of the additional session, Collaros, the CFL’s excellent participant, discovered Rasheed Bailey for the two-point convert.
Kyrie Wilson cemented Winnipeg’s second straight Gray Cup victory by intercepting Hamilton’s Jeremiah Masoli, whose move deflected off two Bombers defenders earlier than it acquired to Wilson.
Hamilton compelled time beyond regulation with Michael Domagala’s 13-yard area purpose with 4 seconds remaining. It got here after Winnipeg’s Deatrick Nichols batted down Masoli’s second-down move to Jaelon Acklin.
Learn extra:
Gray Cup: Blue Bombers down Tiger-Cats 33-25 in time beyond regulation to win in 2021 Gray Cup
Winnipeg trailed 19-10 heading into the fourth however had a brisk wind _ which gusted to just about 50 kilometres all through the night time. After Castillo’s 20-yard area purpose, Collaros threw a 29-yard TD strike to Nic Demski earlier than Castillo’s 95-yard kickoff single pulled the Bombers to inside 22-21 with 5:33 remaining.
Castillo made it a three-point recreation with a 76-yard kickoff after his fifth area purpose of the night time. He additionally had two singles.
Masoli got here into the competition within the second quarter with Hamilton trailing 7-0. He changed starter Dane Evans, who suffered an obvious neck damage after falling beneath two Bombers on a one-yard run.
Masoli completed 20-of-25 passing for 185 yards with two TDs and an interception. Collaros accomplished 21-of-32 passes for 240 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Final week within the East last, Evans changed Masoli and ran for 2 TDs whereas ending 16-of-16 passing in Hamilton’s 27-19 street win over Toronto.
The temperature at kickoff was a 5 C however a 24-kilometre southwest wind made it really feel like 2 C to start out.
And it was evident early the wind can be an element. Castillo opened the sport with a 72-yard, wind-aided kickoff earlier than Hamilton punter Joel Whitford’s first boot went 34 yards into the wind.
However the situations didn’t hassle the document Tim Hortons Subject gathering of 26,324, the overwhelming majority clad in black and gold to assist a Ticats squad enjoying its first dwelling Gray Cup recreation since 1972.
Learn extra:
Gray Cup rematch: Tiger-Cats search redemption vs. Blue Bombers
Hamilton’s final Gray Cup win got here in 1999.
“It wasn’t fairly. However that’s the type of soccer we play,” mentioned Winnipeg defensive lineman Willie Jefferson. “We play soiled, dirty, ugly soccer and 9 occasions out of 10 we come out on prime.”
Winnipeg turns into the primary CFL staff to win consecutive Gray Cups since Montreal Alouettes (2009-10). The Bombers additionally recorded consecutive Gray Cups victories for the third time however first time since 1961-62.
“What an awesome recreation for the followers,” O’Shea instructed Winnipeg’s 680CJOB instantly after the sport. “It was superior.”
“We knew if we might simply rating some factors and chip away … it’s a matter of getting the sport going after which pin them.”
“He’s such a competitor. He is aware of he’s acquired it … none of that stuff fazes him,” he mentioned about Collaros, who struggled in the midst of the sport with two interceptions.
“He was nice, you realize, he took some pictures tonight too … and he’s a fighter,” mentioned Harris.
Steven Dunbar and Brandon Banks scored touchdowns for Hamilton. Domagala had three area objectives and two converts. The opposite factors got here on a security.
Castillo additionally added a convert whereas Marc Legghio added a single.
Domagala’s 10-yard area purpose at 3:18 of the fourth put Hamilton forward 22-10.
Castillo made it 10-10 with a 15-yard area purpose with the wind at 6:26 of the third. And after Winston Rose stopped Masoli on a third-down gamble, Cameron Kelly’s 43-yard interception return gave Hamilton possession at Winnipeg 27-yard line.
Learn extra:
CFL followers flood Hamilton for Gray Cup celebration 2 years within the making
Masoli took benefit with an 11-yard TD move to Banks at 10:40 to place Hamilton forward 17-10. A conceded security at 14:28 stretched the Ticats’ benefit to 19-10.
Masoli’s 12-yard TD strike to Dunbar with 15 seconds remaining within the second staked Hamilton to its 10-7 halftime lead. Masoli entered the sport with 7:10 remaining within the quarter when Evans was injured after falling beneath two Bombers on a one-yard run.
Masoli offered a particular spark, ending six-of-eight passing for 65 yards whereas dashing for 12 yards.
Masoli helped engineer a 12-play, 73-yard march that Domagala capped with a 13-yard area purpose at 12:34. Then following a Legghio 31-yard punt, Masoli hit Don Jackson on a 36-yard completion earlier than discovering Dunbar as Hamilton did essentially the most with the wind to take the halftime benefit.
Castillo’s 34-yard area purpose at 1:54 gave Winnipeg a 7-0 lead.
“Jeremiah had an unbelievable recreation and an unbelievable final collection there,” mentioned Collaros. “I assumed we had him with the wind and every thing however he put collectively a very nice drive they usually made a area purpose. Little doubt on that last drive for us. After which our defence is our defence.”
Winnipeg took a 4-0 lead within the first with the wind. Castillo’s 38-yard area purpose at 6:44 got here following Alden Darby’s interception. It got here a play after Hamilton had recovered Janarion Grant’s punt-return fumble.
Then Legghio had a 70-yard single at 12:29 within the lowest-scoring opening quarter for the reason that ’08 Gray Cup. Hamilton additionally managed simply seven web offensive yards.
© 2021 The Canadian Press