CFL: Howler hands Grey Cup to Montreal

Just when you think you have seen it all, sport finds a way to shock you. And so it was in Calgary on Sunday where the Montreal Alouettes dramatically beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders with the final play of the game to win 28-27 and lift the Grey Cup.

The shock was not that the Alouettes won - after all, they were heavy favorites heading into the final - but in the manner of Saskatchewan loss. Because, after all the pre-game hype and in-depth tactical analysis, the 97th Grey Cup was decided by the most elementary of errors.

The Roughriders' flying start meant the Alouettes were playing catch up throughout. But QB Anthony Calvillo steadily chipped away at the 17-3 half-time deficit and Montreal moved to within two points as the game reached its climax.

Then came the howler that sunk the Roughriders, a mistake that will go down in the history of the competition.

With Montreal within field goal range, Damon Duval stepped up for a 43-yard attempt. He had struggled with the boot during the game and blasted his kick wide of the posts. The Saskatchewan players and coaches alike celebrated. The Gatorade cooler was readied.

But there was a flag on the play. Unbelievably, the Roughriders had sent 13 players rather than 12 onto the field for the field goal. Duval got a second chance from 10 yards closer and duly won the game for the Alouettes.

After a season of hits and bruises and the countless hours on the training pitches, the Roughriders had lost due to a simple miscalculation. That was all that stopped them sealing a big upset - and you can expect to hear plenty more about it. They say there is a fine line between victory and defeat - and it does not get much finer than this.

The spirited fightback from Montreal should not be lost amidst the late game drama, though. MVP Avon Cobourne came up trumps and Calvillo was cool under pressure. Having lost the Grey Cup last year, this win was all the sweeter.

But for Saskatchewan, the bitter taste will linger.

Much of the talk pre-game centred around the role of the crowd, which was packed with Roughrider green. They would be the all-important 13th man, experts said. Unfortunately for Saskatchewan, it was the extra man on the field that was decisive.