View source for 95th Grey Cup

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{short description|2007 Canadian Football championship game}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2009}}
{{Infobox Canadian football game
| number         = 95
| type           = Grey Cup
| image          = Grey Cup 07.svg
| image_size = 200
| date           = November 25, 2007
| stadium        = [[Rogers Centre]]
| city           = [[Toronto]]
| visitor name   = Saskatchewan Roughriders
| visitor colour = Saskatchewan Roughriders
| home name      = Winnipeg Blue Bombers
| home colour    = Winnipeg Blue Bombers
| visitor coach  = [[Kent Austin]]
| home coach     = [[Doug Berry (Canadian football)|Doug Berry]]
| visitor record = 12–6
| home record    = 10–7–1
| visitor1       = 0
| visitor2       = 10
| visitor3       = 6
| visitor4       = 7
| home1          = 3
| home2          = 4
| home3          = 7
| home4          = 5
| MVP            = [[James Johnson (cornerback)|James Johnson]], DB ([[Saskatchewan Roughriders|Roughriders]])
| MV2            = [[Andy Fantuz]], WR ([[Saskatchewan Roughriders|Roughriders]])
| anthem         = [[Barenaked Ladies]]
| referee        = Glen Johnson
| coin toss      = [[Lieutenant-Governor (Canada)|Lieutenant-Governor]] [[David Onley]]
| halftime       = [[Lenny Kravitz]]
| attendance     = 52,230
| network        = [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]], [[Réseau des sports|RDS]], [[CBCHD]]
| announcers     = (CBC) [[Mark Lee (sportscaster)|Mark Lee]], [[Chris Walby]], [[Elliotte Friedman]], [[Sean Millington]], [[Greg Frers]], [[Steve Armitage]] and [[Khari Jones]]
| ratings        = 3,539,000 in Canada
}}
{{wikinews|Saskatchewan Roughriders win 2007 Grey Cup}}
[[File:95th Grey Cup Toronto 2007 Rogers Centre End Zone.jpg|thumb|First half game action]]
[[File:Roughriders win3.jpg|thumb|The Roughriders celebrate their victory]]
The '''95th Grey Cup''' was held in [[Toronto]] at the [[Rogers Centre]] on November 25, 2007. The [[Grey Cup]], first awarded in 1909, is the championship game of the [[Canadian Football League]]. It was played between the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]] and the [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]], with the Roughriders winning 23–19. It was the first Grey Cup meeting between the two teams, and was also the first time any [[Labour Day Classic]] matchup has reoccurred in the Grey Cup.

The 95th Grey Cup was the 46th [[Grey Cup]] hosted by Toronto since the championship's inception in 1909 and the first it has hosted since 1992. SkyDome/Rogers Centre previously hosted the [[77th Grey Cup]] in 1989 and the [[80th Grey Cup]] in 1992. The game was announced as a sellout on November 19, 2007.<ref>https://www.cfl.ca/article/2007_grey_cup_game_sold_out {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608110902/http://www.cfl.ca/article/2007_grey_cup_game_sold_out |date=June 8, 2015 }} 2007 Grey Cup game sold out</ref> Ticket prices ranged from $94 to $560.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/calgary-jacks-up-grey-cup-ticket-prices-1.801078?ref=rss | work=CBC News | title=Calgary jacks up Grey Cup ticket prices | date=January 23, 2009}}</ref>

The game was viewed by approximately 3.337 million viewers on CBC television, up from 3.202 million the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|author=CBC Sports |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/grey-cup-watched-by-more-than-3-3-million-viewers-1.654285 |title=Grey Cup watched by more than 3.3 million viewers |publisher=CBC.ca |date=November 26, 2007 |access-date=November 19, 2008}}</ref> This was the last Grey Cup and CFL game broadcast by CBC, as TSN became the exclusive TV home for the CFL the following season.

==Grey Cup Festivities==
The Grey Cup festivities began with a four-day festival that had over 50 events at several venues in downtown Toronto including the [[Metro Toronto Convention Centre]], and the [[CN Tower]]. The festival area was bounded by [[Spadina Avenue]] east to [[Bay Street]] and from [[Nathan Phillips Square]] south to [[Lake Ontario]].

On the weekend of the Grey Cup, there was a "Celebration of Football" with games hosted at the Rogers Centre at amateur, high school, and university level, including the 43rd [[Vanier Cup]], the [[Canadian Interuniversity Sport|CIS]] football championship. The [[Vanier Cup]] game was held on November 23, 2007, at Rogers Centre with the [[Manitoba Bisons]] defeating the [[Saint Mary's Huskies]]. This marked the first time the Vanier Cup has been held in conjunction with the Grey Cup.

Confirmed festival events<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cflgreycup.ca/toronto/news_052807.php|title=2007 GREY CUP FESTIVAL DETAILS ANNOUNCED|publisher=Toronto Argonauts Football Club|access-date=November 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002125448/http://www.cflgreycup.ca/toronto/news_052807.php|archive-date=October 2, 2007}}</ref> include:
*Annual team parties (e.g. [[Saskatchewan Roughriders|Riderville]], [[Montreal Alouettes|MontreALS Huddle]], [[Toronto Argonauts|Double Blue Bash]], [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats|Tigertown]], [[BC Lions|Lions' Den]], including the nonexistent [[Atlantic Schooners]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071123/greycup_atlantic_071124/20071124?hub=Canada|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723151643/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071123/greycup_atlantic_071124/20071124?hub=Canada|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 23, 2012|title=Football fans remain loyal to Atlantic Schooners|last=Coutts|first=Matthew|date=November 24, 2007|publisher=CTV.ca News|access-date=November 19, 2008}}</ref>)
*Grey Cup [[Chopper (motorcycle)|Chopper]] raffle
*Street festivals on [[Front Street (Toronto)|Front Street]] and Bremner Street
*BMX Bike Park presented by the Argonauts' Stop The Violence foundation
*Grey Cup House built by CFL players and fans for [[Habitat for Humanity]]
*CFL Player Awards at [[Roy Thomson Hall]]
**Includes a tribute to [[John Candy]] hosted by [[Dan Aykroyd]]
*Grey Cup Gala at [[Liberty Grand]] hosted by [[Brent Butt]]
*[[CN Tower]] party hosted by [[Trish Stratus]]
*Grey Cup Party Series hosted by [[Trailer Park Boys]] Ricky, Julian and Bubbles
*Musical acts
**[[Lenny Kravitz]]
**[[Great Big Sea]]
**[[Barenaked Ladies]]
**[[Spirit of the West]]
**[[The Lowest of the Low]]
**[[Hinder]]
**[[Sloan (band)|Sloan]]
**[[Kim Mitchell]]
**[[The Trews]]

==Game Summary==
The Roughriders received the opening kickoff. The teams traded possessions back and forth until a 16-yard [[field goal]] by Bombers kicker [[Troy Westwood]] gave Winnipeg an early 3-0 lead late in the opening quarter. Near the start of the second quarter, a Westwood punt had moved the Roughriders to their own 10 yard line, and they would concede a safety to make it 5-0. On Saskatchewan's next possession, they would receive an illegal block penalty and concede their second consecutive safety to make the score 7-0 in Winnipeg's favour. Later in the second quarter, [[Ryan Dinwiddie|Ryan Dinwiddie's]] attempted pass to [[Milt Stegall]] would be intercepted by James Johnson for a game-tying touchdown. [[Luca Congi]] would add a field goal on the last play of the half to put Saskatchewan ahead 10-7. 

On the third play of the second half, Dinwiddie fumbled, and the Roughriders would capitalize with a field goal to extend their lead to 13-7. The Bombers offense would quickly respond, with Dinwiddie throwing to [[Derick Armstrong]] for a touchdown that gave Winnipeg a 14-13 lead.

Near the end of the third quarter, Johnson's second interception of the game would lead to Saskatchewan being in position for a short field goal, until [[Doug Brown (gridiron football)|Doug Brown]] appeared to stop Roughriders quarterback [[Kerry Joseph]] on third down, giving possession back to the Bombers. Saskatchewan coach [[Kent Austin]] successfully challenged the placement of the ball leading to Congi retaking the lead for Saskatchewan. 

On the Roughriders' first possession of the fourth quarter, Joseph passed to [[Andy Fantuz]] for a touchdown, giving Saskatchewan a 9-point lead. Another well-placed punt by Westwood led to the third conceded safety by the Roughriders, leaving the Bombers within a touchdown of tying the game. Later on, a long pass interference penalty would bring Winnipeg into position for another Westwood field goal to make the score 23-19. On the Bombers' final possession, Johnson would intercept Dinwiddie for a CFL record 3rd time, sealing the 23-19 win for the Saskatchewan Roughriders<ref>{{Cite web|title=2007-11-25 Game Tracker - Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1471)|url=https://www.cfl.ca/games/1471/|access-date=November 19, 2021|website=CFL.ca|language=en}}</ref>

=== Scoring summary ===

; First Quarter
: WPG – FG Westwood 16 yards '''3-0 WPG'''

; Second Quarter
: WPG - Safety Boreham (conceded) '''5-0 WPG'''
: WPG - Safety Boreham (conceded) '''7-0 WPG'''
: SSK - TD Johnson 30 yard interception return (Congi convert) '''7-7'''
: SSK - FG Congi 45 yards '''10-7 SSK'''

; Third Quarter
: SSK - FG Congi 17 yards '''13-7 SSK'''
: WPG - TD Armstrong 50 yard pass (Westwood convert) '''14-13 WPG'''
: SSK - FG Congi 12 yards '''16-14 SSK'''

; Fourth Quarter
: SSK - TD Fantuz 29 yard pass (Congi convert) '''23-14 SSK'''
: WPG - Safety Boreham (conceded) '''23-16 SSK'''
: WPG - FG Westwood 42 yards '''23-19 SSK'''

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071030021455/http://www.cflgreycup.ca/toronto/ Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/greycup2007 Official MySpace]
*{{youtube|OUEelMGYc6w|Video highlights of the 95th Grey Cup}}
*{{youtube|OjMaWPvypPg|2007 Grey Cup presentation}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140524072107/http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=ddd3bccc-7a4a-4c3b-b9e1-ee29888db92a&sponsor Scoring Summary]

{{Winnipeg Blue Bombers}}
{{Saskatchewan Roughriders}}
{{95th Grey Cup}}
{{Grey Cup}}
{{2007 CFL season by team}}
{{CFL on CBC}}

[[Category:Grey Cup|95]]
[[Category:Canadian football competitions in Toronto]]
[[Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers]]
[[Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders]]
[[Category:2007 in Toronto]]
[[Category:2007 in Canadian football|Grey Cup]]
[[Category:2007 sports awards|Grey Cup]]
[[Category:2007 in Canadian television]]
[[Category:November 2007 sports events in Canada]]