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TORONTO – From record-breaking performances and electrifying debuts to multiple games that went to overtime, 2015 was one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory.
It all ended with the Edmonton Eskimos hoisting their first Grey Cup trophy since 2005, but some of the best story lines were the ones that happened along the way.
Whether it was 23-year-old Rakeem Cato shocking the defending Grey Cup Champs in his first ever start or Chad Owens making an incredible diving one-handed catch to lift the Argos to a shootout win over the REDBLACKS, every week someone or something in the CFL turned heads.
At the end of it all, we look back on some of the games from 2015 that may never be forgotten.
15. Calgary 24, Hamilton 23
June 26, 2015 – Week 1
STAMPS WIN GREY CUP REMATCH
The CFL’s opening week set up a highly-anticipated Grey Cup rematch between the Ticats and Stamps in Calgary, and throughout most of the tilt the Tabbies were the ones making the statement. But after jumping out to a lead on a defensive touchdown by Jonny Sears Jr. and a punt return touchdown by Brandon Banks, the Stampeders made a game-changing play in the third.
With the Ticats deep in Calgary territory looking to put the game on ice, Zach Collaros was intercepted by Keon Raymond for a 98-yard interception return touchdown. The Ticats held onto their narrow lead until the game’s final minute, but Bo Levi Mitchell spoiled the party by hitting Jeff Fuller for a 28-yard gain on third down and 18.
That set up a 50-yard field goal by Rene Paredes with no time on the clock, lifting the Stampeders to a thrilling 24-23 win over Hamilton at McMahon Stadium.
14. Ottawa 39, Montreal 17
Oct. 1, 2015 – Week 15
A PERFORMANCE FOR THE AGES
Henry Burris and the REDBLACKS already had Montreal’s number, entering a Week 15 matchup in Ottawa with a 2-0 edge in the series. But on this fall night in the nation’s capital, Henry Burris took his mastery over the Als to a new level.
The REDBLACKS scored 32 unanswered points while Burris went off for 504 passing yards and four total touchdowns. The 40-year-old made his first major bid for the Most Outstanding Player award by completing 45 of 53 passing attempts, setting a CFL record for single-game completions.
Ottawa outgained Montreal 580-261 in total offence that game and 37-13 in first downs, while by the end of the season Burris would go on to break the CFL single-season record for completions. His performance in that game was one of the best there’s been for a quarterback.
13. Edmonton 15, Calgary 11
Oct. 10, 2015 – Week 16
A CHANGE IN THE BALANCE OF POWER
Fireworks were few and far between in this low-scoring defensive grudge match, but a 15-11 win for the Eskimos was without a doubt a defining point of their season, one that ended in a Grey Cup victory a month and a half later.
The Eskimos and Stampeders had split their first two matchups with each team winning at home, and in Week 16 the challenge for Edmonton was to go into McMahon Stadium and hand the Stamps their first loss at home of 2015.
Mike Reilly threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Stafford while the Eskimos’ vaunted defence allowed just a single Calgary point in the second half, eventually forcing a Bo Levi Mitchell interception on the Stamps’ final possession to clinch the win.
That win put the Esks in full control of their own destiny, and they never lost another game on the way to a West Division title, another win over Calgary in the Western Finally and, eventually, a win over Ottawa in the 103rd Grey Cup presented by Shaw.
12. Toronto 30, BC 27
July 24, 2015 – Week 5
COMEBACK KIDS AT IT AGAIN
Coming off a home and home sweep of the Riders, the BC Lions had momentum on their side entering a home date against the Argos looking to start their season 3-1. That plan appeared to be fully coming to fruition early in the first half, when Andrew Harris scored three straight touchdowns out of the gate to lead BC to a commanding 21-0 lead.
In line with the usual struggles of East Division teams playing on the west coast, a win at BC Place appeared to be out of the Argos’ reach when suddenly they flipped the script. After throwing two first-quarter interceptions, Trevor Harris provided the spark with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Elliott.
Down 21-7 at the half, the Argos scored 11 unanswered points in the third before tying the game early in the fourth on a 44-yard Ronnie Pfeffer field goal. The Lions answered, but the Argos took their first lead of the game soon after when Natey Adjei scored his first career touchdown on a grab from Harris.
After BC tied it with 2:22 left, Harris engineered the game-winning scoring drive by setting up a 24-yard field goal by Pfeffer, securing a 30-27 thrilling comeback win to send the Argos to 3-1 on the season.
11. Montreal 29, Calgary 11
July 3, 2015 – Week 2
CATO SHOCKS THE WORLD
No team early in the CFL season was more favoured than the Calgary Stampeders in Week 2 up against the Montreal Alouettes. The Stamps were the defending Grey Cup Champions and had opened their season with a nail-biting win over Hamilton, while the Als were without the first two quarterbacks on their depth chart and about to lean on a 23-year-old rookie making his first career start after being absent through most of pre-season.
That quarterback’s name was Rakeem Cato and his professional debut will never be forgotten, as Cato stunned the Stamps in leading his team to a 29-11 victory to give the Alouettes their first win of the season.
Cato threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-25 passing in his first start, leading the Als to a 16-0 halftime lead and expanding it to 22-0 before a Rene Paredes field goal finally notched the Stampeders’ first points.
Montreal’s win was an upset that won’t soon be forgotten, while Cato’s debut took not just the league but all of North America by storm.
10. Edmonton 24, Winnipeg 23
Oct. 3, 2015 – Week 15
WHYTE WINS IT IN THE CLUTCH
It was supposed to be a routine win for the Eskimos, who entered their Week 15 matchup with the Bombers looking to move a step closer to winning the West Division – but the Bombers weren’t going to make it easy.
The Bombers took the lead in the third quarter on a Nick Moore touchdown pass, while in the fourth the fireworks truly started. Mike Reilly’s one-yard touchdown gave Edmonton a 21-14 lead, while Winnipeg scored a potential game-tying touchdown only to miss on the single point try.
Two more missed Lirim Hajrullahu field goals left the Bombers empty-handed, until finally the Winnipeg kicker made good on a 45-yard field goal to give the Bombers a 23-21 lead with 1:02 remaining.
The Eskimos had very little time to work with, but Reilly drove them just into the outer edge of field goal range and with no time on the clock, Sean Whyte hit arguably the most impressive field goal of his career – a 53-yarder to send the Esks to the dramatic last-second victory.
9. Edmonton 26, Ottawa 20
Nov. 29, 2015 – 103rd Grey Cup presented by Shaw
THE SPIRIT OF EDMONTON
It wasn’t a shootout and there were few crazy twists and turns, but the 103rd Grey Cup was an exciting matchup all the way through while the result was always in doubt.
The REDBLACKS jumped out to a 13-0 lead before Mike Reilly could even take the field thanks to a first-drive touchdown and then a fumbled kickoff, but from then on the Eskimos settled in. The Eskimos outscored Ottawa 26-7 from that point on, while Henry Burris and the REDBLACKS failed to find the end zone.
Jordan Lynch scored the go-ahead touchdown for the Eskimos with 4:22 left in the game on a third down gamble from a yard out, and the rest is history. Burris was sacked on the next possession and the REDBLACKS punted the ball away, never getting the ball back as Reilly moved the chains with his legs and the Eskimos ran out the clock on their first Grey Cup victory since 2005.
All in all the game wasn’t a classic, but a tightly locked duel between two of the CFL’s premier coaches, the league’s top two defences and two superstar quarterbacks in Reilly and Burris.
8. Montreal 26, Hamilton 23
Aug. 27, 2015 – Week 10
ALOUETTES BREAK THE STREAK
The Ticats had never lost at Tim Hortons Field and were the heavy favourite to beat rookie starter Rakeem Cato and the Montreal Alouettes, but knew from previous experience nothing was a given.
Montreal had already upset Hamilton earlier in the season thanks to Cato’s strong play and the Alouettes’ defensive dominance, and for the second time in 2015 the Als had Zach Collaros and the Ticats’ number.
Brandon Rutley scored on a 65-yard catch and run in the first quarter while Tanner Marsh, subbing in for an injured Cato, rushed for a touchdown in the second to lead the Als to an 18-13 halftime lead. The Ticats stormed back in the fourth to tie the game midway through the fourth, but the Alouettes came up big in the game’s dying minutes.
Boris Bede connected on his third field goal of the game with 1:10 remaining, sending the Als to a 26-23 win over the Ticats and becoming the first visitor to win at Tim Hortons Field. The Alouettes also breathed life into their season, improving their record to 4-5 and staying in contention for the East.
7. BC 35, Saskatchewan 32 (OT)
July 10, 2015 – Week 3
LEONE, LULAY LIFT LIONS
Fresh off a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Argos, the Riders needed desperately to get in the win column in their visit to BC Place to face the Lions – and in a battle between two of the league’s veteran quarterbacks in Kevin Glenn and Travis Lulay, things got a little bit crazy.
The Riders took a two-score lead early in the fourth on a Brett Smith one-yard touchdown run and while the Lions responded not long later, Anthony Allen appeared to have put the game away when giving Saskatchewan a 29-18 lead with only 2:21 remaining.
In a league where no lead is safe, however, the Lions responded. It took less than a minute for Lulay to cap off a scoring drive with a 46-yard Austin Collie touchdown pass, while the defence forced a turnover by stopping a third-and-one gamble on the ensuing Rider possession.
Richie Leone connected on a franchise-long 56-yard field goal to tie the game with 15 seconds left and second it to overtime, where Emmanuel Arceneaux’s four-yard touchdown reception gave BC the win.
The result marked the Lions’ first win of the season and moved them to 1-1, while the Riders fell to 0-3 thanks to their second straight overtime loss.
6. Winnipeg 29, BC 26
Oct. 10, 2015 – Week 16
BOMBERS STUN LIONS TO STAY ALIVE
In a game with major playoff implications between two teams scrapping for the final spot in the West, fireworks ensued at BC Place.
The Jonathon Jennings show continued into Week 16 as the rookie 23-year-old led the Lions to a 23-9 halftime lead on the strength of three touchdown passes. But while Jennings had close to 300 yards in the first half alone, something drastic changed at halftime because through 30 minutes, there was no indication the Bombers were going to win this football game.
The just-signed Ian Wild returned a fumble for a 20-yard defensive touchdown, while the Bombers added a field goal to make it a one-touchdown game going into the fourth quarter. Down seven with under two minutes remaining, the Bombers struck a tie on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Matt Nichols to Clarence Denmark.
Needing a win to essentially keep playoff hopes alive, the Bombers got the ball back, drove into scoring territory and won the game on a Sergio Castillo 41-yard field goal with no time left on the clock.
5. Ottawa 29, Calgary 26 (OT)
July 24, 2015 – Week 5
REDBLACKS STUN THE CHAMPS
It was Week 5 and the Ottawa REDBLACKS had not yet established themselves as a CFL powerhouse, but it was at this time in July they started to turn heads.
Humbled by back-to-back losses by Edmonton following an inspiring 2-0 start, the REDBLACKS reached a crossroads in their CFL season where they’d either become a contender or a pretender. Against the defending Grey Cup Champions, they responded in the biggest way possible.
After battling back from a 19-8 second-quarter lead to pull within two at the half, the REDBLACKS kept the game close until taking their first lead of the contest 6:50 into the fourth quarter on an 84-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Chris Williams.
The Stamps tied the game with under four minutes left and a 26-26 tie held up until overtime, when Aston Whiteside sacked Bo Levi Mitchell and forced a fumble that would eventually be recovered by Ottawa’s Keith Shologan.
Needing just a single point to win the game, the REDBLACKS ran the ball twice then won the game on a 34-yard field goal from Delbert Alvarado, preserving a thrilling 29-26 victory for Ottawa and sending a TD Place crowd into a frenzy.
The REDBLACKS had some ups and downs the rest of the way, but this was the first game they showed a glimpse of being a true contender up against a high-calibre team like the Stampeders.
4. Ottawa 44, Hamilton 28
Nov. 7, 2015 – Week 20
SOPHOMORE SURGE: OTTAWA CLINCHES EAST
After winning a tight defensive battle against the Ticats the previous week, the REDBLACKS were in the East Division driver’s seat entering the second half of a home-and-home to close out the season.
Ottawa just needed to avoid losing by six points or more to clinch the East and a bye through the first round of the playoffs, and early on the REDBLACKS positioned themselves to do just that, jumping out to a 17-0 lead thanks to two touchdown catches by Greg Ellingson.
Yet in the second quarter, starting with a field goal and an Eric Norwood interception that set the Ticats up near the goal line, Hamilton rattled off 20 unanswered second quarter points to take the lead into halftime and put the REDBLACKS’ first division title at risk.
In a game that had it all, from a Ticat touchdown on an onside punt called back on a penalty and two points scored on a missed convert return, Burris settled back in to throw four touchdown passes in the second half and six in total to lead Ottawa to a 44-28 win.
The win marked Ottawa’s first division title since 1978 and spurred Ottawa’s eventual run to the Grey Cup.
3. Toronto 38, Ottawa 35
Oct. 6, 2015 – Week 16
FLYIN’ HAWAIIAN WINS IT WITH PLAY OF THE YEAR
In a bizarre Tuesday night game in Ottawa that was initially supposed to be in Toronto but was moved due to a scheduling conflict, the Argos and REDBLACKS had the fireworks going from start to finish.
The game had six lead changes in all as two East Division opponents dueled back and forth for positioning near the top of the division, and as though it weren’t already a game of the year candidate the game’s most exciting moment was saved for last.
The REDBLACKS battled back after trailing most of the game to take a 35-31 lead with 2:18 left in the game on a three-yard touchdown pass from Henry Burris to Ernest Jackson, leaving Trevor Harris and the Argos with a narrow window to respond.
And Harris went straight to work. The Argos’ first-year starting pivot completed five straight passes on the drive setting up a 2nd-&-7 from the Ottawa 10-yard-line, while from there the rest was in Chad Owens’ hands.
In one of the games of the year, Owens made not just the play of the year but arguably one of the best plays in recent memory, getting behind the defender and making a diving outstretched one-handed catch to win the game for the Argos.
2. Toronto 42, Saskatchewan 40 (OT)
July 5, 2015 – Week 2
THRILL RIDERS: ARGOS COME THROUGH IN OT
After dominating the CFL’s stingiest defence in Week 1, Trevor Harris’ encore performance was no less impressive.
The Argos looked to go 2-0 with a win in hostile Riderville against Kevin Glenn and the Saskatchewan Roughriders and there were many times it looked like it just wasn’t in the cards for the Double Blue. Yet Harris and the Boatmen brought a never say die attitude to Regina that Sunday afternoon.
Down 21-11 and the Riders driving into Argo territory early in the fourth, A.J. Jefferson returned an interception 100 yards for the touchdown, spurring a 17-7 run for the Argos including a game-tying touchdown by Chad Owens with six seconds left.
Overtime brought the drama to a whole new level, however. Both teams scored on their first possessions, while the Argos found the end zone on their next possession and scored on the two-point convert so the best Saskatchewan could do was tie the game.
The Riders wasted no time scoring a potential game-tying touchdown on a 25-yard score from Chris Getzlaf, but Glenn’s passing attempt fell incomplete as the Argos held on for a thrilling, last-play 42-40 overtime in in a game that had it all.
Glenn threw for 477 yards and two touchdowns on 33-of-40 passing, but it was the interception early in the fourth that haunted him and cost the Riders the victory.
1. Ottawa 35, Hamilton 28
Nov. 22, 2015 – Eastern Final
R-NATION RISING: ELLINGSON SENDS OTTAWA TO WINNIPEG
We go from a hot early summer Sunday in Regina to a frigid afternoon in the nation’s capital for the Eastern Final, where the REDBLACKS and Ticats battled it out for a chance to appear in the 103rd Grey Cup.
Neither team ever led by more than a single score in this game while the REDBLACKS, after surrendering an early field goal and touchdown to the Ticats, never trailed after taking the lead on a nine-yard Henry Burris touchdown run just 2:09 into the second quarter.
Yet while Ottawa led throughout most of the game, in the end victory was very much in doubt. The Ticats tied the game with 1:34 left in the game on a lunging snare by Luke Tasker, while on the very next drive Hamilton had a chance to get the ball right back when on first down an ill-advised Burris pass hit Arnaud Gascon-Nadon square in the hands only for it to fall incomplete.
The REDBLACKS were faced with a second and 25 thanks to a 15-yard penalty on that same play, and the Ticats appeared to have a prime opportunity to get the ball back with the wind at their backs and the CFL’s strongest-legged kicker on their sideline.
In a play no one will soon forget, however, former Ticat Greg Ellingson flipped the script right then and there, getting vertical to make a catch downfield and then outrunning the Hamilton defence for a 93-yard game-winning touchdown.