Jump to content

111th Grey Cup

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from 2024 Grey Cup)
111th Grey Cup
Toronto Argonauts Winnipeg Blue Bombers
(10–8) (11–7)
41 24
Head coach: 
 Head coach: 
1234 Total
Toronto Argonauts 36824 41
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 73311 24
DateNovember 17, 2024
StadiumBC Place
LocationVancouver, British Columbia
Most Valuable PlayerNick Arbuckle, QB (Argonauts)
Most Valuable CanadianDejon Brissett, WR (Argonauts)
FavouriteBlue Bombers by 9+1⁄2
National anthemSofia Camara
Coin tossLucas Matheson (CEO, Coinbase Canada)
RefereeBen Major[1]
Halftime showJonas Brothers
Broadcasters
NetworkCanada (English): CTV, TSN
Canada (French): RDS
U.S. (English): CBS Sports Network
Worldwide: CFL+
Announcers
  • Rod Smith (TSN play-by-play)
  • Glen Suitor (TSN analyst)
  • Claire Hanna (TSN sideline reporter)
  • Matthew Scianitti (TSN sideline reporter)[2]
  • David Arsenault (RDS play-by-play)
  • Pierre Vercheval (RDS analyst)
  • Didier Orméjuste (RDS sideline reporter)[3]

The 111th Grey Cup was played to decide the Canadian Football League (CFL) championship for the 2024 season.[4] The game was played on November 17, 2024, at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia.[5] The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41–24 to win their 19th Grey Cup championship. It was the 17th time that Vancouver has hosted the Grey Cup, with the most recent being in 2014.

Host

[edit]

On November 3, 2022, it was announced that the game had been awarded to the city of Vancouver and the host BC Lions.[4] The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were reportedly also bidding to host this game, but also submitted a bid for the 112th Grey Cup game.[6]

Date

[edit]

Per the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2022, the league had the option of starting the 2024 season by up to 30 days sooner, which could have significantly altered the date of this game.[7] However, the league chose to continue with the existing scheduling formula and confirmed that the game would be played on November 17, 2024 (the third Sunday of November).[5]

Entertainment

[edit]

American pop rock trio Jonas Brothers performed during the Twisted Tea Halftime Show.[8] Pop singer Sofia Camara sang the national anthem. Country singer Owen Riegling performed during the SiriusXM Kickoff Show.

Broadcasting

[edit]

The game was televised in Canada nationally on TSN, and RDS, with a free over-the-air telecast—the first since the 95th Grey Cup 17 years prior—on CTV.[9] In the United States, the game was broadcast on CBS Sports Network.[9]

Teams

[edit]

The game featured the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, playing in their fifth consecutive Grey Cup championship and 29th overall appearance, and the Toronto Argonauts in their 25th Grey Cup game.[10] The Blue Bombers had 12 championships, while the Argonauts had a league-leading 18 championships.[10] The game was a rematch of the 2022 Grey Cup.[11]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

[edit]
Main article: 2024 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season

The Blue Bombers had an uncharacteristically slow start to the year as they opened their season with four straight losses and had a 2–6 record after eight games.[11] By contrast, the Blue Bombers had at least six wins in their first eight games in each of the previous four seasons. Receiver Kenny Lawler was injured in the season opener and sat for out eight games and fellow pass catcher Dalton Schoen was injured in the third regular season game and was on the injured list for the rest of the year, which compounded the team's struggles.[11] However, after the disappointing start, the Blue Bombers won their next eight games and finished with an 11–7 record and captured a fourth consecutive first-place finish in the West Division.[12] Unlike previous seasons where the Blue Bombers were guaranteed a first place finish early, the team only clinched first place in the West Division after winning their final game of the regular season, defeating the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes 28-27 on the strength of a final-play Sergio Castillo 51-yard field goal.[13] In the Blue Bombers' sixth consecutive appearance in the West Final, the team had a commanding victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders by a score of 38–22.[14] Zach Collaros passed for 301 yards and four touchdowns, including three to Lawler, and Brady Oliveira had 20 rush attempts for 119 yards and a touchdown.[14]

At the end of the regular season, Oliveira was named both the CFL's Most Outstanding Player and CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian, winning the latter for the second consecutive season.[15] He was also named to the All-CFL team for the second time, while Stanley Bryant, Willie Jefferson, and Tyrell Ford were also All-CFL award winners for the eighth, sixth, and first time, respectively.[16] Collaros passed for over 4,000 yards or the third consecutive season and set a career high for completions and passing yards.[11] Despite injuries to former All-Star receivers Lawler and Schoen, Nic Demski and rookie Ontaria Wilson both recorded over 1,000 yards receiving.[11] Bryant made his seventh appearance in a Grey Cup game while Jeffersion and Collaros were playing in their sixth championship games.[11]

Toronto Argonauts

[edit]
Main article: 2024 Toronto Argonauts season
The Argonauts defeated the Redblacks in the East Semi-Final.

The Argonauts began the year without their MOP quarterback, Chad Kelly, who was serving an nine-game suspension after it was determined that he violated the league's gender-based violence policy following an investigation into a lawsuit filed by the team's former strength and conditioning coach.[17] The previous year's backup quarterback, Cameron Dukes started the first eight games to mixed results, as he posted a 4–4 record as a starter.[11] In the team's ninth game, Nick Arbuckle took over as the starter and led the team to a 39–25 victory over the Calgary Stampeders.[11] With the Argonauts sitting at a 5–4 record, Kelly returned as the starter and led the team to five more wins as the Argonauts clinched a second place finish following their week 20 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks.[18]

In the team's fourth consecutive playoff appearance and home playoff game hosting, the Argonauts defeated the Redblacks in the East Semi-Final in a dominant 58-38 win.[19] In his first playoff start since his disastrous playoff starting debut in 2023, Kelly completed 18 of 20 passes for 358 yards and four touchdowns, for an uncapped passer rating of 218.3, the second highest of any CFL game ever.[18] The Argonauts next played in their fourth straight East Final and third straight against the Montreal Alouettes.[19] The Argonauts forced six turnovers and had an interception return touchdown by Benjie Franklin and a punt return touchdown by Janarion Grant in a 30–28 victory over the Alouettes.[20] However, Kelly left the game with a severe leg injury late in the third quarter and Arbuckle finished the game and sealed the victory.[20] Shortly after the game, Arbuckle was named the team's starter for the Grey Cup.[21]

The Argonauts had two major award winners, with Ryan Hunter winning the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award and Janarion Grant winning the CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams Player Award.[15] The team also had four players named to the All-CFL team, including Hunter and Grant as well as Dejon Allen and Jake Ceresna.[16] The Argonauts entered this game having won seven consecutive Grey Cup appearances, with their last loss coming in 1987.[11]

Head-to-head

[edit]

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts played twice during the regular season with Toronto winning both games.[11] In the first game, in Toronto, the Argonauts won 16–14 in overtime as Winnipeg's Sergio Castillo missed a field goal attempt in extra time while Toronto's Lirim Hajrullahu was successful on a 34-yarder to provide the game-winning points.[11][22] Tarvarus McFadden, who had re-signed with the Argonauts after being cut in training camp, scored the only major for he Argonauts on an interception return touchdown.[22] The second game was also a low-scoring affair with the Argonauts winning 14–11 in Winnipeg, which clinched a playoff spot for the team and also halted the Blue Bombers' eight-game winning streak.[23] The Argos sacked Collaros seven times, led by Folarin Orimolade who had two sacks and a game-sealing interception.[23]

This championship was the eighth meeting between the two teams in the championship game, with the previous seven having been won by Toronto, most recently in 2022.[11] The Argonauts won the first meeting in 1937 and repeated as champions in 1938.[11] Toronto then won three consecutive championships over the Blue Bombers in 1945, 1946, and 1947 before winning the infamous Mud Bowl in 1950.[11] All six of these championship games were played at Varsity Stadium, in Toronto.[11]

Uniforms

[edit]

As the West Division representative in a Grey Cup held in an West Division city, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were the designated home team for the game and have first choice of uniform.[24] The Blue Bombers wore their standard blue jerseys with alternate blue pants while the Argonauts wore white jerseys with white pants and Cambridge blue socks.[25]

Game summary

[edit]

Winnipeg won the initial coin toss and chose to receive the ball immediately, but taking a procedure penalty on their first offensive play meant they punted fairly soon after. Toronto proceeded to spend almost half the quarter driving down the field, eventually being halted at the 1-yard line. With the game early, the Argos faked a play but chose to take the points, and kicked a field goal to go up 3 - 0. As the quarter came to a close, the Bombers replied with a deep pass to Ontaria Wilson that set up a touchdown in the final minute of the quarter, putting them up 7 - 3. Offence came to a stall in the second quarter, with the two teams trading field goals. The second one resulted in an injury to Toronto's place-kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, prompting some concern, but he kicked a third field goal the next time the Argos got the ball to conclude the first half. Winnipeg led 10 - 9 going into the room.

On the first possession of the third quarter, Winnipeg elected to trade score for field position, giving Toronto a rouge on a 70-yard John Haggerty punt to tie the game up. Chaos then ensued. At about midfield, Nick Arbuckle fumbled the ball while being sacked, though the Argos were able to keep possession. On the next play, Lucky Whitehead lost the punted ball on first contact, and Toronto recovered deep in the red zone. With an easy pass to Kevin Mital, the Argos went up by 7. Winnipeg was unable to reply on the next possession, but an immediate interception by Tyrell Ford allowed them to put in a field goal. However, Zach Collaros received an injury to his throwing hand during the drive, forcing him to retreat to the room for repairs. The last play of the quarter featured further chaos: Winnipeg successfully blocked Haggerty's punt, but then committed illegal interference on a loose ball, automatically returning the ball back to Toronto.

Despite this gift, the Argos began the fourth quarter with an interception, as Terry Wilson came into the game at quarterback for Winnipeg. They scored a field goal on the drive, bringing them within a point at 17 - 16. But then the wheels fell off, as not only did Toronto drive for a touchdown capped by Dejon Brissett, Collaros returned to the game. Attempting to throw with a glove on his injured hand, having never done so in his career, he threw three interceptions on the next three drives: one to DaShaun Amos on his first play back, one to Robert Priester that went all the way to the house, and one (though deflected) to Wynton McManis that ended only 4 yards out for an easy score by Ka'Deem Carey. By the time Winnipeg finished a drive of their own, it was far too late, and Toronto won the game 41 - 24. [26]

Scoring summary

[edit]

First quarter[27]

TOR – FG Hajrullahu 13 yards (7:56) 3–0 TOR
WPG – TD T. Wilson 3-yard run (Castillo convert) (0:18) 7–3 WPG

Second quarter[27]

WPG – FG Castillo 20 yards (6:12) 10–3 WPG
TOR – FG Hajrullahu 35 yards (2:10) 10–6 WPG
TOR – FG Hajrullahu 45 yards (0:16) 10–9 WPG

Third quarter[27]

TOR – Single Haggerty punt 70 yards (12:20) 10–10
TOR – TD Mital 17-yard reception from Arbuckle (Hajrullahu convert) (6:13) 17–10 TOR
WPG – FG Castillo 40 yards (2:13) 17–13 TOR

Fourth quarter[27]

WPG – FG Castillo 23 yards (12:4) 17–16 TOR
TOR – TD Brissett 17-yard reception from Arbuckle (Hajrullahu convert) (7:31) 24–16 TOR
TOR – FG Hajrullahu 14 yards (5:11) 27–16 TOR
TOR – TD Priester 61-yard interception return (Hajrullahu convert) (3:12) 34–16 TOR
TOR – TD Carey 4-yard run (Hajrullahu convert) (2:14) 41–16 TOR
WPG – TD Oliveira 1-yard run (Oliveira run, two-point convert) (0:47) 41–24 TOR

Individual statistics

[edit]

Sources: CFL 111th Grey Cup Boxscore

Blue Bombers passing
Player CP/AT Pct Yards TD Int
United States Zach Collaros 15/30 50.0% 202 0 4
United States Terry Wilson 0/3 0.0% 0 0 0
Blue Bombers rushing
Player Car Yards Avg Lg TD
Canada Brady Oliveira 11 84 7.6 35 1
United States Terry Wilson 1 3 3.0 3 1
Blue Bombers receiving
Player Rec Yards Avg Lg TD
United States Ontaria Wilson 5 99 19.8 49 0
United States Kenny Lawler 2 27 13.5 22 0
Canada Kevens Clercius 3 24 8.0 10 0
Canada Nic Demski 2 18 9.0 9 0
Canada Brady Oliveira 2 18 9.0 10 0
United States Keric Wheatfall 1 16 16.0 16 0
Blue Bombers defence
Player DT–ST QS Int FR FF
United States Willie Jefferson 6–0 2 1 0 1
Canada Tyrell Ford 6–0 0 0 0 0
United States Nick Taylor 5–0 0 0 0 0
United States Tony Jones 4–0 0 0 0 0
United States Michael Griffin II 4–0 0 0 0 0
United States Evan Holm 3–0 0 0 0 0
United States Deatrick Nichols 3–0 0 0 0 0
United States Brandon Alexander 3–1 0 0 0 0
United States TyJuan Garbutt 3–0 0 0 0 0
United States Kyrie Wilson 2–0 0 0 0 0
Canada Redha Kramdi 2–0 0 0 0 0
Canada Liam Dobson 1–0 0 0 0 0
United States Miles Fox 1–0 0 0 0 0
United States Keric Wheatfall 1–0 0 0 0 0
United States Celestin Haba 1–0 0 0 0 0
United States Ontaria Wilson 1–0 0 0 0 0
Canada Bailey Feltmate 0–1 0 0 0 0
Canada Nick Hallett 0–1 0 0 0 0
Canada Kevens Clercius 0–1 0 0 0 0
United States Michael Ayers 0–1 0 0 0 0
Canada Shayne Gauthier 0–1 0 0 0 0
United States Terrell Bonds 0–0 0 1 0 0
Blue Bombers placekicking
Player FM–FA Lng Avg Sng CM-CA
United States Sergio Castillo 3–3 40 27.7 0 1–1
Blue Bombers punting
Player No GAv NAv Sng Lng
Australia Jamieson Sheahan 5 45.8 — 0 50
Blue Bombers punt returns
Player PR Yards Avg Lg TD
United States Lucky Whitehead 4 48 12.0 17 0
Blue Bombers kickoff returns
Player PR Yards Avg Lg TD
United States Lucky Whitehead 5 101 20.2 29 0
Argonauts passing
Player CP/AT Pct Yards TD Int
United States Nick Arbuckle 26/37 70.3% 252 2 2
Argonauts rushing
Player Car Yards Avg Lg TD
United States Ka'Deem Carey 15 79 5.3 18 1
United States Nick Arbuckle 2 11 5.5 7 0
Canada Daniel Adeboboye 1 2 2.0 2 0
Argonauts receiving
Player Rec Yards Avg Lg TD
Canada Dejon Brissett 3 45 15.0 17 1
United States Makai Polk 4 42 10.5 15 0
United States Deonta McMahon 2 41 20.5 29 0
United States DaVaris Daniels 3 37 12.3 14 0
Canada David Ungerer 4 29 7.3 15 0
United States Damonte Coxie 3 29 9.7 36 0
Canada Kevin Mital 2 23 11.5 17 0
United States Ka'Deem Carey 3 10 3.3 7 0
United States Janarion Grant 2 -4 -2.0 5 0
Argonauts defence
Player DT–ST QS Int FR FF
United States Wynton McManis 6–0 0 1 0 0
Canada Royce Metchie 3–0 0 0 0 0
United States Benjie Franklin 3–0 0 1 0 0
Canada Robbie Smith 2–0 1 0 0 0
United States Jared Brinkman 2–0 0 0 0 0
United States DaShaun Amos 2–0 0 1 0 0
Canada Tunde Adeleke 2–0 0 0 0 0
Canada Tyshon Blackburn 1–1 0 0 0 0
United States Tarvarus McFadden 1–0 0 0 0 0
United States Jordan Williams 1–0 0 0 0 0
United States Jake Ceresna 1–0 0 0 0 0
United States Mark Milton 1–0 0 0 0 0
United States Ka'Deem Carey 1–0 0 0 0 0
Germany Thiadric Hansen 0–3 0 0 0 0
United States Isaac Darkangelo 0–2 0 0 0 0
Canada Fraser Sopik 0–1 0 0 0 1
United States Robert Priester 0–0 0 1 0 0
Canada Jack Cassar 0–0 0 0 1 0
Argonauts placekicking
Player FM–FA Lng Avg Sng CM-CA
Canada Lirim Hajrullahu 4–4 45 26.8 0 4–4
Argonauts punting
Player No GAv NAv Sng Lng
Australia John Haggerty 5 54.8 — 1 70
Argonauts punt returns
Player PR Yards Avg Lg TD
United States Janarion Grant 4 33 8.3 23 0
Argonauts kickoff returns
Player PR Yards Avg Lg TD
United States Janarion Grant 1 25 25.0 25 0
Canada Dejon Brissett 1 0 0.0 0 0

Depth charts

[edit]

The following diagrams illustrate the teams' depth charts that were released one day prior to game day. Starters are listed in boxes in their respective positions with backups listed directly above or below. As per CFL rules, 45 players for each team dress in the game.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

[edit]

Toronto Argonauts

[edit]

Officials

[edit]

The highest-rated officials during the 2024 CFL season from their respective positions were selected for the game and announced on November 14, 2024.[1] The numbers below indicate their uniform numbers.

  • Referee: No. 31 Ben Major
  • Umpire: No. 45 Adam Paradowski
  • Down Judge: No. 19 Chris Shapka
  • Line Judge: No. 81 Walt Hawrysh
  • Side Judge: No. 65 Iain Cropper
  • Back Judge: No. 40 Kevin Riopel
  • Field Judge: No. 73 Brian Chrupalo
  • Backup Referee: No. 28 Andre Proulx
  • Backup Official: No. 49 Jordan Titosky
  • Backup Official: No. 46 Rob Skaggs

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Officiating crew named for 111th Grey Cup". cfl.ca. November 14, 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  2. ^ "Get Your Pom Poms, Vancouver: TSN and CTV Team Up to Deliver Canada's Biggest Party, the 111th GREY CUP, November 17". bellmedia.ca. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "DIMANCHE DÈS 16H Les Argonauts de Toronto et les Blue Bombers de Winnipeg en vedette à la 111e COUPE GREY" [SUNDAY FROM 4 PM The Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to star in the 111th GREY CUP] (Press release) (in French). Montreal, QC: Bell Media. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "BC Lions to host 111th Grey Cup in 2024". Canadian Football League. November 3, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Countdown to kick-off: A toast to the 111th Grey Cup and 2024 Grey Cup festival". Canadian Football League. November 16, 2023.
  6. ^ "Winnipeg wants to host Grey Cup championship, Manitoba offers $5.5M to help bid". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 11, 2022.
  7. ^ "Details of the CFL's new CBA: salary cap increases, ratio changes, and guaranteed contracts". 3DownNation. May 26, 2022.
  8. ^ "Jonas Brothers to perform at halftime show of 2024 Grey Cup game in Vancouver". SportsNet. June 3, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Eye On The Prize: 111th Grey Cup headed to CBS Sports Network". Canadian Football League. October 10, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "West coast clash: Toronto and Winnipeg headed to the 111th Grey Cup". Canadian Football League. November 9, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "2024 CFL Game Notes • Grey Cup #111 • Winnipeg vs Toronto" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  12. ^ "2024 CFL Game Notes • West Final • Winnipeg vs Saskatchewan" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  13. ^ "Castillo's final-play field goal clinches win over Alouettes, sends Bombers back to Western Final". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 26, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Five in a Row: Bombers punch ticket to 111th Grey Cup". Canadian Football League. November 9, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Brady Oliveira owns the night at CFL Awards". Canadian Football League. November 15, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Best Of The Best: Oliveira, Mitchell lead 2024 All-CFL selections". Canadian Football League. November 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "CFL's Chad Kelly suspended at least 9 games after investigation into ex-coach's lawsuit". AP News. May 7, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Argos hold off Redblacks to secure home playoff game". Canadian Football League. October 19, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Playoff Game Notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Argos' defence, special teams step up to win Eastern Final". Canadian Football League. November 9, 2024.
  21. ^ "How Arbuckle's unlikely journey led to Grey Cup start for Argonauts". Sportsnet. November 13, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Argos survive overtime to take down Bombers on Saturday". Canadian Football League. July 27, 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Argonauts beat Bombers to punch playoff ticket". Canadian Football League. October 11, 2024.
  24. ^ "Blue Bombers and Alouettes arrive for 110th Grey Cup". Canadian Football League. November 12, 2023. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  25. ^ "Game Day Swag: Argos, Bombers 111th Grey Cup uniform combos". Canadian Football League. November 11, 2024.
  26. ^ https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/tsn/news/grey-cup-2024-live-score-highlights-cfl-championship/d9790c17989ec21be548f9b3
  27. ^ a b c d "Play-by-Play, 111th Grey Cup". Canadian Football League. November 17, 2024.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=111th_Grey_Cup&oldid=1258529137"