Twice now, teams have finished with records of 16 wins and two losses, the best record in the history of the league, and neither got the chance to even play in the Grey Cup.
That’s what happened to the Toronto Argonauts in this year’s CFL East Final when they were upset by the Montreal Alouettes.
As the drama unfolded, the announcers kept referring to the only other time a team finished 16-2. They too lost in the division final.
The year was 1989, it was the CFL West Division Final and it was the Edmonton Eskimos who seemed unbeatable.
Until the Saskatchewan Roughriders beat them.
The trade
The Edmonton Eskimos won the Grey Cup in 1987 and were poised to start another dynasty. Then their star quarterback Matt Dunigan wanted out, and the Eskimos were able to engineer one of the greatest trades in CFL history.
The Edmonton Eskimos won the Grey Cup in 1987 and were poised to start another dynasty. Then their star quarterback Matt Dunigan wanted out, and the Eskimos were able to engineer one of the greatest trades in CFL history.
In return for Dunigan, before the 1988 season, they got receiver Jim Sandusky, future considerations and a first round pick in the 1989 CFL Draft. Sandusky departed for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks for the 1989 season. However, Edmonton was able to strengthen every weakness they had going into 1989 and, where they were strong, players made them stronger. The future considerations they received were running back Reggie Taylor; defensive lineman Gregg Stumon; linebacker Jeff Braswell; and defensive back Andre Francis. The draft pick turned into defensive lineman Leroy Blugh.
Dunigan did lead the Lions to the West Division championship, defeating Edmonton in the West Final to go to the Grey Cup, where they lost a thriller to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Eskimos, who had already finished first in the West in 1988, built a juggernaut for 1989.
Juggernaut
The 1989 Edmonton Eskimos were almost unbeatable. They won all nine of their home games at Commonwealth Stadium, and suffered just two defeats all year. One was to Toronto in the third week of the season, and other one was to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina in the 10th week of the season. They finished first in the West with a 16-2 record earning a bye to the West Final. They came into that game with seven straight wins including a 49-17 thrashing of the Riders in Edmonton in the last game of the regular season.
The 1989 Edmonton Eskimos were almost unbeatable. They won all nine of their home games at Commonwealth Stadium, and suffered just two defeats all year. One was to Toronto in the third week of the season, and other one was to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina in the 10th week of the season. They finished first in the West with a 16-2 record earning a bye to the West Final. They came into that game with seven straight wins including a 49-17 thrashing of the Riders in Edmonton in the last game of the regular season.
Edmonton had a lot of great players. Quarterback Tracy Ham who was the West Division and CFL most valuable player; linebacker Danny Bass was the West Division and CFL most outstanding defensive player; and centre Rod Connop who was the West Division and CFL most outstanding offensive lineman.
They filled the West Division and CFL all-star teams too. Making the CFL and West Division all-star teams were quarterback Tracy Ham; running back Reggie Taylor, who also led the league in rushing with 1,503 yards; slotback Craig Ellis; centre Rod Connop; defensive end Stewart Hill; linebacker Danny Bass; cornerback Stanley Blair; defensive backs Don Wilson and Enis Jackson; and Tony “The Wiz” hunter for special teams. West Division all-stars were offensive tackles Blake Dermott and Hector Pothier; defensive tackle Brett Williams; linebacker Larry Wruck; and cornerback Andre Francis.
Underdog
Meanwhile in Regina, the Riders had finished third in the West with a 9-9 record. They would have to travel to Calgary to play the Stampeders in the West Semi-Final at McMahon Stadium. Calgary had finished one game ahead of Saskatchewan with a 10-8 record.
Meanwhile in Regina, the Riders had finished third in the West with a 9-9 record. They would have to travel to Calgary to play the Stampeders in the West Semi-Final at McMahon Stadium. Calgary had finished one game ahead of Saskatchewan with a 10-8 record.
The Riders were not without some great players of their own.
They had CFL and West Division all-stars in running back Tim McCray; wide receiver Donald Narcisse; offensive guard Roger Aldag; linebacker Eddie Lowe; and place kicker Dave Ridgway. They had West Division all-stars in slotback Jeff Fairholm; defensive tackle James Curry; defensive end Bobby Jurasin; and safety Glen Suitor. They would also go on to have the coach of the year in John Gregory.
The Riders would go into McMahon Stadium and defeat the Stampeders by a score of 33-26.
They were headed to Edmonton to do what virtually no one thought possible – upset perhaps the best team in CFL history.
The match-up
Edmonton was a well-balanced team. They had a suffocating defence with a strong line, linebackers and secondary.
Edmonton was a well-balanced team. They had a suffocating defence with a strong line, linebackers and secondary.
Their offence was diverse as Tracey Ham could not only pass but was always a threat to run. Reggie Taylor led the league in rushing, and the slotbacks and wide receivers were outstanding.
Even on special teams they excelled. They had lost legendary return man Henry “Gizmo” Williams to the NFL, but Tony “The Wiz” Hunter not only filled in but was an all-star returner, and had more than 1,000 yards in punt returns.
They were coached by “Papa” Joe Faragalli who had previously coached the Riders and returned them briefly to respectability in 1981.
Incidentally, Edmonton also had Randy Ambrosie playing on the offensive line. He is the current commissioner of the CFL.
Saskatchewan was not without weapons in all three phases of the game themselves.
They had two quarterbacks who could run the offence, runningback Tim McCray who led the league with more than 2,000 all-purpose yards, two deadly slotbacks in Jeff Fairholm and Ray Elgard, outstanding wide receivers in Mark Guy and Donald Narcisse, and a solid offensive line anchored by Roger Aldag.
Their defensive front was also very effective at stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback, with the likes of Vince Goldsmith, one of my personal favourites; Chuck Klingbeil; Gary Lewis; and Bobby Jurasin. So was their linebacking corps led by Eddie Lowe, along with Dave Albright and Dan Rashovich. In fact, the Riders had led the league with 67 quarterback sacks.
Their secondary was also solid with Harry Skipper, Richie Hall, Larry Hogue and Glen Suitor. They also had the all-star place kicker in Dave Ridgway.
Saskatchewan was coached by John Gregory who would end up coach of the year in 1989.
The game
The 1989 CFL West Division Final kicked off on Sunday, November 19 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. The temperature was two degree Celsius, the field was wet and would become increasingly sloppy, and the head referee was Ken Lazaruk. The game was televised on the Canadian Football Network with Dave Hodge and Neil Lumsden calling the action, and Bob Irving back in the studio, presumably in Toronto. One of their top sponsors was Foster’s Lager Beer as well.
The 1989 CFL West Division Final kicked off on Sunday, November 19 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. The temperature was two degree Celsius, the field was wet and would become increasingly sloppy, and the head referee was Ken Lazaruk. The game was televised on the Canadian Football Network with Dave Hodge and Neil Lumsden calling the action, and Bob Irving back in the studio, presumably in Toronto. One of their top sponsors was Foster’s Lager Beer as well.
First quarter
Ham marched the Eskimos down the field methodically on their first possession, capped off by a touchdown run by Reggie Taylor. Jerry Kauric’s convert made the score 7-0. The drove went seven plays and 69 yards, taking just over 2:30.
Ham marched the Eskimos down the field methodically on their first possession, capped off by a touchdown run by Reggie Taylor. Jerry Kauric’s convert made the score 7-0. The drove went seven plays and 69 yards, taking just over 2:30.
It all seemed too easy for the Eskimos, and looked like it may be a long day for the Riders.
That seemed more and more likely, as Kent Austin, who had led the league in completion percentage, couldn’t really move the Riders and Terry Baker had to punt the ball away.
Edmonton would score again, this time Kauric connecting on a field goal to make the score 10-0.
Austin then started moving the Riders down the field, resulting in a Dave Ridgway field goal making the score 10-3 for Edmonton.
Then something changed.
Saskatchewan began to blitz the quarterback. Their goal was to put pressure on Ham and, given he was still young and not that experienced, make him panic. They wanted to rattle him.
Before the end of the quarter Dan Rashovich got to Ham for their first sack, and a six-yard loss.
But, as the gun sounded to end the first quarter, Edmonton had dominated play.
Second quarter
Edmonton started the second quarter by driving the ball deep into Saskatchewan territory, using a mix of pass and run.
Edmonton started the second quarter by driving the ball deep into Saskatchewan territory, using a mix of pass and run.
With the ball on the Riders’ 24-yard line, Saskatchewan blitzed and sacked Ham, backing them up to the 30-yard line. Then, on the very next play, they brought the all-out blitz. Eddie Lowe hit Ham, knocked the ball loose and Dave Albright scooped it up, rumbling 70 yards for the touchdown. Ridgway’s convert tied the game at 10-10.
On Edmonton’s very next possession, Eddie Lowe turned in another big play, intercepting a Ham pass on Edmonton’s 48-yard line. Austin would waste little time, connecting with Ray Elgard in the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Riders their first lead of the day. Another Ridgway convert made the score 17-10 for Saskatchewan. The drive was aided by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty by Jeff Braswell, already his second of the game.
The Riders kept putting the heat on Ham, so much so announcer Dave Hodge said Saskatchewan decided they will live or die with the blitz.
Edmonton did move the ball again as Kauric connected on another field goal cutting Saskatchewan’s lead to 17-13.
That set up a wild last three minutes of the first half.
The Riders drove into field goal range only to have Andre Francis block Ridgway’s kick attempt. Edmonton would get the ball but could not move it, and punted after two plays.
On the Riders’ next possession Gregg Stumon sacked Austin just as he was throwing the ball, and Stewart Hill picked off the errant pass on the Rider 34-yard line. Worse than that, the hit knocked Austin out of the game, pressing Tom Burgess into action for the rest of the game.
This was Edmonton’s chance. However, they could not capitalize as Saskatchewan got the ball back two plays later on a Glen Suitor interception with about a minute to play.
The Riders ran two plays and were faced with third and short in their own end. They gambled and barely made it to close out the half. Replays showed they got a favourable spot and really probably didn’t make it.
Going into halftime, the Cinderella from Saskatchewan had a 17-13 lead.
Third quarter
Right off the bat Saskatchewan scored on a pass from Burgess to James Ellingson, only to have it called back on a holding penalty by Mike Anderson. The Riders were forced to punt soon after, in part due to a sack by Braswell.
Right off the bat Saskatchewan scored on a pass from Burgess to James Ellingson, only to have it called back on a holding penalty by Mike Anderson. The Riders were forced to punt soon after, in part due to a sack by Braswell.
Edmonton would take the lead back, as Ham scored on an option play. It was set up by a screen pass to Reggie Taylor that gained big yards with a face-masking call tacked on at the end. With Kauric’s convert Edmonton re-took the lead 20-17.
Then, with 5:08 to play in the quarter, Burgess connected with Fairholm down the left side for a touchdown. He would score a touchdown on a similar play a week later in the Grey Cup going the other way. Ridgway’s convert gave the Riders a 24-20 lead.
On the ensuing kick off, tragedy struck for Edmonton again. Returner Keith Wright fumbled the ball and Saskatchewan recovered on the Eskimo 40-yard line.
Burgess capitalized quickly, as Elgard made a leaping catch in the end zone for a touchdown. With Ridgway’s convert, the Riders now led 31-20.
It would stay 31-20 as the whistle blew to end the third quarter.
Fourth quarter
At the outset of the final 15 minutes, Lumsden asked if Edmonton could come back. They had led in virtually every game all year, and rarely had to come from behind.
At the outset of the final 15 minutes, Lumsden asked if Edmonton could come back. They had led in virtually every game all year, and rarely had to come from behind.
He soon got his answer.
Kauric missed a field goal, but the ball went through the end zone for a single cutting Saskatchewan’s lead to 31-21.
Lumsden then took some time in a break in the action to talk about the gloves Fairholm and the other Rider receivers wore. That was my introduction to the glass-cutter gloves they wore for years.
With 7:51 to play, the Riders looked to put the game away. Facing third down on the Edmonton one-yard line, they gambled but were turned away by the Eskimo defence. The ball was turned back over to their offence.
It was now or never, but Ham could just not move the ball. He kept trying deep passes to wide receivers that fell incomplete, neglecting his all-star slot receiver Craig Ellis.
It was now or never, but Ham could just not move the ball. He kept trying deep passes to wide receivers that fell incomplete, neglecting his all-star slot receiver Craig Ellis.
Inexplicably, down 10 points with 2:24 to play, Edmonton chose to punt on their own 10-yard line. True they would have given the ball to Saskatchewan in prime field position if they gambled and lost, but they needed to score. Punting put a lot of pressure on their defence.
They never did score and, to punctuate the ending, Terry Baker’s punt with just over 20 seconds to play went out the side of the end zone for another single to make the final score 32-21.
David had felled Goliath.
The Riders had pulled off one of the biggest upsets in CFL history.
The announcers even said that right at that time.
Parting thoughts
A week later the Riders hooked up with Hamilton in the 77th Grey Cup, winning on a late field goal by Ridgway in what many consider the best Grey Cup of all time.
A week later the Riders hooked up with Hamilton in the 77th Grey Cup, winning on a late field goal by Ridgway in what many consider the best Grey Cup of all time.
It was a fitting end to a dream run by the Riders.
It just shows it is not how you start but how you finish No matter what the odds are for or against you, you still have to play the game.
The Riders proved that anything is possible on any given Sunday.
They engineered an upset for the ages.
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