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RedBlacks win 1st Grey Cup in OT thriller over Stampeders

REUTERS/Chris Helgren

The Ottawa RedBlacks are just three years into franchise existence, but have already claimed their first Grey Cup, a 39-33 overtime thriller Sunday in the 104th edition of the Canadian championship against the Calgary Stampeders.

Coming in as heavy underdogs against the 15-win Stampeders, the RedBlacks jumped out to a quick 20-7 lead at the half, led by Henry Burris' two touchdowns.

It almost didn't happen, though, as the 41-year-old Burris tweaked his knee in warmups, sending him to the locker room and making his availability come into question.

However, minutes before kickoff and after the opening coin toss, Burris came running out of the tunnel and warmed up, ready in time for Ottawa's first drive, which ended with a Burris quarterback sneak at the goal line for a touchdown.

After Burris' second touchdown, 2016 Most Outstanding Player Bo Levi Mitchell was picked off on back-to-back possessions, part of three interceptions on the day.

In the second half, Ottawa added another touchdown to expand their lead to 20, but that's when Mitchell and the Stampeders settled down, making this Grey Cup one for the ages.

Down 27-10 late in the third quarter, Mitchell completed a pass to Lemar Durant, who made a tumbling grab. However, no RedBlacks defender touched him, leading to the receiver jumping up and scampering to the end zone for the 33-yard touchdown.

To start the fourth quarter, Andrew Buckley became the first Canadian quarterback to score a touchdown in a Grey Cup in 48 years, with his quarterback sneak to put Calgary down 27-23.

Then, Burris added another rushing touchdown from a yard out to make it a two-score game.

Facing third down and in field-goal range, Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson elected to go for it needing two yards to keep the Stampeders Grey Cup hopes alive. Calgary got more than that, as receiver DaVaris Daniels scored a 19-yard rushing touchdown with 1:46 to go.

Calgary went for an onside kick, where the ball bounced off RedBlacks receiver Brad Sinopoli's hands and ended up in the possession of Glenn Love near midfield for Calgary.

Five plays later, Mitchell's pass to Kamar Jorden went incomplete, but a pass interference penalty on Abdul Kanneh set the Stampeders up first-and-goal from the Ottawa eight-yard line.

Kanneh made up for his penalty, as Buckley again tried to run the ball in, but was tripped up by the fingertips of Kanneh on second down, stalling the drive and forcing overtime tied at 33 after a Rene Paredes field goal.

In the extra frame, Burris connected with Ernest Jackson, who bobbled the pass twice, before securing the ball and falling into the end zone to put Ottawa ahead by six.

On Calgary's overtime possession, Mitchell threw three straight incompletions, giving the RedBlacks the first Grey Cup in franchise history and the city of Ottawa its first championship since 1976, when the Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 26-23 in the dying seconds in one of the greatest Grey Cups in history.

Burris, who finished with 461 passing yards and five total touchdowns, was named Grey Cup MVP for the second time in his career, while Sinopoli was named Most Valuable Canadian with six receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown.

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