After having the 108th Grey Cup delayed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the championship match is set to happen at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario this Sunday on December 12th. This match features the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which is a re-match from the 107th Grey Cup in Calgary where the Blue Bombers bested the Tiger-Cats 33-12. The Tiger-Cats are hoping the home-field advantage and loud fans can produce a different outcome from the last Grey Cup.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats beat their arch-rival, the Toronto Argonauts, 21-19 at BMO Field this past weekend, which saw quarterback Dane Evans coming off the bench to replace starter Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli started the game but was replaced after an ineffective performance of completing 4/6 passes for 22 yards and zero touchdowns. Evans sparked a dominant comeback after completing all 16 pass attempts and throwing for 249 yards, and not to forget Evans also scored 2 rushing Touchdowns to lead his team to victory and secure the starting quarterback role before the championship match.
The Blue bombers have dominated all season, finishing with the league best record of 11-3. Their victory did not come as easy this past weekend when they hosted the Saskatchewan Roughriders during a cold and icy night which led the Blue Bombers to producing six turnovers. However, Winnipeg’s strong defence and a stellar performance from running back
Andrew Harris with 136 rushing yards and a touchdown, led them to defeat the Roughriders 21-17.
Grey Cup Festival
This week is the start of a celebration throughout the city of Hamilton, with the Grey Cup Festival that offers many events and experiences and will be a great way to celebrate football in Canada after one-and-a-half-year long break. December 10th features the CFL Award show at the Hamilton Convention Centre which is free of charge. December 11th will have the Eastern and Western Social Hall Party that celebrates the teams from each league divisions, and will include live music, performances, and merchandise giveaways. Fans will have a chance to start the game-day celebrations and rituals early on December 12th, with the TigerTown Game-day Celebration and Grey Cup Party Headquarters starting at 10 am. For those more old-school and rowdy fans, just like on all Tiger-Cats gamedays, fans can travel down Barton Street outside of the stadium to witness a sea of gold and black jerseys. Tailgating parties surround the stadium with fans getting ready for the biggest match of the year through drinks and barbecuing.
The Tiger-Cats need to play their absolute best this Sunday if they want to defeat the league’s best and bring home their first Grey Cup win since 1999. Will Hamilton’s loud and energetic fans be the difference maker this weekend? If history repeats itself, the last time the Hamilton Tiger-Cats played at home for the Grey Cup was 1972, which resulted in a win over Saskatchewan, however, only time will tell.
By Jake Matthews
Comments