Looking for divine nine. The Montreal Alouettes are in Manitoba’s capital for a chance to call in nine Grey Cup wins at the 112th installment of Canada’s ultimate football contest. The Als play the Saskatchewan Roughriders at the home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and are hoping Davis Alexander can stay healthy and win his eighth of eight games he’s started this season. How will a potential win stack up against these historic precedents? Philpot snags the upset - Grey Cup 110, 2023 Montreal 28 - Winnipeg 24 Tyson Philpot’s 19-yard catch from quarterback Cody Fajardo capped off the Als’ win over the heavily favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Hamilton. The Bombers led the Als 17-7 at half, but Montreal failed to go away. The Alouettes took their first lead of the game on an Austin Mack touchdown in the fourth, but Winnipeg re-took the lead with 5:28 remaining in the game. With 1:55 remaining, the Fajardo drive began at the 27-yard line and ended with the Philpot catch with 13 seconds left. Back-to-back to end an era - Grey Cup 98, 2010 Montreal 21 - Saskatchewan 18 In a rematch from the year prior, Als hero quarterback Anthony Calvillo won his last ship for Montreal with a 21-18 win in Edmonton. Montreal jumped out to an early lead before Saskatchewan took it back in the second. Kicker Damon Duval tied the game at 11s in the third before he put Montreal ahead in the fourth. An Avon Coubourne touchdown sealed it. It was the final win for the Als after a dominant decade of Calvillo-led ball. How many players on a CFL field? - Grey Cup 97, 2009 Montreal 28 - Saskatchewan 27 In a comedy of errors finish to a Grey Cup that Saskatchewan fans would rather forget happened, the Roughriders had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when a Jason Armstead field goal kick was ruled out because there were 13 players in green on the field. Ouch. The penalty gave Duval a chance to kick for the Montreal win, which he did from 33 yards. Lesson: Counting is an important skill. 99-yard bomb - Grey Cup 90, 2002 Montreal 25 - Edmonton 16 A young Calvillo was unstoppable in his first Cup win over Edmonton, including for the first touchdown of the game - a 99-yard catch and run to wide receiver Pat Woodcock. Beating Edmonton in Edmonton added an extra slice of sweetness for Montreal, but Edmonton would return the favour and beat the Alouettes in Grey Cup 91. Big O ice rink bowl - Grey Cup 65, 1977 Montreal 41 - Edmonton 6 A blizzard two days prior to the game, prompted crews to melt the snow on the field at the Olympic Stadium, which then froze when the temperatures plunged the next day creating a sheet of ice on the field. Players attached staples to their cleats for traction and Montreal destroyed Edmonton in the third of four Grey Cup meetings. The Big O roof was added in 1987. Fourth time’s the charm - Grey Cup 62, 1974 Montreal 20 - Edmonton 7 The Alouettes had lost its previous three Grey Cup finals to Edmonton, but in Vancouver, with both quarterbacks out due to injuries, Montreal prevailed. Backup QB Sonny Wade shone in replacement for the win. Battle of the third bests - Grey Cup 58, 1970 Montreal 23 - Calgary 10 The only time two third-place teams have ever met in a Grey Cup final was in Toronto when QB Sonny Wade led the way for Montreal. It was the first of six Grey Cup visits for Montreal in the ’70s, all of which were against teams from Alberta. This was the lone one against Calgary. Fun fact about the 70s in Montreal: Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup trips: Six with six wins (’71, ’73, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79) Montreal Alouettes Grey Cup trips: Six with three wins. (’70, ’74, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79) Former Winged Wheelers win number one - Grey Cup 37, 1949 Montreal 28 - Calgary 15 The St. Hyacinthe-Donnacona Navy won the Grey Cup five years earlier, and the Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers won in 1931, but the first Grey Cup as Montreal Alouettes came in Toronto just after the Second World War. Montreal was coached by Lew Hayman.
