Henry Burris's 18-yard TD strike to Ernest Jackson earned the Ottawa Redblack an epic 39-33 overtime Grey Cup win over the Calgary Stampeders on Sunday night.

Burris, the game MVP, found Jackson — who bobbled the pass — on the first overtime possession. But the veteran quarterback couldn't hit a wide-open Khalil Paden for the two-point convert.

"I didn't even know E.J. kind of bobbled it," Burris said. "I didn't even know it was a completed pass, because it hit is hands and all of a sudden I see it bounce and I was thinking 'Awww,'

"Then all of a sudden I hear everyone go crazy and I was like 'Did it just happen? Did we just score?'

"I think little plays like that just showed you that this was our moment."

Calgary needed to match Ottawa's six points but went three-and-out on its possession. Bo Levi Mitchell's third-down pass went off Bakari Grant's hands to give Ottawa one of the biggest upset victories in Grey Cup history.

Burris was stellar, throwing three TD passes and running for two more on a night he wasn't even sure he was going to start. He left the field during warmups with an apparent knee injury but returned to outduel Mitchell.

Burris threw for 461 yards and three passing TDs, while running for two TDs. 0:31

"I knew I wasn't going to be the typical running guy that I usually am, but as long as I could come out here and make good, quick decisions and get the ball out of my hand ... maybe I could do enough to help put our team in a position to be successful," Burris said.

It was the third game in Grey Cup history to go to overtime and first since 2005 when Edmonton beat Montreal 38-35 at B.C. Place Stadium.

"If you don't like ups and downs and all that kind of stuff, then football's not a good profession to be in," Ottawa coach Rick Campbell said. "But I think that's why everybody loves it."

Rene Paredes' 10-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining forced overtime as Calgary impressively rallied from a 27-7 third-quarter deficit.

DaVaris Daniels scored on a 19-yard TD run on third-and-two at 13:22 of the fourth to cut Ottawa's lead to 33-30 before Glenn Love recovered Rob Maver's onside kick at Calgary's 49-yard line with 1:36 remaining.

"We had a lot of heart, a lot of fight to get back," Calgary coach Dave Dickenson said. "Big hill to climb, almost made it. We were right there knocking. Just didn't get it done."

Sinopoli named top Canadian

Burris opened the third hitting Brad Sinopoli, the game's top Canadian, on a nine-yard TD strike at 3:21 to cap an impressive 69-yard, six-play drive. But after a Paredes 32-yard field goal at 7:40, Mitchell hit Lemar Durant on a 34-yard TD strike at 11:01, cutting Ottawa's lead to 27-17.

Then Andrew Buckley's one-yard TD run at 1:25 of the fourth pulled Calgary to within 27-23 as Paredes missed the convert.

The game could be the last of Burris's illustrious 17-year CFL career. The 41-year-old said this week he'll take the off-season to ponder his future.

If Burris retires, he'll certainly leave on a huge high, completing 35-of-46 passes for 461 yards en route to his third Grey Cup title. And he did a nice job of distributing the ball, using eight different receivers in the game.

Before a capacity crowd of 33,421, Ottawa was a staggering underdog after finishing atop the East Division with an 8-9-1 mark — the first team in CFL history take first in a conference with a losing record. Calgary was a league-best 15-2-1 and was coming off a 42-15 West Division final win over B.C.

And on Thursday, five Stampeders were honoured at the CFL awards banquet, including Mitchell, who received the league's outstanding player honour. Calgary was looking to finish its banner season with a Grey Cup victory to garner support as the best team in history to capture a championship.

Calgary was also playing to win for Mylan Hicks, a practice-roster player who was shot to death in September. His mother, Renee Hill, attended the game wearing her son's No. 31 jersey and huddled with the defensive backs prior to the contest.

But Burris, last year's outstanding player, stole the show in leading an Ottawa team to a Grey Cup win for the first time since 1976 and avenging the franchise's loss to Edmonton in the 2015 CFL title game.

Burris's apparent injury provided plenty of pre-game drama, and Burris wasn't with the Redblacks when they took to the field. But he rejoined his teammates after undergoing treatment that reportedly included having the joint frozen and capped an impressive 65-yard, 10-play drive opening with a one-yard TD run at 6:46 to open the scoring.

"They did some things, gave me some happy pills, to make sure I didn't feel much pain," Burris said.

Calgary effectively countered with a four-play, 79-yard march Mitchell capped with a seven-yard TD strike to Jerome Messam at 9:14. After Ray Early's 37-yard field goal put Ottawa ahead 10-7 at 13:03, the Stampeders lost leading receiver Marquay McDaniel to a shoulder injury late in the quarter.

On mobile and can't view the live blog? Click here.</s>Video: Henry Burris says he will enjoy Redblacks Grey Cup win 'forever'

The Ottawa Redblacks scored a touchdown in overtime to win the Grey Cup over the Calgary Stampeders. Quarterback Henry Burris says the team was determined to make up for last year's Grey Cup loss.</s>Henry Burris threw three touchdowns, including one in overtime, and ran in two others as the Ottawa Redblacks stunned the Calgary Stampeders 39-33 to win the 104th Grey Cup in one of the biggest upsets in Canadian Football League history on Sunday.

Burris, 41, was named Most Valuable Player after completing 35 of 46 passes, none bigger than the 11-yard strike to Ernest Jackson in overtime that gave Ottawa their first Grey Cup in 40 years, back when the team were known as the Rough Riders.

Burris, who also had touchdown passes to Brad Sinopoli and Patrick Lavoie and threw for a total of 461 yards, became the oldest quarterback to lead his team to a Grey Cup.

The Redblacks' victory over the heavily favored Stampeders also erased the disappointment of losing to the Edmonton Eskimos in last year's Grey Cup.</s>Ja'Gared Davis of the Calgary Stampeders before the start of the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Michael Peake/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Greg Ellingson and Forrest Hightower at the end of the game as Ottawa beat Calgary 39-33 with the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Michael Peake/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Henry Burris of the Ottawa Redblacks wins MOP and defeated Calgary 39-33the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Michael Peake/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Coach Rick Campbell of the Ottawa Redblacks with the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Michael Peake/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

OneRepublic performs during the Half-time show during the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Ottawa Redblacks wide receiver Ernest Jackson (9) slides in to pick up fumble to keep drive alive during CFL Grey Cup action in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Craig Robertson/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Calgary Stampeders running back Jerome Messam (33) takes it all in during CFL Grey Cup action in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Craig Robertson/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Kienan Lafrance of the Ottawa Redblacks oruns for a gain at the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Michael Peake/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

OneRepublic performs during the Half-time show during the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Patrick Lavoie of the Ottawa Redblacks celebrates a touchdown against of the Calgary Stampeders during the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Cleyon Laing of the Ottawa Redblacks tries to block Bo Levi Mitchell of the Calgary Stampeders during the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Marquay McDaniel of the Calgary Stampeders runs the ball against the Ottawa Redblacks during the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Bo Levi Mitchell of the Calgary Stampeders is sacked at the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Michael Peake/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

TORONTO — Throughout his two decades of professional football, there have been many ways to describe Henry Burris.

Good Hank, Bad Hank, and Smilin’ Hank are a few of the favourites.

As of today, there’s only one valid description: Three-time Grey Cup champion.

The expectation throughout the world of three-down football was that Sunday night would provide a memorable finish to a historic season for the Calgary Stampeders.

Memorable it was, but for all the wrong reasons, and no one informed the Ottawa RedBlacks that playing spoiler wasn’t part of the original script.

Coming into the 104th Grey Cup as big favourites on the heels of a 15-2-1 season, the Stamps were four quarters of football away from capping one of the most dominant campaigns in CFL history.

Instead, it was the Burris and the Redblacks doing the unimaginable, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in Grey Cup lore inside BMO Field, with the 41-year-old quarterback brilliantly penning a storybook finish with 461 passing yards to lead his team to a stunning 39-33 overtime win.

Not only did Burris come up with a virtuoso performance in what could be his CFL swansong, he also helped the Redblacks become just the sixth team in league history to win the Grey Cup despite having a losing record during the regular season at 8-9-1.

Burris hit on 35 of 46 passes to pile up 461 yards with five total touchdowns and become the first quarterback to surpass the 400-yard mark in a Grey Cup since Danny McManus did it in 1996 and win the first finale that needed overtime since the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos needed free football to decide the season back in 2005.

Burris was named the Grey Cup MVP, while receiver Brad Sinopoli took home top Canadian honours.

On the other side, just disappointment for Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who threw three interceptions and couldn’t equal Burris’ deciding 18-yard touchdown pass to Ernest Jackson in overtime.

It was a terrible first half that did in the West Division champions, as they dug a hole too big to climb out of.

Returner Roy Finch fumbled away a punt, while Mitchell was picked off twice.

Those three turnovers led to 10 points for the Redblacks, allowing them to jump out to a 20-7 halftime lead that was aided by a terrific first 30 minutes for Burris, who picked apart the Stamps to the tune of 20-of-25 passing for 266 yards and a touchdown.

In the second half, the Stamps would slowly close the gap, all the way to 33-30 with 1:38 to go, but they couldn’t complete the comeback and were forced to settle for a field goal late, one that gave them another chance in overtime, where they couldn’t get it done.

The drama started long before the opening kickoff when Burris limped off the field at the end of warmups after tweaking his left knee.

Amidst reports that Burris could sit and backup Trevor Harris would start, the 41-year-old trotted out on to the field late and didn’t miss a snap.

It was a good thing, too, as Burris led the Redblacks on a 10-play scoring drive, finishing it off himself on a one-yard plunge to draw first blood.

Receiver Greg Ellingson was a busy man on the touchdown march, hauling in four receptions for 60 yards, not including the pass interference penalty he drew in the endzone on Stampeders defensive back Jamar Wall, one that Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell was forced to challenge, setting up Burris’ touchdown on the very next snap.

With Renee Hill, the mother of murdered defensive back Mylan Hicks, greeting Stampeders players as they ran out of the tunnel prior to the 104th Grey Cup, it was a motivated Calgary team looking to finish off their second championship in three seasons in the name of their fallen teammate.

It didn’t take long for the Stampeders vaunted offence, one that produced a league-best 586 points this season, to answer.

On the second play of the ensuing possession, Mitchell found Marquay McDaniel streaking down the seam and hit him for a 51-yard gain down to the Redblacks 20-yard line.

Unfortunately for the Stamps, it was the last they’d see of McDaniel, who led the team with 83 receptions this season, as the 32-year-old slotback got up pointing at his shoulder and didn’t return to the game.

Two plays later, running back Jerome Messam leaked out of the backfield for a seven-yard touchdown reception to quickly erase the early deficit midway through the first quarter.

After the Redblacks responded with a 37-yard field goal off the right leg of kicker Ray Early near the end of the first quarter, another mistake by the Stampeders allowed the East Division champions to start building upon their early lead.

Burris & Co., stalled five minutes into the second quarter, but they were quickly handed another opportunity when Finch fumbled the punt away, allowing the RedBlacks to take over in Calgary territory.

Five plays later, Burris dumped off a six-yard touchdown pass to fullback Patrick Lavoie for a 17-7 lead.

On the final play of the first half, Early tacked on a 29-yard field goal to make it a 13-point advantage for the Redblacks, woh were 9.5-point underdogs.

As they romped their way to Sunday’s finale, the Stamps had trailed just four times at the half, earning a 2-1-1 record in that situation this season.

The downtime in the locker-room didn’t change much for Stamps defensive co-ordinator DeVone Claybrooks and charges, as Burris came out throwing on the first possession of the second half, finishing off yet another impressive drive with a nine-yard touchdown strike to Sinopoli, a one-time Stamps receiver.

Stamps receiver Lemar Durant would help cut the deficit when he slid between two Redblacks defenders, and with both players thinking the Stampeders receiver was down, the Simon Fraser University product got up and scampered into the endzone to make it a 27-17 game heading into the final quarter.

It didn’t take long for the Stamps to close the gap even further, as Mitchell put together another impressive drive, helped out by a pass interference penalty on Redblacks Jonathan Rose at the goalline, which gave quarterback Andrew Buckley a chance to scamper off the right edge for a one-yard touchdown.

Rene Paredes sailed the extra-point attempt wide to help the RedBlacks maintain a 27-23 lead early in the fourth quarter.

After the Redblacks looked to have sealed it with a one-yard touchdown run by Burris — he ran for a pair and threw for three touchdowns — the Stampeders came, oh, so close to completing what would have been a monumental comeback.

Instead, the season came crashing down with a monumental thud.</s>TORONTO — It was Kirk Gibson limping around the bases after hitting an unlikely game-winning World Series home run.

It was Michael Jordan in the Flu Game, Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, so sick, dehydrated and exhausted and suffering from flu-like symptoms, he willed himself to 38 points against the Utah Jazz.

This was all of that and in some ways more.

It was The Miracle at BMO. It was Happily Ever After — a storybook ending, with an improbable performance by a quarterback who has been disrespected and doubted. It will go down as magic, a Grey Cup triumph football fans in Ottawa and the players who worked so hard to make it happen will never, ever forget.

What Henry Burris did on Sunday night, in a 39-33 overtime win over the Calgary Stampeders, was Jordan-like. It was Gibson-like, with a bit of Roy Hobbs thrown in.

It was a 41-year-old man limping off the field, wincing in pain, moments before kickoff in a game that decides a national championship. With his backup quarterback Trevor Harris putting his helmet on and scurrying to get himself ready, The Old Man ran onto the field just in time to play. Oh, and did he play.

This was not just Good Hank, it was Great Hank — 35-for-46 completions for 461 yards. It was unbelievable, made-for-TV wounded warrior stuff.

"I was jogging back to the huddle and all of a sudden, I felt a grind and a pop in my knee," explained Burris later. "It felt like cartilage was kind of caught in my knee. It freaked me out, I was scared.

"It was hard to be able to extend the knee. They had to adjust my brace so I couldn't do so. And they gave me some good happy medicine to keep the pain down. The feeling that I have right now, it hurts so good. This is a feeling I'll be able to enjoy forever. This is another obstacle I had to overcome, fight through it and get the job done."

Burris will go down as the oldest starting quarterback to win a Grey Cup. Previously, Damon Allen was the only 40-plus QB to do it. Burris is 61 days older.

"I felt almost like Willis Reed of the New York Knicks when he limped onto the court," said Burris, who, in the first half alone, completed 20-of-25 passes for 266 yards. The total rose past 300 early in the second half, then 400 in the fourth quarter. He also ran for two touchdowns.

There's not much left to prove on a football field for the husband of Nicole, the father of Armand and Barron. If he walks away to spend more time with his family, we will understand. Over the next few days, weeks and maybe months, Burris will have a difficult decision to make. Does he return to Ottawa, at age 42, and play second fiddle to Harris? Or does he end his Hall-of-Fame legacy with three Grey Cups and two Most Outstanding Player awards?

The naysayers snickered at Burris, a guy who started the year as Ottawa's quarterback, got injured, came back and lost his job, won his job back, then refused to quit on Sunday, a near-flawless effort, with the only blemishes being an interception into the arms of Calgary defensive back Ciante Evans and an overthrown two-point convert pass to Khalil Paden. One word. Wow.

"Hank's Superman, he can do anything," said Redblacks defensive back Jerrell Gavins. "I never doubt him."

"He came out there slinging it like he always does," said Redblacks receiver Ernest Jackson, who caught the game-winning pass in overtime, bobbling it once, twice, three times before pulling it into his body and crossing the end zone. "That's why he's the MVP."

Years ago, powerful words came out of the mouth of actor Al Pacino in his role as a football coach in Any Given Sunday.

Words that packed a punch. Words that inspired. The speech included this:

"You find out that life is just a game of inches. So is football. Because in either game, life or football, the margin for error is so small. I mean, one half step too late or to early, you don't quite make it. One half second too slow or too fast and you don't quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us.They are in ever break of the game, every minute, every second. On this team, we fight for that inch. On this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our finger nails for that inch. Because we know when we add up all those inches, that's going to make the f-----g difference between winning and losing, between living and dying."

On Sunday night, Burris made those inches count, every one of them. He's a champion and so are the Ottawa Redblacks. They earned it, inch by inch.

REDBLACKS GO FROM WORST TO FIRST

It’s been an amazing ride for the Ottawa Redblacks.

Year 1 of the franchise’s existence, it was a 2-16 finish. Last place.

Things turned around in Year 2, a 12-6 regular-season record into the playoffs and an East final win over Hamilton before a tough 26-20 loss to Edmonton in the Grey Cup.

All the while, all through his career, 41-year-old quarterback Henry Burris has battled for respect.

Said Burris following the Redblacks’ 39-33 Grey Cup overtime win over the Calgary Stampeders Sunday at BMO Field: “For all those that say, Good Hank, Bad Hank, what’s bad about winning a championship? The team we beat tonight, the business of the game came between what I had in Calgary. Hamilton told me I wasn’t good enough anymore, they cut me. I signed with Ottawa. Everybody’s like, ‘He’s with Ottawa, they’re not going to be very good.' Yeah, we struggled through that first year, but Year 2 and Year 3, it only got sweeter.”

Will Burris call it a career, will he step away before 2017, when Ottawa will host a Grey Cup?

“I’m still riding this rollercoaster,” said Burris. “I’m still focused on enjoying this moment. We’re going to party it up over the next few weeks. I’m going to focus on my family and enjoy the holidays.”</s>Ottawa Redblacks wide receiver Ernest Jackson (9) slides in to pick up fumble to keep drive alive during CFL Grey Cup action in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Craig Robertson/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Kienan Lafrance of the Ottawa Redblacks oruns for a gain at the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Michael Peake/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Patrick Lavoie of the Ottawa Redblacks celebrates a touchdown against of the Calgary Stampeders during the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Cleyon Laing of the Ottawa Redblacks tries to block Bo Levi Mitchell of the Calgary Stampeders during the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Marquay McDaniel of the Calgary Stampeders runs the ball against the Ottawa Redblacks during the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Bo Levi Mitchell of the Calgary Stampeders is sacked at the 104th Grey Cup at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont. on Sunday November 27, 2016. Michael Peake/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

TORONTO — Would he or wouldn’t he?

That was the question when the Ottawa Redblacks ran onto the field to begin the 104th Grey Cup. Henry Burris, the veteran quarterback, likely in his last CFL game, injured his knee in warmup and it wasn’t certain he would be ready or able to start for the Redblacks.

Even as Burris semi-limped his way back to the field, it didn’t seem apparent that he would be able to start the game. He did. And boy did he start it. And then finished it. And dominated it.

The good Hank came out to play Sunday night at BMO Field, picking apart the Calgary Stampeders with short precision passes and taking the underdog Redblacks out to a commanding 20-7 lead at halftime, and plowing through for a rather stunning 39-33 overtime Grey Cup victory.

Burris ran in for a first-quarter touchdown, threw a second-quarter touchdown pass to fullback Patrick Lavoie, ran for a fourth-quarter score, threw a touchdown pass in overtime and moved the Redblacks down the field in the final minute of the first half, which resulted in a field goal.

Burris ended the first half with a miraculous 266 yards passing on 20 completions. Yes, he’s 41 years old. Yes, he passed for 461 yards. No, he shouldn’t retire yet.

The almost perfect threw an interception in the fourth quarter that Ciante Evans didn’t have to move to catch. It was right to him in the flat. Calgary took over the ball with 10:43 to play and trailing by four. Stamps couldn’t take advantage by punting back to Ottawa three plays later.

Bo Levi Mitchell carries a certain self confidence about him as the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player and as the quarterback of one of the best regular-season teams in CFL history. There was nothing about his demeanour all week long that led anyone to believe the Stampeders wouldn’t win. And it would probably be easy.

And then the 104th Grey Cup began.

And he didn’t look right. And he didn’t look confident. And it seemed to get worse when his favourite target, Marquay McDaniel went out for the game with a shoulder injury. McDaniel had 83 catches in the regular season. Without him, Mitchell threw two first-half interceptions, both on slopping long passes to receivers who weren’t open. It almost seemed like Mitchell was forcing passes long because he had no other answer while Ottawa was taking the slow, easy approach.

The second half didn’t start a whole lot better for Mitchell, who fumbled the ball on a near sack by Ottawa, which resulted in the scramble for the football. Calgary recovered but had to punt from deep in its own zone.

For reasons not completely understood, Mitchell kept attempting long passes that seemed to give him almost no hope of completion.

Ottawa even won the battle of the coach’s challenges in the first half.

But Calgary won a big one when it mattered most.

In the fourth quarter, with the Stampeders trailing by 10, a pass to Kamar Jorden went incomplete. The Stamps challenged pass interference or defensive holding. Their challenge was held up.

Calgary scored on the next play, making the score 27-23 Ottawa. The Stamps did end up missing the extra point.

The touchdown by Andrew Buckley, from one yard out, was the first touchdown by a Canadian quarterback since Russ Jackson scored in the Grey Cup in 1968.

Earlier in the game, with the Redblacks moving the ball on their first drive of the game — with Burris throwing almost exclusively to Greg Ellingson — a throw was made to the end zone that Ellingson didn’t catch. There was no pass interference called on the play but coach Rick Campbell challenged for pass interference and one play later, Burris was in the score.

Calgary challenged one call in the first half, believing there was roughing on their quarterback. The replay officials held up the original call. Calgary punted the ball away.

THIS AND THAT

What a terrific start for Ellingson, the veteran receiver. He caught six passes for 79 yards in the first half and maybe more important than that, was responsible for the first four Ottawa first downs ... Ernest Jackson became famous around the CFL all year for going through a season and not dropping a pass. Not sayin he dropped one Sunday night, but he didn’t come down with a difficult catch. His best play may have been a fumble recovery off a Lavoie catch and eventually drop ... The great Calgary defence wasn’t so great in the first half, getting almost no pressure on Burris and seemingly unable to cover the Ottawa receivers. It looked like a Rich Stubler bend-but-not-break defence, bending and getting broken. The defence never looked like it could dominate ... This you don’t see often: There was huge celebration among the Ottawa coaches on the sidelines when the Redblacks went ahead 7-0. Almost like they didn’t expect it. You don’t often see coaches get this emotional this early in a game ... The Redblacks went to gadget plays with their first play of the second half, attempting the flea flicker against Calgary. The receiver was open. Burris overthrew him. Then Burris completed two sharp passes right after the large gamble and completed the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Brad Sinopoli, the one-time Calgary quarterback. Redblacks led 27-7 early in third quarter ... The last team with a losing regular-season record to win the Grey Cup was the 2001 Stampeders. Redblacks are the third team in CFL history to win the Grey Cup with a losing regular-season record ... Burris became the first quarterback in 20 years to pass for more than 400 yards in a Grey Cup game. The last one was Danny McManus of Edmonton in 1996 ... The Grey Cup may not be as alive in Toronto as it is anywhere else in Canada, but you wouldn’t have known that on Sunday afternoon. Within four hours of kickoff, the tailgate area at Ontario Place was hopping, full of fans and music and people dressed in all CFL colours and smoke coming from the barbecues .. ...Maybe not all the tickets were sold and maybe not all of them were sold at the prices intended, but the in-stadium atmosphere for a mostly full BMO was the best it has ever been for a football game ... You couldn’t ask for better weather for a CFL championship night. In the second half, the temperature was a very comfortable 7 C. It was not at all uncomfortable for outdoor football.</s>Henry Burris wound up sitting on top of the Canadian Football League on Sunday night and it was all Smiling Hank, all good – no more of those other detested nicknames, Good Hank-Bad Hank, that too often were used to describe his playoff career.

Burris is riding high after one of the most dramatic Grey Cup games ever and what may be the biggest upset in league history, with the Ottawa RedBlacks surviving a second-half stumble to beat the Calgary Stampeders 39-33 in overtime at BMO Field. The record now shows Burris, 41, is not only the oldest quarterback to lead his team to the CFL championship, he now has two Grey Cup rings after four meaningful appearances in the game, cementing his legacy as a champion, not someone who could not win the big game.

“I just hope for those people who start talking again about what I can and cannot do, all this Good Hank and Bad Hank, they sit back and look at the facts,” Burris said. “There’s teams decades into their [history] not winning championships and here we are, three short years, going to back-to-back championships and we win on number two.”

That was the incredible upset part. The RedBlacks are a third-year expansion team and managed quite a feat in simply making it to the Grey Cup in 2015 in their second year. They did it again this year but no one gave them a chance, considering their 8-9-1 regular-season record and that the Stampeders went 15-2-1 and were preparing to assume the mantle of greatest CFL team ever with what was expected to be an easy win.

Instead, after the RedBlacks made it to overtime after coughing up a 27-7 lead and Burris hit Ernest Jackson for the winning touchdown, they brought the Grey Cup to Ottawa for the first time in 40 years. The last one also came in Toronto, in 1976 at old Exhibition Stadium with the long-gone Rough Riders.

“We always believed. We never stopped believing,” said Burris, picked as the game’s most-outstanding player by The Football Reporters of Canada. “Everybody picked Calgary to win. It was like damn, why are we even here? We heard what people were saying. We’re the team nobody showed respect but all we did was win.”

Burris finished the game with 461 yards passing (fourth-highest in Cup history) on 35 completions in 46 attempts and three touchdowns. He also scored two majors himself on one-yard plunges, a remarkable feat considering a knee injury in the warmup almost kept him out of the game. Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who had a long, long day, still threw for 391 yards with the combined passing yardage of 852 setting a Grey Cup record.

Just as sweet for Burris was that the win came against Calgary, the team he played seven seasons for, only to be traded in 2012 when its rebuilding program started to pay off.

“This was a perfect setting to go out there and prove to everybody who you are,” Burris said.

But he almost didn’t get the chance. During the pregame warmup, Burris was jogging back to the huddle when his left knee locked up. His status as the starter was in doubt until Ottawa’s first series of the game, as backup Trevor Harris looked set to start, but some intensive treatments and painkillers saw Burris make it out for the team’s first series.

“It scared the heck out of me because there was a chance I couldn’t play,” Burris said. “Our medical staff went to work on me. This knee better put it in, after 20 some years of pro football experience it better give me three more hours and it did.”

Burris and the RedBlacks had to sweat out Calgary’s corresponding drive in overtime but Mitchell could not find a receiver in three tries and one of the greatest upsets in CFL history was in the books.

A few minutes earlier, Ottawa defensive back Abdul Kanneh was the one sweating most during the last minute of the fourth quarter after first making one of the worst mistakes of the night, followed by a play that saved the RedBlacks for overtime. First, he grabbed a towel in the belt of Calgary receiver Kamar Jorden for a pass-interference penalty that gave the Stampeders a first down and goal-to-go on the Ottawa eight-yard line. Then, after backup quarterback Andrew Buckley was sent in to try and run in his second touchdown of the game, Kanneh tripped him, forcing Calgary to settle for a 10-yard field goal with nine seconds to play that forced overtime and gave Ottawa another life.

This resulted in more second-guessing of Stamps head coach Dave Dickinson. He decided to take a second short-yardage shot with Buckley, who scored from the one in the third quarter to become the first Canadian quarterback to get a touchdown since Russ Jackson in 1968, rather than pound away with monster running back Jerome Messam, voted the league’s top Canadian this season. Kanneh just managed to get a hand on Buckley’s heel, which sent him tumbling to the turf and forced the field goal.

“I knew I messed up but I know football, it’s ups and downs all the time,” Kanneh said. “I know my boys got me. Even though I messed up, I know my boys got me.

“It was the greatest thing in the world. All we wanted to do, we wanted to do it for Henry [Burris]. I talked to him last year after the Grey Cup and I told him we’re going to get you one, baby.”

Dickinson, who looked stunned after the game, said he had “some regret” about not going with Messam. He wasn’t quite as regretful about the overall game plan, which saw Mitchell often on a different page than his receivers and facing pressure from the Ottawa pass rush.

“We called the game we figured was best for our team,” Dickinson said. “It just didn’t work out.”

After Burris opened the third quarter by directing another scoring drive that ended with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Brad Sinopoli, who was voted the game’s best Canadian, it looked like there was an easy path to one of the CFL’s great upsets. But the Stampeders somehow collected themselves and it was the RedBlacks who started making mistakes that ate into their 27-7 lead.

The comeback started with a 32-yard Rene Paredes field goal. Then Mitchell, who had a horrendous first half, finally started hitting his receivers with Lemar Durant catching a 33-yard touchdown pass. The big mistake on that one was committed by Ottawa defensive back Antoine Pruneau. He somehow did not touch Durant after the latter fell after making the catch, allowing Durant to get up and run for the major. A video review let the touchdown stand.

Buckley’s touchdown, which cut Ottawa’s lead to four points, tightened a lot of collars among Ottawa fans but Burris wasn’t finished. The old guy went back out for yet another scoring drive, ending it at 6:03 of the fourth quarter with a one-yard plunge for his second rushing touchdown.

RedBlacks defensive back Forrest Hightower gave his team some breathing room with his second interception of the game, stopping a Calgary drive with 3:21 left in the fourth quarter. But Mitchell and the Stampeders came back a minute later, working their way into Ottawa territory where DaVaris Daniels, on third-down and two yards, ran an end-around 19 yards for a touchdown with 1:38 left in the fourth quarter. The convert cut Ottawa’s lead to 33-30, setting up Glenn Love’s recovery of an on-side kick for Calgary that started the heart-stopping final 90 seconds of play.

Now that he and the RedBlacks survived that 90 seconds, people are wondering if Burris will take the opportunity to retire as a champion. He sounded all week like someone who wants to keep playing but, standing in the end zone with his parents, wife, children and a group of friends in the middle of a loud celebration, Burris had other things on his mind.

“I’m so focused on enjoying this moment,” Burris said. “I want to find out what’s going on with this knee and enjoy my family. I’m just going to focus on my family, teammates, this city. Man, we’re going to party it up. Right now, I’m not even thinking about that.”</s>Brad Sinopoli was welling up at the Welcome Home party.

“It usually sinks in when you go to sleep and wake up and you can really think about it,” the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees quarterback-turned-Ottawa Redblacks receiver said moments after the Grey Cup champion squad touched down at the airport late Monday morning.

“But I don’t think a lot of guys slept (Sunday night). It still feels hard to explain it all, but coming to Ottawa, seeing the people, I’m so excited.”

Sinopoli, of course, was smack dab in the middle of the wild, wacky win over the Calgary Stampeders on Sunday night in Toronto. With time ticking down in regulation, he was high in the air with the game in his hands, but the Stampeders ripped the ball out to recover the onside kick. Calgary appeared en route to the game-winning touchdown, riding the wave of momentum and quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell’s arm.

But after the curious, ultimately unsuccessful, decision by Stampeders coach Dave Dickenson to have backup quarterback Andrew Buckley attempt to score the winning points, Calgary was forced to settle for a game-tying field goal.

After the Redblacks secured the overtime victory, Sinopoli was honoured as top Canadian, catching six passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.

“To deliver is the biggest thing,” said Sinopoli, who served as the Stampeders’ third string quarterback during the 2012 Grey Cup.

“It takes every single person, everybody steps up to do their part. It’s all kind of special, all part of the journey. I’m so lucky to be back in Ottawa, playing in front of family and friends. We’re just happy we can bring it back to them.”

Fellow receiver Ernest Jackson, who put himself in the company of 1976 Grey Cup star Tony Gabriel with his circus-like overtime touchdown catch to finish off the scoring, echoed Sinopoli’s words.

“It means a lot for the organization,” he said, while talking on the tarmac. “We’ve been through so much during the year and everybody putting us as the underdog. It’s everything for the fans. They come out and we sell out all our games and we get to bring (the Cup) home to them. It’s wonderful.”

As extra time began, Jackson says the Redblacks were confident, having lived through the overtime experience four times during the regular season.

“I was thinking of all the adversity we’ve been through and also that we had been through those situations and we knew how to handle it,” he said. “We knew we had to execute.”

At various points during the long night and early morning of celebrations that followed, Jackson saw replays of The Catch. Running through the middle of the field at full speed, he had his hands on the pass from Henry Burris, but couldn’t get immediate control. Somehow, he maintained his attention, popping the ball in the air several times before finally securing it and diving into the end zone.

On Monday, the CFL’s most sure-handed receiver and the Eastern Conference finalist for the most outstanding player award was laughing at himself for turning a routine reception into the type of catch that will go down as one of the most electrifying in Grey Cup history.

“I’ve seen it again and it was just the way I thought it was (on the field),” said Jackson. “I was coming around, I had a little slant, I saw the hole (between defenders). I got excited. I tried to run up field before I caught the ball and I didn’t completely have it in my hand. I bobbled it three times, then caught it over my shoulder.”

It was, he said, the biggest catch of his career.

“It’s great to put all the doubters to rest. Even up to the championship game, no one had the idea of us to win. For us to finalize that win is everything. It’s incredible, breathtaking, to be the winner. To be victorious in overtime is amazing.”

Jackson was full of praise for Burris, who took the train — not the team plane — back to Ottawa.

“Who, Hank?,” Jackson said with a smile when asked about the Redblacks quarterback taking his own route home. “I’m not surprised. He’s the MVP. He shouldn’t have made the flight.”

Redblacks coach Rick Campbell believes the team benefited from being at the Grey Cup a year ago, giving them a sharp focus during key moments — opening and finishing strong.

Come Monday, though, he says the players were all anxious to get back to Ottawa to enjoy the experience with the fans.

“All our guys on the plane kept talking about getting back and celebrating with fans,” Campbell said. “And for the people who stayed overnight, it was like Ottawa had taken over Toronto. It was awesome.”

The coach, who carried the Cup off the plane, says he didn’t sleep much.

“A little bit, not enough,” he said. “That’s OK. It’s a good tired. It was a big night.”</s>TORONTO — It’s mind-boggling how often this happens.

Here in 1989 Toronto played host to one of the most shabby Grey Cups in history. Saskatchewan fans poured in from all over the country only to find there was no Grey Cup hoopla here. But on the Sunday they went to Skydome and watched their team win arguably the greatest game in Grey Cup history.

Seven years later in Hamilton, at a hosting where they were giving tickets away with a Cup of coffee on game day, Doug Flutie won a snow bowl memory maker settled by Jake’s Mistake, a brutal call by referee Jake Ireland, it was the same story with the added bonus of the winter wonderland scene.

Here this year, where they had to cut prices in half, where tickets were given away with a pair of pizzas and where there were hundreds of empty seats for Grey Cup 104, there was another November to remember Grey Cup game.

And it was not only another classic, it was only the third Grey Cup OT in history, the most recent being Edmonton over Montreal in 2005. But this one had the added bonus of being historically significant on both sides of the ball.

Coaching a third-year expansion team, underdogs by 9½ points, on the same property where his dad Hugh won three of his five Grey Cups in a row, Rick Campbell coached the Ottawa Redblacks to a 39-33 OT win.

“I’m extremely proud of all the Redblacks and all of the fans. When I had the opportunity to interview, I’m glad my instincts were correct,” said Campbell after the game.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s nice to know we don’t have to get ready for practice Tuesday.

“It was great we were in the Grey Cup last year. We were capable of winning this game. It’s not a miracle when we play well. So good on our guys. We got it done. When it came down to it our guys rose to the occasion and got it done.”

On the flip side of that, a Calgary Stampeders team that won 14 in a row and would have ended up with a record 16-1-1 season if they hadn’t rested their star players in the last game, gagged on the game and came up empty on their latest attempt to create an era.

After winning a Cup in 2008, the Stampeders went 104-32-2 in the last eight years and only have won one other — in 2014.

“It’s touch to be on the wrong side of it,” said CFL Coach of the Year Dave Dickenson.

“I know it hurts. I can’t ask more out of these guys. I still consider this season a success.

“I want our guys to still have some pride in what that accomplished.”

The game was “memorable” before it began.

Forty-one year-old Henry Burris, the only member of the Redblacks who was alive when Ottawa won their most recent Grey Cup, limped off the field after warm-up.

With a half hour break for pre-game entertainment and ceremonies, reports broke that last year’s CFL Most Outstanding Player had damaged a knee and would be out for the game.

“There was almost a situation where I was almost unable to play today,” said Burris.

“My knee locked up on me before the game and, I mean I wouldn’t have been able to accept that. But you know what, for all those haters out there, there are organizations that haven’t won a Grey Cup in decades. But ours? Here we are. Grey Cup champions!”

Had a player ever injured himself in warm-up and took himself out of a championship game of any sport before.

When the players were introduced, Burris was not one of them. Back-up Trevor Harris was throwing, with his helmet on. But then, during the coin flip, Burris came charging out of the dressing room and onto the field, helmet on, and ready to play.

And it was Good Henry who showed up this day. And boy did he have a day.

Including overtime, Burris completed 35 of 46 passes for 461 yards to win Grey Cup MVP honours.

For Calgary, Bo Levi Mitchell, this year’s CFL most outstanding player, grabbed the game back with a touchdown featuring a 51-yard pass to Marquay McDaniel.

When McDaniel left the game with an injured shoulder early, Mitchell seemed to come unglued. He got it together to get his team to OT on a successful short kickoff in the final minute. But the wheels never fell of Burris who led Ottawa to a TD while Mitchell was 0-for-3 in the overtime.

Burris had Ottawa up 20-7 at the half 20 of 25 for 266 yards, converting 15 of 17 on second downs in a half in which the Stampeders committed three turnovers.

Last year Ottawa had Edmonton down early but couldn’t put them away and Mike Reilly ended up Grey Cup MVP.</s>TORONTO — Don’t tell Mike Sutherland the Redblacks (8-9-1) have no chance on Sunday.

He knows that’s not true. All too painfully well.

When the Redblacks square off against the Calgary Stampeders (15-2-1), they will attempt to become only the third team to win the Grey Cup after finishing the regular season with a losing record, sharing the distinction with the 2000 B.C. Lions (8-10) and the 2001 Stampeders (8-10).

And Sutherland, who is now the P.A. announcer at TD Place as well as the emcee at Redblacks functions and a self proclaimed “general hanger on” with the club, was on the two teams those Lions and those Stamps defeated in the big game — the Montreal Alouettes and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“If Redblacks fans are looking for something to latch on to, if they’re saying how are we going to possibly win this game, is there any bloody hope in hell that the Redblacks are going to come away with a win, I always say, just think about 2000,” Sutherland, an offensive linemen on four teams in his 10-year CFL career, said Saturday. “We finished the season 12-6. We were loaded. There’s no way we were going to lose this game. We were heavy favoured against a team that squeaked their way in and just started playing well at the end of the year.

“Next thing you know, we come up short. We lose the Grey Cup.”

The final score was 28-26. The Alouettes trailed by eight with 1:25 left, but narrowed the gap when Anthony Calvillo teamed up with Ben Cahoon for a 59-yard TD. However, they failed on a two-point convert and again with an onside kick.

Sutherland, who was a backup on that Alouettes team, signed with the Blue Bombers in the off-season and became a starter.

Little did he know that in Winnipeg, he would find out how Bill Murray’s character Phil Connors felt in Groundhog Day.

“We went 14-4, with Khari Jones, Charles Roberts, Milt Stegall, Mike Sellers, Doug Brown … we were an unstoppable force,” said Sutherland. “We ran over everybody in the regular season. It wasn’t even fair. We swept the awards (like Calgary did Thursday). We were playing against a team that somehow just managed to get into the freaking playoffs at 8-10. We were heavily favoured. There’s no way we’re going to lose this game. And we come up short again.”

Led by quarterback Marcus Crandell, the Stamps scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter and 10 more in the fourth to win 27-19. Those would be the only Grey Cup games Sutherland played in.

“I should be wearing two (rings) right now,” said Sutherland, who hopes to put an order in for one after Sunday.

“This is exactly the same scenario, if you think about it. I will say this: records are great, galas are great, individual awards are great, and all that stuff. It all points in a certain direction. But at the end of the day, it’s going to be played on Sunday. All of that other stuff, it doesn’t mean anything. Because anything can happen. You don’t know. A missed field goal, a fumble on a return, it could be anything. It’s whoever ends up playing their best on that day. For that second, on that play.

“I’ve been on the losing end, twice. In this exact scenario. Where there’s no way we’re going to lose. Where we’re so loaded up with talent, it’s not even fair. How did they even make it into the bloody game? They don’t even really deserve to be here.

“So if you think there’s no hope in hell that (the Redblacks) are going to win (Sunday), you’re absolutely wrong.”

Even ESPN giant Chris Berman likes the Stamps. Swami Sez Calgary wins, 35-20 … Redblacks offensive line coach Bryan Chiu also was on the Alouettes team that lost to the 8-10 Lions in 2000 … Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell was asked about the natural grass at BMO Field on Saturday. “We had to explain to some of the young guys that was actual grass, and that it’s a living plant that grows on the earth,” he said. “Seriously, some of these guys have never played on grass. It’s a great field, though. To me, it feels like a perfect CFL stadium.” … Campbell’s message to fans making their way to the game from the nation’s capital: “Be loud when Calgary is on offence,” he said. Added quarterback Henry Burris: “We knew Plaid nation would be making its way down here. We’re expecting our fans to be loud. Hopefully we can turn this place into TD Place South.” … The Redblacks sent out a release Saturday offering fans a 105-hour opportunity to “jump the line” and buy tickets for the 105th Grey Cup game in Ottawa. A $50 deposit is required. The offer, which is available on the team’s website, expires Wednesday at 10:30 p.m.

Despite a valiant effort, I couldn’t get a prediction from Ottawa safety Antoine Pruneau, who said the 2015 Redblacks would win 12 games at training camp — and they did. “We’re going to show up to win,” said Pruneau. “I’ve got no prediction. They don’t want me to make predictions anymore.” … Pruneau is paying no regard to the spread that has Calgary a heavy favourite. “The spread doesn’t matter for us,” he said. “We’ve got to play the game, we’re going to play it physical, and it’s going to be a good challenge for them if they want to go through the Ottawa Redblacks. It’s not going to take a miracle for the Ottawa Redblacks to win this game. We’ve just got to play our game. We’ve got a great quarterback, a great core of receivers, good defence and we’re ready to go.” … Ex-CFL great Ken Evraire is here shooting and doing interviews for his new social media venture, The Pregame. Says Evraire: “It’s been a lot of fun. It’s taking me back to my videographer days with the new ’RO.” … By Wild Bill Pierce, the executive producer of Postmedia Sports and Toronto Sun sports editor, we are reminded that some things do, in fact, happen in threes. Perhaps a Redblacks win after the Chicago Cubs and Donald Trump both staged miracle victories earlier this year? … By Young Mike Koreen, the Postmedia East Region sports editor, we are reminded that there was an Ottawa connection in the New York Giants’ stunning upset of the New England Patriots in the 2007 Super Bowl. Lawrence Tynes kicked for the Giants and the Ottawa Renegades.

TORONTO —The MVP of the 2015 Grey Cup game would pass on any friendly wagers he might be offered Sunday.

He wouldn’t take points, nor would he give them.

“The Grey Cup is never a game I would feel comfortable putting money on, because it can go either way,” Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly (inset) said in between signing autographs and posing for photos at the Shaw Media Tent on Saturday. “It just depends on that given day who comes out and is ready to play ball.”

Reilly’s team was defeated three times by the Redblacks in 2016, twice in the regular season and again in the Eastern final. So it’s no surprise that he says Ottawa, which oddsmakers set as a 9 1/2 point underdog last week, could actually win the game.

“I think they’ve got a great chance,” Reilly said of the Redblacks. “At the end of the day, Calgary is a great team that’s had a great season, but the Grey Cup is kind of a whole different beast.

“But Ottawa is in the Grey Cup for a reason, too. Because they play well in the big games. Obviously they beat us to get to the Grey Cup. So when it comes down to it, whoever comes out and just executes better that day is going to win the game.

“It’s not any secret about how to win a Grey Cup. You’ve got to come out and you’ve got to play good football.”

The Eskimos fell behind 13-0 to the Redblacks in last year’s Grey Cup game before Reilly rallied them to a 26-20 victory.

“We came out and didn’t play great in the first quarter and we were almost buried too deep in the hole to get out,” he said. “If Ottawa comes out and starts off well, like they did against us, then they have a great chance to win the football game.”

Reilly said the Eskimos lost to the Redblacks last Sunday because they didn’t play well in the first half.

“We didn’t adjust to the conditions near as quickly as they did,” he said. “But it’s one of those situations, regardless of the weather, they played a better football game than us and they deserved to win that game because of it. Like I said, they’re in the Grey Cup for a reason. They deserve to be here and they played good football when it mattered most.”

TORONTO — Last-minute game preparations for the Redblacks on Saturday included a lot of food and plenty of rest.

“You’ve just got to treat it the same way,” said defensive lineman Moton Hopkins. “It is a big game, but at the same time you can’t overhype it or overthink it. Just do the same routine. I get a good meal in, usually go to The Keg, get into bed by 9 p.m. and watch some Netflix.”

“Get a massive breakfast, light lunch, and just get ready for the game,” said Hopkins.

Henry Burris’ Saturday night plan was to see his parents, who arrived earlier in the day, then have dinner with “everybody.” He was also going to go over the game plan, watch some more film on Calgary and then turn on the TV to “watch the Temple Owls kick some butt.”

During the hours leading up to the game on Sunday, Burris said his teammates would be doing a lot of communicating with each other.

“I’m pretty sure the guys that are in our fantasy football league will be texting each other, and beaking each other,” said Burris, laughing.

“The focus still continues,” he added. “Making sure you’re well rested and get the right foods in you, stay hydrated and those types of things.

“But more so it’s staying off your feet. We’ll have some meetings and stuff tomorrow before just to make sure everybody is ready to go, we’ll go over some last minute details. When we burst out of the hotel and here to BMO and on to that field, we’re a bunch of well rested and focused guys.”
In Canadian football, the Ottawa Redblacks defeat the Calgary Stampeders 39–33. It is the first Grey Cup won by the Redblacks in franchise history. Redblacks quarterback Henry Burris is MVP and becomes the oldest player to win the MVP award in a Grey Cup.