On November 26, 1989, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats faced off in the 77th Grey Cup, the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The game, played at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, would become one of the most memorable and controversial matches in CFL history.
The Roughriders, led by quarterback Kent Austin and running back Tim McCray, had a strong season and were looking to capture their second Grey Cup title. On the other hand, the Tiger-Cats, quarterbacked by Mike Kerrigan and featuring star receiver Tony Champion, were aiming for their first championship since 1986.
The game started with Saskatchewan taking an early lead, but Hamilton fought back to tie the score at 21-21 by halftime. In the second half, the Roughriders pulled ahead once again, leading 40-33 with just a few minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
However, the Tiger-Cats refused to give up. They managed to drive down the field and score a touchdown with 44 seconds left on the clock, cutting Saskatchewan's lead to 40-39. Instead of going for the tie with a single point conversion, Hamilton decided to take a risk and attempt a two-point conversion for the win.
This is where the controversy began. On the two-point conversion attempt, Mike Kerrigan threw a pass to Tony Champion in the end zone. The pass was incomplete, but the Roughriders were called for pass interference. Due to the rules at the time, the penalty gave Hamilton another chance at the two-point conversion from the one-yard line.
On the second attempt, running back Paul Osbaldiston took a handoff and appeared to be stopped short of the goal line. However, after a lengthy discussion, the officials ruled that Osbaldiston had crossed the plane of the goal line, giving Hamilton a 41-40 lead with just seconds remaining.
Saskatchewan's final desperation play was unsuccessful, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats were crowned the 1989 Grey Cup champions in one of the most thrilling and disputed finishes in CFL history. The controversy surrounding the final play has led to the game being nicknamed "The Kick," and it remains a topic of discussion among CFL fans to this day.
The 1989 Grey Cup showcased the excitement and unpredictability of Canadian football, and it will forever be remembered as one of the most dramatic championships in sports history.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
