The Leader-Post from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • 10

2 Sports The Leader-Post Regina Monday, November 21, 1994 rHoaskD ggeft lbti CFL catches a big break Column a fast and furious fourth quarter in which he rallied the Huskies from a 20-point deficit to a 37-34 lead with 1:03 remaining. Schneider hit Carey Prokop from 30 yards, Mo Norsten from 25 and David Blackburn from 34, which, along with a safety touch, gaVe the Huskies the short-lived lead. Theres no give in us, said Schneider, who showed the crowd of 28,652 at SkyDome why he has been a two-time nominee ps best football player in the country. Sure therere situ- CP photo ations that Ill look back at and think I that I could have UL.UM bnUMa done better but Huskies linemen (from left) Trevor Fleishfress- thats going to hap-er, Warren Muzika and James Repesse view pen every time. an unpleasant replay on the Jumbotron screen.

bck' on would week and a sellout on game day which is exactly what Bill Comrie envisioned two years ago when he bought the team and acquired the rights to the Grey Cup. The Lions are only part of the equation. Theyre only half of the solution. The other half will be flying to Vancouver from Baltimore on Tuesday. The Anything-But-Colts have given the CFL a chance to promote itself in a way the league has never done before.

Television viewers in Eastern Canada are notorious for ignoring the Grey Cup game when it involves two Western Canadian teams playing in a Western Canadian city. Viewers in the United States tend to ignore it, period. With Baltimore in the championship game, the CFL has a better chance of generating interest and thus attracting attention in both countries. Its an historic event which, if it makes an impact, could have a profound effect on the future of the league. Both on the field and off, the Anything-But-Colts have been an exemplary franchise.

They are the model the commissioner has been using in his attempts to sell the league to Americans, be they prospective fans or potential owners. Win or lose, an appearance in the Grey Cup game will only enhance Baltimores reputation and increase its usefulness as a marketing tool. The CFL has a chance to finish strongly, to make us forget, even temporarily, that Toronto couldnt care less about the Argonauts; that Ottawa has money problems; that Hamilton may not necessarily want the Tiger-Cats. It has an opportunity to divert our attention from the failure in Las Vegas, the uncertainty in Sacramento, the joke in Shreveport. I feel sorry for Winnipeg and Calgary.

The Blue Bombers and Stampeders had outstanding seasons. But Im happy for B.C. and for Baltimore, for the CFL most of all. They wouldnt agree with this in Winnipeg and Calgary, where the season ended in bitter disappointment on Sunday afternoon, but the fact of the matter is, the best thing that could have happened to the CFL did happen. At a time when it is trying to sell a championship game in Vancouver and expansion franchises in the United States, the league couldnt ask for a more favorable matchup than the B.C.

Lions and the Baltimore Anything-But-Colts. It makes sense financially and it seems appropriate historically. It is a wonderful opportunity for the CFL to score some important points on both sides of the border and you can bet that commissioner Lariy Smith went to bed a very happy man last night As usual the league is coming off a regular season when monetary issues overshadowed a truly entertaining product and the off-field crises took away from the on-field excitement As usual the league is counting on its showcase event to remind supporters and detractors alike that the Canadian game is unique in professional sport and worth preserving. As usual there was concern that the week-long Grey Cup festivities might not have the desired effect, the simple reason being that a championship game that features a couple of Western Canadian teams (Winnipeg and Calgary) and a neutral site (Vancouver) could easily bomb up here, never mind down there. As usual it was beginning to look as though the CFL would get exactly what it didnt need the Blue Bombers and Stampeders at B.C.

i Place. Fortunately, in a pair of dramatic divisional finals, one domi-I nated by defence and the other by offence, the Anything-But-Colts and the Lions prevailed. It took a 54-yard wind-aided field 1 goal by Don Igwebuike with three minutes remaining in Winnipeg, and a four-yard touchdown pass TORONTO (CP) It could well have been the greatest Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union football championship ever. The Western Ontario Mustangs thrilling 50-40 overtime win Saturday over the Saskatchewan Huskies certainly featured some of the most outstanding individual performances in Vanier Cup history. Quarterbacks, receivers and running backs put up big numbers in the shootout, but it was Western kicker Frank Jagas who was the difference as he collected a Vanier Cup-record 20 points from five field goals and five converts.

His most important three-pointer came with four seconds left in regulation. Jagass kick from 42 yards out which barely cleared the crossbar tied the game 37-37. The offence did a great job to give me a shot at the end there, said Jagas, a fifth-year kicker from Kitchener, who has been to two CFL training camps with the Toronto Argonauts. A 42-yarder, you cant miss that. Youre either the hero or the goat Saskatchewan took the lead in overtime with its longest field goal of the season 23 yards by Weyburns Akis Georgacacos, who also had five converts on the day.

Jagas then kicked two more field goals to give Western a 43-40 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the second half of overtime. Anthony Lanes 77-yard punt return for a touchdown at 6:35 the first special-teams TD this season for the Mustangs sealed Westerns sixth Vanier Cup title. Thats the key to this team, said head coach Larry Haylor, who has won two Vanier Cups as coach of the Mustangs. Our team looks at the situation and sees what the big play is needed to win and we executed it. Cougars By L-P SPORTS STAFF The University of Regina Cougars hockey team waited until the third period to kick into high gear.

The Cougars defeated the Brandon Bobcats 5-2 in CWUAA action on Saturday at the Sherwood Arena Centre. The Cougars outscored the Bobcats 4-1 in the third period to put the game on ice. The victory improved the Cougars first-place record to 8-3-1, two points ahead of the Calgary Dinosaurs (7-2-1), who have two games in hand. The Bobcats fell to 3-9-0 and are tied with the Saskatchewan Huskies for last place in the eight-team loop. Regina and Brandon played a scoreless first period before Reginas Corri Moffatt, with his 11th goal of the season, and Brandons Simon have to include the five interceptions he threw, including three in the Mustangs end zone.

Two were picked off by Xavier Lafont, the defensive player-of-the-game, and the other was by Todd MacKay. i Western quarterback Warren Goldie ran for one touchdown and hit Stewart Beak, Sean Eeade and Tom McConnell with TD passes. Norsten, of Moose Jaw, added two touchdowns on the ground for the Huskies to tie a Vanier Cup record with three toucdowns in a game. from Cats Lions proud of road wins Weve done that all year. Somebody always come through with the big play.

Jagass heroics wouldnt have been necessary had it not been for the phenomenal effort of Saskatchewan quarterback Brent Schneider, the games MVP. The third-year pivot from Saskatoon set three records by completing 36 of 67 passes for 528 yards. He also tied a Vanier Cup record with five touchdown passes. Three of those TD passes came in pull away Olivier traded second-period goals. In the third period, Regina got goals from Greg Hutchings, Mike Cameron, Rob Harvey and Jeff Chor-ney.

Olivier replied for Brandon. Hutchings had a goal and two assists in the weekend series against Brandon to increase his league-leading total to 23 points (13 goals and 10 assists). Regina won 5-1 on Friday. Regina goaltender Todd Hollinger, making his first appearance of the season, stopped 25 shots. Chris Schinkel was in the Brandon net and stopped 27 shots.

The Manitoba Bisons proved too much for the Cougars mens and womens volleyball teams in GPAC action at the Physical Activity Centre. In mens action, the Bisons downed the Cougars 15-0, 15-3, 15-5. ri 15r i'XCE' 1k Brian Webb was the top Cougars players with eight digs. The Bisons improved their GPAC record to 2-0. The Cougars fell to 04.

In womens play, the Bisons defeated the Cougars 15-9, 15-5, 154. Jana Friedenstab, playing in her last GPAC match, led the Cougars with 15 kills and 14 digs. Teammate Marilyn Douglas added seven digs. The Bisons improved their record to 2-0. The Cougars fell to 0-2.

The Cougars mens and womens basketball teams played exhibition games at the PAC. In womens action, the Cougars beat the North Dakota State University-Bottineau Lady Jacks 107-50. The Cougars lost 88-77 to the NDSU-Bottineau Lumberjacks. No particulars were available on the games. Nick Miliokas from Danny McManus to Darren Flutie on the final play of the game in Calgary.

The Anything-But-Colts got a 14-12 victory over the Blue Bombers, the Lions got a 37-36 victory over the Stampeders, and the CFL got a big break. The last time it was staged in Vancouver, in 1990, the Grey Cup was an unmitigated disaster. The Bombers defeated Edmonton, 50-11, but the Eskimos werent the only guys who took a kicking that year. The CFL took one also. Officially the attendance was nudge-nudge, wink-wink 46,968.

Not only was it less than a full-house, it was a house papered by the last-minute ticket giveaways by the panic-stricken commissioner of the day, J. Donald Crump. The residents of Vancouver were indifferent to both the game and the festival. The Grey Cup depends to a large extent on the support of fans who come in from out of town, but it is the locals who ultimately determine the success or failure with their enthusiasm or lack of same. There will be no excuses this year.

There is no reason why the Grey Cup shouldnt be an overwhelming success. The Lions involvement should guarantee both a party atmosphere through the to play a Grey Cup in its home city since B.C. did and lost in 1983. The last team to win a Grey Cup at home was the Montreal Alouettes in 1977. The Lions will be playing host to the Baltimore CFLs on Sunday in the 82nd Grey Cup.

Baltimore, a first-year franchise led by nomadic head coach Don Matthews, became the first U.S. team in the Grey Cup by beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 14-12 in the Eastern final. I dont listen to other guys, to people who said we shouldnt be there, Lions head coach Dave Ritchie said. Weve had to work hard to get here and weve got a chore ahead of us because weve got to stop a great running back (Baltimores Mike Pringle.) Baltimore beat the visiting Lions 48-13 on Oct 22 in their only meeting this season. There are a lot of ways to look at this one, Wilburn said.

This is me turn out back Doug Flutie. Darren Flutie caught a TD pass as time expired. You couldnt have written a better script for us," said Grey Cup Festival Society president Howie Young. Before Sundays Western Division final only about half the 60,000 Grey Cup tickets had been sold. Now Young is predicting a sellout Prices range from $50 to $125.

Although there weren't any celebrations In Vancouver streets Sunday night, city police say they already have a plan for maintaining peace during Grey Cup festivities. And Mayor Philip Owen said the city might ban liquor in the stands. It was a touchdown, a guaranteed touchdown, Wilcox said with a sigh, his number 87 shimmering from a gold pendant on his chest I mean, it doesnt get any easier. Then it goes off the crossbar. What do you do? For Bob Cameron, the Bombers veteran punter, it was being the guy left holding the ball in what turned into an embarrassing play.

Cameron didnt realize the Bombers were trying to execute a fake field goal Im out there calling for the field goal and I have no idea, said the salt-and-pepper-haired 40-year-old of what could be his last game in the CFL Hes running behind me and Im going, What the heck. The next thing I know I get thumped in the head. For mammoth offensive lineman Miles Gorrell, it was losing to an American franchise and what that means to the future of Canadian-born players like himself. I think Canadians can play, only we dont start oat when were five years old. There I not as much time By DARRELL DAVIS (L-P Sports Writer ri CALGARY Homeward bound.

Its been quite a journey for the cocky B.C. Lions, who won their second CFL playoff game in Alberta on Sunday and have become the home team for the 1994 Grey Cup. la We took it from everybody in their own backyard, but Baltimore 'isnt going to beat us at our place, iLions defensive back Bariy Wilburn hsaid after B.C. won the Western Division championship with a 37-36 victory over the Calgary Stampeders. B.C.

had advanced to the Western with another one-point victory, '24-23, on Nov. 12 over the Edmonton 'Eskimos. We dont get any respect for what weve accomplished, Lions linebacker Henry Newby said. We still wont get no respect, even if we win one more. The Lions become the first team B.C.

fans VANCOUVER (CP) Hundreds of screaming football fans greeted the B.C. Lions as players arrived at Vancouver airport hours after a dramatic last-second victory over the Stampeders on a frozen, snow-covered field in Calgary. Sunday's 37-36 CFL win lifted the Lions into the Grey Cup game at B.C. Place Stadium on Sunday against the Baltimore CFLs. More ttian 300 fans surged into the airport terminal to welcome home the team, many chanting: Weve got the best Flutie a ref- erence to Lions receiver Darren Flutie, brother of Calgary quarter iS 35Siii xjJpSlSfclSffiSil 'C iiJjg: av wy TSifruiSSDfliSjV 'i -Safi- 5 'SSS'lsSiSri'Ci J55 against my old coaches.

B.C. against Baltimore. The U.S. versus Canada. With the league poised to expand further in the U.S.

and the possible demise of roster regulations that demand 20 non-import players on the 37-man rosters of Canadian teams, this championship game is becoming a point of pride for the Canadian teams. It is a CanadianU.S. thing, said Lions safety Tom Europe, a Canadian. Unless Baltimore doesnt show up, were Canadas team and Baltimore is the U.S.s team, said Lions tackle Vic Stevenson, a Canadian. Theres a lot riding on this game because more than the Grey Cup is riding on it The Lions were careful with their praise for Baltimore, but they were eager to chide their fallen opponents.

Theres only one Flutie who can play in the cold thats Darren, said Lions linebacker Virgil Robertson. Darren Flutie, a Lions slotback, caught three touchdown passes, including the game-winner on a snow-covered field. Stampeders quarterback Doug Flutie, Darrens brother, passed for 311 yards in a losing effort Wilburn had several confrontations with Stampeders all-star slot-back Allen Pitts, who was held to four catches for 58 yards. I told Pitts hes good, but not great Wilburn said. Hes no Jerry Rice, Andre Rison, Art Monk.

Ive got a long list of receivers ahead of him. I told him he cant walk that way because hes not that great Now Im going to play against another one (Baltimore slotback Chris Armstrong). Ill tell him the same thing, that hes good but that he cant do anything against me. The hype has started. and effort spent on Canadian football as on Canadian hockey.

And for coach Cal Murphy, it was losing, plain and simple. They wanted to win so badly, Murphy said softly. Its been a long time since Ive been in a locker room where I've seen a team take a loss so hard. In the Baltimore dressing room, the mood was predictably upbeat The upstart team was relishing its status as the first American club to be in the Grey Cup. Im excited," jubilant quarterback Tracy Ham said as beer cans snapped open in the background, not only for myself but for everyone in this room.

Linebacker Elfrid Payton was not without some sympathy for Winnipeg. He was with the Bombers last year when that team played in the Grey Cup. Ive got close friends over there, said Payton. But they knew once the ball was snapped that it was going to be all business. Bombers left feeling blue 57-965 47,895 36,734 Phone: 757-9657 DL A1597 qafAtable totes.

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Any comment about losing the Eastern Division final by two Ipoints? It seemed each key player had jsome particular heartbreak to reflect on in their 14-12 CFL loss to lithe Baltimore CFLs on Sunday. For quarterback Matt Dunigan jthe last guy out of the shower it was the sickening sight of seeing a Bhird-quarter touchdown pass JJbounce off the crossbar before it jcould reach the waiting hands of slotback Gerald Wilcox. .1 I dont think Ive hit a crossbar Since Ive been in the league, shrugged Dunigan, his wet hair slicked back in a ponytail You know, it happens. Jl For Wilcox it was being on the non-receiving end of a pass that Imight have brought t)je Bombers to The Grey Cup. TAYIOR VOLKSWAGEN INC.

1580 Albert Regina, Sask. VOLKSWAGEN AUDI.