University of Massachusets Athletics
Alum Keron Williams Wins CFL's Grey Cup
December 04, 2009 | Football
Dec. 4, 2009
CALGARY, Alberta - Former UMass all-conference defensive lineman Keron Williams helped his Montreal Alouettes to the 2009 CFL Grey Cup Championship. Williams, who was a CFL All-Star as a defensive tackles, made two tackles in the final as the Als rallied for a 28-27 win over the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.
Williams, who has played four seasons in the CFL made 32 tackles this season and racked up eight sacks, tied for ninth-most in the league.
Here's a complete game recap.
Damon Duval's 33-yard field goal on the game's final play, off a second opportunity thanks to a Saskatchewan penalty, boosted Montreal to a 28-27 win over the Roughriders in the 97th edition of the Grey Cup.
The Alouettes, who lost last year's CFL title game to Calgary, rallied from a 16-point deficit in the final quarter to win the Grey Cup for the first time since 2002.
Montreal lost its previous three times in the league's championship game, but got a huge reprieve thanks to the Roughriders having 13 men on the field with zeroes showing on the clock, after Duval pushed a field goal try wide right.
The ball was moved 10 yards closer and Duval was true on the final attempt.
"The disappointment of this loss is going to last each one of us for as long as we're on this planet," said Saskatchewan coach Ken Miller. "Everyone in our locker room knows that we should have won the football game and ended up not."
Roughriders special teams coordinator Kavis Reed took blame for the penalty that ultimately changed CFL history.
"A mistake was made that essentially cost us the Grey Cup championship," he said. "When you look at it I think mechanically I did things correctly. I tried to count as much as possible. It was not a heat-of-the moment thing. I was going through the mechanics of counting. I asked people to verify the count and that mistake was made. I don't blame a player. For the rest of my life I have to live with that. I shoulder the blame."
Anthony Calvillo, who was honored Thursday night as the CFL's top player, completed 26-of-39 passes for 314 yards with a pair of touchdowns for the Alouettes.
Jamel Richardson caught eight passes for 113 yards and a score for the Alouettes, while Avon Cobourne had 16 rushes for 85 yards and a touchdown and was named the game's most valuable player. Cobourne also caught six passes for 64 yards.
Montreal slotback Ben Cahoon, who had five catches for 57 yards and a score, was named the game's most valuable Canadian.
"It's a great team victory," said Cahoon. "It's a perfect example of how sticking together and believing in yourself, you can do great things. We didn't fold the tent. We weren't negative at halftime. We knew if we came out and played Alouette football we'd have a chance."
Darian Durant connected on 17-of-29 passes for 201 yards with a TD, but was intercepted twice for the Roughriders. Saskatchewan won the title two years ago over Winnipeg.
Duval had a 52-yard single early in the fourth, but Durant scored on a scramble up the middle for a 27-11 Saskatchewan lead with under 11 minutes left.
Cobourne then scored on a three-yard run on Montreal's next possession, and the Als got the ball back when Roughriders receiver Anthony Fantuz ran off his pattern and the ball was picked off by Jerald Brown. Calvillo then connected with Kerry Carter for the two points for a 27-19 game.
Calvillo took the Als from midfield to the end zone, capping the drive with a three-yard TD pass to Richardson with 1:45 left. The two-point conversion try failed though as a pass to Richardson was too high, even though contact was made by Saskatchewan's Donovan Alexander, but there was no penalty called.
Saskatchewan failed to get a first down, but nearly sealed the win when Brian Bratton muffed the ensuing punt return. Etienne Boulay recovered for the Als, and Calvillo threw for 23 yards to Richardson and later 17 yards to Kerry Watkins to set up the ending.
Luca Congi kicked a 40-yard field goal in the first quarter and Durant hit Fantuz with an eight-yard scoring pass for a 10-0 lead after one period.
Duval split the uprights from 28 yards away in the second before Congi was true from 44 yards out. After a Roughriders single, Congi hit a nine-yard field goal on the final play of the half. The kick was made possible after video replay was used to overturn an incomplete call, ultimately giving Fantuz a 28-yard gain.
Calvillo threw eight yards for a score to Richardson in the third before Congi kicked a 23-yard field goal later in the period.
