Toronto Argonauts win record 19th Grey Cup as Prince Harry makes surprise appearance

By James On Nov 18, 2024

Backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle led the Toronto Argonauts to their record-extending 19th Gray Cup title, throwing two second-half touchdown passes in a 41-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday night at BC Place.

Forced into action after starter Chad Kelly broke his ankle in Toronto’s East championship win over Montreal, Arbuckle completed 26 of 37 passes for 252 yards in Toronto’s second Gray Cup win over Winnipeg in three seasons.

Toronto has won its last eight games in the 1991 Gray Cup and is 8-0 against Winnipeg, also defeating the Blue Bombers in 1937, 1938, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950 and 2022. Winnipeg appeared in its fifth consecutive Gray Cup. Cup. It won back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2021, with the 2000 season canceled.

Arbuckle threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dejon Brissett to give Toronto a 24-16 lead with 7:31 remaining. On the first play after kickoff, DaShaun Amos intercepted Zach Collaros’ pass and returned it to the Winnipeg 16 to set up Brian Hajrullahu’s 14-yard field goal with 5:11 left.

Robert Priester added 3:12 of ice time with a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown. Wynton McManis then returned another interception 58 yards to the 4, with Ka’Deem Carey scoring on the next play to make it 41-16.

Collaros, the only player to make five consecutive Gray Cup starts, was 15 of 30 for 202 yards and four interceptions. Brady Oliveira, the league’s best player and best Canadian this year, ran for 84 yards and a TD, scored on a 1-yard run and added a 2-point conversion in the final minute.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex will announce ahead of the Gray Cup on Sunday between Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Place. Photo: Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA Today Sports

Toronto – which defeated Winnipeg in both regular season meetings – took a 17-10 lead with 6:13 left in the third quarter on Arbuckle’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Mital, a play after Fraser Sopik recovered Lucky Whitehead’s fumble a punt had recovered yield.

Winnipeg cut the score to 17-13 on Sergio Castillo’s 40-yard field goal with 2:13 left in the third. The Blue Bombers’ Michael Ayers then blocked John Haggerty’s kick, but Toronto ended up with a first down because Kyrie Wilson interfered with an Argonauts player while the ball was loose.

The Blue Bombers got the ball back two plays later when Willie Jefferson intercepted Arbuckle’s pass and returned it four yards to the Toronto 30, setting up Castillo’s 23-yard field goal.

Prince Harry made a pregame appearance. The Duke of Sussex is promoting the Invictus Games to be held in the area in February.