Burris propels Stampeders to Grey Cup crown

Nov 24, 2008 - 2:14 PM MONTREAL (Ticker) -- Henry Burris threw for 328 yards and a touchdown to earn Most Valuable Player honors as the Calgary Stampeders captured their sixth Grey Cup title with a 22-14 triumph over the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday.

Burris connected on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Brett Ralph and Sandro DeAngelis booted five field goals, four in the second half, as the Stampeders overcame a 10-point deficit by scoring 19 of the game's last 20 points.

"I don't even think I'm thinking right now," Burris said. "I'm just trying to wake myself up from this great dream I'm living right now. It such a surreal feeling. I really don't know how to think right now. But I'll tell you this. Whatever it is, it feels great."

Burris finished second in the MVP voting for the regular season award behind Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo, but got the better of his counterpart in the 96th edition of the Grey Cup.

Calvillo threw a pair of interceptions in the fourth quarter, snapping a string of 64 straight passes without doing so as the Stampeders' defense allowed just a Damon Duval single in the second half.

"It isn't going to happen again, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we just let it slip through our hands," Calvillo said.

DeAngelis, who won Most Valuable Canadian honors, booted a 50-yarder late in the game to provide the final margin.

"This is one of the greatest days of my life," the Niagara Falls, Ontario native told TSN of Canada. "We are immortal."

Duval and DeAngelis exchanged field goals from 14 and 44 yards, respectively, as the game got off to a slow start.

The Alouettes scored their only touchdown of the game on a 16-yard scoring run by Avon Cobourne. Reggie Hunt intercepted Burris on the ensuing possession and Duval added a 16-yard field goal for a 10-point lead.

The Stampeders cut the deficit to three prior to halftime when Burris found Ralph in the corner of the end zone.

A pair of DeAngelis field goals came around Duval's single and put Calgary ahead, 16-14, heading to the fourth quarter. Dwight Anderson picked off Calvillo to open the final period and Shannon James had an interception in the end zone midway through the fourth.