Baltimore Claims Canada’s Grey Cup After Failing Last Season, Stallions Don’t Fall Short Against Stampeders

The Baltimore Stallions went for CFL history last year and finally made it Sunday.

A 37-20 victory over the Calgary Stampeders made the Stallions the first U.S.-based team to win the Grey Cup in the CFL’s 83-year history.

The 2-year-old franchise was denied last year when it was beaten by the British Columbia Lions on a last-second field goal in the title game, but this time the Stallions claimed the trophy on a day that featured winds around 35 mph.

“When we left B.C. Place last year, we had a bad taste in our mouth,” said Baltimore quarterback Tracy Ham, the game’s MVP. “I think these guys understood after last year the meaning of the Grey Cup.”

How long the Grey Cup will stay in Baltimore is uncertain.

Stallions owner Jim Speros has spent recent weeks looking for a possible new home, given the news that the NFL’s Cleveland Browns are moving to Baltimore.

”Most teams could have crumbled the last two weeks with all the things that have gone on,” Speros said. “I’m just so proud of this team because we’re champions.”

Baltimore relied on superb special teams play, five field goals by Carlos Huerta and a stubborn defense keyed by middle linebacker O.J. Brigance to stop Calgary quarterback Doug Flutie.

Flutie finished 23 of 49 for 287 yards with one interception.

“We moved the ball well (but) couldn’t finish off drives,” Flutie said. “Our guys weren’t getting open when Baltimore dropped nine guys in coverage. We needed to run the ball, but got stuffed.”

Ham was 17 of 29 for 213 yards.

Mike Pringle, the league’s outstanding player of 1995, was held to 42 yards rushing in the opening half, but finished with 137 on 21 carries as Baltimore controlled the ball in the last quarter.

“Everybody stayed focused. Everybody believed,” said Pringle, who also played at Washington State. “Nobody was going to beat us today.”

Baltimore led 23-13 after a first half in which the Stallions’ special teams excelled. Rookie Chris Wright returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and Alvin Walton returned a blocked punt four yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Ham scrambled 13 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

The Stampeders got touchdowns from Marvin Pope on a two-yard pass from Flutie in the second quarter and a one-yard sneak by Flutie in the third.

One of Huerta’s field goals was a 53-yarder, breaking the Grey Cup record by one yard.

The win was the first pro football championship for Baltimore since the Colts won the 1971 Super Bowl.

Stallions 37, Stampeders 20

Baltimore 7 16 8 6 - 37

Calgary 6 7 7 0 - 20

First quarter Bal-Wright 82 punt return (Huerta kick), 2:12.

Cal-FG McLoughlin 35, 7:19.

Cal-FG McLoughlin 32, 14:21.

Second quarter

Cal-Pope 2 pass from Flutie (McLoughlin kick), :39.

Bal-FG Huerta 30, 2:51.

Bal-Walton 4 fumble return (Huerta kick), 7:13.

Bal-FG Huerta 45, 9:49.

Bal-FG Huerta 53, 13:30.

Third quarter

Bal-Single Miller 80, 1:06.

Cal-Flutie 1 run (McLoughlin kick), 7:21.

Bal-Ham 13 run (Huereta kick), 12:37.

Fourth quarter

Bal-FG Huerta 41, 7:29.

Bal-FG Huerta 18, 13:40.

A-52,564.

Bal Cal First downs 18 21 Rushes-yards 29-150 20-78 Passing 213 287 Comp-Att-Int 17-29-0 23-49-0 Sacks 1 1 Punts 8-34 7-42 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-2 Penalties-Yards 6-60 5-40 Time of Possession 30:50 29:10

Individual statistics

RUSHINGBaltimore, Pringle 21-137, Ham 7-24, Alphin 1-(minus-11). Calgary, Flutie 10-45, Stewart 10-33.

PASSINGBaltimore, Ham 17-29-0-213. Calgary, Flutie 23-49-1-287.

RECEIVINGBaltimore, Drummond 3-47, Clark 3-44, Alphin 2-40, Armstrong 3-27, Tuipulotu 2-21, Culver 2-18, Pringle 2-16. Calgary, Sapunjis 8-113, Stewart 7-58, Pitts 3054, T.Vaughn 3-46, Williams 1-13, Pope 1-2.