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Photo: Scott Grant and CBC Sports
Ours is a passing game, and from week to week and from year to year, it seems more CFL games are decided in the final minutes then not. Yet, since its inception in 1909, the Grey Cup Game has only once witnessed a last-minute game-winning touchdown reception hauled-in by Tony Gabriel of the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1976.
Anyone who watched the play will smile fondly (or ruefully) and nod in agreement when it is referred to as “The Catch”. With 20
seconds remaining in the 4th quarter, trailing the Saskatchewan Roughriders 20-16, Ottawa Rough Rider Tony Gabriel caught a deep touchdown pass from quarterback Tom Clements and effectively ended the Saskatchewan Roughriders Grey Cup dream.
Said Gabriel later describing the play, “As I watched him [Clements] released a perfect pass that headed right for me. Mentally I had my fingers crossed; “Let nothing distract me” I prayed … I drifted in the direction of the ball, reached over and plucked it from the air. Gary Kuzyk who had come downfield on the pattern said he saw my face as I fingered the ball: “Gabber, your eyes were six feet wide open!” … Had I dropped the ball I would have kept on running, right out of the end-zone, all the way back to Ottawa and would have retired from football.”
Ottawa held on for the win and while he went on to add to his legend, Gabriel’s catch was to become a touchstone memory for Canadian football fans.
Gabriel was the CFL Reception Leader in 1976 with 72 and was the lone CFL receiver to exceed 1000 yds. Gabriel’s team finished first in the East in 1976 but entered the Grey Cup as underdogs. They were facing a Saskatchewan team, which had given up only 238 points. It was the lowest points total in the West since 1971. Fittingly, Clements would finish with only 174 yards passing on the day. But along with the scintillating game-winner, Gabriel would collect 7 receptions for 124 yards. But it was that final historic catch which sealed a Grey Cup MVP award. Gabriel added later, “I didn’t keep the ball, I spiked the ball. The biggest touchdown of my life and I don’t keep the ball. I want that ball.” It was also Ottawa’s last Grey Cup victory.
Tony Gabriel was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in August, 1984
