By Michael Heilman

For the first time since 1990, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers raised the Grey Cup Trophy defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33-13 Sunday night at McMahan Stadium in Calgary, AB.

The last time the Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup. George H.W. Bush was President. Nintendo released Super Nintendo, Neo-Geo video game console debut in the US. Ghost was the highest-grossing film in 1990. The San Francisco 49ers won Super Bowl XXIV over the Denver Broncos 55-10. The Miami Hurricanes won the National Championship over the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-25. The Cincinnati Reds swept the Oakland Athletics to win the World Series. Detroit Pistons won the NBA Finals over the Portland Trailblazers. UNLV won the NCAA Final Four Men’s Championship, and the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Boston Bruins four games to one to win the Stanley Cup.

Former Hamilton Tiger-Cats and current Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros went 17 of 23 pass completions for 170-yards and zero touchdowns. Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris had 18 carries for 134-yards and one touchdown. Harris became the first CFL player in history to win both the Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian awards. Kenny Lawler led the Blue Bombers in receiving yards catching three balls for 52-yards. Blue Bombers kicker Justin Medlock made six of seven field goals.

The Blue Bombers defense dominated the Tiger-Cats. Willie Jefferson led the team with three sacks, and two forced fumbles. Blue Bombers Jackson Jeffcoat had two sacks, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, and Drake Nevis recorded a sack. Blue Bombers Mike Jones and Brandon Alexander each had one interception.

The Tiger-Cats had no answers all game long. Tiger-Cats quarterback Dane Evans was 16 of 27 with 203 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Tiger-Cats running back Tyrell Sutton led the team in rushing yards carrying the ball eleven times for 85-yards. Wide Receiver Jaelon Acklin led the team in receiving yards with catching five passes for 88-yards. The lone touchdown came from wide receiver Bralon Edwards catching three passes for thirty yards and one touchdown. The Tiger-Cats defense only sacked Zach Collaros one time, and that was defensive back Simoni Lawrence.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers can now celebrate this historic achievement that so many players have tried to do after 1990. Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Chuck Noll once said, “The critics are always right. The only way you shut them up is by winning.” The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have officially shut up their critics and are now world champions.