21st Grey Cup

The 21st Grey Cup game was the Canadian football championship in 1933. Toronto Argonauts defeated Sarnia Imperials 4–3 at Sarnia's Davis Field on December 9 before a crowd of 2,751.cite web|url=http://greycup.cfl.ca/1933gc|title=Grey Cup 1933|publisher=Canadian Football League|accessdate=2008-09-28]

emi-final

The Canadian Rugby Union changed the playoff format for the 1933 season. Since 1921, the Western Canadian winner had been given a bye to the championship but this year, the winner from the West would face the Toronto Argonauts in a semi-final, while the Sarnia Imperials were given a bye to the final.

The Winnipeg Football Club ended the Regina Roughriders' reign out West, and faced Toronto in the semi, where the Argos won 13–0 to advance to the final.

Championship game summary

The only Grey Cup ever played in Sarnia was on a frozen, snow-covered Davis Field. The Imperials dominated the first half and led 1–0 at halftime on a rouge by Sarnia's Bummer Stirling. Stirling added another point for the Imperials in the third quarter. Then the complexion of the game changed when Argonaut Victory "Tuffy" Griffiths blocked Stirling’s kick on the Sarnia 40-yard line, giving Toronto the ball. Jack Taylor caught a lateral pass from Andy Mullen and ran 20 yards around the end. Teddy Morris then gained another seven yards setting the ball straight in front of the goal posts for kicker Tommy Burns who scored for a Toronto field goal.

Sarnia was able to tie score in the fourth quarter with another single, but a Sarnia fumble helped set up Toronto with a single of their own, which turned out to be the winning point. The Imperials, however, threatened in the final minute when Rocky Parsaca threw a pass to future Hall of Famer [cite web|url=http://www.cfhof.ca/index.php?module=page&id=24&player=Perry,%20Norm|title=Norm Perry|work=Hall of Famers|publisher=Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum|accessdate=2008-09-28] [cite web|url=http://www.cshof.ca/hm_profile.php?i=245|title=Norman Perry|work=Honoured Members|publisher=Canada's Sports Hall of Fame|accessdate=2008-09-28] Norm Perry, who ran across the field and down the sideline. Toronto’s Ab Box dove at Perry at the Toronto 45-yard line but he didn't stop until he was five yards from the goal line. Referee Jo-Jo Stirrett, however, ruled that Perry had stepped out of bounds evading Box and the ball was brought back to Toronto's 45 yard line.

Box had saved the Argonauts throughout the game with long punts and several huge tackles as the last line on defence which prevented potential scoring plays for the Imperials. In the end, although most people felt the Imperials proved themselves to be a better team, Toronto outlasted Sarnia in a defensive struggle and were awarded the trophy.

Even though forward passes had been legal since the 1929 season [cite web|url=http://greycup.cfl.ca/1929gc|title=Grey Cup 1929|publisher=Canadian Football League|accessdate=2008-09-28] , 1933 was the first time no touchdowns were scored in a Grey Cup. Stirling kicked all three singles for Sarnia and Toronto scored a field goal and a single.

References

sequence
prev=20th Grey Cup
list=Grey Cup games
next=22nd Grey Cup