From drought to dominance, Blue Bombers win back-to-back Grey Cup titles

For nearly three decades, beginning in 1990, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and their loyal fans wondered if they'd ever hoist the Grey Cup again.

Their 29-year championship drought was a dark cloud hanging over the team — and something the franchise was tired of talking about.

What a difference a few years make.

On a blustery night in Hamilton, Ont., with a sold out crowd of more than 26,000 fans packed into Tim Hortons Field mostly cheering for the Tiger-Cats, the Bombers won a thrilling overtime decision 33-25.

They are now back-to-back Grey Cup champions, the third time in team history, after consecutive wins over the Hamilton Tigers-Cats in the title game.

In fact, in the previous two occasions where the Bombers won back-to-back Grey Cups, the victories were also against the Ticats, in 1958-59 and 1961-62.

"Resilience. Perseverance. We did it all year. Just an amazing group," said Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros.

Sunday night's 108th Grey Cup game was an instant classic, with the Bombers storming back from being down 12 points in the fourth quarter. Hamilton forced overtime in the waning seconds of the game.

But like so many times throughout the season, Winnipeg found a way to win when it mattered most.

In overtime, Collaros found Darvin Adams in the end zone to score a touchdown and put all the pressure on the Ticats to match the Bombers.

The best defence all year long flexed their muscles in a championship-defining moment, with linebacker Kyrie Wilson intercepting Jeremiah Masoli to seal the victory.

"In the fourth quarter we handle business. It came down to overtime. We have so much confidence in our offence and then we're going to go out there and shut the lights off," said Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson.

This was the latest in the season the Grey Cup game has been contested. Despite the Dec. 12 kickoff, it was unseasonably warm in Hamilton with the game time temperature at 4 degrees.

This was the first time the Ticats were playing on home turf in the big game since 1972 — that game was also the last time the Grey Cup was played in December. Hamilton defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 13-10 on that day.