PRO FOOTBALL : GREY CUP FINAL : Ismail’s Kickoff Return Lifts Argonauts

Raghib (Rocket) Ismail scored on an 87-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter as the Toronto Argonauts beat the Calgary Stampeders, 36-21, Sunday and won their first Grey Cup in eight years.

After Calgary closed to 22-21 on Danny Barrett’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Allen Pitts at 4:21 of the fourth quarter, Ismail took a squibbed kickoff at his 23-yard line and ran to the end zone untouched.

“I don’t know what to say,” Ismail said. “I’m speechless.”

Toronto scored again less than a minute later after Calgary’s Kevyan Jenkins fumbled the kickoff. Matt Dunigan threw his second touchdown pass, a 36-yarder to Paul Masotti, for a 15-point lead.

Ismail was chosen player of the game. CFL Commissioner Donald Crump presented the Grey Cup to the Argonauts during a wild postgame celebration in which the goal posts ripped down at the south end of the field.

“I couldn’t be happier--this is fantastic,” Argonaut owner Bruce McNall said. “The Rocket is a great young man.”

It was Calgary’s first appearance in the Grey Cup since the Stampeders beat Toronto, 14-11, at Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1971.

Toronto forced seven turnovers, including three interceptions.

The game was played in blustery, one-degree temperatures in Winnipeg Stadium.