Ray was named the game's Outstanding Player, completing 34 of- 44 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns.
In the previous two playoff contests against the Calgary Stampeders and the B.C. Lions, Ray was ineffective and gave way to Jason Maas. This time, he went all the way, coming up big several times as the two teams battled mightily for CFL supremacy.
"What a game!" Ray told the CFL on CBC. "This has been an unbelievable year for this team.
Edmonton quarterback Ricky Ray was named MVP of ther 93rd Grey Cup. (CP Photo)
"(Head coach Danny Maciocia) had confidence in me today. He gave me a chance. We just did it as a team today. This team played great."
Maciocia explains why he kept Ray on the field this time.
"I knew he had it in him," Maciocia said. "I've said it all along -- you've got to believe in your people. "He played a whale of a game."
With the award, Ray becomes the fifth Eskimos pivot to get the MVP nod in the championship. Damon Allen did it twice in 1993 and 1987, Warren Moon got two awards in 1982 and 1980, and Tom Wilkinson won it in 1978.
The Outstanding Canadian award went to fullback Mike Maurer of Regina, who had four catches for 41 yards. The Saskatoon native also won a Grey Cup with B.C. in 2000.
"I can barely fathom it," said Maurer. "I just wanted to contribute, try to make some blocks. Offensively I wanted to open up some holes. I could have had another catch. I could have had another tackle on special teams. I'm glad it was enough."
For his first order of business on the afternoon, Ray got the monkey off his back by throwing his first touchdown in eight games when he hit Ed Hervey with a nine-yard major in the second quarter.
His second touchdown came in overtime, on an 11-yard completion to his favourite regular-season target Jason Tucker. The major really turned the tide on Montreal, who appeared to have the game sewn up minutes earlier when Anthony Calvillo connected with Dave Stala on a 30-yard strike.
Ray also had a couple of other memorable completions. The most significant came in the fourth quarter on third down with Edmonton down 25-20 and time running out. Needing only short yardage for a first down, Ray opted for the deep pass and threw a perfect ball to Derrell Mitchell deep in Eskimos territory.
Ray ran the ball himself for a one-yard touchdown with just 1:03 to go, and followed up by finding Jason Tucker in the end zone for a two-point convert. When Montreal kicker Damon Duval got the tying field goal a minute later that play proved to be critical.
Tucker wasn't the least bit surprise by Ray's performance.
"He was awesome," Tucker said. "I'm not surprised at all – we knew what Ricky could do. "It feels real sweet. There's nothing sweeter than this."
Ray also orchestrated the eventual game-winning drive that culminated in Sean Fleming's 36-yard field goal.
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