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Ten plays to raise a Cup to

The CFL's wide-open game gives its fans frequent glimpses at great plays and thrilling comebacks, and its showcase game is no different. Here's 10 of the best -- and bizarre -- Grey Cup plays.

In Canadian Football League history, few rival Dave Humphrey's actions at the 1957 Grey Cup in Toronto.

In the first coast-to-coast broadcast of the championship game, Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive back Ray Bawel had just intercepted a pass and was streaking down the sideline for a sure touchdown. Humphrey, standing in front of the Winnipeg bench, suddenly stretched out a leg and tripped Bawel.

Fortunately for Humphrey, he didn't face the wrath of Hamilton fans as the Tiger-Cats won the game 32-7.

While Bartman quickly took cover from the bright lights of the media, Humphrey remained in the spotlight. He earned a dubious place in Grey Cup history, but later became a famous Ontario criminal lawyer.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats needed an extra period to settle the 1961 CFL title. The teams finished the fourth quarter at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium tied 14-14.

The hero that day turned out to be future CFL Hall of Famer Ken Ploen — a player not defined by any one position. The skilled quarterback also took his turns snatching hand-offs as a halfback and also lined up on the other side of the ball as a safety. In the '61 Cup final, the native of Lost Nation, Iowa, raced in for the winning touchdown in overtime to count what remains to this day the only overtime victory in Grey Cup history.

Ploen, who led the Bombers to Grey Cup titles in 1958, '59 and '61, was able to produce magic again the following year by guiding Winnipeg to a 28-27 win over Hamilton in the famous 1962 Fog Bowl.

The pea soup-like concoction that enveloped CNE Stadium was so dense that players and referees couldn't even see the field markers. Fans were in a haze, as they couldn't see the action on the field. Players were bumping into each other, turning the game into a Keystone Cops spectacle.

Midway through the fourth, it was the referees who made the biggest play of the afternoon, suspending the game and ordering the final 9:29 to be played the following day. The teams re-assembled 24 hours later and when the mist finally cleared, Winnipeg held on for a 28-27 victory and its fourth Grey Cup win over the Ticats in five years.

The running back's one shot at fame nearly ended in disaster for the Ottawa Rough Riders in the 1968 Grey Cup against Calgary, but Washington managed to avoid the Hall of Shame.

Worrying more about keeping his balance on a muddy field at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium, Washington fumbled the ball while streaking down the sideline, but it quickly bounced back in his hands.

Washington's 80-yard run for a touchdown -- a Grey Cup record -- ended up being the difference as Ottawa edged the Stampeders 24-21.

Washington was later named the game's most valuable player.

Ottawa quarterback Tom Clements dropped back for a pass from the Saskatchewan 24-yard line hoping for a miracle. His prayers were answered when tight end Tony Gabriel slipped behind the Saskatchewan secondary and reeled in Clements' throw in the back of the end zone with 20 seconds left on the clock. Pandemonium ensued, as Gabriel was mobbed by teammates and fans. Ottawa held on for a 23-20 victory.

Gabriel finished with seven receptions in the game, but none were any bigger in his 11-year, Hall of Fame career than "the catch."

Related:
Watch Tony Gabriel's game-winning touchdown catch

Over 11 seasons with Edmonton, the seven-time all-star ran for a combined 23,927 yards, setting the standard for punt and kick return players.

One of the signature moments in the classic 1987 Grey Cup between the Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts involved the colourful and explosive Giz (what a surprise).

He broke open the game, returning a missed field goal by Argos kicker Lance Chomyc for a 115-yard touchdown. Powered by Gizmo's big play, the Esks went on to a 38-36 victory.

Gizmo went on to rewrite the CFL record book before retiring on Oct. 25, 2000, leaving his mark as one of the greatest kick-returners in league history.

Instead, it turned out to be one of the greatest Grey Cup finals in CFL history. Late in the fourth quarter, Saskatchewan was sitting on a slim 40-33 lead but let it slip away. Hamilton marched the ball downfield and tied the score with under a minute left when wide receiver Tony Champion made a circus catch in the end zone.

Overtime loomed, but Saskatchewan would not be denied. With 44 seconds left on the clock, Rider quarterback Kent Austin put together a nifty drive, completing key passes to Ray Elgaard and Mark Guy. With nine seconds on the clock, kicker Dave Ridgway split the uprights with a clutch field goal, giving Saskatchewan a 43-40 victory and its first Grey Cup championship in 33 years. Rider Pride was restored.

Edmonton receiver Eddie Brown electrified the Hamilton crowd at Ivor Wynne Stadium with a spectacular shoestring catch. Brown raced down the freezing pitch and put his hands out to receive the pass from quarterback Danny McManus. The ball almost slipped through Brown's hands, but he managed to bend down and grasp it with his fingers just centimetres from the field. His work wasn't done there.

Brown proceeded to juke and jive his way to the end zone, dodging defenders on his way to a 64-yard touchdown strike. The pass put his Eskimos up 9-0, but the Doug Flutie-led Argos managed to fight back later in the game to win the Grey Cup, 43-37.

The kicker's 25-year career was filled with achievements -- 3,142 career regular-season points, 875 field goals, 1,045 converts and 309 singles, all league records.

After re-writing the CFL's record book, what do you do for an encore? If you're Passaglia, you script a storybook ending and live it.

After missing three previous field goals in the 2000 Grey Cup, Passaglia was summoned from the bench with 85 seconds left in the game and his B.C. Lions trailing Montreal 26-25.

With a packed house at Calgary's McMahon Stadium chanting "Lu ... Lu," Mr. B.C. Lion split the uprights from 29 yards with 85 seconds left in the game to propel the Lions to a 28-26 win. Passaglia rode into retirement a three-time champion and the Lions become only the fourth third-place team to win a Grey Cup.

Als quarterback Anthony Calvillo snapped the ball from his team's own 11 yard line early in the second quarter. The Montreal pivot found a streaking Woodcock, who managed to shake off Edmonton Eskimos defender Malcolm Frank and run the length of the field.

The major gave the Als an 8-0 advantage in the game en route to a 25-16 victory. It was Montreal's first Grey Cup championship since returning to the league in 1996.