Argos receiver DeVier Posey earns Grey Cup MVP honours

DeVier Posey remembers watching footage of legendary quarterback Doug Flutie capturing a Grey Cup for the Toronto Argonauts on a snowy night in 1996.

"I just thought, 'What would that be like to hoist the Cup when it's snowing outside?"' Posey marvelled.

Sunday night, when the second-year Argonauts receiver sprinted to a 100-yard touchdown leaving footprints in the snow in his wake he etched his name in CFL history with the longest touchdown reception in Grey Cup history.

Posey was named most valuable player as the Argos went on to beat the Calgary Stampeders 27-24 in the 105th Grey Cup.

"When the snow came out after warmups, it was picturesque, it was just one of those things you never forget," Posey said, smiling. "The snow, the cold. It was a CFL Grey Cup.

"I'm happy I'm warm now."

The 27-year-old finished with 175 yards on seven receptions.

Early impact

Posey's touchdown came on the first play of the second quarter, when Toronto's veteran quarterback Ricky Ray dropped back in front of his end zone and fired a long bomb that found Posey near the sideline.

The six-foot-two, 210-pound Posey outran Calgary defensive back Tommie Campbell for 65 yards, and then five yards from the end line launched himself into the end zone, sliding in the snow. He lay on his back for several seconds, pointing skywards.

"I just saw [Posey]down the field and threw it, and when I threw it I felt like I threw a good ball," Ray said. "When I saw Posey make the catch, I was just saying 'Go Posey, go Posey, go Posey.' And he was able to take it to the house. What a great game by that guy, and what a great play in the game for us to get something going and show them that we could score big on them."

The TD pass tied the game at 6-6, and broke the previous mark of 99 yards set by Montreal's Anthony Calvillo and Pat Woodcock in 2002.

Ray said he's thrown that pass to Posey in other games this season.

'Intrinsic and extrinsic joy'

"We've been taking some shots all year when we've been backed up, and we've been pretty successful with it," Ray said. "And we hit DeVier on the same route against Winnipeg late in the season that kind of got us out of the backed up area, and so we called it again."

It was a historic decision, and in the moments after the win, Posey sat in the post-game news conference soaking wet and smelling like champagne, the protective goggles from the celebratory Argos locker-room still perched on his forehead.

"Intrinsic joy and extrinsic joy. Just a dopamine release," Posey said of the joyous locker-room. "I don't know what to say, it's just amazing man, I just love that group of guys, I'm so happy for them, so happy to be a part of it."

Messamtop Canadian

Jerome Messam wasn't necessarily at a loss for words after being named most valuable Canadian at the 105th Grey Cup, he just didn't want to share any of them.

Shortly after the Calgary Stampeders dropped a 27-24 Sunday decision to the Toronto Argonauts on a last minute 32-yard field goal by Lirim Hajrullahu, Messam refused several requests for interviews and quickly vacated the Stampeders' locker room for the team bus without saying a word to the media.

It is the first time since 2014 that a player on a losing team was named top Canadian in the championship game. Andy Fantuz won the award that year despite his Hamilton Tiger-Cats' 20-16 loss to the Stampeders.

In the first quarter Messam, a Brampton, Ont., native, caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Bo Levi Mitchell for his only reception Sunday, but he also had 13 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown in the game.

During the regular season Messam eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the third time in his career as he ran the ball for 1,016 yards. He also set a career high with nine touchdowns and added another 183 yards on 33 receptions.

Messam was the most outstanding Canadian for the 2016 regular season when he played all 18 regular season games for the first time in his career and rushed for a career-high 1,198 yards.

But at 32 years old, Messam is running out of chances to earn a Grey Cup ring. It's clearly a box he wants to tick.

"I've been grinding hard for it," Messam said earlier this week before the Stampeders left for Ottawa. "I'm blessed to have the opportunity to play in the Grey Cup again. Some people never make it there.

"Second year in a row, so I just want to finish the deal man and be able to put that stamp on my career."

After another shocking Stampeders loss when it counted, the deal remains unfinished.