The Toronto Argonauts ended the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ dominance of Canadian soccer by winning the Gray Cup game 24-23 in Regina on Sunday.

The Blue Bombers attempted to become the first team since the Edmonton Eskimos to win at least three consecutive championships. Considered the most dominant in Canadian football history, the Alberta team won five times between 1978 and 1982.

However, the Argonauts had a different plan in mind.

Center Chad Kelly took over quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who was unable to finish the game due to a hand injury, and orchestrated a late comeback behind the winners’ center.

A five-yard run by AJ Ouellette late in the fourth quarter allowed the Argos to level the game 23-23 before former Montreal Alouettes Boris Bede scored the winner thanks to a successful conversion.

Moments later, another former Sparrows, Hénoc Muamba, dealt a blow to the Bombers. He netted an interception from Zach Collaros to stop the two-time champion’s attacking drive.

That crucial game, along with an outstanding defensive performance, earned Muamba Gray Cup Most Valuable Player and Most Canadian Player awards. Ironically, it was the Blue Bombers who picked the Congo native to the first season of the 2011 amateur draft.

At the very end of the duel, kicker Marc Liegghio tried to restore his team’s lead. However, his field goal attempt from 47 yards was blocked at the line of scrimmage, sealing the outcome of the grand finals.

Spectacular grant

Earlier, Bombers player Janarion Grant had the most spectacular play of the game at the start of the fourth quarter. The Floridian picked up a ball foot-sprayed by John Haggerty and streaked for 102 yards before ending his run in the “Argos’s” end zone. It is the longest punt return in Canadian Football League (CFL) history in a Gray Cup game.

Collaros, the CFL’s MVP for the past two seasons, had a lackluster game behind the Blue Bombers center. He completed 14 of 23 stints for 183 passing yards but failed to complete a touchdown pass.

His opponent Bethel-Thompson was no more spectacular in the win. However, he avoided turnovers that Collaros couldn’t manage.

Running back Ouellette scored two majors for the new champions. Dakota Prukop did the same in the loss.