The Canadian Football League introduced some significant structural changes in 1986. Not only did the league move to an 18-game season, but it also tweaked its playoff format. Up until then, the top three teams in each of the Eastern and Western divisions qualified for the playoffs. Now, a fourth team in a division was eligible to qualify for the playoffs provided they had more points in the standings than the third place team in the other division. That third place team in the weaker division would lose its playoff berth.
The new playoff system was put to use in the first season it was adopted. The final standings in 1986 produced four teams in the Western Division who qualified for the playoffs and just two in the Eastern Division. But rather than the western team crossing over to play in the Eastern Division like today, the playoff teams competed in their respective divisions.
Here’s how it worked. The four western teams each played a division semi-final with the winners of those two games meeting in the Western Final. In the East, the top two teams – Toronto and Hamilton – competed in a two game, total point series for the Eastern Final.
The Toronto Argonauts were 10-8 on the season while the Hamilton Tiger-Cats finished the year with a 9-8-1 record. The first game was held on Sunday November 16 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton. Turnovers plagued the Ti-Cats in Game One, infuriating Hamilton coach Al Bruno. Hamilton turned the ball over six times – five interceptions and one fumble. Ouch.
Toronto quarterback J.C. Watts, who joined the team after being released by Ottawa midseason, went 9 for 22 and passed for 177 yards – leading the Argos to a 31-17 victory. This meant the Argonauts carried a 14-point lead into Game Two, held on Sunday November 23 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto.
In the second game, the Argos jumped to a 15-3 lead in the first quarter – or a 26-point lead total in the two-game series. Hamilton quarterback Mike Kerrigan then got to work. Going 35 for 47, Kerrigan passed for 364 yards and three touchdowns. Against all odds, Hamilton erased the 26-point deficit and outscored Toronto 42-25 to win the two game total point series 59-56.
Here are some great quotes in the Hamilton and Toronto newspapers worth sharing:
“I was never in favour of a total-point playoff series but if I ever did have any doubt, this would have convinced me.” – Toronto Argonauts head coach Bob O’Billovich
“The Argos are such a gutless bunch. Even their owners have not guts…they want to sell the team.” – Hamilton Tiger-Cats owner Harold Ballard
“Last week I said we were so close to exploding. This week was the explosion.” – Hamilton quarterback Mike Kerrigan
The Tiger-Cats would go on and defeat Edmonton the following week in the Grey Cup.
I was too young (and not yet a football fan) to recall these games. But when the Tiger-Cats had their store at the old Centre Mall in Hamilton, they used to play these two games on the big screen TV there all the time. That’s how I actually learned that the 1986 Eastern Final comprised of not one but two games.
Would-be shoppers, as well as the curious and the nostalgic, would often wander into the store just to catch some footage of these games. And of course the talk would always turn to how the Tiger-Cats came back to win it all.
Sources:
Hamilton Spectator, 17 November 1986
Hamilton Spectator, 24 November 1986
Toronto Star, 17 November 1986
Toronto Star, 24 November 1986
Leave a Reply