1971 was a very competitive year for the Canadian Football League, as all 9 teams won at least 6 games. Calgary would take the Western Conference via tie-breakers over Saskatchewan as both teams finished with identical 6-9-1 records. In the Eastern conference, it was Toronto (10-4) taking first place by a comfortable 3 games over second place Hamilton (7-7). The other two qualifiers for the post season were Winnipeg (7-8-1) and Ottawa (6-8). In the first round of the playoffs it was the Hamilton Tiger-Cats over the Ottawa Rough Riders 23-4, while the Saskatchewan Roughriders would take care of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 34-23. In the Division Finals, it was the Toronto Argonauts over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with a two-game score of 23-8 and 17-17, for a total of 40-25. In the Western Finals it was the Calgary Stampeders over the Saskatchewan Roughriders with a two-game score of 30-21 and 23-21, for a best-of-three sweep 2-0, setting up the match-up for the 59th Grey Cup Championship. The 59th Grey Cup was played on November 28, 1971, before 34,404 fans at Vancouver's Empire Stadium. The Calgary Stampeders defeated the Toronto Argonauts on a slick, rain-covered field, 14–11. Calgary opened the scoring with Herm Harrison making an incredible one-handed grab of a Jerry Keeling pass in the end zone for a touchdown. Toronto countered with a big play, a 55-yard pass reception by fan favorite tight end Mel Profit, but would come away from this drive deep into Stampeder territory with only a field goal from Ivan McMillan. Jesse Mims added another Stampeder major, ending the scoring for the half and for Calgary on the day. The second half saw Joe Theismann replaced by Greg Barton, but the Argos could not move the ball. Their only touchdown came when sure-handed Calgary punt returner Jim Silye dropped a kick which was then recovered by Joe Vijuk. Vijuk had the presence of mind to lateral to Roger Scales, who ran 33 yards for the touchdown. Dick Thornton, a great two-way player who had already made a fantastic reception, intercepted a Calgary pass and returned it to the Stampeder 11-yard line. With Theismann back in the game, he handed the ball off to Leon McQuay, the Argonauts' star running back. As McQuay cut left across the field, he promptly slipped on the soggy turf and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Stampeder Reggie Holmes. To this day, there is still some dispute about this play, as McQuay dropped the ball when his elbow hit the ground and he had not been contacted by a Stampeder defender, thus bringing up the football adage that "the ground can't cause a fumble." As well, then-Argo coach Leo Cahill lamented the play long after, quipping, "When Leon (McQuay) slipped, I fell." Nevertheless, Toronto still had a chance to pull out a victory. With 1:53 left in the game and Calgary deep in their own end, they punted on third down. Argo returner Harry Abofs, in an effort to capture the wet ball, accidentally kicked it out of bounds while reaching down. CFL rules state that when a ball is kicked out of bounds, possession goes to the opposing team, thus giving Calgary possession once again. Had Abofs knocked the ball out of bounds with his hand, Toronto would have had one last offensive series. Instead, Calgary ran out the clock and captured the 1971 Grey Cup.