The Edmonton Eskimos are the 2005 CFL Grey Cup champions. They defeated the Montreal Alouettes 38-35 in a prototypical thriller.

Montreal struck first in OT, with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Dave Stala deep in the end zone, giving them a 35-28 lead. Edmonton quickly retaliated, with a touchdown reception by Jason Tucker, tying it at 35.

However, Edmonton kicker Sean Fleming made a 36-yard field goal, his third of the game. Edmonton went ahead 38-35.

In the fourth quarter, the Eskimos retook the lead with one minute left in what had become a topsy-turvy game.

Edmonton quarterback Ricky Ray carried the ball for a touchdown and then delivered a pass to Jason Tucker for a two-point conversion, giving them a 28-25 lead.

But then Montreal took the ball down the field, and survived a near-interception. This allowed kicker Damon Duval to split the uprights, tying the game at 28 and sending the game into overtime.

Prior to Edmonton's score, Montreal led 25-20.

A turnover gave Montreal the ball deep in Edmonton territory. After working the ball to the goal line, Als quarterback Anthony Calvillo faked a hand off to running back Eric Lapointe -- who had two touchdowns already -- and then broke right and ran the ball in himself.

After an earlier Alouettes surge, rookie Eskimos kick returner Tony Tompkins put his team back in the game with a record-setting 96-yard kick return for a touchdown after an Alouettes field goal.

Prior to that, Montreal Alouettes running back Lapointe gave his team the lead for the first time with his second rushing touchdown of the game, pushing Montreal's lead to 18-13.

Lapointe ran the ball in after a fantastic catch by Alouettes receiver Sylvain Girard.

An Eskimos turnover then provided an opportunity for an Alouettes field goal, giving the Eastern Division champions a 15-13 lead, their first of the game.

A Sean Fleming field goal late in the quarter had boosted the Eskimo lead to five points, 13-8.

The Alouettes had trailed 10-1 after two quarters. They closed the gap four minutes into the second half. Receiver Ben Cahoon got the ball to just outside Edmonton's goal line, then Lapointe punched it over on the next play, narrowing the gap to 10-8 in favour of Edmonton.

Four minutes into the second quarter, Ray tossed a nine-yard touchdown pass to receiver Ed Hervey.

Montreal missed a 47-yard field goal attempt. An Eskimo interception snuffed out another Alouettes drive.

In the first quarter, a turnover by Montreal gave the Eskimos the ball in Alouettes territory. However, the Esks had to settle for a field goal. The Eskimos gave up a single near the end of the quarter, resulting in a 3-1 lead.

Party on the Pacific

The teams battled at Vancouver's B.C. Place stadium. The Grey Cup week festivities had been termed The Party on the Pacific.

Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean got a warm greeting from the crowd of 59,195, but when Prime Minister Paul Martin stepped on the field, there were resounding boos.

Martin conducted the coin toss to determine first possession in the game. The Eskimos lost.

Canadian R'nB diva Jully Black kicked off the festivities with the national anthem. Her summer tour-mates, U.S. pop superstars the Black Eyed Peas, performed three songs in a slightly raunchy halftime show.

Vancouver had hoped to have the hometown B.C. Lions to cheer for, but those hopes were dashed last week, when the Eskimos defeated the Lions in the Western final. The Alouettes defeated last year's champions, the Toronto Argonauts, in the Eastern final.

But organizers insist the lack of a hometown contender hasn't dimmed excitement over the matchup in B.C. Place stadium, pointing to the estimated 100,000 who turned out Saturday for the Grey Cup parade.

Those who turned out were treated to a fly-pass by four CF-18 fighter jets, a parading Pamela Anderson and even Governor General Michaelle Jean, making the first Grey Cup appearance by someone in her office in 15 years.

Pundits and oddsmakers declared Montreal a slight favourite going into the game.

In total, Edmonton and Montreal have squared off in Grey Cup competition 11 times. This is their third meeting in just four years. The Alouettes won in 2002 and the Eskimos in 2003.