INVUIK - Cliff Shattler wasn't about to give up on his Montreal Allouettes last Sunday, even if their opponents, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, seemed destined for a Grey Cup victory with just a few minutes left in regulation time.

"They're going to come back and win it. They'll come through, watch and see," said Shattler, who originally hails from Montreal.

Cliff Shattler rejoices at the Legion while he watches his team, the Montreal Alouettes, intercept a Saskatchewan Roughriders pass during Sunday's Grey Cup game in Calgary. His prayers for an unlikely comeback were answered. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photos

The score was 27-19 at the time, so you couldn't blame the doubters among the 30 or so people gathered at the Royal Canadian Legion watching the big game on the big screen.

Roughriders fan Tyrell Reid sat nearby and, like Shattler, remained entirely absorbed by the game, whooping, wincing and hollering throughout.

Reid also remained cocksure which team would prevail.

"I know they're going to hold on to the win," he said. "I'm an Edmonton fan but I'm cheering for the West."

But what turned out to be the final turning point started with an Alouettes' interception deep in the fourth quarter. At that point Shattler roared, "Yeah!," catapulting out of his seat, both arms stretched overhead.

Meanwhile, Reid had to keep his wife, an Alouettes fan who was vacationing in Jamaica, abreast of the action by texting her by cell phone throughout the game.

Both Shattler and Reid agreed that when it comes to comparing the NFL and CFL, there is no comparison.

"For as long as I can remember the CFL has always produced far better championship games," said Reid. "It's way better than the NFL. It's our game."

With only one minute and 45 seconds left, the Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo tossed a touchdown making the score 27-25 in favour of the Roughriders. Although the squad failed to make the two point conversion, they were able to get the ball back and get within field goal range with 10 seconds left.

Montreal's kicker David Duval missed the uprights but, to the horror of Saskatchewan fans, the Roughriders were penalized for having one player more than they should have had in the field for the last play of the game.

Duval nailed his second attempt 10 yards closer, and Montreal prevailed 28-27.

Luckily Shattler didn't have to cry himself to sleep, which he said he'd do if Montreal lost, but who knows if Reid has recovered.