The 1981 Ottawa Rough Riders finished the season in second place in the East Division with a 5–11 record. They appeared in the Grey Cup game, in what would be their last Grey Cup appearance in franchise history, and the last for any Ottawa-based CFL team for 34 years.
Offseason CFL draft Rd Pick Player Position School 0 0 John Park TE Bowling Green 0 0 Ian Beckstead TE Richmond 1 3 Maurice Doyle RB Toronto 2 12 Don Burns WR Ottawa 4 30 Eric Boss DT Toronto 5 39 Larry Ring DB Bishop's 6 48 Anthony Refosso OT Toronto 7 57 Rob Ball DL Queen's
Preseason Date Opponent Final Score Result Attendance Record June 4 at Toronto Argonauts 20–12 Win 28,325 1–0 June 11 vs. Montreal Alouettes 18–17 Win 16,139 2–0 June 21 at Montreal Alouettes 21–17 Loss 21,249 2–1 June 26 vs. Toronto Argonauts 35–25 Win 14,092 3–1
Regular season Standings
Schedule Week Game Date Opponent Results Venue Attendance Score Record 1 1 July 3 vs. Edmonton Eskimos L 21–47 0–1 22,023 2 2 July 11 at Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 10–47 0–2 22,345 3 3 July 17 vs. Montreal Alouettes W 33–31 1–2 24,827 4 4 July 25 at BC Lions L 17–31 1–3 26,661 5 Bye 6 5 Aug 7 vs. Toronto Argonauts W 38–11 2–3 22,658 7 6 Aug 15 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders L 16–32 2–4 18,408 8 7 Aug 21 at Calgary Stampeders L 18–30 2–5 30,276 9 8 Aug 28 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 8–31 2–6 26,031 10 9 Sept 4 vs. BC Lions W 17–7 3–6 18,393 11 10 Sept 13 at Toronto Argonauts W 23–6 4–6 30,340 12 11 Sept 20 at Saskatchewan Roughriders L 23–26 4–7 28,335 13 12 Sept 26 vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 16–30 4–8 20,451 14 13 Oct 3 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 24–44 4–9 15,523 15 14 Oct 12 at Edmonton Eskimos L 6–24 4–10 45,805 16 15 Oct 18 vs. Calgary Stampeders W 21–10 5–10 15,002 17 Bye 18 16 Nov 1 at Montreal Alouettes L 15–39 5–11 20,867
Postseason Round Date Opponent Score Result Attendance East Semi-Final Nov 8 vs. Montreal Alouettes 20–16 Win 17,554 East Final Nov 15 at Hamilton Tiger-Cats 17–13 Win 28,104 Grey Cup Nov 22 Edmonton Eskimos 26–23 Loss 52,478
Grey Cup
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 TotalEdmonton Eskimos 0 1 14 11 26Ottawa Rough Riders 13 7 0 3 23 First quarter
Ottawa – FG – Gerry Organ 34 yards Ottawa – FG – Gerry Organ 37 yards Ottawa – TD – Jim Reid 1-yard run (Gerry Organ convert)
Second quarter
Ottawa – TD – Sam Platt 14-yard run (Gerry Organ convert) Edmonton – Single – Dave Cutler 24 yards missed Field Goal
Third quarter
Edmonton – TD – Jim Germany 2-yard run (Dave Cutler convert) Edmonton – TD – Warren Moon 1-yard run (Dave Cutler convert)
Fourth quarter
Ottawa – FG – Gerry Organ 28 yards Edmonton – TD – Warren Moon 1-yard run (Marco Cyncar 2 point convert pass from Moon) Edmonton – FG – Dave Cutler 27 yards Roster 1981 Ottawa Rough Riders final rosterQuarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends Offensive linemen T G C T G T G C
Defensive linemen DE DE DE DT DE DT DT Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams K/P Injured list G WR
Italics indicate International player
Awards and honours James S. Dixon Trophy --Eastern Division Championship Lew Hayman Trophy -- Tony Gabriel Grey Cup Most Valuable Player J.C. Watts - Offense John Glassford - Defence
CFL All-Stars
East Division Val Belcher -- Offensive Guard Tony Gabriel -- Tight End Mike Raines -- Defensive Tackle Randy Rhino -- Defensive Back Larry Brune -- Defensive Back
Belcher, Raines, and Rhino were also CFL All Stars in their respective positions.
References