Well, not really.

The Eskimos could've cemented the victory with nine seconds left in regulation when defensive backs Keyuo Craver and Donnie Brady both took turns bobbling and dropping an errant Anthony Calvillo pass. That allowed Alouettes kicker Damon Duval to boot a 27-yard field goal on the final play of the fourth quarter and force overtime.

"My first thought was, 'Maybe this just isn't destined to be,' " Maciocia said. "But I turned around and the guys just weren't going to quit.

"The support is unbelievable. This is the best team I've ever been associated with."

Brady said he desperately wanted a second chance for his head coach.

"I'm relieved but I'm kicking myself in the butt for not ending the game," he said. "It will weigh on me all off-season but I will work on my hands so that if I get an opportunity that won't happen again.

"But coach Maciocia did a great job this year. That's a big load to be a head coach of a pro team and for it to be your first head-coaching experience and to handle some grown men. He did an awesome job."

Maciocia also showed some intestinal fortitude late in the second half.

When Edmonton struggled in the third and fell behind after leading 10-1 at halftime, Maciocia opted to stick with starter Ricky Ray. In both the West Division semifinal and final, Maciocia yanked Ray in favour of backup Jason Maas, who rallied the Eskimos to victories in both games.

The move paid off as Ray finished 35 of 45 passing for 359 yards and two touchdowns. Ray's completion total was a Grey Cup record.

"I just looked at him and said, 'You're going to do it,' " Maciocia said. "Ricky isn't a guy who says a lot, but he said, 'I know I will.'

"That was good enough for me."

With Edmonton sitting third-four from the Montreal 50-yard line with the Als leading 25-20 late in the fourth quarter, Maciocia predictably went for the gamble. But instead of going for a safe, short pass, he made a gutsy call by having Ray throw deep to slotback Derrell (Mookie) Mitchell.

Again, the move paid off. Mitchell, in single coverage and beat his man to the outside, hauled in a key 35-yard pass that set up Ray's one-yard TD run and subsequent two-point conversion to Jason Tucker that put Edmonton ahead 28-25.

"It was a calculated risk . . . but I wanted to isolate Mookie and run him on a corner route," Maciocia said. "Mookie beat him on a great move.

"And what about the throw?"

Maciocia made his fourth Grey Cup appearance and earned his second victory - his first was as Edmonton's offensive co-ordinator in the club's 34-22 win over Montreal in 2003. The victories are somewhat bitter-sweet because Maciocia grew up a diehard Alouettes fan and his first CFL coaching job was as a volunteer with the club in 2000.

"Edmonton is home now," Maciocia said. "I love being in Edmonton, I love the fans and I'm hoping I can stay in Edmonton for a long, long time and do them proud.

"I'll tell you what, though, this game was unbelievalbe. I'll probably have to watch it in a couple of weeks just to re-live it again."