Homecoming kings
Bisons pull out win in front of boisterous crowd
ROMER BAUTISTA, STAFF
An energetic crowd of 4,100 packed into University Stadium on Saturday afternoon to watch the Manitoba Bisons defeat the Calgary Dinos 35-28.
With winds that reached up to 40 km/h, both teams’ chances at victory were riding heavily on each of their respective running games. Knowing this, Manitoba got their run game established early, calling five consecutive run plays to start the game.
In the end, it was the legs of the Bison running-back tandem of Matt Henry and Karim Lowen that powered the Bisons to victory. The two backs combined for 276 yards on the ground. Henry had a career day, rushing for 154 yards on 27 carries and finding the end zone on three separate occasions. Lowen was his usual steady self, rushing for 122 yards on 23 carries.
Calgary’s feature back was no slouch himself. Anthony Woodson, who came into the afternoon as Canada West’s leading rusher, finished the game with 133 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown. The Dinos’ fleet-footed quarterback Jordan Flagel also caused fits for the Bisons defensive coaches, rushing for 85 yards and two scores.
“The offensive line did a great job. We obviously moved the ball well on the ground, and we protected [quarterback] John Mackie. That group has really stepped up and is very confident now,” commented Bison head coach Brian Dobie.
“This is probably my best game as a Bison so far,” said Henry. “All day [the offensive line] was blowing guys up in [the Dinos’] front seven. It made mine and Karim’s job a lot easier.”
After a single put the Dinos up 1-0 after the first quarter, the Bisons started a high-scoring second quarter off with a five-play drive that culminated in Henry’s first touchdown of the game, a four-yard scamper.
On Calgary’s following drive, the Bisons showed some uncharacteristically undisciplined play, and were flagged with a roughing the kicker penalty which helped keep Calgary’s drive alive. The Dinos took advantage of the mistake and drove all the way to the Bisons’ one-yard line, before they themselves were flagged for a penalty, forcing Calgary to settle for a field goal.
Both coaches were disappointed because of the mistakes their teams made. Manitoba was flagged for 11 penalties for 125 yards, while Calgary was flagged for 11 penalties as well, but for only 95 yards.
“Our penalties killed us on both sides of the ball. We really self-destructed. It was a major issue at halftime,” said Dobie.
“The penalties hurt us. We had a touchdown taken away. They did, too. That’s the way it goes, though. You have to be in a position as a program where you’re good enough that you take calls out of the game. Where if you get a bad call on a penalty, that it doesn’t affect you. We’re getting to that level. Manitoba is, I think, already at that level,” said Dinos head coach Blake Nill.
Henry added another short touchdown run before the half, while Bisons kicker Scott Dixon kicked a 25-yard field goal and added a single. Flagel responded for the Dinos with a 43-yard bootleg that went all the way to the house. The score at halftime had the Bisons ahead by a touchdown, 18-11.
The Dinos came out of the half with 10 consecutive points. Flagel scored on his second long touchdown run of the day finding the end zone from 26 yards out, and Dinos kicker Aaron Ifield kicked a field goal from 42 yards to close out the third quarter with Calgary leading 21-18.
The Bisons responded with a 17-point outburst in the fourth quarter. Mackie threw an 8-yard pass to Simon Blaszczak for a touchdown, and Matt Henry rumbled in for his third touchdown. A rouge and a safety later had the Bisons up a comfortable two touchdowns with less than three minutes remaining in the game.
Woodson scored a late touchdown for the Dinos, but the final whistle blew seconds later, and the pro-Bisons crowd went home in a happy mood.
The number-four ranked Bisons (3-0) now begin preparations for this weekend’s huge showdown with the number-two ranked Saskatchewan Huskies — the same team that eliminated the Bisons from the playoffs last year. The game is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. here on campus at University Stadium.
The Dinos (1-2) now head into their bye week.
