Bisons seize control of Canada west
Topple Huskies in battle of conference’s best teams
ROMER BAUTISTA, STAFF
The fourth-ranked Manitoba Bisons exacted at least a small measure of revenge against the team that dashed their Vanier Cup dreams last season. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, in front of 2,300 Bison-faithful fans, the Bisons came back from a scoreless first half to defeat the No. 2-ranked Saskatchewan Huskies 15-10, improving their record to a perfect 4-0. The Huskies fell to 3-1.
“A win, any time you can get it against the Saskatchewan, the No. 2-ranked team in the country, a team that just went to the Vanier [Cup], and you have to scratch claw and nail for it, you’re going to take that win,” said Bisons head coach Brian Dobie.
The game was characterized by many mistakes, but the Bisons made the fewest errors.
“I’m sure Saskatchewan feels that there are a lot of things they didn’t do well. There are a lot of things we didn’t do well. It wasn’t the prettiest of games,” said Dobie.
Despite the third- and first-highest scoring teams in the conference going into the weekend, the Bisons and Huskies managed to combine for just three points in the first half of play, with Saskatchewan staking itself to a 3-0 lead after 30 minutes.
The Bisons, however, should have been grateful to be down by just a field goal. The Huskies offence was having an easy time moving the football against the Bison defence. The Huskies were able to get into field-goal territory four times in the half, but thanks to miscommunications between the Huskies’ long-snapper and holder, kicker Braden Suchan was only able to convert once.
Meanwhile, the Bisons offence was having its own problems. After averaging 437.7 yards per game in their first three contests, Manitoba’s offence was held to just 158 yards in the first half, and committed two turnovers.
“They came out in a [defensive] front that we weren’t really ready for. We prepared against a different front, and they came out in the first half with something different,” said Bison quarterback John Makie.
The second half started out much like the first half, with the Huskies putting together another decent drive, only to end it with a yet another botched field goal attempt, their fourth of the afternoon.
After taking over possession for the first time in the second half, the Bison offence finally put together a strong drive, starting with a 10-yard rush by Matt Henry, followed a few plays later by a 39-yard reception by Randy Simmons. Manitoba’s kicking team didn’t have the same problems the Huskies were experiencing, and Scott Dixon booted a 27-yard field goal to tie the game 3-3.
With the offence beginning to show life, the Bisons defence ramped up its play as well, forcing the Huskies into a two-and-out on the ensuing Huskies possession.
Again, John Makie and the Bison offence began marching downfield. The running back combo of Henry and Karim Lowen combined for 45 yards of offence on the drive, and capped it off with Lowen powering his way through nine yards for a touchdown run, giving the home team a 10-3 lead.
“When you have two good running backs, that can also catch out of the backfield, it’s awesome. It really opens up the passing game,” said Makie.
The Bisons ended their strong third quarter by forcing Suchan to concede a safety, giving Manitoba a 12-3 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, the Bisons did a great job of preserving the victory. They forced Saskatchewan into punting situations on the Huskies’ first two possessions of the quarter, then followed that up with back-breaking 10-play, 55-yard drive that chewed up 4:42 of valuable clock-time, and ended with a Dixon field-goal that put Manitoba up 15-3.
The Huskies tried to rally late, with quarterback Bret Thompson running for a seven-yard touchdown, but time was not on their side, and the final whistle blew soon after.
The Bisons will have a week to enjoy the victory, as they head into their conference bye week. They next see action on Oct. 26, when they travel to Edmonton for a clash with the Alberta Golden Bears. The Huskies, meanwhile, will look to right their ship against the UBC Thunderbirds on Sept. 29.
