Game Day Football Notes

University of Manitoba Bisons (2-3)

vs.

#8 Saskatchewan Huskies (4-1)

Friday, October 17, 2014

The Manitoba Bisons look to get back to their winning football ways after a conference bye and two straight losses on the road (Sept. 26: L 42-41 at Calgary; Oct. 4: L 38-31 at Alberta). The Bisons will host the #8 Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday, October 17 with kickoff at 7 p.m. CT and held at Investors Group Field (U of Manitoba campus). The game will be shown on live webcast at canadwest.tv website.

To start the 2014 season, the Bisons were ranked sixth in the first CIS poll and travelled to play at then #7 Saskatchewan in week one and lost 44-24 on Fri., Sept. 5. In Brian Dobie's 18 years at the helm for regular season openers, the Bisons are now 10-9 overall and 6-5 on the road. In week two, Manitoba won 42-18 in the home opener on Fri., Sept. 12. During the annual Homecoming Game for the Herd in week three on Sat., Sept. 20, Manitoba was back in the CIS top ten as they were ranked #9 and defeated UBC by a 20-10 score. In week four on Fri., Sept. 26, Manitoba lost a close 42-41 game at #2 Calgary. In week five, Manitoba suffered a 38-31 loss at Alberta for third straight road loss of the season. 

In the conference standings, Manitoba is now in fourth spot (four make the playoffs) with a 2-3 record while Saskatchewan is tied for first with Calgary at 4-1. The lone loss for Saskatchewan was against Calgary (Sept. 19: L 38-24 at home) while they have wins over the Bisons, at Alberta (W 42-41 in overtime on Sept. 13), at Regina (W 21-16 on Sept. 27) and at home over UBC (W 31-25 on  Oct. 4).

This is the second meeting of the season between the two football rivals as the Herd lost 44-24 on the road to start the 2014 season on September 5. In the earlier road loss to Saskatchewan, Manitoba were led by QB Jordan Yantz who went 20-38 for 310 yards while RB Kienan LaFrance had two touchdowns and 72 rushing yards and eight different receivers caught a ball.

Manitoba has won both games at home this season as they won 20-10 over UBC (Sat. Sept. 20) and 42-18 against Regina (Fri. Sept. 12). 

Last season, the two teams met three times (twice in regular season) with Manitoba winning on the road in regular season and then victorious in a home playoff game as they lost 36-34 at home (Sept. 7/13), won 33-26 at Sask. (Oct. 18/13) and in the first ever CIS playoff game at Investors Group Field, the Herd prevailed in an exciting 37-36 post-season win. Overall, head coach Brian Dobie has a 13-14 regular season record during his 19 seasons at the helm and Manitoba hold a 7-8 home record against the Huskies in the last 19 years. 

In the 2013 season, Manitoba went 5-3 for second place in the regular season standings and was a Canada West finalist (lost 43-28 at Calgary in conference final) after winning 37-36 at Manitoba in the Canada West Semi-Final. For Saskatchewan, they went 5-3 for third place in the conference standings and lost to Manitoba in 2013 Canada West Semi-Final on the road.

In 2014 conference regular season team stats, Manitoba is third in offence with 31.6 points average per game while Saskatchewan is second at 32.4 points per game. In offence yards per game, the Bisons are third with 448.4 while the Huskies are fifth at 428.4. On defence, Manitoba is third with 30.4 points allowed per game while Sask. at second at 28.8 pts/game. In yards allowed, Manitoba is second (423.0) and Sask. is fifth (485.6).

Individually for the Bisons in conference stats, Kienan LaFrance is tied for second in Canada West touchdowns with seven (four rush and three receiving) plus second with 436 conference rushing yards. Jordan Yantz is third in Canada West with 1,430 passing yards and third with nine passing TDs; Alex Vitt is fourth with 371 conference receiving yards while Matt Sawyer is fifth at 368 rec. yards; In yards per catch, Vitt is second at 16.9, Sawyer is fifth at 16.0; Alex Christie is fifth in Canada West with 19.3 kickoff return average plus Jayden McCoy (112) is sixth, Sawyer (106) is seventh, Nic Demski (103) is eighth and Christie (79) is ninth in punt return yards. Ryan Jones is fifth in kicking scoring with 32 points (5/8 in FGs and 17/17 in converts) while Zach Regert is sixth in punting average at 37.1.

In Canada West all-purpose yards, LaFrance stands fourth with 669 and Sawyer is tenth at 482.

On defence in conference stats after four games, linebacker DJ Lalama is second while DB Tremaine Apperley is ninth in conference tackles with 32.5 and 25.5 total tackles. DE Evan Foster leads the conference with four sacks and James Mau is tied for third with two. In tackles for losses, Foster is second with 5.5, Mau and DT David Onyemata are tied for sixth with three. Christie, LB Jonathan Jones and DB Cam Teschuk all have one forced fumble while Foster, Lalama, DB Zach Sandulescu and LB Houston Rennie all have one fumble recovery.  

In Canada West interceptions, safety Tyler Fong and McCoy are tied for second with two interceptions plus Apperley, Teschuk, LB Mitchell Harrison and DL Lauren Kroeker are tied for fifth with two break-ups each.

The last time Manitoba defeated Saskatchewan at home in the regular season was 2012 (Sept. 8/12: W 31-28.).

This is the third home game of the season for Manitoba and they are looking for third consecutive win at Investors Group Field of the 2014 campaign. After this game, Manitoba plays the last remaining road contest at Regina on Saturday, October 25 and at home versus Calgary on Saturday, November 1.

In 2014, Manitoba best quarter for scoring is the second with 50 points (1st Q: 43 points; 3rd Q: 40; 4th Q: 24) while for the opposition the best scoring quarter on Manitoba has been the second with 54 points (3rd: 36 points; 1st Q: 33 points; 4th Q: 31 points).

For game six of 2014, the Manitoba Bisons football line-up have only one changes (SB Nic Demski in and SB Danny Turek is out) from the 24 starters in game five on the road against the Alberta Golden Bears. So far this season, Manitoba has not had back-to-back games with the full 24 starters remaining the same for two consecutive games.

Heading into week six there are 19 starters (nine on offence; eight on defence; two on special teams) that have played all five game at same position. On offence; QB Jordan Yantz; TB Kienan LaFrance; LT Alex McKay; LG Nevin Gamblin; C Tyler Fabbri; RG Geoff Gray; RT Rob Smith; SB Ales Vitt; WR Matt Sawyer. On defence: LE Lauren Kroeker; NT David Onyemata; MAC LB DJ Lalama; CB Tremaine Apperley; CB Cam Teschuk; HB Jayden McCoy; HB Jordan Linnen; S Tyler Fong. On special teams: Placekicker Ryan Jones and Punter Zach Regert.

In addition, Mitchell Harrison has started all five games but played SAM LB in week one and WILL LB in rest of weeks.

The lone rookie starter is halfback Jayden McCoy as he had dressed as a starter in all five games at the position after red-shirting last season. 

Fourth year slotback and three-time CIS All-Canadian Nic Demski saw his first action with Manitoba in 2014 in a week two win over Regina after missing game one. In week three, he was Bison Sports Male Athlete of the Week after 224 all-purpose yards (65 receiving, 45 rushing, 92 punt return yards and 22 kickoff return yards). He was also highlighted as the top-ranked CIS player on the initial prospect list released by the CFL's Scouting Bureau in advance of the league's 2015 Canadian Draft by being ranked number three.

Quarterback Jordan Yantz makes his 14th consecutive start in the conference regular season (started in all eight games in 2013) and will be his 16th consecutive start counting playoff games.

Kickoff will occur at 7 p.m. CT and the game can be seen live on the web at: canadawest.tv website.

Points of Interest

The most TDs so far this season by the Herd has been six against Regina in week two (W 42-18) and versus Calgary (L 42-41) in week four.

The Bisons led by as many as 40 points (42-2) at the near end of the third quarter before a final 42-18 score versus Regina at home in week two in front of 6,435 fans at IGF. The Herd scored six touchdowns (five on offence and one on defence) in the home victory. 

Manitoba led 24-21 at the half in game one at Saskatchewan before falling by a final score of 44-24.

Manitoba had only allowed 28 points in week two and week three games.

The Bisons seek to make the post-season for three consecutive seasons, the last time that occurred was 2005-07.

Individually, Manitoba has scored 20 overall touchdowns so far this season (Kienan LaFrance – 7 (four by rush and three by pass), Jordan Yantz – 5, Matt Sawyer – 3,  Alex Vitt – 2,  Jonathan Jones – 1, Nic Demski – 1, DJ Lalama – 1.

Bison football head coach Brian Dobie is coaching in his 149th CIS game in his 19th season at the helm of Manitoba. His regular season record so far is 77-69-1-1 (52.4% winning percentage) and post-season record is 10-8

Since 1968 season, the Bisons have officially played 368 Canada West regular season football games and recorded 165 wins, 199 losses, three ties and one overtime loss.

In the sixth CIS Top 10 football poll of 2014, defending Vanier Cup champion Laval is still number one while Canada West teams occupy two spots as Calgary is second and Saskatchewan is at number eight. Manitoba started the season in sixth spot and did not make the Top 10 in week two but rebounded to be ranked number nine in week three and then dropped to number ten spot in week four and remained at number ten in week five before dropping out of Top 10 in week six.

In early 2014 conference regular season stats, Manitoba is third in offence passing yards at 299.4 per game while Sask. is fourth at 288.8. In rushing yards, the Bisons are third at 149.0 yards per game while the Huskies are fifth at 139.6/game. In first downs, Manitoba sits fourth with 24.2 per game while Sask. is second at 28.4/game. On third down conversions, Manitoba is second at 57% (8/14) while Saskatchewan is third at 56% (5-9). 

In the red zone, Manitoba (14-14) is first at 100% with 11 touchdowns while Sask. is second at 96% (23-24) and 17 touchdowns. In turnovers, Manitoba had nine with six interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

In Canada West penalties, Manitoba is fifth with 68 for 591 yards while the Huskies are second with 53 for 505 yards. In time of possession, the Herd is fifth at 29:20 while Sask. is second at 31:21.

On defence in Canada West stats, Manitoba is second in passing yards allowed per game at 250.0 while Sask. sits fifth at 341.8 while in rushing yards allowed per game, the Herd are third at 173.0 and the Huskies are second at 143.8. In interceptions, Manitoba is fourth with six while Sask. is  tied for first at nine. In fumble recoveries, Manitoba is tied for second with four while Saskatchewan is first at five.

In conference sacks, Manitoba is first with 12 while the Huskies are tied for fourth with six. In sacks allowed, Manitoba has allowed eight while Alberta has allowed ten.

In the 2014 CIS football regular season, Manitoba Bisons fifth year kick linebacker Jonathan Jones was selected as CIS Defence Football Athlete of the Week while Bison Alex Christie was selected as CIS Special Teams Football Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sept. 14, 2014.  This is the first time Manitoba Bisons football players has earned CIS player of the week honours in 2014. Both were also named conference football player of the week.

In the third week of the 2014 Canada West football regular season, Manitoba Bisons first year placekicker Ryan Jones was selected Canada West Special Teams Football Athlete of the Week for the week ending September 21/14.  Jones accounted for ten of the 20 points scored by the #9 Manitoba Bisons as the won at home by a 20-10 score over the UBC Thunderbirds during the annual Homecoming Game on Saturday, September 20.

Jones was perfect as he went three for three in field goals and converted the lone TD plus had a 51.7 kickoff average on three kicks during the home win.

In week four road loss at Calgary, Yantz threw for 426 yards – fifth most by a Bison in a single football game while his 44 attempts were tied for fourth highest in team history and 26 completions was tied for fourth most.

Canada West football results so far in 2014:

Date            Place of game        Result

Sept. 5         Calgary                    Calgary 71 Alberta 3 – officially 1-0 Alberta

Sept. 5         Saskatoon               Saskatchewan 44 Manitoba 24

Sept. 5         Regina                      Regina 33 UBC 23

Sept. 12         Manitoba              Manitoba 42 Regina 18

Sept. 13         Alberta                   Saskatchewan 42 Alberta 41 (OT)

Sept. 13         UBC                        Calgary 59 UBC 11

Sept. 19         Saskatchewan        Calgary 38 Saskatchewan 24

Sept. 20        Manitoba                Manitoba 20 UBC 10

Sept. 20         Alberta                    Alberta 44 Regina 42

Sept. 26        Calgary                  Calgary 42 Manitoba 41

Sept. 27        Regina                     Saskatchewan 21 Regina 16

Sept. 27        UBC                          UBC 49 Alberta 13

Oct. 4            Alberta                   Alberta 38 Manitoba 31

Oct. 4            Calgary                    Calgary 59 Regina 7

Oct. 4            Saskatchewan        Saskatchewan 31 UBC 25

Other Canada West football games this weekend:

Oct. 18         Regina at UBC                2:00 PM MDT

Oct. 18         Calgary at Alberta          2:00 PM MDT

BISON FOOTBALL PLAYERS CLOSE TO TEAM CAREER MILESTONES

• Head coach Brian Dobie (1996-present) is coaching his 149th conference regular season game at Manitoba (77-69-1-1) plus 166th overall game (playoffs record: 10-8)
• Nick Demski (2011-14) is closing in to the Top 10 of the Bison career points total standings. Demski is in 11th place with 96 points, number ten is Dennis Hrycaiko ('68-71) at 128 points.
• Demski is seventh in Bison total touchdowns with 16. He is three TDs back of sixth place Brett Watt ('90-94: 19) and four TDs back of fifth place Dennis Hrycaiko ('68-71: 20).
• In receiving yards, Demski is now in the Top 10 of all-time Bison records. He sits at eighth with 1,156 yards and just past ninth place is now Bison coach now Blair Atkinson ('03-05: 1,143) and tenth place Stu Schollaardt ('08-11: 1,116). In seventh spot is Grant McMillan ('89-93: 1, 304) – only 148 yards away.
• Demski is also third in receiving yard average per catch at 17.5. In first is Gord Paterson ('72-73: 18.5) and second place Chris Noonan ('93-97: 17.5)-
• In receiving TDs, Demski is tied for fourth with 11. He is one back of Atkinson and three TDs back of second place Terry Firr ('04-08: 14).
• Demski is first for most kickoff returns for touchdowns with two, first in kickoff average at 25.3.
• Demski is fourth in kickoff return yards at 906, 37 yards back of third (David Courtemanche '91-93: 943) plus sixth in kickoff returns at 36 attempts with best average at 25.2. 
• Quarterback Jordan Yantz (2013-14) is moving quickly up the all-time Bison ranks in only his second year at Manitoba. He is now sixth in passing yards with 3,904 and passing seventh is Duane Hysop ('76-81: 3,896) He now only 294 yards away form fifth place Dough Lynch ('86-90: 4,198). In addition, he seventh in pass completions with 241 and only 42 back of Hysop (283) in sixth place. In pass attempts, Yantz is seventh at 429 and Bud Harden ('72-77) is next in sixth at 560.
• Yantz overall passing percentage is 56.2% and third right now, just ahead of Khaleal Williams ('09-11: 56.1%). And his interceptions per attempt is 1 per 33 attempts, good for second and just behind Shane Munson at 1/39 attempts.
• Lauren Kroeker (2010-14) is now sixth in total tackles with 147.5. this year, he has past tenth place tie (Terry Staroba '95-98: 132 and Jeff Alamolhoda '03-07: 132) and ninth place Mike Howard ('03-07: 133) and eighth place Pate Adams ('08-11: 135.0) and seventh place Wade Miller (1992-94: 141). Up next, fifth place Teague Sherman ('08-12: 162.5).
• Closing in on 100 total tackles is Evan Gill (2011-14) as he has 93.5. Only 15 Bisons have reached the century mark in tackles in team history. 
• Kroeker is now 11th with 12.5 sacks and past 12th spot (Everton Black '07-10: 11) and 0.5 away from tenth (Simon Patrick '03-07: 13)
• Kroeker is now fourth in sack yards with 68 and seven yards away from third place (Everton Black '07-10: 75)
• Andrew Barry (2011-14) is tied for first with three blocked kicks (Jason Rauhaus '90-91 and Mike Howard '03-07).

Key Stats – Bison FTB History vs. Saskatchewan last 19 seasons (Regular season: Bisons 13-14, Bisons at home vs. Sask.: 7-8; Bisons on road vs. Sask.: 6-6; Playoffs: 1-3)

September 5, 2014

Saskatchewan 44 Manitoba 24 at Sask.

November 1, 2013 (CW Semi-Final)

Manitoba 37 Saskatchewan 36 at Man.

October 18, 2013

Manitoba 33 Saskatchewan 26 at Sask.

September 7, 2013

Saskatchewan 36 Manitoba 34 at Man.

October 12, 2012

Saskatchewan 44 Manitoba 39 at Sask.

September 8, 2012

Manitoba 31 Saskatchewan 28 at Man.

September 17, 2011

Manitoba 26 Saskatchewan 16 at Man.

October 1, 2010 

Saskatchewan 64 Manitoba 3 at Sask.

October 17, 2009

Saskatchewan 31 Manitoba 11 at Man.

October 11, 2008

Manitoba 20 Saskatchewan 17 at Man.

September 22, 2007

Manitoba 15 Saskatchewan 10 at Man.

November 11, 2006 (CW Final)

Saskatchewan 32 Manitoba 15 at Man.

October 7, 2006 

Manitoba 35 Saskatchewan 16 at Sask.

October 15, 2005 

Saskatchewan 18 Manitoba 17 at Sask.

September 10, 2005

Saskatchewan 27 Manitoba 21 at Man.

September 25, 2004

Saskatchewan 47 Manitoba 14 at Sask.

October 4, 2003

Saskatchewan 23 Manitoba 8 at Man.

November 3, 2002 (CW Semi-Final)

Saskatchewan 37 Manitoba 18 at Man.

October 12, 2002

Manitoba 21 Saskatchewan 19 at Man.

August 31, 2002

Manitoba 34 Saskatchewan 21 at Sask.

October 20, 2001

Manitoba 22 Saskatchewan 14 at Man. 

Saturday September 8, 2001

Manitoba 52 Saskatchewan 7 at Sask.

October 28, 2000

Manitoba 39 Saskatchewan 5 at Sask.

September 16, 2000

Manitoba 41 Saskatchewan 7 at Man. 

November 6, 1999 (CW Semi-Final)

Saskatchewan 28 Manitoba 9 at Man.

September 25, 1999

Saskatchewan 28 Manitoba 9 at Man.

October 31, 1998

Saskatchewan 21 Manitoba 19 at Man.

September 26, 1998

Saskatchewan 37 Manitoba 19 at Sask.

October 4, 1997

Manitoba 37 Saskatchewan 19 at Man. 

August 30, 1997

Manitoba 21 Saskatchewan 16 at Sask.

October 19, 1996

Saskatchewan 24 Manitoba 12 at Man. 

September 14, 1996

Saskatchewan 26 Manitoba 7 at Sask.