History was made. The Manitoba Bisons Football team defeated the #4 Calgary Dinos in the 2014 Canada West Final on Saturday, November 15 at McMahon Stadium on the road. This is the 11th overall Hardy Cup trophy (1923, 1924, 1927, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 2001, 2007, 2014) won by the Bisons and first since the 2007 Vanier Cup championship.

In addition, to winning the conference championship, Manitoba exorcised another playoff football demon as the won at Calgary in a post-season match for the first-time ever in the program's history.

Manitoba now advances to the CIS Semi-Final (Uteck Bowl) against the #2 Montreal Carabins. The two teams will meet at the University of Montreal on Saturday, November 22 with kickoff at 11:30 a.m. CT. This will be the first ever meeting between the two football programs.

Manitoba has won twice on the road in the playoffs and was not ranked in the last 2014 CIS football poll. They defeated Saskatchewan by a 47-39 score on Fri., Nov. 7 In the Canada West Semi-Final before win at Calgary during the Canada West Final.

Bison Football head coach Brian Dobie talked after the championship win, "We continued to go upward and forward in all aspects of the game. This team feels it has been growing through the elongated season and today was arguably our best game so far this 2014 season."

In the conference final, Manitoba were down 7-0 early after Calgary scored on a 81 yard TD run by Mercer Timmis with only 35 seconds into the start of the game. The visitors responded with a 22 yard pick six by linebacker Jonathan Jones and a 40 yard TD run by tailback Kienan LaFrance for a 14-7 first quarter lead. In the second, Calgary tied the contest the game with a 42 TD reception by Rashaun Simonise before the Herd took the lead for good. Ryan Jones nailed a 17 yard FG and then slotback Zach Regert with a seven yard TD reception for a 24-14 halftime lead. In the third, Johnny Mark had a kickoff single for the Dinos and Jones added an insurance 30 yard FG for the last of the scoring in the third as there was no scoring in the fourth and the Bison prevailed 27-15.
 

Dobie continued after the game, "It was a great win tonight and feel it was awesome to win the Hardy Cup. As well, it was an honour to win in McMahon Stadium and against the defending six-time Canada West champs as we had to beat the best to be the best in the conference this season."

BISON FOOTBALL HARDY CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS (CANADA WEST)

2014: Canada West Final (Hardy Cup) – Manitoba 27 Calgary 15 at Calgary (Nov. 15)

2007: Canada West Final (Hardy Cup) – Manitoba 48 Regina 5 at Manitoba (Nov. 10) 

2001: Canada West Final (Hardy Cup) – Manitoba 23 Regina 17 at Manitoba (Nov. 11) 

1973: Special Playoff to break conference tie – Manitoba 21 Saskatchewan 8 at Man. (Nov. 13) 

1970: won conference title in regular season

1969: won conference title in regular season

1968: Special Playoff to break conference tie – Manitoba 10 Alberta 7 at Manitoba (Nov. 9) 

1965: won conference title in regular season

1927: won conference title in regular season

1924: won conference title in regular season

1923: won conference title in regular season

Canada West Football

78^th Hardy Cup

Saturday, November 15, 2014

McMahon Stadium, Calgary

FINAL

Manitoba            14  10  03  00 – 27

#4 Calgary           07  07  01  00 – 15

Manitoba will face No. 2 Montreal next Saturday, Nov. 22 in the CIS Uteck Bowl in Montreal, live on Sportsnet 360 at 12:30 p.m. ET.
 

SCORING SUMMARY

1^st Quarter

CGY – Mercer Timmis 81-yard TD run (Johnny Mark convert), 0:35, 7-0 CGY

MAN – Jonathan Jones 22-yard interception return TD (Ryan Jones convert), 4:28, 7-7

MAN – Kienan LaFrance 40-yard TD run (Ryan Jones convert), 7:13, 14-7 MAN
 

2^nd Quarter

CGY – Rashaun Simonise 42-yard TD pass from Andrew Buckley (Johnny Mark convert), 5:58, 14-14

MAN – Ryan Jones 17-yard FG, 9:22, 17-14 MAN

MAN – Zach Regert 7-yard TD pass from Jordan Yantz (Ryan Jones convert), 13:47, 24-14 MAN
 

3^rd Quarter

CGY – Johnny Mark 78-yard kickoff single, 0:00, 24-15 MAN

MAN – Ryan Jones 30-yard FG, 4:08, 27-15 MAN
 

4^th Quarter

No scoring.

Game stats at: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/canadawest/portal.htm?eventId=183127&streamType=video