MONTREAL - The Manitoba Bisons (regular season: 4-4; playoffs: 2-1) were defeated in football by the #2 Montreal Carabins (regular season: 7-1; playoffs: 3-0) in the 2014 CIS Semi-Final (Uteck Bowl) on Saturday, November 22 held at the CEPSUM Stadium in front of a sold-out crowd of 5,100 loud fans.
For the Bisons, this was the first time they played for a Uteck Bowl and lost and it ended their two game road winning playoff streak in 2014 (won 47-39 at Saskatchewan in Canada West Semi-final on Nov. 7; won 27-15 at Calgary in Canada West Final on Nov. 15).
The Bisons battled throughout the game as they never held the lead in the post-season contest but drove to the 12 yard line with 37 seconds left on the clock and the game hanging in the balance. On a 2nd and 10 play, the visitors were looking for the go-ahead touchdown as they were only down 29-24. Bison QB Jordan Yantz was flushed out of the pocket on a Carabins blitz and was sacked by Anthony Coady just as he was prepared to throw into the end zone. The sack hit resulted in a fumble and Byron Archambault recovered the fumble on Montreal's 17 yard line and preserved the margin of victory for the home side.
Bison Football head coach Brian Dobie, completing his 19th season at the helm, stated afterwards, "That was an unbelievable football game. It was two equal teams going head-to-head and the turning point was the defensive stop they made as we were trying to score the touchdown. They made one more play and it got them to a Vanier Cup. Congratulations to Montreal but I am also super proud of the effort our guys had today and throughout the playoff run on the road,"
Manitoba neutralized Montreal in the second half after being down 27-21 at halftime. Gabriel Cousineau already had 335 passing yards with two TDs and possession of over 17 minutes in the first half. In the last 30 minutes, the Carabins only scored two points that was given up on a team safety by the Herd with 3:55 left in the third.
The visitors had a chance at the end because of some stout defence and an offence that started to crackle on the last couple drives. They went eight plays on 56 yards in less than three minutes that resulted in a 40 yard field goal by Ryan Jones and there was still two minutes left in the fourth. Then after a 2-and-out by Montreal, the Herd started on their own 14 yard line with only 1:32 left on the clock and Yantz methodically marched the team all the way down to the 12 yard line in less than a minute before the monumental defensive play that effectively end the game.
In the first half, both teams traded offensive scores early and often. Cousineau found Mikhail Davidson for a 89 yard TD pass and run with les than a minute-and-half gone. After a rouge for the Carabins, Manitoba found the end zone when Yantz hit receiver Matt Sawyer from eight yards out for a TD reception with five minutes gone. Still in the first, Cousineau to Davidson hooked up again on a 14 yard TD pass and Louis-Philippe Simoneau kicked a 40 yard FG before the scoring end for the first 15 minutes when Montreal conceded a safety but still lead 20-7.
In the second quarter, Yantz found Sawyer for a 30 yard TD early in the quarter. Cousineau found a seam for a six yard TD run just after the three minute warning and the last touchdown of the game was a Yantz scramble for ten yards with 45 second left to half.
Yantz finished with 22-35 for 320 passing yards and was top game rusher with 61 yards. Manitoba had three interceptions (Mitchell Harrison, Jonathan Jones, Jordan Linnen) for 12 overall in the 2014 playoff run. Four different receivers had three of more receptions while Harrison had seven overall tackles and Lauren Kroeker added 6.5 total tackles and one sack.
Manitoba completes the 2014 season as 2014 Canada West champs for the first time since the 2007 season.
2014 CIS SEMI-FINAL (UTECK BOWL) SCORING SUMMARY
MONTREAL – Mikhail Davidson 89 yd pass from Gab. Cousineau. (Louis Philippe Simoneau kick is good)
Manitoba 0 - 7 Montreal
13:41 1st
(Montreal Drive 2 plays for 81 yards)
MONTREAL - Felix Menard-Briere rouge point.
Manitoba 0 - 8 Montreal
13:41 1st
MANITOBA - Matt Sawyer 8 yd pass from Jordan Yantz. (Ryan Jones kick is good)
Manitoba 7 - 8 Montreal
09:50 1st
(Manitoba Drive 9 plays for 75 yards)
MONTREAL - Mikhail Davidson 14 yd pass from Gab. Cousineau. (Louis Philippe Simoneau kick is good)
Manitoba 7 - 15 Montreal
05:40 1st
(Montreal Drive 8 plays for 80 yards)
MONTREAL - Louis Philippe Simoneau 40 yd field goal.
Manitoba 7 - 18 Montreal
03:00 1st
(Montreal Drive 3 plays for 4 yards)
MONTREAL- Team safety by Manitoba
Manitoba 7 - 20 Montreal
00:00 1st
(Montreal Drive 0 plays for 0 yards)
MANITOBA - Matt Sawyer 30 yd pass from Jordan Yantz. (Ryan Jones kick is good)
Manitoba 13 - 20 Montreal
12:38 2nd
(Manitoba Drive 3 plays for 41 yards)
MONTREAL - Gabriel Cousineau 6 yd run. (Louis Philippe Simoneau kick is good)
Manitoba 14 - 27 Montreal
02:48 2nd
(Montreal Drive 5 plays for 88 yards)
MANITOBA - Jordan Yantz 10 yd run. (Ryan Jones kick is good)
Manitoba 21 - 27 Montreal
00:45 2nd
(Manitoba Drive 6 plays for 87 yards)
MONTREAL- Team safety by Manitoba
Manitoba 21 - 29 Montreal
3:55 3rd
(Montreal Drive 0 plays for 0 yards)
MANITOBA - Ryan Jones 40 yd field goal.
Manitoba 24 - 29 Montreal
02:08 4th
(Manitoba Drive 8 plays for 56 yards)
MANITOBA - Team safety by Montreal
Manitoba 26 - 29 Montreal
00:00 4th
(Manitoba Drive 0 plays for 0 yards)
Full stats at: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/fball/2014/champ-boxscores/20141122_t9iq.xml
Watch replay at: http://cis-sic.tv/
