WINNIPEG – What a fitting game that pitted two of the top ranked CIS football teams against each other. In the end, the #2 Calgary Dinos exacted some revenge in the rematch of the 2014 Hardy Cup (Canada West championship) by winning an exciting and high-octane offensive display during a 46-38 result over the #6 Manitoba Bisons at Investors Group Field in front off 3,291 fans at the BIsons' home opener for the 2015 conference season.

With the win, Calgary moves to 2-0 while Manitoba drops to 1-1 in the young Canada West regular season. This was the lone match-up this year between the two teams in the regular season.

The Bisons, 2014 Canada West champion, started the game with a bang when CIS and Canada West Offence Player of the Week Jamel Lyles took the opening kickoff for 107 yards – to set a new Bison record and put the host in front only 14 seconds into the game.

Calgary responded quickly with a quick four minute drive that was finished off by quarterback Andrew Buckley one yard TD run. This was an omen of more big plays from both sides as the yards started to pile up before half. 

Manitoba then struck back quickly when quarterback Theo Deezar found Dustin Pedersen on a 78 yard throw which led to a 11 yard Alex Christie TD rush and only just after five minutes play, it was the Bisons leading 14-7. After a safety and a Johnny Mark field goal from 40 yards, the first quarter ended with the home side up by two points. 

Deezar found slotback Alex Vitt who made a spectacular catch for a 28 yard TD reception just after the second quarter started and then Bisons' Ryan Jones chipped in a 16 yard FG for a 24-12 margin in favour of the Herd. Dinos' running back Mercer Timmis scored from a three yard run and this would not be the last time he found the end zone. At the half, Manitoba was still on top 24-19.

In the third, Manitoba had their largest lead of the contest at 12 points when Deezar found slotback Jessie Walker on a 64 yard touchdown throw with six minutes remaining. With only four seconds left in the quarter, Timmis found a seam and ran right up the middle for a quick 79 yard TD rush that narrowed the lead to 31-26.

The fireworks did not end as the final 15 minutes saw more explosive offence. Mark connected on a 24 yard field goal early and then Manitoba struck again with an 11 yard TD rush by Deezar after he found Vitt earlier in the drive on a 59 yard completion. It would be the last scoring by the hosts as Calgary continued to press for the road victory. Buckley completed a 53 yard pass to Rashaun Simonise for a 53 yard first down and the drive was then compete when the same combo was successful on a 15 yard TD strike to bring Calgary to within two points at the seven minute mark left. 

The Dinos grabbed their first lead of the game with another Mark's field goal from 26 yards, set-up by an 18 yard Timmis run. After a two-and-out by the Bisons, the visitors ended the game with another Timmis touchdown from 17 yards out after he rushed for all 37 yards on the drive for the final scoring play of the back-and-forth affair and a Calgary 46-38 win.

This battle among the conference finalist from a year ago had numerous big plays on offence and the stats reflected it. Calgary finished with 642 total offence while Manitoba had 521 yards. 

Individually, Calgary was led by Timmis with a monster game. He filled up the stats sheet with 276 rushing yards on 27 carries for a 10.2 average and three rush TDs. Buckley was 26-36 for 340 passing yards and 1 TD and Simonise had a game-high 13 catches for 178 receiving yards and 1 TD. Mark averaged 45.8 punting yards along with 3-4 in the FG department. On defence for the 2014 Hardy Cup runner-ups, Cory Robinson had six tackles and Micah Teitz recorded 5.5 tackles and one sack.

Manitoba had a strong game by Deezar with 364 passing yards on 13-29 plus 2 TDs and 2 INTs and 20 yards rushing with 1 rush TD. Lyles added 82 rush yards on 11 carries plus the kick return TD and Vitt was team-high with five receptions for 111 yards and 1 TD. Walker contributed 113 receiving yards on four grabs and one touchdown. Ryan Jones had a 35.5 punting average and was 1-2 on field goals. On defence, DJ Lalama had a game-high 10.5 tackles while Eric Plett notched eight tackles. 

In week three action, Calgary (2-0) faces Alberta (2-0) in a battle of the province at Calgary on Thursday, September 17 at 7 p.m. MT. Manitoba (1-1) will host #10 UBC (0-1) on Saturday, September 19 at 6 p.m. CT.