Box Score EDMONTON – Only one word describes this game…epic.
The Manitoba Bisons and Alberta Golden Bears locked up into an epic and amazing seven overtime game – the longest Canada West football game in history – that was finally won by the Bisons by a 67-59 score on Saturday, October 22 afternoon at Foote Field in Edmonton.
With the epic victory, Manitoba improves to a 3-4 Canada West conference record and still has a chance for a playoff spot while Alberta drops to 1-6 and our of playoff contention.
"Regardless of the playoff situation and the conference standings, that game was literally one of the greatest wins in Bison Football program history," stated
Brian Dobie, head coach of Manitoba and in his 21st season at the helm.
Where to start?...After a game that ended in regulation time tied at 28, both teams proceeded to match either other throughout six overtimes before the Bisons finally scored the eventual game-winning touchdown and two point conversion. Then the defence snuffed out the final attempt by the Bears with a game saving interception by Bisons' Tanner Hamade at the two yardline of Manitoba in overtime session number seven.
Prior to the insanity of overtime, the Bisons had to make it to the extra session and made a crucial decision by punting the ball back to Alberta with only 1:29 left after facing third-and-eight at Alberta's 50 yardline. The defence held on a two-and-out and with only 1:05 left in the fourth quarter, Manitoba marched 45 yards on seven plays and culminated in a 36 yard field goal by Brad Mikoluff to send the contest in OT.
"We were losing in regulation and had to rely on our defence to get the ball back. We used both of our timeouts and then the offence drove the field to get the tying field goal, " commented Dobie after the win. "Every unit had to play their best football in the last two minutes of regulation to get us into overtime with a chance to win."
The overtime sessions were crazy with both teams going for the victory. Manitoba started with a touchdown that was equaled by Alberta and that was the start of the epicness. In the 2nd OT, both teams added field goals; in 3rd OT, two more touchdown; the 4th OT, both teams with TDs and also added successful two point conversion and then in the 5th and 6th OT, both teams had to settle for field goals and that led to the final seventh overtime.
In the seventh overtime and tied at 59-59 (31 points scored each by the teams in OT), Manitoba had the ball first and drove four plays from the starting overtime position of Alberta's 35 and Bison quarterback Theo Deezar found slotback Riley Harrison in the back of the end zone for the eventual winning score. A two-point conversion also worked as slotback Trysten Dyce caught the pass from Deezar.
In a game with so much offence, it was the Bison defence that finally put an end to this marathon game. Bears' QB Ben Kopczynski pass was intercepted by Hamade as receiver Taylor Henry was the intended recipient and Hamade snuffed out the last play on the two yardline and preserve the road win for the Herd.
"We persevered on the road in the seventh overtime and this is a great accomplishment for this team and any team…and this team did it!" enthused Dobie.
The stats count in overtime and Manitoba racked up 39 first downs to Alberta's 35.Total offence was 696 to 638 for Manitoba – a whopping 1,336 combined offence but granted there were seven OT sessions and a regulation game played. The Bisons also had 17 penalties for 130 yards while the Bears were 13 for 101 penalty yards. The Herd also had 308 rushing yards to 179 by the hosts.
Individually for the visitors, Deezar went 34-56 for 393 passing yards and five TDs along with eight carries and 54 yards and caught a two point conversion. Fourth year running Alex Christie churned out 183 rushing yards on 27 attempts and 1 TD. In receiving, Harrison had 11 catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns and Bisons second year slotback Jesse Walker added eight receptions for 94 yards and 1 TD while ten different Bison receivers grabbed at least one pass during the game. On special teams, first year Bison Brad Mikoluff was 5/6 in field goals with longest of 37 yards and second year punter Matt Riley had 30 yard average on six punts.
On defence for Manitoba, third year linebacker Houston Rennie had and second year defensive lineman Derek Dufault each had eight total tackles and Rennie added three break-ups. The Bison had nine overall break-ups in the game.
For Alberta, Kopczynski was 30-53 for 460 yards and 3 TDs while adding 67 rushing yards on 13 carries and two more rush TDs. Ed Ilnicki had 95 rushing yards on 21 attempts and one touchdown. Henry was a beast with 19 catches – tied the U Sports mark for most in a single game – for astonishing 298 receiving yards (second most in conference history) and 1 TD. On defence for the Bears, Tak Landry had 11 total tackles with two break-ups while Tom Tsoumpas added 10.5 tackles and one interception.
Manitoba will now have sweat in out and watch the rest of the league play before they host the final Canada West regular season game at home against the Regina Rams (5-2) on Saturday, October 29 at 8 p.m. CT at Investors Group Field.
Game Notes: Manitoba is tied for UBC with a 3-5 record but UBC has the tie-breaker. UBC will host Calgary (5-2) prior to the Bisons game on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. CT. Alberta is at Saskatchewan (4-3) on Friday, Oct. 28 and if there is a three-way tie between Sask., UBC and Manitoba, the Bisons will make the playoffs and finish third in the conference standings.
Bison team football record information from the Alberta game:
- Most points in overtime (39)
- Most first downs in a single game (39)
- Most passing attempts in a single game (57)
- Most passing completions in a single game (35)
- Second most combined points in a single game (126)
- Second most net total offence in a single game (696)
- Tied for second points scored in a single game (67 – Oct. 8/76 at Calgary)
- Fourth most rushing yards in a single game (398)
- Fourth most passing yards by opponent in a single game (469)
- Tied for fifth most rushing attempts in a single game (46)
- Sixth most first downs by opponent in a single game (35)
- Tied for sixth most points allowed by opponent in a single game
- Seventh most net total offence by opponent in a single game (638)
Bison individual football record information from the Alberta game:
- Most passing completions in a single game (Theo Deezar – 34)
- Most passing attempts in a single game (Theo Deezar – 56)
- Tied for second most passing TDs in a single game (Theo Deezar – 5)
- Tied for second most defensive break-ups in a single game (Houston Rennie – 3)
- Tied for third most field goals made in a single game (Brad Mikoluff – 5)
- Tied for third most field goals attempted in a single game (Brad Mikoluff – 6)
- Tied for third most receptions in a single game (Riley Harrison – 11)
- Tied for sixth most rushing carries in a single game (Alex Christie – 27)
- Tied for eighth most receptions in a single game (Jesse Walker – 8)
- 12th most passing yards in a single game (Theo Deezar – 393)
Current Canada West Football Standings after week seven
1) Regina 5-2
2) Calgary 5-2
3) Saskatchewan 4-3
4) UBC 3-4
5) Manitoba 3-4
6) Alberta 1-6
One game remains in conference regular seasopn to be play on Oct. 28-29 weekend.
IN:
Regina, Calgary AND Saskatchewan.
Battling:
UBC and Manitoba
OUT:
Alberta
Saskatchewan:
Saskatchewan HAS clinched a playoff spot based on this week's results. The worst the Huskies can finish is 4-4. That is the best record both UBC and Manitoba can finish with. If all three teams finish at 4-4, Manitoba wins the three-way tie-break and finishes 3rd. Saskatchewan would then win the head-to-head tie-break with UBC.
Manitoba and UBC:
Should Manitoba and UBC finish with identical records (3-5 or 4-4), UBC owns the head-to-head tie break based on UBC's 53-50 win over Manitoba this season in the lone meeting between the two.
SASK, UBC and MAN:
As mentioned above, if all three teams finish 4-4, Manitoba and Saskatchewan will advance to the playoffs based on the tie-breakers.
