Box Score WINNIPEG – In the 2016 Canada West football regular season opener, the #7 ranked Calgary Dinos went into Investors Group Field and defeated the #5 ranked Manitoba Bisons by a 23-14 score on Thursday, September 1 in front of 2,286 fans.

With the win, Calgary moves to a 1-0 record while Manitoba drops to 0-1 in the young Canada West regular season. This is the first of two match-ups this season between the teams and they meet again on October 14 in Calgary.

It was game that you might expect from squads that are playing the first game of the regular season. Both teams struggled on offence as reflected in the first quarter score of only 1-0 for Manitoba and then a baseball score of a 5-4 lead by Calgary after 30 minutes.

In the second half, Manitoba scored the first touchdown of the young conference season when second year receiver Jesse Walker snagged a six yard pass from third year quarterback Theo Deezar with only 1:45 gone in the second.

Calgary clawed their way back into the game with a quick drive on a short field and fourth year kicker Alec Curtis had just enough leg after a tough snap and hold to kick a 45 yarder to cut the lead five minutes left in the third. The visitors regained the lead with a seven play for 50 yards that resulted in fifth year QB Jimmy Underdahl with a one yard plunge for a 15-11 advantage into the fourth.

In the final 15 minutes, the Dinos extended the margin quickly after five consecutive completions by Underdahl and finished off with a seven yard TD pass to fourth year Austen Hartley and 22-11 game. In that drive, Calgary was successful on a crucial third and two from Manitoba's 30 yard line.

The home side had a chance to respond with another touchdown on the next drive but could not convert a first and goal from the five yard line and had to settle for a ten yard field goal by third year kicker Ryan Jones with 7:41 gone in the fourth.

The last half of the quarter, Manitoba could not sustain another possession and then Calgary virtually ran out the clock on a ten play, 58 yard drive that last over three minutes and resulted in a single point off a missed field goal to seal the road victory with only 44 seconds left in the contest.

This battle among two of the higher ranked conference teams so far this season resulted in 424 total offence by Calgary and only 348 offence yards for Manitoba. The Bisons also had 18 penalties for a startling 193 yards in the loss.

Individually, Calgary was led by Underdahl with a 21-34 performance for 242 yards and 1 passing TD and 1 rush TD while Hartley was top receiver with a whopping 14 receptions for 145 yards and the touchdown. Second year Dino Jeshrun Antwi was top rusher with 81 yards on 11 carries. On defence for the 2015 Hardy Cup runner-ups, third year Boston Rowe led the team with 11 total tackles while the Dinos had three interceptions (Nick Statz, Robert Woodson, Nathan Mitchell).

Bisons' Deezar was 23-29 for a game-high 278 yards with three picks and 1 TD. Walker had eight grabs for 73 yards and a touchdown while first year receiver Riley Harrison was added 103 receiving yards on seven catches. Fourth year running back Alex Christie had 55 rushing yards on nine carries and 125 all-purpose yards. On defence, fourth year linebacker DJ Lalama registered a game-high 14 total tackles with one forced fumble and fifth year linebacker Bami Adewale had seven total tackles with a fumble recovery.

Bison head coach Brian Dobie stated after the home loss, "I am disappointed. Calgary earned the win. We have to get better and we made too many mistakes and did not take advantage of opportunities."
 
In week two action, Calgary (1-0) faces UBC at Calgary in a rematch of the 2015 Hardy Cup province on Friday, September 9 at 5:30 p.m. MT (also on Shaw TV/Access). Manitoba (0-1) travels on the road to play the Regina Rams on Thursday, September 8 at 8 p.m. CT (also on Shaw TV/Access).


Game Notes: Earlier this 2016 season, both teams played in pre-season action as Calgary won 37-13 over Regina at Medicine Hat, AB (Aug. 25) while the Bisons played in the first-ever CIS game played on Vancouver Island and defeated UBC by a 50-7 score in Langford, B.C. on August 26. Last season, the two teams only met once and the Dinos won 46-38 at Winnipeg on Sept. 11, 2015 and now Calgary owns a 20-11 regular season record during the last 21 seasons while Brian Dobie has coached at Manitoba.