Game Day Football Notes: University of Manitoba Bisons (1-4) vs. Calgary Dinos (5-0) - Saturday, October 14, 2017
The Manitoba Bisons (1-4) seek their second win of the 2017 campaign when they travel for the third road game of the season against the #2 Calgary Dinos (5-0) with kickoff on Saturday, October 14 at 2 p.m. CT at McMahon Stadium. The game will be available on live webcast on canadawest.tv (fee required).

To start the 2017 season, the Bisons were ranked tenth in the first CIS poll and hosted unranked (now ranked) Saskatchewan in week one and lost 44-23 on Fri., Sept. 1. Then, Manitoba went on the road for the first time this season and lost 32-18 at #10 ranked UBC on Sat., Sept. 9. In week three at the annual Homecoming Game, the Bisons lost 76-17 versus at #3 Calgary on Sat., Sept. 16 at IGF and won 18-16 at #6 Regina in week four (Sept. 23). In week five, Manitoba lost 36-35 to Alberta at home on Sept. 29 afternoon game.

This is the second meeting between the two teams in the 2017 football season. Calgary defeated the Herd 76-17 in week three at Manitoba.

In the conference standings, Manitoba is in fifth spot tie with Alberta at 1-4 record (four make the playoffs). Calgary is first with 5-0 record while UBC and Regina are tied for second at 3-2 with Saskatchewan in fourth place tie with 2-3 record.

In 2017, Calgary has won five in a row starting with 55-26 at Alberta then 46-26 at home vs. Regina. In week three, the Dinos beat Manitoba followed by 51-28 victory at home against Saskatchewan and 31-17 at UBC in week five.

In 2017 conference regular season team stats after week five, Manitoba is sixth in offence with 20.2 points per game average while Calgary is first at 51.8. In offence yards per game, the Bisons are sixth with 339.6 while the Dinos are leading at 555.0. On defence, Manitoba is sixth with 40.8 points allowed per game while Calgary is first with 22.8 pts./game. In yards allowed, Manitoba is sixth place (542.4) and the Dinos are first spot (381.0).

Last season, Manitoba played the Dinos twice and lost 63-6 at Calgary (Oct. 14/16) and lost 23-14 at Manitoba on Sept. 1/16. Over Brian Dobie's tenure with Manitoba (22 years), the Bisons have a 11-22 overall record against the Dinos and 4-12 on the road during the conference regular season.

The Bisons last win at McMahon in the regular season was in 2005 when the Herd won 28-27 on Oct. 21. The Bisons have won at Calgary in post-season when they won 27-15 in the 2014 Canada West Final (Nov. 15).

Manitoba avoided the program's first 0-4 start to a season in two decades (1998) with the road win at Regina in week four.

In five games so far this 2017 season, Manitoba best quarter for scoring is the second quarter with 36 points. Next is the third (26) , fourth quarter (21) and then first quarter (18). Manitoba has allowed the most points so far in the fourth quarter (71) then second quarter (63) then first (36) and third (34).

Bison second year running back/kick returner Jamel Lyles is second in the conference and ninth in U SPORTS with 886 all-purpose yards (rush: 360; kick return: 273; punt return: 129; receiving: 124) and fifth in conference rush yards at 360 through five weeks. Lyles is first in kickoff return yards in CW with 273 yards and third year Jesse Walker is seventh in conference kickoff return yards at 134. In Canada West punt return yards, Lyles also is third at 129 yards, Bison second year (fourth year eligibility) Shai Ross is fifth at 104 and fifth year Alex Christie at ninth with 45.

On special teams, third year Matt Riley is third in punting average at 41.0. Fourth year placekicker Brad Mikoluff is tied for first in field goal percentage at 90% (9/10) with longest of 46 yards plus 7/7 on extra points and fourth in kicking scoring at 34. 

On defence in conference stats after three games, fifth year linebacker James Mau is third with 35.0 total tackles while second year Bison defensive lineman Brock Gowanlock is seventh at 27 and rookie defensive back Marcel Arruda-Welch in T-17th at 22.5 followed by fourth year defensive back Jayden McKoy at 19th at 22 and fourth year linebacker Houston Rennie tied for 20th at 21.5.

Gowanlock is tied for fifth in CW sacks with two while Mau and rookie DL Cole Adamson, Dufault and fourth year linebacker Houston Rennie are tied for 12th with are tied with one sack each. Gowanlock is tied for first with two forced fumbles while rookie LB Brody Williams is T-6th with one forced fumble. Mau tied for first in CW with two fumble recoveries while rookie DB Shae Weeks and fourth year DL Braiden Watson is tied for second with fumble recovery. Rookie defensive back Marcel Arruda-Welch is first in Canada West with seven break-ups and Adamson is T-13th with two break-ups. Second year linebacker Caleb Abraham is tied for tenth with three tackles for losses.

Fourth year defensive back Jayden McKoy is tied for first with two interceptions while Mau is T-7th with one pick.

LINEUP INFO.
Going into game six, there is only several changes for starters compared to week five Bison lineup:
- Fifth year Tyler Fong returns to safety starting position 
- Fourth year Jayden McKoy returns to halfback starting position 
- Fourth year Eric Plett at cornerback starting position 
- Fourth year Donovan Gregoire at MAC linebacker starting position 
- Second year Matt Clarkson at right guard starting position 
- Fourth year Shai Ross at wide receiver starting position 
- Third year Jesse Walker at slotback starting position 

Starters game loss due to injury: 24

Third year OL Ryan Wengelinski (injured game one – 5 games loss counting game six vs. Cgy.)
Second year slotback Ethan Diakow (injured game three – 3 game loss counting game six vs. Cgy.)
Fifth year linebacker James Mau (injured game five – 1 game loss counting game six vs. Cgy.)
Fourth year Dylan Schrot (injured game five – 1 game loss counting game six vs. Cgy.)
Third year offensive lineman Myles Rose-Standish (injured game five – 1 game loss counting game six vs. Cgy.)
Second year running back Jayde Erasmo (injured after game five – 1 game loss counting game six vs. Cgy.)
First year running back Somto Anyadike (injured after game five – 1 game loss counting game six vs. Cgy.)

Fourth year halfback Eric Plett (injured in training camp – 3 games loss and returned for game four)
Second year quarterback Des Catellier (injured in training camp – 3 games loss and returned for game four)
Second year wide receiver Shai Ross (injured game one – 2 games loss and returned for game four)
Second year slotback Macho Bockru (injured game three – 1 game loss and returned game four)
Fifth year safety Tyler Fong (injured game three – 1 game loss and returned for game five)
First year WILL linebacker Kyle Gordon (injured game three – 1 game loss and returned for game five)

Heading into week six, there are 14 starters (five on offence; four on defence; two on special teams) that are scheduled to play in week six at same position for all games so far in 2017. On offence: SB Riley Harrison, LG Reid McMorris, C Anthony Daley, RT Zack Williams, RB Jamel Lyles. On defence: HB Shae Weekes, SAM LB Houston Rennie, DE Derek Dufault, NT Braiden Watson. On special teams: Placekicker Brad Mikoluff and punter Matt Riley.

In addition, Brock Gowanlock started in game one plus game two at DT and now at DE for game three, four, five and six. Jayden McKoy started first three games at halfback and started at safety in week four and five and back as starter at halfback in week six.

The rookie starters in game one were cornerback Marcel Arruda-Welch, halfback Shae Weekes and defensive end Cassidy Obijaku. In week one, wide receiver Dylan Schrot had his first U SPORTS start but is a fourth year eligibility player.

Rookie WILL linebacker Kyle Gordon and cornerback Arjay Shelley saw their first U SPORTS start in week two and starts in game three. Rookie defensive tackle Cole Adamson had his first U SPORTS start in week three. Second year quarterback Des Catellier made his first U SPORTS start at QB position in week four at Regina.

In the first week of the 2017 Canada West football regular season, Manitoba Bisons second year running back/kick returner Jamel Lyles was selected Canada West Special Teams Football Athlete of the Week for the week ending September 3/17. Lyles did it all for the Bisons to start the 2017 campaign, registering 81 rushing yards, 23 receiving yards, and 121 kickoff return yards. Thanks to his big return day, which featured a 49-yarder, the Surrey, BC native was the conference special teams player of the week. Despite his strong effort coming in a 44-23 home loss against the Huskies, Lyles is no stranger to the CW Special Teams recognition as he won this weekly honour twice for this category in his rookie season in 2015.

In the fourth week of the 2017 Canada West football regular season, Manitoba Bisons fourth year defensive back/safety Jayden McKoy was named U SPORTS and Canada West Defence Football Athlete of the Week for the week ending September 24/17. This is the first time a Manitoba Bisons football player has earned U SPORTS player of the week honours in 2017 and first time a Bison defensive player selected since the 2014 season (McKoy on Nov. 9/14). He posted a pair of crucial interceptions for the Bisons in 18-16 win over #6 Regina Rams on Sat., Sept. 23 in Regina. McKoy's interceptions came on back-to-back Regina possessions in the second quarter. Both McKoy interceptions were vital to Manitoba picking up first win of the season, as first was an impressive 47-yard pick six – the lone major on the day for the Bisons – the next came in the end zone, taking points off the board for Regina and ended a potential scoring drive at end of the half.

Quarterback Theo Deezar had started in 19 of the last 21 conference regular season (plus one playoff match) games over the last four seasons. Des Catellier made his first U SPORTS start at QB in week four and started in game five and scheduled to be starter in week six. The last Bison to start other than Theo Deezar, prior to Catellier in week four, was Foster Martens (Oct. 31/15) in a regular season game.

Lyles had ninth longest rush in Bison history with 75 yard TD on Sept. 16.
Schrot tied for seventh longest reception in Bison history with 81 yard reception on Sept. 29.


Kickoff will occur at 2 p.m. CT and the game can be seen on the web at: canadawest.tv website (fee required).

Points of Interest
TDs

In week one, the Bisons score twice as Jamel Lyles score first TD of 2017 for Manitoba with a 4 yard run and Shai Ross with a 310 yard TD reception in game vs. Sask. (Sept. 1).

In week two, Riley Harrison had a 30 yard TD catch and Stephen Ugbah grabbed an 8 yard TD pass in game at UBC (Sept. 9).

In week three, Jamel Lyles had an 18 and 75 yard TD run in game vs. Calgary (Sept. 16).

In week four, Jayden McKoy took back a pick-six on a 47 yard interception TD. 

In week five, Theo Deezar had a 1 yard TD run, Somto Anyadike with 33 yard TD run and Shai Ross with 13 yard TD reception.

In week one, Manitoba was down 27-6 at half after a 7-0 advantage after the first quarter.
In week two, Manitoba was down 13-10 at half after a 7-0 disadvantage after the first quarter.
In week three, Manitoba was down 46-3 at half after a 17-3 disadvantage after the first quarter.
In week four, Manitoba led, for the first time at half, by a 15-0 after a 12-0 advantage after the first quarter.
In week five, Manitoba was leading 15-13 at half after a 8-5 advantage after the first quarter.

The Bisons had 1,501 fans at Investors Group Field for game one in 2017.
The Bisons had 1,640 fans at Investors Group Field for game three in 2017.
The Bisons had 1,000 fans at Investors Group Field for game five in 2017.

In the red zone after week five in 2017, Manitoba (7-12) is sixth at 58% with five touchdowns while Calgary is second at 88% (22-25) and 18 touchdowns. In turnovers, Manitoba had three fumble recoveries and seven sacks.

In Canada West penalties, Manitoba is second with least amount of penalty yards at 584 (58 penalties) while Calgary is third at 594 (61 penalties). In time of possession, the Herd is last at 27:15 while the Dinos in first at 31:53.

On defence in Canada West stats, Manitoba is fifth in passing yards allowed per game at 324.2 while Calgary is tops at 266.8 while in rushing yards allowed per game, the Herd is fifth at 173.2 and the Dinos are second at 114.2. In interceptions, Calgary is third with six while the Bisons are fifth with three picks.

In conference sacks, Manitoba is tied for third with seven while the Dinos are first with 14 sacks. In sacks allowed, Manitoba has allowed nine sacks while Calgary has allowed seven sacks. 

Since 1968 season, the Bisons have officially played 392 Canada West regular season football games and recorded 176 wins, 212 losses, three ties and one overtime loss.

Bison football head coach Brian Dobie is coaching in his 173rd U SPORTS regular season game in his 22nd season at the helm of Manitoba. His regular season record so far is 88-82-1-1 (51.2% winning percentage) and post-season record is 12-10. Overall record (regular season plus playoffs) is 100-91-1-1 – first Bison football coach to reach 100 overall win milestone.

In the sixth U SPORTS Top 10 football poll of 2017, defending Vanier Cup champion Laval is third with Montreal at number one while Canada West teams occupy three other spots as Calgary is second, UBC is seventh and Regina is eighth. Manitoba started the season in tenth spot in week one before falling out of the Top 10 in week two.

The Bison football team snapped a four game overall losing streak dating back to 2016 conference regular season and had lost six of the last seven CW reg. season games before the win at Regina in week four. In addition, Manitoba has a -103 in point differential so far in 2017 as they have scored 101 points and given up 204 points in three games.

At the completion of the 2016-17 season, 115 of the 315 University of Manitoba student-athletes qualified for U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian status by maintaining a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (80%) or better in their field of study at the University of Manitoba. The Bison Football team had four players to earn this recognition (Geoff Gray, Derek Dufault, Evinn Lyons-Keely and Tyler Fong).

Bison alum David Onyemata continues to shine for the NFL's New Orleans Saints after making their 53 person roster for the second consecutive season in 2017 and played in the Monday Football Game at Minnesota and registered four combined tackles (two solo, two assisted) in week one of the NFL campaign and then two assisted tackles in week three win. He earned his first ever NFL sack in win in London during week four. He wears number 93 after wearing number 97 with Manitoba. Onyemata made history as the first Manitoba Bisons football player selected in the NFL (National Football League) Draft as he was drafted by New Orleans Saints in the 4th round (120th overall pick) in the 2016 NFL Draft on Saturday, April, 30. 

Onyemata has company this season in the NFL as Bison alum offensive lineman Geoff Gray has made the practice roster of the New York Jets as a rookie after being signed as a as priority free agent with the Green Bay Packers in late April 2017. Gray's agent Darren Gill commented after his decision to join the Jets for the 2017 season, "Very pleased with how Geoff progressed in Green Bay and excited about his opportunity in New York. He's proven that he can play at the next level."

Canada West football results so far in 2017:
Date     Place of game             Result
Sept. 1 Manitoba                     Saskatchewan 44 Manitoba 23
Sept. 1 Alberta                          Calgary 55 Alberta 26
Sept. 1 Regina                          Regina 36 UBC 20
Sept. 8 Calgary                         Calgary 46 Regina 26
Sept. 8 Saskatchewan              Saskatchewan 43 Alberta 17
Sept. 9 UBC                             UBC 32 Manitoba 18
Sept. 16 Manitoba                   Calgary 76 Manitoba 17
Sept. 16 UBC                           UBC 31 Saskatchewan 10
Sept. 16 Regina                        Regina 28 Alberta 18
Sept. 23 Alberta                        UBC 41 Alberta 21
Sept. 23 Calgary                       Calgary 51 Saskatchewan 28
Sept. 23 Regina                       Manitoba 18 Regina 16
Sept. 29 Manitoba                   Alberta 36 Manitoba 25
Sept. 29 Saskatchewan            Regina 50 Saskatchewan 40
Sept. 29 UBC                            Calgary 31 UBC 17

Other Canada West football games this weekend:
Oct. 14 Regina at Alberta 1 PM MT
Oct. 14 UBC at Saskatchewan 7 PM MT

BISON FOOTBALL PLAYERS CLOSE TO TEAM CAREER MILESTONES

• Head coach Brian Dobie (1996-present) is coaching his 173rd conference regular season game at Manitoba (88-82-1-1) plus 195th overall game (playoffs record: 12-10)
• Theo Deezar ('14-17) is third in passing yards with 6,230. In second is Brett Watt ('90-94) with 6,817 while Shane Munson ('99-03) is in first at 7,474. Deezar is third in pass completions (428) – Watt is second at 434 and Munson in first at 507; in attempts, Deezar is third at 713 – Watt is second at 883 and Munson in first at 937 plus Deezar is second in TD passing (48) – Munson is first at 62 and Deezar is first in passing percentage at 60.0%.
• On total tackles, Jayden McKoy ('13-17) is ninth with 141.5. Next for McKoy is eighth place Bami Adewale ('11-16) at 146.5 and seventh at 160.5 for Lauren Kroeker ('10-14) and Teague Sherman ('08-12) in sixth with 162.5.
• Alex Christie ('12-17) is first in kickoff return yards at 1,047 and now first in kickoff returns with 54, surpassing second place Rob Rabichuk ('93-96) at 53 and Christie is eighth in kickoff return average at 19.4.
• In two point converts, Trysten Dyce ('15-17) is third with two as Dominic Zagari ('91-95) and Rick Mattas (1990) have three each.
•  McKoy is second in interception return yards with 255 and Demetro Danyluk ('79-83) in first with 274; McKoy is sixth with 12 interceptions and a three-way tie at 13.
• Christie is first with four blocked kicks.
• Brad Mikoluff ('16-17) is sixth with 23 field goals made –fifth place Ryan Jones ('14-16) at 30.
• In all-purpose yards (began counting in 2006), Christie is fourth with 2,906 yards and third is Matt Henry ('06-10) at 3,508 while Jamel Lyles (2015/2017) is fifth at 2,450.
• Jesse Walker ('15-17) is eighth in receptions at 79 and behind seventh place Nic Demski ('11-14) at 87; Walker is 12th in receiving yards at 1,091 and behind 11th place Stu Schollaardt ('06-11) at 1,116.
• Christie is tenth in rushing yards at 1,299 and ninth is LaFrance at 1,261; Christie is tenth in carries at 222 and LaFrance at 248 in ninth.
• Jamel Lyles (2015/17) is 12th in rushing yards at 1,051 and in 11th is Chris Hardy ('95-96) at 1,209 while Lyles is third in rushing average yards at 7.3 with Hardy in first place at 9.8 and second place Anthony Coombs ('10-13) at 7.5.

Key Stats – BISON FTB History vs. Calgary last 22 seasons
(Regular season: Bisons 11-22; Bisons at home vs. Dinos: 7-10; Bisons on road vs. Dinos: 4-12; Playoffs: 3-2)
October 14, 2017
Manitoba vs. Calgary at Calgary

September 16, 2017
Calgary 76 Manitoba 17 at Man. (IGF)

October 14, 2016
Calgary 63 Manitoba 6 at Calgary

September 1, 2016
Calgary 23 Manitoba 14 at Manitoba (IGF)

September 11, 2015
Calgary 46 Manitoba 38 at Manitoba (IGF)

November 15, 2014 (CW Final)
Manitoba 27 Calgary 15 at Calgary

November 1, 2014
Manitoba 50 Calgary 31 at Manitoba (IGF)

September 26, 2014
Calgary 42 Manitoba 41 at Calgary\

November 9, 2013 (CW Final)
Calgary 43 Manitoba 28 at Calgary

September 20, 2013
Calgary 48 Manitoba 24 at Calgary

November 3, 2012 (CW Semi-Final)
Calgary 57 Manitoba 18 at Calgary 

October 27, 2012
Calgary 78 Manitoba 54 at Calgary

September 15, 2012
Calgary 33 Manitoba 12 at Manitoba

October 22, 2011
Calgary 41 Manitoba 24 at Calgary

September 3, 2011
Calgary 35 Manitoba 31 at Manitoba

September 25, 2010
Calgary 26 Manitoba 25 at Manitoba

October 10, 2009
Calgary 35 Manitoba 24 at Calgary

October 18, 2008
Calgary 25 Manitoba 18 at Manitoba

September 6, 2008
Calgary 37 Manitoba 17 at Calgary

November 3, 2007 (CW Semi-Final)
Manitoba 27 Calgary 5 at Manitoba

September 15, 2007
Manitoba 35 Calgary 28 at Manitoba

September 16, 2006
Manitoba 33 Calgary 10 at Manitoba

October 21, 2005
Manitoba 28 Calgary 27 at Calgary

September 10, 2005
Manitoba 51 Calgary 10 at Manitoba

September 18, 2004
Calgary 27 Manitoba 13 at Calgary

September 12, 2003
Calgary 17 Manitoba 13 at Calgary

October 19, 2002
Manitoba 38 Calgary 2 at Manitoba

September 6, 2002
Manitoba 37 Calgary 34 at Calgary

November 4, 2001 (CW Semi-Final)
Manitoba 31 Calgary 10 at Manitoba

October 26, 2001
Manitoba 34 Calgary 0 at Calgary

September 15, 2001
Manitoba 49 Calgary 6 at Manitoba

September 22, 2000
Calgary 34 Manitoba 31 at Calgary

October 23, 1999
Manitoba 27 Calgary 22 at Calgary

September 11, 1999
Manitoba 32 Calgary 11 at Manitoba

October 10, 1998
Calgary 63 Manitoba 20 at Manitoba

September 5, 1998
Calgary 59 Manitoba 14 at Calgary

October 18, 1997
Calgary 52 Manitoba 23 at Manitoba

September 12, 1997
Calgary 41 Manitoba 21 at Calgary

October 4, 1996
Calgary 39 Manitoba 18 at Calgary

August 31, 1996
Calgary 21 Manitoba 20 at Manitoba