The Manitoba Bisons (1-6) finishes the 2017 Canada West football regular season with the fourth and final road game of the season versus the Saskatchewan Huskies (2-5) at 8 p.m. CT on Saturday, October 28 at Griffiths Stadium. The game will also be on live webcast (canadawest.tv – fee required) along with TV broadcast in Manitoba at BellMTS 1802 HD.
Manitoba is eliminated from post-season play for 2017 and this is the first time since 1998 (0-8 record in that season) for the Herd to not have a chance to advance to the playoffs in the last week of the regular season.
The Bisons can be spoilers as Saskatchewan needs to win to advance into the post-season. Earlier in 2017 season, Manitoba played the Huskies at home and lost 44-23 in week one on Sept. 1. Over Brian Dobie's tenure with Manitoba (22 years), the Bisons have a 16-15 overall record against Saskatchewan and 7-6 on the road during the conference regular season. The last time the Herd beat the Huskies at Saskatchewan was in 2015 by 34-28 (Sept. 4).
Earlier this 2017 regular season, Manitoba lost 44-23 over the Huskies at home (Sept. 1), were defeated 32-18 at #10 UBC (Sept. 9), 76-17 loss to #3 Calgary at home (Sept. 16), won 18-16 at #6 Regina in week four (Sept. 23) lost 36-25 vs. Alberta at home (Sept. 29), lost 36-27 at #2 Calgary (Oct. 14) and defeated 17-16 by #6 UBC at home (Oct. 21).
Bison second year running back and kick returner Jamel Lyles is the only Canada West player – and one of three across the country – with at least 100 yards rushing (522), receiving (169), on punt returns (149) and on kickoff returns (273) heading into last week of the 2017 season.
In 2017 conference regular season team stats after week seven, Manitoba is sixth in offence with 20.6 points per game average while Sask. is fourth at 30.4. In offence yards per game, the Bisons are sixth with 363.9 while Huskies are fifth at 427.0. On defence, Manitoba is fifth with 36.7 points allowed per game while Sask. Is fifth with 35.7 pts./game. In yards allowed, Manitoba is fifth place (490.3) and the Huskies are sixth (553.9).
This is the second of two meetings between the two teams in 2017 football regular season.
Bison Notes: The Bisons started the season ranked number ten in the country in the first U SPORTS Top 10 poll of the season.
