This weekend, Bison football opens the gates of Investors Group Field for their 2018 home schedule. Meanwhile, on the road, Bison women's soccer start their season with a Prairie back-to-back against Regina on Saturday and Saskatchewan on Sunday.

That, and what else to look forward to for the weekend of September 7-9, 2018.

Football – Friday, September 7 vs. Saskatchewan – 7 p.m. CT

GAME NOTES
WATCH/LISTEN: Bell MTS ch. 1802, www.CanadaWest.tv
LIVE STATS
UPDATES: follow @MBBisons on Twitter

While the preseason Canada West coaches' poll pegged Manitoba and Saskatchewan to finish in the bottom half of the conference, Week 1 showed that both teams may exceed expectations in 2018. The unranked Bisons and #10-ranked Huskies now meet for Manitoba's home opener at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg.

Going up against the #6-ranked UBC Thunderbirds in Week 1 — the consensus top team in Canada West — Manitoba kept the game close. Though it ended in a 30-20 loss, the Bisons' offence tallied a massive 457 yards (UBC had 443), 378 of those thrown by third-year quarterback Des Catellier, who also had two touchdown passes.

Another highlight for Manitoba was fifth-year receiver Dylan Schrot, who caught nine balls for 143 yards, both career-best marks. Schrot also caught a touchdown, as his performance made him the Bison Sports Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending Sep. 3, 2018.

The Huskies, meanwhile, had the most resounding victory in Week 1 of Canada West football, beating the Alberta Golden Bears 42-0 at Griffiths Stadium. Two of the three Canada West Football Players of the Week were Huskies as a result, as defensive back Nelson Lokombo (two interceptions, four tackles) was named for defensive honours and return man Daniel Perry (nine punt returns, 139 yards) was given special teams honours. With the blowout win, the Huskies went from unranked in the first week of the U SPORTS Top 10 to the tenth-ranked team in the country.

• This is the first of two matchups this season between the Bisons and Huskies during the 2018 season, with the teams meeting at Griffiths Stadium at 3 PM on Oct. 20.
• Manitoba won the previous matchup, 36-32 in the final game of the 2017 season. Both teams finished out of the playoffs last season with 2-6 records.

Tickets for Friday night's game are available on Ticketmaster for $17.50, but U of M students, high schoolers, and fans 12-and-under get in free!

Women's Soccer – September 8 at Regina (1 PM), September 9 at Saskatchewan (1 PM)

LIVE STATS - @ Regina
LIVE STATS - @ Saskatchewan
UPDATES: follow @BisonWSOC on Twitter

After a landmark season where Bison women's soccer hosted the U SPORTS Championship, a new season is set to begin on the road in Saskatchewan. Manitoba will play the Regina Cougars on Saturday at 1 p.m. then head up to Saskatoon to face the Huskies on Sunday at the same time.

Last season, the Bisons and Cougars bookended the season with matchups against each other. The first game on Sep. 8, 2017 ended in a 0-0 draw, while Manitoba won the season finale 1-0 on Oct. 22, 2017. Against the Huskies, the Bisons were 1-1, winning 3-2 on Sep. 9 and losing 6-3 on Oct. 21.

For a full preview of the women's soccer team, including key players at each position, check out our article from earlier this week.

Men's Golf – September 8-9 – Concordia Fall Invitational

While both Bison golf teams will be in action next Monday and Tuesday, it's the men who also play this weekend. They're headed to Wildflower Golf Club in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, where they'll compete in the Concordia Fall Invite.

Last weekend at the Augsburg Fall Invitational, fifth-year Devon Schade tied for 7^th overall with a +2 score over two days, his second top ten individual finish in two tournaments this season. The Bison men finished seventh as a team, shooting a 604 total.

Women's Hockey – Exhibition vs. St. Mary's Academy – September 7-8

After opening their training camp late in August, the reigning national champ Bison women's hockey team will start their exhibition schedule this weekend. They play St. Mary's Academy at 7 p.m. on Friday at Wayne Fleming Arena, then head to St. Mary's for a game on Saturday afternoon.

The women's hockey team will open their season at home on Oct. 5, when they'll hang both the 2017-18 Canada West and U SPORTS Championship banners.

Notes from the Range

• In preparing for this weekend's football game, we looked at the intense rivalry between Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and talked to head coach Brian Dobie about what needs to change from Week 1 to Week 2.
• Highlighting the latest crop of former WHL recruits, "WHL powers CW" looked at Tyler Brown, Mackenzie Dwyer, and Devon Skoleski of Bison men's hockey, and how the WHL prepared them for Canada West action.