CALGARY - At the end of a wild contest, the University of Calgary Dinos snuck out an incredible 47-46 win over the Manitoba Bisons in a Canada West semifinal at McMahon Stadium Saturday, sending them to their 12th consecutive Hardy Cup game.
The game had everything from back-to-back special teams touchdowns, to a successful Hail Mary, and in the end it was an interception by Calgary's Nick Statz at the goal line on a two-point convert try that kept the Dinos' season alive.
Down 47-40 with just six seconds left on the clock, Bisons quarterback Des Catellier scrambled right and heaved one towards the end zone where he had four receivers as well as a host of Dinos defenders waiting for the ball to arrive. The pass was batted down by one of the many outstretched hands, but it was batted right to the waiting arms of Bisons receiver Trysten Dyce who would take it in for the miraculous score with zeros on the clock.
Manitoba, down 47-46, would try and use the momentum of the last second score to win the game outright, opting to go for the two-point conversion instead of kicking the extra point and heading into overtime. The Catellier throw on the conversion attempt was a little behind Dyce, and the ball would go through his hands and be picked off by Nick Statz, sealing the game for the Dinos.
"No brainer," replied Bisons head coach Brian Dobie after he was asked about the two-point decision at the end of the game. "We have played in a lot of overtimes, and any coach that would not go for two at that point is actually making a mistake."
Dobie's team did have all the momentum, after a fourth quarter that saw them score 30 points and make a comeback after the Dinos looked like they were in clear control of the game.
For as thrilling of a finish as it was, the game started off relatively slow with the score 3-1 Dinos after the first quarter. Both offences would find their stride in the second quarter, with the Dinos striking first on a nine-yard Jalen Philpot touchdown from Adam Sinagra. Manitoba would score their first major of the game just minutes later on a 4-yard run from Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette.
Calgary ended the half with a 12-yard touchdown from one of Sinagra's favourite targets, Hunter Karl, and took an 18-13 lead into half.
The third quarter was the Dallas Boath quarter, as two touchdown receptions of six and 10 yards from the senior receiver would give the Dinos a 33-16 lead heading into the final frame.
Cue the madness. Manitoba got the spark they were looking for in the form of a 97-yard punt return touchdown from Shae Weekes. Then, on the ensuing kickoff, Dinos returner Jalen Philpot, who was returning kicks for the first time this year, turned in a 97-yard return touchdown of his own to answer right back.
Catellier, who was lights out all fourth quarter, then led back-to-back touchdown drives, throwing both, and the Bisons suddenly found themselves in a tie ball game, 40-40 with just 3:53 left.
Sinagra would not be outdone though, orchestrating a long, clock-eating touchdown drive of his own. After a lengthy run from Robinson Rodrigues set the Dinos up deep in Bisons territory, Sinagra ran it in himself from nine yards out, giving the Dinos the 47-40 advantage, and setting the stage for the late game drama.
Dinos head coach Wayne Harris was thrilled with the win, but knows that his team will need to improve as they head into the Hardy Cup next weekend.
"We have a lot of corrections and fixes to make, but you have to tip your caps to Manitoba, they played their guts out and so did our guys."
Sinagra had a monster day, throwing for 285 yards and four touchdowns as well as running for 71 yards and a score. Robinson Rodrigues had 101 yards on 14 carries for the Dinos.
For Manitoba, Catellier had 224 passing yards in the fourth quarter alone to bring his total to 358 on the day. Dyce, the recipient of the Hail Mary, led all receivers on either side with 126 yards through the air.
Grant McDonald was everywhere defensively for the Dinos, with 13 total tackles as well as a sack.
The Dinos will now await the winner of the Alberta Golden Bears and the Saskatchewan Huskies as the Hardy Cup returns to McMahon Stadium for the 10th straight year. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. MT, live on the Canada West Football Showcase and CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op.
