It's no secret that heading into the 2019 season, Manitoba's defensive line was going to be a strength. With three 2019 CFL draft picks and a plethora of other experienced game-changers in the front four, the Bisons were certainly capable of winning games based on their ability to control the line of scrimmage.
That's exactly what happened on Wednesday night in Regina, as the Herd got five sacks from their front four on route to a 12-9 exhibition win over the Rams in a game where just one offensive touchdown was scored.
Fourth-year defensive ends
Samson Abbott and
Brock Gowanlock set the tone with two and one-and-a-half sacks respectively and also combined for seven tackles, while fellow defensive end
Jared Lazarenko and defensive tackle
Cole Adamson also chipped in a sack and half a sack.
Abbott, a draft pick of the Ottawa Redblacks, was also stellar on special teams – another major strength for Manitoba during the contest. Gowanlock, who stole the show at this year's East-West Bowl, played with high energy all game as usual, as did fellow defensive ends
Derek Dufault – a draft pick of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats who had four tackles – and
Chris Larsen, a fellow draft pick of the Ottawa Redblacks who had two tackles.
Up-and-coming defensive end
Collin Kornelson also had a key tackle on a Regina drive in the second half that started near the host's own end zone and resulted in a safety.
"We have to have that all the time for our defensive line, because they're that good," Bisons head coach
Brian Dobie said postgame.
"Our defensive line is one of the best groups in the country and I totally believe that. We need to take advantage of that depth and they need to keep flying around and I thought they did tonight for the most part."
The second half of the contest saw a number of young players see action for both sides, including Bisons rookie defensive back
Elijah Rivera. The product of Garden City Collegiate was lights out at cornerback, recording an interception while also making an excellent play in the end zone on an attempted Regina two-point convert where he high-pointed the ball to knock it away from Regina's 6'5" wideout Dallen Keen. It was the culmination of what was a relatively solid day for Manitoba's secondary, including All-Canadian
Shae Weekes at halfback and 6'3" cornerback
Markos Bockru.
"Eli looked like a guy who's been there and done that," Dobie said. "He looked like a veteran player. I was really impressed. That [defensive back] group is pretty competitive."
Offensively, while the Bisons were unable to hit pay dirt, they did move the ball effectively at times, especially on the ground. Former four-time Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) national champion
Logan Fischer from the Saskatoon Hilltops came as advertised, running hard between the tackles. He carried the rock six times for 60 yards in just one half of work and will be a pillar of Manitoba's offensive attack in 2019.
"He was the back that we thought we were getting," Dobie said. "
Logan Fischer is a big, tough running back who can make people miss and accelerate away. I turned at one time to some of our coaches and went oh, I'm glad he's on our team."
Manitoba is seven deep at running back and got the chance to see three other backs aside from Fischer show their stuff. Former Winnipeg Rifles standout Mike Ritchott, rookie
Breydon Stubbs and veteran
Demi Adeleye-Olusae all saw time in the backfield and were excellent, combining for 62 yards.
Of those players, it was Ritchott that really stood out though. He carried the ball four times for 20 yards and thrived on contact while also putting in stellar work as a punt and kick returner – his bread and butter during his high school and junior career. He had 59 yards on three punt returns, including one where he made four defenders miss in close space and also had 90 yards on two kickoff returns.
"I think he can do it all. I think he's just that athlete," Dobie said of Ritchott.
"I'll tell you what. You know what I was most impressed by with him – because I know him as a player – and I've seen him break 60-yard runs, that wouldn't shock me. What really impressed me was how hard he ran on third and one and on second and two. He jolted people and drove them back. That really impressed me. I know he's capable of big plays and we saw him do that today. But that I didn't realize about him. That kid is really tough."
Manitoba now gears up for their season opener, taking place on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. at home against Saskatchewan.
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