WINNIPEG — After an end zone interception with 1:04 left appeared to doom them, the Manitoba Bisons (3-2) got the ball back and kicked a field goal as time expired to earn a dramatic win over the Regina Rams (1-4), 27-26 at IG Field.
Bisons kicker Matt Riley was the hero for Manitoba, hitting a 39-yarder at double zeros after the Bisons got a 16-yard punt return from Shae Weekes and a 15-yard catch from Brendan Naujoks to get into his range.
"He looked really professional, he looked really poised – which he needs to be in that situation. He needs to be technical. But, I thought he looked it, and he pretty much hit it down the middle," said Manitoba head coach Brian Dobie.
A great finish for the Bisons was offset by a fantastic start by the visiting Rams. Kyle Moortgat caught a pass from Josh Donnelly on the opening play from scrimmage and took it 85 yards to give Regina an early lead. Moortgat would finish with 140 yards receiving on six catches.
Manitoba would answer in the first quarter with two touchdowns from their running back corps, with Logan Fischer and Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette both running in 5-yard scores.
The Rams would get another big play from their special teams in the second, blocking a Riley punt and recovering it in the end zone for a game-tying touchdown. The pressure was on all game for the Rams on punt defence, forcing the field position chess game in their favour.
Regina would go on their best drive of the game late in the third quarter, where a 7-play, 69-yarder was capped with a 15-yard touchdown catch from Daniel Scraper. It also gave the Rams the lead back, 25-21.
After a pair of kicks made it 26-24 in the fourth, the Bisons took an impressive drive from their own 35 down to the Rams 6. With the clock in their favour, Catellier threw a critical interception with 1:04 left to seemingly ice the win for Regina. After a penalty and a three-and-out, though, Manitoba was able to get it back and give their kicker an opportunity to win it.
Catellier would finish 17-for-31 with 242 yards, a touchdown, and an interception; also picking up 53 yards on the ground on six rushes. Regina quarterback Josh Donnelly finished 16-for-27 for 254 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks.
The Bisons now head on the road to face Saskatchewan on Oct. 4. Regina hosts UBC on the same day.
