WINNIPEG – Hosting their first home playoff game in eight years, the No. 7 ranked Manitoba Bisons didn't disappoint, knocking off the Alberta Golden Bears 43-17 in cold and snowy conditions at Investors Group Field.
The Herd took momentum early and held on in the game's latter stages. They had 234 rushing yards in the first half and a 36-3 lead, while the Golden Bears were held to just five first downs in the opening 30 minutes, along with three turnovers. Two Brad Launhardt passing touchdowns in the second half kept the game competitive, but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback.
Overall in the game, the Bisons had 264 rushing yards spread between running backs Noah Anderson (85), Mike Ritchott (73), Breydon Stubbs (51), quarterback Jackson Tachinski (43) and receiver Gavin Cobb (12). It's the fourth time Manitoba has rushed for over 200 yards this season, and their total yardage was a season high.
"They all do something a little different," noted Bisons head coach Brian Dobie of the team's versatile running backs.
"Stubbs is to me the real tough, physical kid who keeps his knees pumping. Noah, he doesn't plant a lot. He doesn't go east-west, it's more like he swerves but he's always going towards the goal line. They all have that athletic side to them. Mike is the guy who can score from anywhere on the field."
Manitoba set the tempo from the jump, forcing a two-and-out which led to a safety — the first of three committed by the visitors — on Alberta's opening drive. The hosts also scored on each of their next two series, including a seven play 51-yard drive with 8:52 to go in the quarter that was finished off by a two-yard Stubbs romp. Tachinski was the catalyst, tallying a large chunk of his 39 first half rushing yards on the drive, most of which came off of read option plays where receiver Gavin Cobb was in motion.
All three of Manitoba's forced turnovers — fumble recoveries by Stefan Conway and Isaac Dokken and an interception by Arjay Shelley — came early in the second quarter, one after the other. The Herd made their opposition pay with ten points off of the turnovers, including a 32-yard Cobb touchdown reception from Tachinski just two plays after the Conway recovery.
Alberta, much like Manitoba, struggled to get their passing game going. The two teams combined for just seven completions in the opening half, while the Golden Bears didn't get their initial first down until the six-minute mark of the second quarter. The visitors only points of the half came on a 22-yard field-goal by Jonathan Giustini at the 3:47 mark of the second. The score was set up by running back Matthew Peterson, who had 35 rushing yards entering the break.
The Golden Bears got things going through the air in the second half, while minimizing Manitoba's rushing attack. Launhardt spread the ball out well, completing at least one pass to seven different receivers, led by Sony Bermudez-Chavez, who had four receptions for 68 yards in the final two quarters. Chevy Thomas — who had 47 yards on the day — as well as Morgen Runge had touchdown grabs of 28 and four, respectively.
The biggest play in the final 30 minutes came with just under three minutes left, as defensive end Brock Gowanlock recovered an Alberta punt in the red zone. The Bisons had seen their lead dwindle to 19, but re-upped one play after the turnover, as Tachinski found Macho Bockru for a ten-yard grab, putting the game out of reach.
Manitoba will now travel to Saskatchewan to take on the No. 4 ranked Huskies in the Hardy Cup on Saturday at 1 p.m. It's the Bisons' first trip since 2014 while Saskatchewan has been to the conference final game each of the last two years.
