A win this weekend for the Manitoba Bisons will earn them a No. 2 seed in Canada West and a home semifinal game — their first since 2013 — as the team visits the Regina Rams for their last regular season game of 2021.

The game at Mosaic Stadium can be watched on Canada West TV presented by Co-op and kicks off at 3 p.m. CDT on Saturday, November 6.

Though two straight losses have set Manitoba back and seen them fall out of the U SPORTS Top 10, their destiny is still in their own hands when it comes to a home playoff game — win and it's theirs.

If they lose to Regina, though, they would need Alberta and Saskatchewan to lose as well in order to finish as a top two seed. The 3-2 Bisons have already clinched a spot in the post-season, while the 1-4 Rams are mathematically eliminated.

These two teams met in Week 1 of the regular season, a 21-17 Bisons win, though a very different Manitoba team took to the field that day at IG Field — especially on offence. Fifth-year quarterback Des Catellier sustained a knee injury in that game that has him out for the season, and the Bisons' situation at pivot has been in flux since.

First-year (third year with the program) Jackson Tachinski left Manitoba's Week 4 matchup in UBC with a hip injury, which put fourth-stringer Sawyer Thiessen into action last weekend vs. Saskatchewan. Presumed third-stringer Riley Naujoks sustained a shoulder injury in training camp and is also out for the year.

This week, the Bisons will return to Tachinski at quarterback, as the Vincent Massey product will present a dual threat at the position for Manitoba. In his four games of action, Tachinski has been second on the team with 34.3 rush yards per outing. He's also put together solid passing numbers, throwing for 468 yards, seven touchdowns to two interceptions, and has a completion percentage of 54.2. Sawyer Thiessen, who had 172 yards passing against Saskatchewan in Week 5, will be the backup on the depth chart on Saturday.

On defence, the Bisons have had starkly different numbers in their wins versus losses this season. In their three wins, they've given up just 18 points a game and held teams to 159.3 yards on the ground. In two losses, those rushing numbers jump to 244.5 for opponents.

The defensive line is a crucial piece for Manitoba and anchoring it on either end is fifth-year Brock Gowanlock and first-year Connor Kyliuk. Gowanlock has had another well-rounded season for the Bisons, tallying 23 tackles, two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. Kyliuk, meanwhile, earned his starting spot as the season has progressed, and is currently second on the team with 1.5 sacks.

Next week, the playoffs begin as the Bisons will see their Canada West semifinal take place on Saturday, November 13. Opponent, location and game time are to be determined.

View the full Week 6 game notes.

MATCHUP NOTE

• Manitoba has won four of their last five games against the Rams, but three of those wins came at the friendly confines of IG Field. Regina's last win over Manitoba was a decisive one at Leibel Field in 2019, as they beat the Herd 47-14.

HOOFPRINTS: MANITOBA BISONS (3-2)

LAST WEEK: L 12-41, Oct. 30 vs. Saskatchewan
NEXT WEEK: Hardy Cup semifinals

• Rush by Committee: Manitoba's committee of successful running backs has only grown with the recent injury to Week 1 starter Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette. First-year Breydon Stubbs started against Saskatchewan last week and will start again on Saturday. The rookie has averaged 27.8 yards per carry while scoring a touchdown. Michael Ritchott and Noah Anderson come into Regina as the backups.

HOOFPRINTS: REGINA RAMS (1-4)

LAST WEEK: L 22-23, Oct. 30 @ Alberta

• Donnelly and Borsa: The combination of Rams quarterback Josh Donnelly and running back Kyle Borsa is well-known to Canada West opponents. Borsa's dual threat as a pass catcher has continued this season for the Rams' sixth-ranked passing attack in U SPORTS. With 18 receptions, Borsa has racked up 153 yards, while rushing for 305 yards (61.0) on the ground.