WINNIPEG -- Leading 25-7 at the half, the No. 10 Manitoba Bisons were unable to sustain their momentum in the second half, falling 30-27 to the No. 3 Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday night at Investors Group Athletic Centre. The win was Saskatchewan's sixth in their last seven games against the Herd, as the team hasn't lost to Manitoba since the 2019 season opener. 

Huskies pivot Anton Amundrud threw four majors in his first U SPORTS start, including three in the second half, finishing with 313 yards.

A four-yard major just under five minutes into the third quarter to Daniel Wiebe --  who also had the game-winning 49-yard reception with 7:56 to go -- swung momentum in the Huskies' favour, making the score 25-14 Manitoba. 

Then, less than three minutes into the fourth quarter, Amundrud found Daniel Perry on a 90-yard bomb, as Saskatchewan found their rhythm on offence while containing a Bisons' attack that was led by Jackson Tachinski's three first half touchdown passes and 298 all-purpose yards, including 89 on the ground to lead all players. 

The game-winning score came just over five minutes later by Wiebe. 

"We warned them at half time, this is far from over. In my career, I've found Saskatchewan has always been the best team at adjusting," said Bisons head coach Brian Dobie. 

"The first half, we made some big plays. We had two picks that were huge for us, we had some long balls. We made big plays, and we just weren't able to make those plays in the second half. To Saskatchewan's credit, we received the kickoff. They pinned us, two and out. Punt, bang, bang, touchdown. They kicked off to us again, and it was a two-and-out. That was concerning at that point. Saskatchewan created that momentum."

The game couldn't have started any better for Manitoba, who got an interception from Sebastien Reid -- the team's 2022 interception leader -- on the opening play. The Herd turned the drive into seven following a 45-yard rush by AK Gassama, a 13-yard rush by Tachinski and a ten-yard major to De Shawn Le Jour to cap things off. 

Just under two minutes into the second quarter, Manitoba added to their lead. A roughing the kicker penalty kept their drive going, and shortly after, Tachinski connected with Brendt Adams from 40-yards on a brilliantly placed ball. 

The Huskies answered with a Rhett Vavra score, but Manitoba responded in the final two minutes, as 2022 All-Canadian AK Gassama hauled in a 52-yard major that was preceded by a 20-yard grab from Adams. The major to Gassama was in single coverage down the right sideline, as Tachinski put the ball right into the outstretched arms of his top playmaker where only he could catch it. 

The Herd went into the locker room up 18, but were unable to create the big plays that resulted in the lead. Gassama had just 20 yards the rest of the way, while Adams had just 15 yards. Overall, Manitoba punted the ball six times in the second half, including three straight two and outs to begin the third. 

Defensively, the Huskies sacked Tachinski four times, while Manitoba got two interceptions from Reid and one from Nick Conway. Reid's interception with 7:56 to play put the Bisons in position to take the lead, as they started at their 49-yard line, but couldn't finish the drive off after an incomplete pass on second down and a missed field goal from 33-yards out. The rest was history. 

"The first half, I think we were a lot more assignment sound. We had a lot more energy, we were a lot more into it on the sidelines," said Tachinski.

"The second half we lost a bit of that energy and it went down from there. We just have to keep that energy, keep positive beliefs. It's only week one, there's a lot of football left and this is a really good football team. I'm proud of us. I trust out guys a lot and I'm sure we'll bounce back."

Next up for Manitoba is a road game against Alberta on Friday at 7 pm.