WINNIPEG – For the first time in five seasons, the Manitoba Bisons have defeated the Saskatchewan Huskies, knocking off the No. 9 ranked team in the nation 37-24 in each team's home and season opener.
 
The Bisons scored a touchdown on their first three drives of the game, opening up a 22-0 lead through the first 17 minutes of play.
 
Saskatchewan stormed back with two straight majors early in the second quarter, but were unable to match the Herd down the stretch.
 
It was the opposite of what happened a year ago, where the Huskies stormed back from 25-7 at the half to beat the Bisons 30-27. This time, Manitoba kept their foot on the gas and didn't relent.
 
"I just think we were composed. There were times in the game where we were up, and there were times in the game where we didn't really have momentum, but it didn't really matter," said quarterback Jackson Tachinski.
 
"We just looked each other in the eyes and said we've got this. We've just got to keep pushing. I'm proud of the guys for not giving up and fighting throughout the game."
 
Manitoba racked up 239 yards on the ground, led by Breydon Stubbs' 109. It was the third time in Stubbs' career that he went over 100 in a game, while no Bisons ball-carrier averaged less than 5.7 yards per rush.
 
Tachinski added 51 yards, throwing for 156 with two majors and no interceptions. Defensively, the Herd forced five turnovers compared to one for Saskatchewan.
 
"We respect the hell out of Saskatchewan. They have had our number and we recognize that," said Bisons head coach Brian Dobie, entering his final year as bench boss after 29 seasons.
 
"To our team overall, to all of us here, it's kind of our measuring stick. Whether they're the best team in the conference or the third best team, Saskatchewan has always been our measuring stick. Emotionally, it felt really good to beat them. Emotion does a lot of things. Motivation, it makes the team hungrier, it builds confidence, all of the things that happened."
 
The Huskies were led by Anton Amundrud's 356 passing yards, and two majors. In two games against the Bisons, he's thrown for a combined 669 yards and six touchdowns. His favourite target was Daniel Wiebe, who had a career-high 202 receiving yards and a major.
 
Manitoba set the tone on both sides of the ball.
 
The team's defence allowed just one first down in the opening 15 minutes, forcing two two-and-outs and grabbing an interception on the Huskies' first three drives.
 
Four different Bisons had at least four solo tackles, led by CFL Draft pick Nick Thomas' six, while fellow linebacker Nic Pereira had five solos.
 
In a microcosm of the defence's play, strong side linebacker Austin Balan broke up a pass intended for Huskies running back Ryker Frank – who was held to 61 rushing yards – with a perfect form tackle four minutes into the second, as the Herd played with energy all game.
 
"I think played we played our game, we played disciplined, fast, physical and hard," Pereira said.
 
"Look what happened. Five turnovers. We were flying around all day. I've been here since 2022, and haven't beaten Saskatchewan once. Obviously it's big weight off the shoulders, so I'm happy. We're all happy, it's a great way to start the season."
 
The Herd's offence capitalized with a short field, as both sides of the ball fed off each other.   
 
Tachinski found CFL Draft pick AK Gassama on Manitoba's second play from scrimmage for a 34-yard major in single coverage to open the scoring. Gassama stretched out to make an incredible diving grab in the back of the end zone.
 
Then, after two Huskies incompletions, the Bisons took possession at their 51-yard line, going eight plays and 63 yards with a healthy dose of the run.
 
Overall, 42 of the team's 63 yards came on the ground, paced by returning offensive linemen Sean Rowe, Giordano Vaccaro, Mark Rauhaus, Matt Stokman and Victor Olaniran.
 
Stubbs finished off the drive with a one-yard major, with Noah Anderson – who averaged 8.8 yards per carry on the day – contributing 21 yards on the drive.
 
"Looking back at 230, we definitely left a lot out there. Our group's not going to be content. We made a few mistakes here and there. We're going to strive to push better, we're not going to sit back and be content with good enough. We're going to keep pushing and pushing every game," stated Rauhaus, the team's starting centre who's put on 50 pounds of muscle since his rookie year.
 
"Yes, 230 is a good number and we're going to celebrate that, but we have a short week now. Come tomorrow it's going to be time to figure out how to boost that."
 
Manitoba capped off a thrilling opening quarter with a 22-yard major from Stubbs with 4:40 to go. The drive started at the Huskies 43 after a Nick Conway interception in single coverage, the third of his Bisons career.
 
After going up 22-0, Saskatchewan stormed back to cut the host's lead to 22-14.
 
Amundrud found Wiebe for a 63-yard major less than five minutes into the second, with the former breaking multiple tackles for the long score.
 
Saskatchewan followed that up with a second straight touchdown.
 
Wiebe had the big play, a 37-yard reception, and Jesse Kuntz capped off the 74-yard drive with a 16-yard major. Manitoba had blitzed, leaving Kuntz open with space in the end zone.
 
The momentum of the game changed with 6:12 to go in the third quarter.
 
Saskatchewan forced a turnover on third down, and held the Herd two and out on the following drive. On the ensuing Huskies drive, Kuntz hauled in a 35-yard reception to the Bisons 42, however Sebastien Reid punched the ball out from behind. Stephen Adamopoulos recovered the loose pigskin to give momentum back to the Bisons.
 
The fumble recovery was one of four turnovers Manitoba's defence forced in the second half, and the Bisons' offence cashed in one more time at the end of the third.
 
Vaughan Lloyd caught a 20-yard toss from Tachinski in the corner of the end zone, and the rest was history.

Manitoba's defence stuffed the Huskies on two third down attempts later on, while Pereira forced a fumble that Balan recovered with 9:37 left to play. Maya Turner also added two field goals.
 
Saskatchewan got a late major from Amundrud but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback.
 
Manitoba travels to play UBC on the road next week while Sask will face Regina.