Bisons ‘D’ stands tall
Herd improves to 2-1 with wet home win over Thunderbirds
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/09/2014 (3476 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Their spark undampened by the slick and drizzling rain, the University of Manitoba Bisons defence dominated in a 20-10 win over the UBC Thunderbirds in Saturday’s homecoming game.
It wasn’t a pretty victory, not really. There were enough electric moments to delight the sturdy crowd of just over 1,800, but the offence sputtered frequently. Receivers let a few too many balls slip out of their hands, and on a related note Bisons pivot Jordan Yantz connected on just 12 of 29 attempts for 149 yards and was picked off twice at Investors Group Field.
But from the moment they forced the Thunderbirds to give up a safety early in the game, the Bisons were always in the lead. Besides, they’re 2-1 on the season now, and there are no bonus points for style.
“I felt all three sections of our team did a great job,” head coach Brian Dobie said, while the celebration music thumped from the dressing room. “I felt we were always in control of the game, despite (early incompletions). I thought they just moved forward in the second… we were never in danger, not truly.”
It’s not that the Thunderbirds, now 0-3 on the season, didn’t come out to play. Indeed, let the record show they put on a bigger airshow than the Bisons, as UBC quarterback Carson Williams struck for 279 passing yards. But they were often trying to work their way out from deep in their own end, especially as the Bisons stuffed UBC punt returner Marcus Davis to just 16 yards on five returns.
And when the Thunderbirds did threaten to get in the game, the defence pushed them back out. The Bisons brought Williams down four times, paced by defensive end Evan Foster. The prized recruit notched a solo sack and collaborated with tackle David Onyemata for another, two big takedowns that cost the Thunderbirds 11 yards. The final sack, a takedown by linebacker James Mau with under five minutes left to play, seemed to suck away the last of the Thunderbirds’ hope.
The defence stuck the final nail in the coffin on UBC’s next possession, when safety Tyler Fong picked off a Williams pass at the Bisons’ 20-yard line, and ran it 13 yards closer to midfield. “You can see this defence growing,” Dobie said. “The last thing I said to the team in the locker-room was, ‘Defence is back in Manitoba.’ It’s been a long time. The last few years it’s been tough, offence has kind of carried the load, but you can see the confidence level.”
Not to say the offence didn’t have itsmoments in this one, showing flashes of the big-game attack that often led the Bisons last season. Their first and only major was a beauty, starting when Yantz found slotback Nic Demski for 31 yards, and hammered home when running back Kienan LaFrance rushed 22 yards into the end zone.
Indeed, Demski was a ray of light throughout the game. He shone on punt returns, averaging 15.3 yards on six returns, including a 33-yard scamper. He brought down four passes for 65 yards, and added another 45 on the ground. Late in the second quarter, he carried a missed Thunderbirds field goal attempt out of the back of the end zone, skipping around defenders and even pinballing off one for 29 hard-earned yards.
Unfortunately, most of the gain was erased by a penalty to Onyemata, but the delighted crowd roared nonetheless. “It was pretty fun… but when I saw that flag, I wasn’t too happy,” Demski said afterwards, cracking a joke. “He probably owes me a couple of pizzas or something.”
To round out the scoring, kicker Ryan Jones hit three field goals from 36, 40 and 19 yards, and the Thunderbirds were forced to give up another safety in the third quarter. On the UBC side, running back Terrell Davis scored a rushing touchdown in the second, and the Thunderbirds added a 38-yard field goal from Quinn Van Gylswyk with just 11 seconds left in the first half.
As satisfying as the win was, the Bisons know they’ll have to be better. Their next test will take them to Calgary on Friday, where they’ll face the fearsome Dinos, who are once again crushing Canada West competition. “We’re eager to get down there,” Demski said. “We think this is a squad we can take them with.”
melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Melissa Martin
Reporter-at-large (currently on leave)
Melissa Martin reports and opines for the Winnipeg Free Press.