Bisons defeat defending CIS football champion by 50-7 score in pre-season
Source: Len Catling – UBC Sports Information
Manitoba win over UBC in first-ever CIS game played on Vancouver Island
| Away | Home | Status | |||
| Manitoba | 50 | UBC | 7 | Final | Box Score |
Bisons defeat defending CIS football champion by 50-7 score in 2016 pre-season. Manitoba win over UBC in first-ever CIS game played on Vancouver Island in front of 2,100 fans at Westhills Stadium in Langford, B.C.. Manitoba finished with 389 passing yards and 71 rushing yards in road win.
It was the first CIS football game ever played on Vancouver Island and it was played by two teams featuring several Island born and bred players. On this night UBC wished they had done better. The scoreboard left little to the imagination. It was 9-0 for the Bisons after a quarter. 34-0 was the score at the half.
When a wild tipped pass, catch and run touchdown by UBC slotback Michael Mann was called back midway through the second quarter on a holding penalty, which would have made the score 16-7 Manitoba, the air was officially let out of the UBC balloon.
“We just came out flat and played terrible,” bluntly said UBC quarterback Michael O’Connor postgame. “These ones are tough to swallow but you just have to get back watch the film and get better from it.”
O’Connor and his offence’s tough night included three interceptions and two lost fumbles. Bisons starting quarterback Theo Deezar‘s stats were the opposite. The second year pivot threw for three touchdowns in the first half. Four different receivers caught touchdowns for Manitoba on the night. The Bisons’ fifth major was on a Marcel Arruda-Welch 34 yard interception return.
“I don’t think there is that much of a difference between this team and the one from eight months ago,” said UBC Head Coach Blake Nill. “I think what was disappointing tonight is we didn’t play at the tempo we need to and our inability to make plays.”
The main story of the night was the atmosphere at Westhills Stadium. The crowd was energetic and engaged from the kick-off to the final whistle, with a large portion of the audience made up of young children and youth football players.
For the Herd on this historic night, starting quarterback Theo Deezar led with 12-18 for 210 passing yards and 3 TDs. Des Catellier came on in the second half and went 9-14 for 138 passing yards and 1 TD. There was 12 different Bison receivers who caught at least one ball. Stephen Ugbahwas top Bison with three grabs for 93 yards while Jessie Walker had three receptions for 67 yards and 1 TD. On the ground, Manitoba was paced by Wayndel Lewis with 26 yards on nine attempts and Alex Christie with 23 yards on five carries. On defence, linebacker DJ Lalama had ten total tackles with one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception. Linebacker Bami Adewale had five total tackles and one forced fumble while Evan Foster had four total tackles along with three sacks plus Jayden McKoy added four tackles and two break-ups. The Bisons had four interceptions (Lalama, Tanner Hamade, Tristen O’Meara and Marcel Arruda-Welch – 34 yard INT return for a TD).
On special teams, Manitoba had Christie with 143 kickoff return yards on three attempts with McKoy registering 82 punt return yards on six attempts. Kicker Ryan Jones went 3-6 on field goals and had 38 yard punt average on two kicks while Matt Riley added 46.5 punt average on two punts.
UBC’s will have a week worth of practice to get ready for their season opener versus Alberta on September 3. Manitoba welcomes the Calgary Dinos to Winnipeg on September 1 to begin the 2016 Canada West regular season. Kickoff at Investors Group Field at 7 p.m. CT.
Manitoba touchdowns vs UBC in 2016 pre-season action at Langford, B.C.:
21 yard TD pass from Theo Deezar to Jessie Walker (1st Q)
14 yard TD pass from Theo Deezar to Shai Ross (2nd Q)
34 yard TD intercption return by Marcel Arruda-Welch (2nd Q)
14 yard TD pass from Theo Deezar to Cam Fox (2nd Q)
10 yard TD pass from Des Catellier to Trysten Dyce (3rd Q)
NON-CONFERENCE WIN STARTS REGULAR SEASON COUNTDOWN
Source: Ben Matchett, Assistant Athletic Director (Communications), Calgary
| Away | Home | Status | |||
| Regina | 13 | Calgary | 37 | Final | BOX SCORE |
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – The University of Calgary Dinos received contributions from veterans and newcomers alike in a 37-13 win over the University of Regina Rams Thursday night in non-conference CIS football action at the Methanex Bowl in Medicine Hat, Alta.
Leading 13-3 at halftime after the presumptive starters played the first two quarters, the Dinos outscored the Rams 24-10 in the second half to grab their second non-conference victory in as many seasons over Regina in this eastern Alberta city.
Starting quarterback Jimmy Underdahl had an efficient 30 minutes of work, completing 15 of 20 passes for 235 yards and adding a one-yard touchdown plunge before giving way to his backups. Both performed well in the second half, with Adam Sinagra completing 6 of 9 passes for 90 yards and adding a 21-yard rushing major of his own, while Josiah Joseph tossed the highlight of the game – a 65-yard TD bomb to Dallas Boath – on his first play from scrimmage. Joseph finished 2-for-4 for 70 yards.
With more than 80 players dressed for each side, plenty of players had the opportunity to get involved on the night. Thirteen Dinos had rushing plays in the game, while a dozen caught at least one pass as they looked to impress the coaching staff heading into the regular season.
“It was a typical exhibition game – there was a lot of sloppiness and a lot of areas where we need to get sharper,” said reigning CIS coach of the year Wayne Harris. “But I certainly like the enthusiasm, excitement, and intensity our young guys brought in the second half, and that’s what we’ll need from the seniors as well if we are to be successful this season.
“Jimmy had a good night and was finding his targets. There are still some things to clean up, but we have confidence in how he will carry us this year.”
One of the intriguing battles for the Dinos this year is in the kicking position, with three players getting the chance to compete for the job Thursday. Alec Curtis went 2-for-3 on field goal tries with makes from 20 and 35 and a miss from 39, while Niko DiFonte hit both of his opportunities from 26 and 41 yards. Matias Bueno split the uprights once in two tries, missing from 39 before connecting from 32.
Calgary opens conference play next Thursday, Sept. 1 when they face the Manitoba Bisons at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg. Kickoff goes at 6 p.m. MT, live on Shaw TV and CanadaWest.tv – and Harris will head back to work Friday morning to get his team prepared.
“Our execution has to be better,” the second-year head coach explained. “I thought our discipline was very good tonight, but there were many areas where our execution needs to be better. If we can get that part down, we will be in good shape heading into next week.”
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
CGY – Alec Curtis 20-yard FG, 9:47, 3-0 CGY
CGY – Alec Curtis 35-yard FG, 14:53, 6-0 CGY
2nd Quarter
REG – Daniel Scraper 20-yard FG, 7:18, 6-3 CGY
CGY – Jimmy Underdahl 1-yard TD run (Alec Curtis convert), 13:11, 13-3 CGY
3rd Quarter
CGY– Adam Sinagra 21-yard TD run (Niko DiFonte kick), 3:27, 20-3 CGY
REG – William McGee 26-yard FG, 6:09, 20-6 CGY
CGY – Niko DiFonte 26-yard FG, 11:05, 23-6 CGY
4th Quarter
CGY – Niko DiFonte 41-yard FG, 1:54, 26-6 CGY
CGY – Dallas Boath 65-yard TD pass from Josiah Joseph (Matias Bueno convert), 3:32, 33-6 CGY
REG – Kyle Moortgat 35-yard TD pass from Seb Britton (William McGee convert), 7:55, 33-13 CGY
CGY – Matias Bueno missed FG single, 10:01, 34-13 CGY
CGY – Matias Bueno 32-yard FG, 13:43, 37-13 CGY
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