The #10 Manitoba Bisons football team return to their new stadium ā Investors Group Field ā on the U of Manitoba Fort Garry campus after two games on the road. They will host the Regina Rams in the annual Homecoming Game on Saturday, September 28 with kickoff at 1 p.m. CT. Tickets available at: ticketmaster.ca
This is the first Homecoming Game at the new stadium and in a quirk of the schedule, the first meeting against Regina since the Homecoming Game returned in 1999.
Manitoba is now 2-2 in the young 2013 conference season after a suffering a 48-24 road loss to #5 Calgary on Fri., Sept. 20.Ā Regina lost 37-27 at home to UBC on Sat., Sept. 21 and fell to 1-3 in the season.
This game has playoff implications as the season moves into the second half of the schedule.Ā Calgary stays in first place with a perfect 4-0 record then Saskatchewan is in second at 3-1 followed by Manitoba and UBC tied for third with 2-2 record, then Regina out of a playoff spot in fifth at 1-3 and Alberta in last with an 0-4 record.
Earlier this season, both teams met in a pre-season game at Regina with the Rams winning 30-25 (Aug. 23/13). Last season, Regina won the only game between the two teams by a 30-27 score at Regina (Sept. 28/12). Manitoba last hosted Regina in 2011 season and lost 31-22 on Oct. 29 and has not won against them at home since 2008.
This is the lone conference regular season meeting this season between the two teams.
In early 2013 conference regular season stats, Manitoba is tied for first in scoring offence (39.8 points per game) while Regina is third (35.5). On scoring defence, Regina is thirdĀ (36.5) and Manitoba stands fifth with 39.2. On total offence, the Bisons lead with 559.5 yards per game while the Rams are fifth at 476.0. On total defence, Regina is second (448.2 yards per game) and Manitoba is fifth (520.8). Individually,Ā Anthony CoombsĀ leads the conference in all-purpose yards with 952 and second with eight overall TDs whileĀ Jordan YantzĀ is second in Canada West passing with 1,361 yards and first with 12 TDs.
Bison Football Notes:Ā The game can be heard live on radio on UMFM 101.5 (umfm.com) or available on live webcast at: canadawest.tv
KEY STATS ā BISON FTB HISTORY DURING LAST 11 HOMECOMING GAMES
September 15, 2012
Calgary 33 Manitoba 12 at Manitoba
September 17, 2011
Manitoba 26 Saskatchewan 16 at Manitoba
September 25, 2010
Calgary 26 Manitoba 25 at Manitoba
September 19, 2009 Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
*UBC 1 Manitoba 0 at Manitoba
(* Forfeited game due to ineligible player)
– The original score was 36-10 Manitoba
September 13, 2008
UBC 28 Manitoba 0 at Manitoba
September 15, 2007
Manitoba 35 Calgary 28 at Manitoba
September 16, 2006
Manitoba 33 Calgary 10 at Manitoba
September 24, 2005
Manitoba 35 SFU 30 at Manitoba
September 22, 2001
Manitoba 46 Alberta 13 at Manitoba
September 16, 2000
Manitoba 41 Saskatchewan 16 at Manitoba
September 25, 1999
Saskatchewan 28 Manitoba 9 at Manitoba
Source: Ā Manitoba Bisons Sports Information
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Rams hit road for criticalĀ game at Manitoba
DATE:Ā Saturday, Sept. 28
TIME:Ā 1:00 pm CDTĀ (12:00 p.m.Ā Saskatchewan)
LOCATION:Ā Winnipeg, Man.
VENUE:Ā Investors Group Stadium
RADIO:Ā 620 CKRM
VIDEO FEED:Ā
canadawest.tvĀ
(no audio commentary)
Itās only Week 5, but itās as close to a must-win midseason game as it can possibly get for the Rams as they travel to Winnipeg for aĀ SaturdayĀ game at No. 10 Manitoba (1:00 CDT). While a win would put the U of R into fourth place in the Canada West standings, a loss to the Bisons would be catastrophic for the Ramsā chances of qualifying for the postseason as this is the only meeting between these two teams during the conference schedule. 620 CKRM (Michael Ball, Chad Ehman) will have the game live on the dial, whileĀ
canadawest.tvĀ will provide a video feed with in-stadium announcing but no audio commentary.
AGAINST MANITOBA:Ā Manitoba holds a 13-10 all-time advantage in Canada West games and has won three of the four postseason games between the two teams, though the Rams have won seven consecutive conference games over Manitoba in a string that dates back to the final game of the 2008 Canada West schedule. The Rams and the Bisons met in a non-conference game in August, with the Rams pulling out a late 30-25 victory thanks to a fourth-quarter comeback sparked by rookie quarterback Noah Picton ā who hasnāt dressed since, as heās expected to redshirt this season for the U of R.
LAST WEEK:Ā The Rams led by four points heading into the fourth quarter last week at home against UBC, but couldnāt hang on as the Thunderbirds outscored the U of R by a 21-7 margin in the final period and won 37-27. Cayman Shutter had more impressive numbers as the Rams almost completely relied on the passing game, ending up with 34 completions for 459 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.
NEXT WEEK:Ā The Rams are back at home next weekend with a Week 6 gameĀ on SaturdayĀ against Alberta. Itāll be the first of two afternoon kickoffs for the Rams this season, as game time is scheduled forĀ 1 p.m.
McCONKEY CHASING HISTORY:Ā Mark McConkey had his best game of the season last week, catching seven passes for 65 yards. He passed former UBC receiver Brad Coutts for second on the conferenceās all-time list and can overtake former teammate Chad Goldie as the conferenceās all-time leader with five more catches. The CIS career record is held by former McGill University receiver Charles-Antoine Sinotte (251).
RANKINGS:Ā For the fifth time in five polls this year, three Canada West teams are ranked in this weekās edition of the CIS Top Ten. Calgary stayed at No. 5 after thumping Manitoba at home, while Saskatchewan stayed at No. 7 with a win over Alberta and the Bisons dropped two spots to No. 10 courtesy of the 24-point road loss to the Dinos.
GRAND CAYMAN:Ā In his first year with the Rams and in his first year as a starting quarterback since leading Punahou School to a Hawaii state high school championship in 2008, Cayman Shutter has had a seamless transition to the Canadian game. Shutter is the Canada West leader with 1666 passing yards and leads the entire CIS with an average of 416.5 passing yards per game. He is on pace to threaten the conferenceās single-season record of 2823 yards, which was set by Calgaryās Greg Vavra in 1983.
RETURNING FIRE:Ā Second-year DB Tevaughn Campbell not only starts for the Rams on the defensive side of the ball, but has also been among the top returners in the CIS this season. He has 260 yards on 18 punt returns for an average of 14.4 yards per return – the most of any CIS player with at least 10 returns this year. At the midpoint of the conference schedule, Campbell needs just 43 punt return yards to shatter the schoolās single-season record of 302 set by Chris Ashman in 2002. Also a member of the U of Rās track & field team, Campbell won a Canada West gold medal in the 60-metre dash in 2012.
RICHARDS TAKES RECEIVING LEAD:Ā Addison Richards caught nine passes for 72 yards in last weekās game against UBC. The third-year wide receiver now leads the entire CIS with 35 receptions through the first four games of the season. He also leads Canada West with 404 receiving yards and ranks second in the CIS with an average of 101 receiving yards per game. Heās been remarkably consistent this year, hauling in nine passes in three of the teamās four games and collecting eight receptions in the other.
RAMS IN THE NFL:Ā The Rams have three players currently in the NFL, led by defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (New Orleans) and punter Jon Ryan (Seattle). Defensive tackle Stefan Charles is also on Tennesseeās practice roster. Only eight non-NCAA Div. I schools have at least three current NFLers, led by five each from the California University of Pennsylvania and Grand Valley State. Mount Union (NCAA Div. III) and NCAA Div. II schools Midwestern State, Missouri Western, Valdosta State, and Washburn join the U of R with three players apiece.
RAMS IN THE CFL:Ā In addition to their three NFL players, the Rams also have seven players currently on CFL rosters. That list is highlighted by Chris Getzlaf and Brendon LaBatte ā who both play key roles for the 8-2 Saskatchewan Roughriders ā and Brett Jones, whoās starting at centre for the Calgary Stampeders as a rookie. The list of 10 players doesnāt include long snapper Jorgen Hus, who attended camp with the St. Louis Rams but was waived following the preseason.
JANOTTA MOVING UP THE CHARTS:Ā With a full season of CIS eligibility remaining after this year, fourth-year slotback Jared Janotta is moving up the U of Rās all-time lists in several receiving categories. Janotta is sixth on the U of Rās career list with 118 receptions and ninth with 1537 receiving yards. Heās only 87 yards from moving up to No. 8 on the all-time receiving yards list and also needs just one more touchdown catch for 11 in his career, which would pull him into a tie with Chris Getzlaf and Jordan Sisco for sixth.
STEFANOVIC AMONG LEADERS:Ā Despite being only in his first season of CIS eligibility after redshirting in 2012, linebacker Michael Stefanovic has piled up some impressive statistics through the first four weeks of the season. He collected three solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, and recovered a fumble last week against UBC. Heās been in on 37 tackles this season, second in Canada West only to Alberta linebacker Connor Ralph. Stefanovic is tied for second in the conference with three sacks on the year and remains Canada Westās outright leader with six tackles for loss.
SACK WATCH:Ā The Rams might have former defensive linemen Akiem Hicks and Stefan Charles in the NFL right now, but itās Logan Brooks that has a chance to take over as the schoolās career sacks leader. Brooks has 12 sacks in his five seasons with the Rams and needs just one more to tie Stan Van Sichem for the University of Reginaās all-time lead.
SMITH MAKES CIS DEBUT:Ā The U of R landed heralded defensive tackle Calvin Smith in the offseason, bolstering a defensive line that has been extremely strong for the Rams over the past few seasons. Smith missed much of the Week 1 game after being injured, but has collected six solo tackles, eight assisted tackles, and a pair of sacks for the Rams since. This is his first action since 2010, when he played at the NCAA Div. I level with the University of New Mexico. Coming out of Hialeah HS in Hialeah, Fla., Smith was listed as a four-star prospect by both Rivals.com and ESPN.
SWITCHING SPORTS – TAKE 1:Ā Followers of U of R sports might see a familiar name starting for the Rams on the offensive line, as Jeremy Zver has been a key reserve for the menās basketball team over the last two years and returns to football for the first time since starring for Balfour Collegiate in 2010. Zver has appeared in 36 Canada West hoops games in his career.
SWITCHING SPORTS – TAKE 2:Ā Running back Jens Johnson is in his first year with the Rams after playing a Junior A career that spanned three full seasons in the SJHL. Johnson spent two years with the Weyburn Red Wings before splitting the 2012-13 season between Weyburn and Notre Dame. A defenceman, Johnson collected 48 points in 150 career regular season SJHL games and played in a total of 24 postseason games with the Red Wings and Hounds.
SWITCHING SPORTS – TAKE 3:Ā Defensive back Jeff Propp has appeared in all three games so far for the Rams and has collected a pair of solo tackles. Propp, who was a multi-sport standout for Michael A. Riffel HS in Regina, redshirted last season with the U of Rās menās basketball team and is in his first season with the Rams. Heās expected to play for the Cougars again this year under new head coach Steve Burrows.
SHUTTER, STEFANOVIC EARN WEEK 3 HONOURS:Ā Cayman Shutter was named the CIS and Canada West Offensive Player of the Week and Michael Stefanovic was the Canada West Defensive Player of the Week for their performances in the teamās Week 3 win over Alberta. Shutterās 37 pass completions and 484 passing yards were the second highest totals recorded by a U of R quarterback in a game, while Stefanovic had 10 tackles and became just the second player in U of R history to collect three sacks in one contest.
Source:Ā Braden Konschuh
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