PREVIEW: “…we need to accelerate moving forward this season”

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MANITOBA BISONS (CWUAA – WINNIPEG, MANITOBA):

Is this the year? The Manitoba Bisons football team has crept closer to a conference title during the last couple seasons. Two years ago, the program played in a post-season game for the first time since the 2007 Vanier Cup Championship season. In 2013, the Bisons won their first playoff game since that championship season and were a Canada West finalist.

On paper, the team brings back a veteran laden core with 10 of the 12 starters on offence and eight of 12 starters on defence from last season.

Head coach Brian Dobie, in his 19th season at the helm, is excited for the team assembled but knows it will be a difficult road in the highly competitive Canada West conference. Perennial powerhouse Calgary looks to extend their record conference title run to seven seasons while UBC and Saskatchewan are better than last years’ playoff squads. In addition, Regina seeks a strong campaign in head coach Frank McCrystal’s final season as coach and Alberta has greatly improved during the off-season.

Manitoba depth at starters on both sides of the ball and strong recruiting season was necessary to stay in the mix for this year’s conference title to offset some losses of CIS All-Canadian RB/KR Anthony Coombs and LB Thomas Miles, who were both drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in 2014. Graduating stars departing included SB Andrew Smith and K Nick Boyd who both were drafted by the Montreal Alouettes.

The Bisons start 2014 on the road at Saskatchewan, one of the toughest place to play on the road in CIS, play Calgary twice and begin the campaign with the first three of five regular season games on the road. The task of ending the drought of conference titles will not be easy. The advantage of the new era of Bison Football has been in full effect with the first full off-season at the new Investors Group Field. The players have trained, bonded and committed to a higher level to match the competitive nature of Canada West.

“This year, like last year, is a continuum that we need to be as productive as possible from key fourth and fifth year players,” commented Bisons Head Coach Brian Dobie.  “The group gained valuable experience in the Canada West playoffs in 2013 and we need to accelerate moving forward this season.”

“This is a very good group that competes in arguably the toughest conference in the nation. The group needs to take the next step and excited to watch the squad builds to a point to be truly competitive in 2014. I can’t wait for the season to starts!”

OFFENSE:

RETURNING:

Quarterback Jordan Yantz returns for his second year with Manitoba, fifth year eligibility, after a sterling year one at the university level. He started and played all regular season and playoff games at the pivot position. Yantz was a 2013 Canada West All-Star and led the nation with 25 passing TDs with only six interceptions, along with fourth in CIS with 2, 474 passing yards

Slotback/Kick Return Specialist Nic Demski is in his fourth season and make up the ‘dynamic duo’ with Yantz. He is a three-time CIS All-Canadian and was 2013 First Team All-Cdn. After tenth in CIS with 640 receiving yards and sixth in CIS with seven receiving touchdowns (tied for ninth in CIS with seven overall TDs). Plus, Demski was sixth in conference all-purpose yards at 1,030 while starting all eight conference regular season games.

Wide receiver Dustin Pedersen and Matt Sawyer return as starters in their second season at Manitoba. Pedersen improved throughout last season and had one TD with 52 receiving yards while Sawyer was fifth on the Bisons in 2013 with 252 receiving yards with two TDs.

Running backs Kienan LaFrance and Alex Christie. LaFrance in his fourth season and Christie in his second season will be in the backfield and give two different looks as LaFrance is a between the tackles running while Christie is quick and open field running. Both have an opportunity with the loss of Coombs this season.

Offensive lineman Alex McKay returns for fourth year after being a 2013 Canada West All-Star at the tackle position. He was durable as he played in all regular season and playoff games last season. In addition, the whole starting offensive line returns from last season with Tyler Fabbri (C), Matt Hallock (G), Geoff Gray (G) and Rob Smith (T).

NEW ADDITIONS:

Quarterbacks Ashton McKinnon (CFC 100) and Theo Deezar. McKinnon was recruited for one of the top high school in the nation at Mount Douglas and looks to a big future while Deezar comes back to the Bisons after a year with the Okanagan Sun in the BC junior football league.

Wide receiver/slotback Danny Turek returns to Manitoba after a year absence. In 2012, he was second on the team in receiving with 431 yards (21.5 average) with one TD and played in all eight games.

Offensive lineman Christian Krause (CFC 100) is another highly sought recruit from Mount Douglas HS.

DEFENSE:

RETURNING:

Defensive tackle Evan Gill is back with the Bisons after being drafted in the CFL first round by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was also a CIS representative for the West at the 2014 East-West Shrine Bowl Game. Gill, was  a 2013 Canada West All-Star as he was tied for second in Canada West with 7.5 tackles for losses and tied for seventh with 3.0 sacks in 2013. He also registered 28.5 tackles, which tied for fourth on the team, two break-ups, one forced fumble and one block kick.

Defensive end Lauren Kroeker completes his fifth season at Manitoba and brings tons of skill and experience to the front four. He led the team with three sacks and fourth with 28.5 tackles while playing all reg. season and playoff games in 2013.

Defensive tackle David Oneymata looks to have a breakout year in his third season with the Herd. He recorded 25.5 tackles and one sack while not missing a game in 2013.

Linebacker Mitchell Harrison is the lone linebacker returning this season as he converted over from the secondary and will continue to improve on his ten tackle, one sack season in 2013.

Safety Tyler Fong, Halfback Brett MacFarlane, Cornerback Tremaine Apperley, Cornerback Cam Teschuk are the four returnees at the starting position in the secondary. Fong and Apperley both played their first season at Manitoba and made an immediate impact as Fong was third on team with 31 tackles and first with three interceptions while Apperley had 20.5 tackles and led team with six break-ups. MacFarlane, in his fourth year, and Teschuk, third year, both racked up numbers with 26 and 27 tackles respectfully with two picks for Teschuk and one for MacFarlane.

NEW ADDITIONS:

Defensive lineman Evan Foster from the Langley Rams. He set a CJFL single season quarterback sack record with 16 in a season and was a CJFL All-Canadian and BCFC Outstanding Defensive lineman award winner.

Defensive back  Eric Plett from Winnipeg Rifles was team rookie of the year in 2012.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

RETURNING:

Nic Demski, Kienan LaFrance

MANITOBA BISONS (CWUAA – WINNIPEG, MANITOBA):

2013 RECORD: 5-3 regular season, lost to Calgary Dinos 43-28 in CWUAA Final

HEAD COACH: Brian Dobie (19th season)

NUMBER OF RETURNING STARTERS – OFFENSE: 10

NUMBER OF RETURNING STARTERS – DEFENSE: 8

KEY RETURNEES: Jordan Yantz (quarterback), Nic Demski (slotback/special teams), Dustin Pedersen (wide receiver), Matt Sawyer (wide receiver), Kienan LaFrance (running back/special teams), Alex Christie (running back), Alex McKay (offensive line), Evan Gill (defensive tackle),  Lauren Kroeker (defensive end), David Oneymata (defensive tackle), Mitchell Harrison (linebacker), Tyler Fong (safety), Brett MacFarlane (halfback), Tremaine Apperley (cornerback), Cam Teschuk (cornerback)

KEY LOSSES: Anthony Coombs (running back/special teams),Andrew Smith (slotback), Thomas Miles (linebacker),  Nick Boyd (kicker/place kicker)

NEW ADDITIONS: Ashton McKinnon (quarterback – CFC 100), Theo Deezar (quarterback), Danny Turek (wide receiver/slotback), Christian Krause (offensive line – CFC 100), Evan Foster (defensive line), Eric Plett (defensive back)

Source:  Chris Zuk, Manitoba Bisons Sports Information)