WINNIPEG – In a game they really had to have to stay in the playoff race, the unranked Manitoba Bisons football team notched a convincing 48-20 win at home on Saturday, October 15 at University Stadium (U of Manitoba campus). In the process, the emerging star of running back Anthony Coombs was in full flight as he rushed for four touchdowns.
With the victory, Manitoba moves to 3-3 in the 2011 season while Alberta stays winless at 0-6.
For a first year running back, Coombs has shown maturity beyond his 19 years old on his birth certificate. He dazzled, dashed, wiggled and scampered to a season-high and CIS career-high 226 yards on 20 carries (11.3 avg.) along with touchdown runs of 69, one, five and 12 in only his fifth game so far in his young university career.
“Anthony Coombs did everything today,” enthused Bison football head coach Brian Dobie after the game. “He did something out of nothing or made great plays with his athletic ability. He was phenomenal and the absolute difference maker today as he made every one on our team better during the game.”
Coombs started his pursuit of a 200 yard running game with an amazing, highlight reel run as he weaved his way through the Bears’ defence and found the end zone after a scintillating 69 yard TD run at the five minute mark. Manitoba took advantage of the 30 km/hr wind at their back in the first as Nick Boyd kicked his longest field goal of the season from 44 yards and Coombs capped a eight play drive with a one yard plunge to make it 17-0 after one quarter.
In the second, the Bisons capitalized on a drive starting at the Bears’ 50 yardline and punched in their third TD of the afternoon when QB Khaleal Williams dived in from one yard. Coombs could have had his third consecutive TD on the previous play but the referees ruled his knee down before crossing the goal line. Manitoba continued to press as Pete Adams intercepted Alberta QB Julian Marchand and Williams then found wide receiver Christian Hansen with a 13 yard TD pass and a 31-0 lead after 24 minutes.
Alberta did mount a drive to break the shutout as Marchand drove the ball and found receiver Dillon Prince on a six yard TD pass and a successful two point conversion made it 31-8. Before the half, the Bisons drove again on the feet of Coombs as he rushed for 28 yards before finishing the drive on a five yard TD run. At the half, 38-8 for the Bisons and the second most points scored by Manitoba in a half since records recorded in 1968.
“The offensive line had a huge game as they had a great push and opened up big holes in the first half. I felt healthy and it was just one of those games and happy to contribute to a huge win for us, “ commented Coombs.
Coombs had an amazing 180 yards and three TDs at half and the Bisons began to rest starters in the second half with the only other scoring for Alberta was a 41 yard TD pass from Marchand to Porter Brown to begin the third, a safety and 29 yard field goal by Steven McCaffrey and Manitoba countered with Coombs’ fourth TD run and kickoff single plus safety for the 48-20 home win.
“At this time of the year, every win is a big win for the playoff race, “ stated Dobie. “To win in such a productive way is a definite confidence booster for our team and now we look towards the Calgary game next week.”
In team stats, Manitoba had 29 to Alberta 25 in first downs; rushing yards were 319 for Manitoba to Alberta at 128; Manitoba had 182 passing yards to Bears 253; total offence was 478 to 377 for Manitoba; turnovers had Alberta with five to Manitoba’s two; Manitoba controlled time of possession with 31:49 to 28:11 and penalties were 17-145 yards for Manitoba and Saskatchewan with 15-129 yards.
Individually, the visitors had Marchand as top passer with 221 yards on 15-35 with 2 TDs and 1 INT along with five rushes for 37 yards. Backup QB Ryan Schwartz went 4-8 and 32 passing yards and led the team with 58 rushing yards on six carries. Porter Brown had five catches for 85 yards and 1 TD while Dillon Prince had four grabs for 50 yards and 1 TD.
For the Bisons, after Coombs brilliant day, Williams went 14-20 for 182 passing yards with 1 TD and also added 30 rushing yards on six attempts with 1 rush TD. Receiver Christian Hansen was top Bison with 44 yards on three catches and 1 TD.
On defence, Jason Hetherington had a game-high seven tackles for Alberta and a forced fumble and Ryan Dean followed with five tackles and 0.5 sack. Connor Ralph added one sack and 3.5 tackles. Manitoba was led by Thomas Hall with 4.5 tackles and a forced fumble along with Adam Hindley with four tackles and one sack. Pete Adams had three break-ups and one interception.
Manitoba (3-3) now travels to play in Calgary against the Calgary Dinos (6-0) on Saturday, October 22 at 1 p.m. local time while Alberta (0-6) host the #9 ranked UBC Thunderbirds (4-2) on Saturday, October 22 at 1 p.m. local time.
Source: Manitoba Sports Info
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