Dinos look to complete Hardy cycle (VIDEO)

CALGARY – Of all the unlikely scenarios that have combined with high-level, consistent play by the University of Calgary Dinos in their run to five consecutive Hardy Cup championships, perhaps nothing is more implausible than this: when the Manitoba Bisons come to town for Saturday’s 77th edition of the conference championship, they’ll be the sixth different team the Dinos have faced in that game.

The Dinos (9-0) have a mind to complete the conference cycle and extend their undefeated season as they host the Bisons (6-3) for the Hardy Cup, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. Saturday at McMahon Stadium, live on Shaw TV and CanadaWest.tv.

After capturing their first Canada West title since 1995 by beating former member Simon Fraser back in 2008, the Dinos have reeled off wins over Saskatchewan, Alberta, UBC, and Regina on the way to their unprecedented streak, and as luck would have it they face the only remaining team on the list as they search for their 15th conference banner.

Which, if you look at the standings, is as it should be. The Dinos and Bisons finished 1-2 in the conference this year, and both had to come back in the fourth quarter at home in their semifinal games last week to qualify for this game. And, if recent history and the teams’ only other meeting this season is any indication, it could be an offensive show.

The Dinos and Bisons played back-to-back games last season to wrap the regular season and open the playoffs, with Calgary winning both, at home, 78-54 and 57-18. Then, back on Sept. 20 of this year, the teams put up more than 1,250 yards of total offence, of which nearly 1,000 came in the passing game as Andrew Buckley (512 yards) and Jordan Yantz (450) went long bomb for long bomb all afternoon as Calgary came out on top 48-24.

Buckley and Yantz, as it turned out, finished tied in the coaches’ poll for the conference all-star recognition at quarterback. The two pivots are among 16 conference all-stars – 11 Dinos and five Bisons – who will take part in the game.

The Bisons are the last non-Dinos team to have won the Hardy Cup, capturing it en route to an undefeated Vanier Cup championship season in 2007. That year is also the last time Manitoba defeated Calgary; since a 27-5 win in the 2007 conference semifinal, the Dinos have rattled off 10 straight wins over the Bisons – including last year’s playoff victory. It’s the first Hardy Cup meeting for the two teams since 1985 (a 52-13 Calgary win), and the Dinos and Bisons have split evenly their four all-time playoff games, with each winning twice at home. Calgary is 19-3 overall in the playoffs and will look to extend their remarkable home field domination, which has seen the Dinos win 36 of their last 38 home games. The winner of this one earns the right to host the Ontario champion – either Western or Queen’s – in the Mitchell Bowl on Nov. 16 with a trip to the Vanier Cup at stake.

Here’s a look at the two teams:

No. 3 Calgary Dinos (8-0, 1-0)
Last week: defeated UBC 42-28

Led by conference MVP Mercer Timmis, the Dinos were big winners this week as the conference all-stars and award winners were announced. Timmis edged Manitoba’s Anthony Coombs in the MVP voting after leading the nation in rushing and setting a pair of conference records with 19 total and 18 rushing touchdowns. Teammates Doctor Cassama (defensive MVP), Rashaun Simonise (rookie of the year), and Buckley (student-athlete award) were also honoured as major award winners, while head coach Blake Nill won his second consecutive conference coach of the year award.

Despite all that firepower, the Dinos did come out flat to start their playoff run last week and found themselves in a 17-0 hole to the UBC Thunderbirds just 10 minutes into the game. However, Calgary began to chip away at the UBC advantage, took the lead at halftime, and then pulled away in the fourth to win 42-28 – a score that wasn’t indicative of how tight the game actually was for three-plus quarters in a blizzard at McMahon Stadium.

It was a win, though, and Timmis was again a big part of it with two touchdowns and 36 total touches – 32 carries and four receptions totaling more than 200 yards. And while the offence will look to continue its consistent play and put points on the board, the Calgary defence will be charged with the difficult task of stopping the three key Manitoba offensive weapons in Yantz, Coombs, and Nic Demski. In their last meeting, despite Calgary winning by 24, Coombs still managed 235 all-purpose yards while Demski had a 100-yard receiving game and Yantz threw for 450 yards. Limiting those three playmakers will be key to Calgary’s success on Saturday.

All-time, the Dinos are 13-5 in the Canada West final and are seeking their 15th overall conference championship.

No. 9 Manitoba Bisons (5-3, 1-0)
Last week: defeated Saskatchewan 37-36

Manitoba’s success, meanwhile, will almost certainly rely on the ability of those three players to churn up yards and score. The Bisons were in lockstep with the Dinos in most offensive categories throughout the season, finishing second to Calgary in total points, total offence, and rushing offence. Calgary’s defence, however, had slightly better numbers than Manitoba’s, and the Bisons front seven will have to contend with the Dinos’ five offensive all-stars led by Timmis, who managed 118 rushing yards and four touchdowns the last time these teams met.

The Bisons gave up a big halftime lead last week at Saskatchewan only to come back, thanks to a three-touchdown second half from Nic Demski. Still, they had to survive a very makeable game-winning field goal try by the Huskies, which they did – capturing their first playoff win over Saskatchewan since 1973 and advancing to the Hardy Cup for the first time since 2007.

Coombs, Demski, and Yantz joined defensive lineman Evan Gill and offensive tackle Alex McKay on the conference all-star team this year for Manitoba.

In its history, Manitoba has hoisted the Hardy Cup 10 times and will be looking for an 11th championship Saturday afternoon.

Photo credit:  David Moll