RECAP: Bisons shock Dinos to capture 78th Hardy Cup [stats]

CALGARY – The University of Manitoba Bisons took advantage of 10 turnovers and an impressive defensive performance to deny the University of Calgary Dinos a seventh consecutive Hardy Cup title Saturday, winning the Canada West championship 27-15 at McMahon Stadium.

It’s the first conference title since 2007 for the Bisons, who were the last team other than Calgary to hoist the Hardy Cup. They will head east to face the Université de Montréal Carabins in an unlikely CIS Uteck Bowl next Saturday, Nov. 22 at CEPSUM in Montreal. The Carabins advanced after upsetting No. 1 Laval in Saturday’s Dunsmore Cup final.

Just 30 seconds into the game, it looked like the Dinos were ready to run away with another one as Mercer Timmis punched a hole through the Bisons defence and was off to the races for an 81-yard touchdown. That was as good as it would get on the day for the hosts, however, as their next drive portended things to come.

Jonathan Jones intercepted Canada West MVP Andrew Buckley for a 20-yard pick six less than four minutes later, and the Bisons never trailed again. It was the first of five interceptions on the day for the Manitoba defence, as later on Tyler Fong, Cam Teschuk, Jayden McKoy, and Jordan Linnen would grab errant Calgary passes.

“We had our ups and downs most of the year, and we were always able to overcome our mistakes,” said Calgary head coach Blake Nill. “But today, Manitoba was the best team. We were lucky to win one hear against them – they have a focus and a drive. I’m not saying our guys weren’t focused, but it’s not going to happen when you turn the ball over 10 times.

“They did a great job going after the football. They were looking to strip the ball, and their secondary played us well. We did not execute, and when we had a little momentum, we just shot ourselves in the foot.”

The Bisons grabbed their first lead of the game midway through the opening quarter as Kienan LaFrance eluded tacklers for a 40-yard TD run to go up 14-7. The Dinos managed to tie it up at 14-14 on a 42-yard Buckley pass to Rashaun Simonise early in the second, but the Bisons outscored the Dinos 13-1 from there and held the highest-scoring offence in the nation to just a single point in the second half.

A pair of Ryan Jones field goals from 7 and 30 yards along with a 7-yard TD pass from Jordan Yantz to Zach Regert rounded out the scoring for the Bisons, while Johnny Mark’s 78-yard single on the opening kickoff of the third quarter was all the Dinos could muster from there.

In addition to the five interceptions, the Dinos fumbled twice – one of which set up the first Jones field goal – and turned it over on downs three times. McKoy’s pick in the fourth quarter snuffed out what looked to be a promising drive for the Dinos, as he intercepted a pass from Eric Dzwilewski two yards deep in the end zone. Dzwilewski was in the game in relief of Buckley, who was sidelined midway through the third quarter with an apparent hamstring injury.

LaFrance carried the ball 30 times for 155 yards and the touchdown, while Yantz completed 17 of 26 passes for 263 yards and a major. Dustin Pedersen was the Bisons’ leading receiver with 86 yards on four catches.

Calgary actually won the statistical battle again, picking up 471 yards to the Bisons’ 394. Timmis picked up 133 yards on just 12 carries, aided by the opening-play 81-yarder, while Buckley completed 16 of 25 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown – along with four interceptions. Dzwilewski went 7-for-16 on the afternoon, tossing for 105 yards and one pick. Jake Harty was the top target on the day with nine catches for 135 yards, while Simonise hauled in six balls for 108 yards and a TD.

Despite the adversity, the Calgary defence held firm through most of the contest, sacking Yantz five times – three of those courtesy Doctor Cassama. Adam Konar was the leading tackler for Calgary with 9.5, while DJ Lalama added seven tackles to lead the way for the Bisons.

While the Dinos watch from the sidelines, the Bisons will travel to Montreal to face the Carabins next Saturday. The winner of the Uteck Bowl will face the winner of the McMaster-Mount Allison Mitchell Bowl in the 50th Vanier Cup, hosted for the first time in Montreal.

Source: Ben Matchett, Calgary Dinos Sports Information

Manitoba vs. Calgary at Calgary, AB
11/15/2014 at 2:08 pm
Manitoba
27
Calgary
15
SCORING 1 2 3 4 FINAL
Manitoba (6-4, 4-4) 14 10 3 0 27
Calgary (7-3, 6-2) 7 7 1 0 15
Calgary, AB | McMahon Stadium
PRD TIME SCORING SUMMARY MANITOBA – CALGARY
1 14:25 Calgary – Mercer Timmis 81 yd run. (Johnny Mark kick is good).
Drive: 1 plays, 81 yards in 0:35.
0 – 7
1 10:32 Manitoba – Jonathan Jones 20 yd interception return. (Ryan Jones kick is good). 7 – 7
1 07:47 Manitoba – Kienan LaFrance 40 yd run. (Ryan Jones kick is good).
Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards in 1:25.
14 – 7
2 09:02 Calgary – R. Simonise 42 yd pass from Andrew Buckley. (Johnny Mark kick is good).
Drive: 5 plays, 90 yards in 1:51.
14 – 14
2 05:38 Manitoba – Ryan Jones 17 yd field goal.
Drive: 3 plays, 0 yards in 1:07.
17 – 14
2 01:13 Manitoba – Zach Regert 7 yd pass from Jordan Yantz. (Ryan Jones kick is good).
Drive: 4 plays, 23 yards in 0:20.
24 – 14
3 14:57 Calgary – Johnny Mark rouge point. 24 – 15
3 10:52 Manitoba – Ryan Jones 30 yd field goal.
Drive: 9 plays, 52 yards in 4:05.
27 – 15
MANITOBA STATISTICS CALGARY
21 FIRST DOWNS 21
11
10
0
Passing
Rushing
Penalty
14
5
2
394 TOTAL OFFENSE 471
70
5.6
Total Offensive Plays
Average gain per play
63
7.5
263 NET YARDS PASSING 329
17-26
10.1
5-56
0
Completions-Attempts
Net yards per pass play
Sacked: Number-Yards
Had intercepted
23-41
8.0
1-5
5
188 NET YARDS RUSHING 147
39
4.8
Rushing Attempts
Average gain per rush
21
7.0
12-475 PUNTS: Number-Yards 7-283
39.6 Average 40.4
158 TOTAL RETURN YARDS 207
7-41
2-58
5-59
Punt Returns: Number-Yards
Kickoff Returns: Number-Yards
Interception Returns: Number-Yards
14-138
4-69
0 0
7-70 PENALTIES: Number-Yards 2-15
2-0 FUMBLES: Number-Lost 4-2
1-5 SACKS: Number-Yards 5-56
5-59 INTERCEPTIONS: Number-Yards 0 0
35:47 TIME OF POSSESSION 24:13

Manitoba

Calgary

PASSING C-A YDS TD INT
Jordan Yantz 17-26 263 1 0
PASSING C-A YDS TD INT
Andrew Buckley 16-25 224 1 4
Eric Dzwilewski 7-16 105 0 1
RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD
Kienan Lafrance 30 155 5.2 40 1
Nic Demski 1 19 19.0 19 0
Marc Paquette 4 7 1.8 2 0
Jordan Yantz 2 5 2.5 5 0
Alex Christie 2 2 1.0 2 0
RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD
Mercer Timmis 12 133 11.1 81 1
Andrew Buckley 5 16 3.2 14 0
Eric Dzwilewski 3 6 2.0 9 0
Johnny Mark 0 -2 0 0
Austen Hartley 1 -6 -6.0 0 0
RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD
Dustin Pedersen 4 86 21.5 33 0
Matt Sawyer 3 63 21.0 36 0
Zach Regert 6 58 9.7 19 1
Nic Demski 1 23 23.0 23 0
Alex Christie 1 18 18.0 18 0
Bryden Bone 2 15 7.5 9 0
RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD
Jake Harty 9 135 15.0 31 0
Rashaun Simonise 6 108 18.0 42 1
Brett Blaszko 5 51 10.2 15 0
Brendon Thera-Plamondon 1 22 22.0 22 0
Michael Klukas 1 11 11.0 11 0
Mercer Timmis 1 2 2.0 2 0
KICKING FG LG XP RG PTS
Ryan Jones 2/4 30 3/3 9
KICKING FG LG XP RG PTS
Johnny Mark 2/2 1 3
PUNTING NO YDS AVG LG TB -20
Zach Regert 12 475 39.6 56 0 3
PUNTING NO YDS AVG LG TB -20
Johnny Mark 7 283 40.4 46 0 0
KICKOFFS NO YDS AVG TB OB
Ryan Jones 4 218 54.5 0 0
KICKOFFS NO YDS AVG TB OB
Johnny Mark 3 198 66.0 1 0
KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
Matt Sawyer 1 31 31.0 31 0
Nic Demski 1 27 27.0 27 0
KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
Michael Klukas 2 53 26.5 35 0
Rashaun Simonise 1 16 16.0 16 0
Jake Harty 1 0 0.0 0 0
PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
Matt Sawyer 3 26 8.7 11 0
Nic Demski 4 15 3.8 11 0
PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
Jake Harty 8 79 9.9 25 0
Michael Klukas 2 32 16.0 22 0
Rashaun Simonise 4 27 6.8 16 0
INTERCEPTION RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
Jonathan Jones 1 20 20.0 20 1
Jayden McKoy 1 0 0.0 0 0
Tyler Fong 1 33 33.0 33 0
Jordan Linnen 1 6 6.0 6 0
Cam Teschuk 1 0 0.0 0 0
INTERCEPTION RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
FUMBLES NO LOST
Nic Demski 1 0
Jordan Yantz 1 0
FUMBLES NO LOST
Rashaun Simonise 1 1
Eric Dzwilewski 1 0
Michael Klukas 1 1
Austen Hartley 1 0
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS
# MANITOBA SOLO AST TOTAL SACKS-YDS TFL-YDS FF FR-YDS INT-YDS BRUP BLKS QBH
25 Dj Lalama 6 2 7 1 – 1
21 Jordan Linnen 6 1 6.5 1-6
48 Colton Farago 5 0 5 1
7 Jayden McKoy 4 0 4 1-0
44 Braden McCarthy 3 1 3.5
20 M. Harrison 2 2 3 1 – 3 2
24 Cam Teschuk 3 0 3 1-0
41 Lauren Kroeker 2 2 3 1 – 5 1 – 5
69 Matt Hallock 3 0 3
90 Evan Foster 2 2 3 1-0
4 Jonathan Jones 1 2 2 1-20
8 T. Apperley 2 0 2 1
19 Tyler Fong 2 0 2 1 1-33 1
97 David Onyemata 1 2 2
95 Kent Hicks 1 1 1.5
17 Houston Rennie 1 0 1 1 – 8
23 B. Macfarlane 1 0 1 1-0
47 James Mau 0 2 1
50 Andrew Johnston 1 0 1
33 Alex Christie 0 1 0.5
TOTALS 46 18 55 1 – 5 4 – 17 2 2-0 5-59 4
# CALGARY SOLO AST TOTAL SACKS-YDS TFL-YDS FF FR-YDS INT-YDS BRUP BLKS QBH
10 Adam Konar 8 3 9.5 1
40 Tanner Doll 4 5 6.5
25 Doctor Cassama 5 1 5.5 3 – 31 3 – 31 1
28 Hunter Turnbull 5 0 5
3 Adam Laurensse 4 0 4
13 Michael Schmidt 4 0 4
27 Tom Spoletini 3 1 3.5 1 – 2
70 Tyler Langlais 2 3 3.5
4 Robert Woodson 3 0 3
93 Jack McEwen 1 3 2.5
32 Brad Friesen 1 2 2 1.5 – 3
75 Connor McGough 1 2 2 1 – 18 1 – 18
77 Cory Robinson 2 0 2 1 – 7 1 – 7
85 Mac Sarro 2 0 2
5 Elie Bouka 1 1 1.5
52 Brett Wade 1 1 1.5 1 – 1
98 Joel Van Pelt 1 1 1.5 0.5 – 0
8 Andrew Buckley 1 0 1
20 Mercer Timmis 1 0 1
22 Carson Stambene 1 0 1
24 Boston Rowe 1 0 1
34 Iyanu Ojekale 1 0 1
39 Andrew Britton 1 0 1
47 Brady Olsen 1 0 1
42 Micah Teitz 0 1 0.5
TOTALS 55 24 67 5 – 56 9 – 62 1 1
OTHER INFORMATION
Location: Calgary, AB
Stadium: McMahon Stadium
Attendance: 1032
Weather: Clear, wind chill -8
Temperature: -4 C
Wind: W 10km/h
Referee: Kelly Edgeworth
Umpire: Kyle Mikulik
Head Linesman: Dan Mulvihill
Line Judge: Cody Larocque
Back Judge: Glen Haner
Field Judge: KevinMcWilliams
Side Judge: Rob Isbister

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