12°c Overcast
18°c Cloudy with sunny breaks
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Bisons fall to Dinos 33-12
University of Manitoba Bisons receiver Xavier Johnson is crunched Saturday at University Stadium. (RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
It wasn’t exactly what the Manitoba Bisons had planned for their annual Homecoming Game, and having the Calgary Dinos come into their backyard and exit with a win wasn’t how the script was to unfold.
But even in defeat there can be silver linings, and for three quarters in Saturday’s 33-12 loss the upstart Bisons were able to trade blows with the powerhouse Dinos.
The second-ranked Dinos improve to 3-0 while the Bisons, the only team in the country to face a Top 10 ranked squad in each of their three games, fall to 2-1.
"It was a wake-up call for us," said Bison head coach Brian Dobie. "Our guys played very emotionally in the first half and it was an ugly first half for both teams. But then we saw what a team like Calgary was capable of doing. They’re very polished, they’re athletically mature and extremely well-coached. And in order to match that, as we did in the first half, you’ve got to rise to that level. We made mistake after mistake in the second half and Calgary minimized their mistakes.
"All credit to the University of Calgary."
The Bisons rallied from a 9-zip first quarter with eight unanswered in the second, the key play an 80-yard Cam Clark-to-Xavier Johnson strike that brought a solid crowd of 2,750 at University Stadium to its feet.
But in the second half the Dinos precision passing game, led by quarterback Eric Dzwilewski, was dynamite. Dzwilewski finished the day completing 23 of 32 passes for 329 yards, with two TD strikes to Chris Dobko and a third to Jake Harty while also rushing for 55 more yards on just eight carries. The Dinos also racked up 489 net yards on offence and held a five-minute advantage in time of possession.
Not to be overlooked was the work of Calgary’s defence, which threw a lot of blitzes at Bison QB Cam Clark, sacking him five times, while containing Manitoba’s vaunted running game.
"We’ll get back at it," said Dobie. "We’ll prepare for the University of Alberta. We’re 2-1 and we’re in second place. We move forward. A loss is a loss, you put it behind you just like you put a win behind you."
Twitter: @WFPEdTait
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Officials announce 1 winning ticket sold in Fla. on record Powerball jackpot topping $590M
1:20 AM 0View Related
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Two women face rare charges of harbouring alleged murderer
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- One dead in Highway 10 collision
- Leaving a gang isn't easy — Sidney Letandre, now a paraplegic, knows it all too well
- Head-on collision kills pickup driver
- Manitoba's changing spiritual landscape
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Flood victim gets six years for shotgun threat, attack
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- VIDEO: Left on the ice to rot
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Manitoba's changing spiritual landscape
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Li granted additional day passes
- Raleigh holds annual tour of backyard chicken coops, part of national spread of urban farming
- WHO warns Saudi coronavirus may be spreading; calls for urgent search for source
- Province announces service for Elijah Harper
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- Guitar-playing astronaut bows out of space station with music video of Bowie's 'Space Oddity'
- Microsoft update to address Windows 8 complaints, confusion will be free; to be called 8.1
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Uganda: Blessed are the children
- Winning 6/49 ticket purchased in Winnipeg
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- VIDEO: Left on the ice to rot
- Paul McCartney to play Winnipeg Aug. 12
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- RCMP charge man with double-homicide in Ethelbert
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.