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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Bisons ugly but good enough to win

By: Ed Tait

Posted: 09/22/2012 5:59 PM | Comments: 0

University of Manitoba Bisons' running back Nic Demski evades tacklers in the second half on his way to one of two touchdowns in the game against the University of Alberta Golden Bears Saturday. The Bisons won 51-38. (MELISSA TAIT / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

It was a performance not without its flaws. Many, many flaws.

But, as ugly as it was on occasion, when the final gun sounded Saturday afternoon at University Stadium, the Manitoba Bisons had emerged – some would say, escaped – with a critical 51-38 victory over the University of Alberta Golden Bears that keeps them in the fight for top spot in the Canada West football standings.

The Bisons, ranked eighth in the country, improved to 3-1 on the season against a Golden Bears squad that is now 0-4.

"This is the perfect situation where you actually escape with a win and you can HAMMER them for the way we were fortunate to win," said a disgruntled and relieved Brian Dobie, the Bisons head coach. "We did so many things wrong. The first half, Alberta kicked our ass and the second half we played a much more emotional and physical game and that’s what got us going."

The game resembled a track meet at times, with both clubs’ offences races up and down the field. Manitoba finished with 574 yards total offence; Alberta had 516.

Trailing 24-17 at halftime, Dobie ripped off a nasty speech at the intermission that seemed to fire up the troops.

Key to the victory was the work of quarterback Cam Clark, who completed 23 of 27 passes for 442 yards and four TDs. The passing yardage tied Clark with Shane Munson for the second-highest total in Bison history. Munson holds top spot with 446 yards.

"Oh, wow. Just hearing that now feels great, but it’s more important to get the win," said Clark. "We’ve got a tough opponent with Regina next week and we really needed to get this win and finish our homestand with a winning record. I’ve got to credit the rest of the offence. The offensive line did a great job of pass protection, the receivers made some plays when I threw to them."

Clark connected with Danny Turek for an 80-yard TD on the Bisons’ second offensive snap, hit Andrew Smith for 44 and 30-yard scores and also found Nic Demski for a 37-yard scoring strike. The Bisons also got a TDs on an Andrew Barry punt block and on a 20-yard run by Demski while Nick Boyd kicked four field goals.

Alberta got two rushing TDs from QB Curtis Dell, who also hooked up with Ryley Richardson for an aerial score. Tyler Lewis and Smith Wright also found the end zone along the ground.

Manitoba is back in action next Friday in Regina against the Rams, who are also 3-1.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait

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