Inspired Bisons comeback to defeat Dinos

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This article was published 16/10/2021 (1451 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The scene in the locker room at halftime was like something from an alternate universe.

Brian Dobie, the perpetually mild-mannered, happy-go-lucky head coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons, was blowing a gasket. His football team, ranked sixth in U Sports, was trailing 17-2 to the No. 4 Calgary Dinos at the break and in the process of blowing a big opportunity.

He fumed and ranted.

“I literally was yelling so hard… that I could feel myself getting lightheaded,” said the now composed coach after the Bisons rallied with 23 fourth-quarter points to eke out a 28-20 triumph over the defending Vanier Cup champions at IG Field. “I called them out. I pointed fingers.

“I pointed fingers at everybody — I went over to (quarterback) Jackson (Tachinski) and literally pointed my finger at him and said, ‘You are our leader, you need to perform like a leader, you need to be technical and you need to be sound and you need to get the job done,’ I pointed at our kicker… the offensive line. I just called people out, but I was honest.”

Cole Sabourin booted an 11-yard field goal and running back Breydon Stubbs added a five-yard touchdown run in the final four minutes to cap the furious comeback.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Tachinski hooked up with receivers Macho Bockru and Kai Madsen for TD strikes of 14 and six yards, respectively.

Madsen’s major was set up by a crucial pick from SAM linebacker Stefan Conway, who returned Dinos quarterback Josiah Joseph’s errant throw 21 yards to the Calgary six-yard line.

“Coach usually doesn’t get fired up like that but I mean it was good to see,” said Conway, who had a sack and six solo tackles in addition to his first career interception. “And I think it fired us up and give us the kick in the ass that we needed.”

The win improved Manitoba’s record to 3-0 for the first time since winning the Vanier Cup national championship in 2007 and also increased the likelihood of a home playoff date at IG Field this fall.

Tachinski, making his second career start in place of injured No. 1 Des Catellier, had a dreadful first half with only four completions and 40 passing yards. In the second half, he began to use his legs, scrambling seven times for 49 yards and finishing the game with 13-for-29 passing for 139 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

The running-by-committee approach with Tachinski, Stubbs, Michael Ritchott and Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette pitching in netted 233 yards total, including 170 in the second half.

“Dobie ripped into us but, you know, that just gives us a little fire in our bellies,” said Tachinski. “We came out for that second half with an extra little something to our step and we came on got that win.”

Manitoba didn’t lack for opportunities early in the game, but the sputtering offence and a raft of penalties in the first half (12 for 87 yards) was a recipe for disaster. Sabourin missed 45-yard and 39-yard field goal attempts.

Manitoba’s lone first-half points came when Calgary punter Vince Triumbari conceded a safety.

The Dinos had more success moving the ball, getting 70 rushing yards on 10 carries from Alessandro Molnar and touchdowns from Tyson Philpot, on a spectacular leaping 36-yard reception, and Nathanael Durkan, on a 23-yard toss from Joseph.

Triumbari added a 20-yard field goal to give the visitors a 17-2 halftime lead. He added another 29-yard field goal early in the third quarter, the only points Calgary would score after Dobie fiery speech. The Dinos fell to 1-2.

“This game was a statement to the whole league here,” said Stubbs, who had seven carries for 50 yards added one reception for another 22. “…We’re not just like some regular ordinary backs out there. We’re probably one of the top three (groups of) backs in the nation right now and today we proved it. That’s how the numbers came out.”

Manitoba’s defence was a major factor in the triumph, sacking Joseph five times. The Bisons head out on the road for their next game, taking on the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver Oct. 23.

“We didn’t lose faith,” said Dobie. “That’s what happened once we got going. They settled down and they played the way that they were coached. They didn’t try to win the game by themselves. They trusted the system and they trusted their place in the system.”

PAYING TRIBUTE: The Bisons honoured the memory of assistant coach Scott Naujoks in a pre-game ceremony. Naujoks died last month after a battle with cancer. The 29-year-old receivers coach was coming to the end of his chemotherapy treatments when a complication took his life. The team will wear his initials on their helmets for the remainder of the 2021 season.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14