Catellier, Bisons get the job done

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This article was published 16/09/2022 (1347 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nobody needed a victory on Friday night at IG Field more than Des Catellier.

After opening the season with back-to-back losses, the fifth-year Manitoba Bisons quarterback was holding onto his starting job by a thread. The Herd have second-year pivot Jackson Tachinski, who took the Bisons to the Hardy Cup last year after Catellier tore his ACL in Week 1, waiting in the wings and there were some coaches in the building who believed the Tachinski era should start now. And those with that belief had a strong argument, as Catellier connected on just 5-of-13 passes for 57 yards and an interception in last week’s 34-11 loss in Edmonton to the Alberta Golden Bears before Tachinski took over. Tachinski, a Vincent Massey Collegiate product, fared quite a bit better, completing 8-of-15 pass attempts for 134 yards, a touchdown and interception.

Head coach Brian Dobie decided to stick with his veteran, as Catellier, a Calgary product, was under centre for the Bisons with the 1-1 UBC Thunderbirds in town for Week 3 action.

Friday night’s conditions were less than ideal for Catellier to prove Dobie made the right call. It poured the entire game and the field was soaked from the opening kickoff, but to Catellier’s credit, he made enough plays to help the Bisons to a crucial 21-16 victory.

“It’s fun to play in that weather. It’s unpredictable football, man,” Catellier said post-game.

“Anything can happen and anything can turn at any time… You just got to play the field position and win the game. The emotions were flying there at the end, but we got it done.”

Catellier finished the game 14 of 20 for 129 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.

“I’ve had talks with my coaches and we’re good moving forward. I understand there’s pressure on me, lots of pressure, and not just because of Jackson, but because of the Bisons team we feel we should be this year,” Catellier said. “You know, starting 0-2 is not how we want to start at all and we’re nowhere near where we want to get yet, but this is hopefully going to get the ball rolling for us. I understand the pressure and I’m ready for it.”

Catellier threw his first pick early, but responded with a 30-yard strike to Zachary Wynne to give the Bisons a 7-5 lead in the second quarter. UBC would kick a field goal to take an 8-7 advantage into halftime, but the Bisons would regain the lead on their first drive of the third quarter with Catellier finding running back Ishe Matanga for a six-yard touchdown pass to go up 14-8.

After another Thunderbirds field goal, the Bisons would find pay dirt again with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter with Tachinski, who comes in on short-yardage plays, fighting his way into the end zone from the one-yard line. UBC would get another field goal, and two points on a safety thanks to a botched snap by Bisons long-snapper Dolan Hills, to cut the Bisons lead to 21-16. The Thunderbirds had two drives in the final three minutes to possibly take the lead, but failed both times as second-year quarterback Garrett Rooker, who hails from Texas, made several poor decisions with the football. Rooker completed 15 of 32 passes for 201 yards. Bisons running back Breydon Stubbs led the team with 65 rushing yards on 10 attempts, but UBC’s rusher Dane Kaplar was the most impressive player on the field, gaining 175 rushing yards on 26 carries.

The Thunderbirds outgained the Bisons 469-155 in yardage and had 31 more plays on offence, but the Herd wouldn’t break as they kept the visitors out of the end zone.

“Was our season on the line? Technically, probably not. But man it was big. It was a big week and everyone knew it,” Catellier said.

“We locked it in this week and we got it done.”

The Bisons will try to reach .500 next Saturday when they welcome the 0-3 Calgary Dinos to IG Field.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31