Turner makes historic debut, winning boot for Bisons

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This article was published 23/09/2023 (715 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was a storybook ending to what was already a historic day in Canadian university sports.

University of Manitoba kicker Maya Turner drilled a 21-yard field goal in overtime to give the Bisons a 27-24 victory over the Regina Rams at IG Field on Saturday.

Turner is the first woman in U Sports history to suit up for a regular-season game. At the 9:48 mark in the second quarter, she also became the first player to record a point, making good on a 21-yard field goal.

The 21-year-old product of Maple Grove, Minn., finished 2-for-2 on field-goal attempts and 3-for-3 on extra-point tries to register nine points in her collegiate debut.

“So excited,” said Turner. “It was such an unreal experience. Ever since the (game-winning) field goal, (I’ve) just been full of adrenaline and just excitement. We won a big game — a tight game — our team fought all the way through the end and I’m just proud of everyone today.

“It makes me feel honoured to know that (head coach Brian Dobie) trusts me in that position to make, potentially, a game-winning field goal.”

The historic boot lifted the Bisons (1-3) to their first win of the Canada West conference season and dropped the rival Rams to 1-3.

“What Maya accomplished today, she didn’t just have to go out there and do her job and be another player, she had to be under the stigma of, ‘She better hit those (field goals and extra points),’” said head coach Dobie.

Turner signed with the Bisons in January 2022 and made a pre-season appearance last season.

“She went out, and she kicked the game-winning field goal,” Dobie said. “It’s a moment that transcends football. It will be felt for years to come.”

Turner saw plenty of action in her collegiate debut, thanks in large part to the performance of quarterback Jackson Tachinski.

Tachinski, who suffered a significant shoulder injury to his non-throwing (left) shoulder on Sept. 8, returned under centre earlier than the team had initially reported and scorched the Rams, contributing on all three of the Bisons’ touchdowns while completing 27 of 40 passing attempts for 323 yards.

The third-year pivot flexed his dual-threat ability all day, finishing with two rushing majors and 79 yards on nine carries.

“The key was just keep doing what we were doing, don’t switch anything up. Because in the first half, we didn’t get a score but we were moving the ball well,” Tachinski said.

“We knew if we kept doing that, the points would come. So we just kept doing what we did— we kept high confidence and high belief and we just started finishing our points and the game kind of unravelled itself.”

An offensive power struggle prevailed in the first half, as the Bisons trailed 9-3 at halftime, the only points coming off the leg of Turner.

The Bisons finally broke through late in the third quarter on a monster 13-play, 90-yard drive that ate up 6:24 of clock and ended with a 15-yard touchdown strike from Tachinski to DeShawn Le Jour, who recorded 43 receiving yards on three grabs.

Just like the Rams had done after the Bisons’ first points, the visitors punched back with an efficient offensive drive of their own, this time capping a five-play 98-yard sequence with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Owen Sieben to Rylan Sokul to give the Rams a 16-7 advantage.

A frantic fourth quarter ensued, with Tachinski finding the end zone twice with his legs and the Rams tying the game with a trick play in the dying moments of regulation to send the game to overtime.

It took three tries — and two missed field goals by Vinny De Rosa, who was splitting time with Turner in the game — in the overtime period before Turner sent the Rams packing with her family in attendance for her historic performance.

“I’m just really honoured and blessed to be able to be in this position. I’m thankful for all the support everywhere and thankful for this,” Turner said.

The Bisons host the Calgary Dinos at IG Field on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m.

jfreysam@freepress.mb.ca

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