Tachinski’s late heroics spark Bisons past Dinos

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/09/2024 (742 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY — Quarterback Jackson Tachinski rushed for a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally the Manitoba Bisons to a 22-17 victory over the Calgary Dinos in Canada West university football action at McMahon Stadium Saturday afternoon.

The fifth-ranked Bisons, who trailed 15-8 at the start of the fourth quarter, improved to 4-0 for the first time since their Vanier Cup-winning season of 2007.

Manitoba had not beaten the Dinos on the road since posting a 27-15 win in the Hardy Cup final at McMahon Stadium on Nov. 15, 2014.

“We may very well have been outplayed today but we found a way to win and that’s a sign of a good team,” said Bisons head coach Brian Dobie by phone. “When you’re a good team, sometimes you kind of run away with the game and sometimes you’re losing right up to the bitter end and you just find a way to get it done. And that’s what our guys did today.”

The Dinos fell to 1-3.

Tachinski, who finished the game with 71 yards rushing on nine carries, rumbled over from 14 yards with 12:11 left in the game to cap a nine-play, 68-yard drive following an interception by Bisons defensive back Nick Conway late in the third quarter.

The Bisons offence, set up by Daniel Conway’s blocked punt that gave them the ball on the Calgary 37-yard line, capitalized again with 1:26 left in the game when Tachinski reached the end zone from four yards out.

Daniel Conway, Nick’s younger brother and a reserve defensive back, had been activated prior to the game and was seeing his first action of the season.

De Shawn Le Jour was ruled out of bounds on a close play at the goal-line for a two-point convert attempt, giving the visitors a slim five-point edge.

The Dinos promptly drove down the field in the final minute, reaching Manitoba’s 18-yard line before receiver Jack Gutek was ruled to have caught the ball out of bounds at the back of the end zone on a pass from quarterback Dom Britton on the final play of the game.

“I couldn’t tell,” said Dobie of the final play. “I mean, it was that close. He was either in by an inch or out by an inch and that was a tough call for those officials in real time. They made a call. The official who made the call immediately waved him out.”

Breydon Stubbs gave the visitors a 7-0 lead with a 18-yard touchdown run in opening quarter.

Evan Smith, on a three-yard run, and Matthieu Clark, on a 40-yard pass-and-run play, replied with majors to give Calgary a 15-7 lead at the intermission.

Tachinski went 9-for-20 and 132 yards passing.

His favourite target was Le Jour, who caught three passes for 31 yards while Vaughan Lloyd had one reception for 42 yards.

Stubbs finished with 84 yards on 16 carries while teammate Shakur Harris added 69 yards on eight attempts.

Britton went 22-for-39 and 270 yards through the air while Clarke had 86 yards rushing on 13 carries.