Herd hustles to win

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This article was published 02/10/2023 (1054 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The University of Manitoba Bisons football team is back in the mix after a disappointing 0-3 start to the season.

The Herd (2-3) won their second straight game Sunday afternoon with a 34-21 victory over the winless Calgary Dinos (0-5) at IG Field.

The Bisons did the most of their damage on the ground with 316 combined rushing yards compared to Calgary’s 105.

After the Dinos scored the opening touchdown, the Bisons responded with 34 unanswered points.

“Our goals today were to be sharp and physical and I think we displayed that out there. We kind of gave it to them and you guys saw that we were just running the ball all over them,” said Bisons quarterback Jackson Tachinski.

“When we’re sharp, when we’re mentally there, I don’t think anyone can really stop us on the ground.”

Tachinski completed 15-of-19 passes for 171 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. The Vincent Massey Collegiate product also led all rushers with 110 yards and two scores on 13 attempts. Tachinski is fourth in the Canada West conference in rushing with 297 yards.

Running backs Vaughan Lloyd, Shakur Harris, Noah Anderson, and Breydon Stubbs all had 45 yards rushing or more for Manitoba.

It wasn’t a perfect showing though as the Bisons lost two fumbles.

“(Tachinski’s athleticism) changes the entire dynamic and aspect of our offence. It just does,” said head coach Brian Dobie.

“It adds a dimension that very few (teams) have. He’s such a great athlete. I joke all the time with him that we’re ruining his professional career. If we played him at free safety or slotback, yeah, he’s a great athlete, and would probably be a third-round pick in the CFL.”

Kicker Maya Turner — who made history in last week’s 27-24 win at home over the Regina Rams by becoming the first woman in U Sports history to dress and score in a regular season football game — was perfect again on Sunday by going 2-for-2 on field goals (26, 32) and 4-for-4 on extra point attempts.

With kicker/punter Vinny De Rosa leaving the team after the Regina game, there was a chance that Turner, a 21-year-old from Maple Grove, Minn., would take over punting duties as well. The Bisons held a competition this week and receiver Nathan Udoh — a former soccer player who kicked in high school at Miles Macdonell Collegiate — ended up earning the job. Udoh punted eight times for 297 total yards for a 37.1 yard average.

“That’s what we got from a guy that hasn’t punted a ball in four years or whatever… I think that’s a super difficult task that no one can do and he did it really well,” said Dobie.

“To me, he was the player of the game. If we’re giving out a game ball, hey, Maya played great, Jackson played great, the list goes on, but he had the most difficult job out of the blue and he came through with flying colours.”

Brendt Adams, a Calgary native, made his hometown pay with five receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Dinos quarterback Dom Britton was held to 16-of-33 passing for 261 yards and a touchdown. Canada West football takes a break this week for Thanksgiving. The Herd will return to action Oct. 14 in a rematch with the Rams (1-4), this time in Regina. The top four teams in the conference qualify for postseason play and the Bisons currently occupy the fourth and final spot.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

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