University of Calgary Athletics

Third year linebacker Andrea Bonaventura was a force to be reckoned with on defence Saturday as the Dinos held the No. 2 Manitoba Bisons at bay, snapping the defending Vanier Cup champions’ 18-game conference winning streak with a 37-17 victory at McMahon Stadium.

A native of Hamilton, Ont., Bonaventura had a team high seven tackles (5 solo, 4 assisted), added one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble. But it was his interception early in the third quarter that changed the outcome of the game. With the Bisons up 10-7 on their first series following the halftime break, Bonaventura picked off Manitoba quarterback John Makie on the Bisons’ 31-yard line, running it back 15 yards to the 16. On the next play, quarterback Deke Junior found Anthony Parker in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown, putting the Dinos ahead to stay at 14-10.

Bonaventura leads the team with 17 tackles after two games, sitting tied for the conference lead with Manitoba’s Kenton Onofrychuk.