CALGARY – McMahon Stadium has not been friendly to the Manitoba Bisons. For that matter, all recent battles with the University of Calgary Dinos haven't ended well for the last Canada West squad to capture the Vanier Cup.

And it was in that Vanier Cup season of 2007 that the Bisons last beat the Dinos, in the conference semi-final. Since then the games have run the gamut from one-point victories to blowouts, with Calgary capturing nine consecutively. And you have to go all the way back to the 2005 season to find the last time the Bisons won a game in Calgary.

Most recently, the teams hooked up in a wild two-weekend affair straddling the final week of the 2012 regular season and the first round of the playoffs. In those two games, the teams combined for 207 points as Calgary took 78-54 and 57-18 victories en route to their fifth straight conference title.

Another offensive show could be in the cards Friday night as the stampeding Bisons offence, averaging 548 yards and 45 points per game on the backs of star athletes Anthony Coombs and Nic Demski, rolls into McMahon in the second consecutive battle for first place the Dinos have seen on their home turf.

GAME NOTES (.pdf)

"The biggest factor that we will deal with against Manitoba is their two high-end offensive weapons in Demski and Coombs," said Dinos head coach Blake Nill. "Both of them are among the best in CIS at their positions, and if we can limit the impact they will have, we'll be in good shape. If we can't, it's going to be a long afternoon for us."

It's the only meeting of the season between the Dinos and Bisons, so there's some extra incentive for each side to ensure it owns the playoff tiebreaker with the other. Kickoff goes at 6 p.m. Friday night live on Shaw TV and CanadaWest.tv.

Here's a look at the teams:

No. 5 Calgary Dinos (3-0)
Last week: def. Sask. 36-24
Next week: at Alberta

As quality wins go, last Saturday's victory over Saskatchewan was a big one for the young Dinos, who dressed 27 players in their first year of eligibility out of a 50-man roster last week. Thanks to 15 unanswered points in the third quarter, the Dinos broke open a tight game to take a 36-24 victory and remain the only undefeated team in Canada West.

The Dinos were able to stop the run effectively against Saskatchewan, a feat they'll need to accomplish again with Manitoba in town. Through the first three games, the Dinos have given up fewer points (27.3) and yards (415.3) per game than any other team in the conference.

The return of a healthy Jake Harty was a boon to the Calgary offence last week, with seven catches and two touchdown grabs padding his stats line. In his second start at quarterback, Andrew Buckley completed 26 of 33 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Dinos to another win.

Friday's game should be a milestone night for fifth-year Dinos receiver Chris Dobko. He enters the night with 137 career catches, just one away from tying the school record of 138 held by 1995 Hec Crighton winner Don Blair. With at least two catches against the Bisons, Dobko will take over top spot on his own – and he had plenty of success against the Bisons last season, picking up a total of 27 receptions in two games against Manitoba.

After two at home, the Dinos head back on the road to open the second half of the season. Up next for Calgary is a Battle of Alberta against the Golden Bears next Saturday, Sept. 28 at Foote Field in Edmonton.

The Dinos won't return home for nearly a month, playing their next game at McMahon Friday, Oct. 18 when the Regina Rams visit.

No. 8 Manitoba Bisons (2-1)
Last week: def. UBC 36-32
Next week: host Regina

It has been a wacky season for the Bisons so far. After opening with a wild 65-41 win over Alberta, Manitoba fell 36-34 in a controversial finish against Saskatchewan a week later. After opening with two at home, they headed to Vancouver to take on the Thunderbirds last week – and with six minutes to go trailed UBC 32-15. But the Bisons offence exploded in the final minutes, scoring three touchdowns in the span of 4:45 to snatch a 36-32 win and improve to 2-1 on the year.

Key to the Bisons' success has been the addition of quarterback Jordan Yantz, a Regina native with plenty of junior experience with the Vancouver Island Raiders. Yantz is averaging just over 300 passing yards per game, but more importantly is getting the ball to his athletes. Coombs is up near 150 rushing yards per game, while Demski is near 100 receiving yards per outing – and between them they have 10 of the Bisons' 16 TDs.

Manitoba returns to the sparkling new Investors Group Field in Winnipeg next week to take on the visiting Regina Rams.

-UC-