WINNIPEG – The University of Manitoba Bisons used their big-play capability to full extent, handing the University of Calgary Dinos their only on-field loss of the regular season with a 50-31 victory at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg Saturday afternoon.

The win clinched a playoff spot for the Bisons, who finish the season at 4-4. Calgary wraps up the year 6-2 officially, having already clinched first place in the conference. The Dinos will host fourth-place Regina in a Canada West semi-final next Saturday, Nov. 8 at McMahon Stadium for a trip to the 78th Hardy Cup, while Manitoba will visit Saskatchewan in the other semi-final on Friday night. Both games will be broadcast live on Shaw TV.

Manitoba was trying to reverse an earlier result in the 2014 campaign when Calgary defeated the Herd 42-41 at home on Sept. 26. And with the win, Manitoba also snapped a ten game conference regular season losing streak (plus two more post-season losses) against Calgary that dated back to the last time the Bisons defeated the Dinos was back in 2007.

On this day, the home side came out with some tricks up their sleeves as the first offensive play of the game had slotback Nic Demski take a handoff and instead of running, he threw a 43-yard dart to wide receiver Dustin Pedersen to put them deep in Calgary territory. Two plays later, Demski ended the drive with a catch in-between two defenders for a 26-yard TD reception and an early 7-0 lead.

After a Dinos field goal, a huge turning point early in the contest was a blocked punt by Alex Christie that ricochet off his hands and into defensive back Jayden McKoy's hands. McKoy promptly returned it 60 yards for an improbable Bison touchdown.

This would not be the last of Christie and blocking kicks.

At the end of the first quarter, Bison starting quarterback Theo Deezar found Demski down the middle for a quick 75-yard TD strike and a 21-6 margin.

Every time the visitors wanted to mount a comeback, Manitoba would respond. Calgary closed the gap to 21-13 on Dinos' starting quarterback Andrew Buckley's 15-yard run but just before half, the Bisons had a short field and drove down with another touchdown by Kienan LaFrance. He capped the drive with a two yards TD plunge and at half; the number two team in the country was down 30-13.

Just like in the second, Calgary rushed out to a quick TD when backup QB Jimmy Underdahl scored on a one yard run but any lasting momentum for the Dinos was snuffed out at the end of the third when Demski found pay dirt again with a great tough grab in the end zone from eight yards out and a 37-20 lead by Manitoba.

The fourth quarter highlighted Christie with his 10-yard TD run and then another block, which lead to Jordan Linnen recovery and a seven-yard scamper into the end zone. Calgary completed the scoring when Underdahl found Rashaun Simonise for a 34-yard TD reception and a final 50-31 score.

For Manitoba, Deezar was 10-18 for 210 yards and three TDs and 1 INT and LaFrance registered 57 rushing yards while Zack Regert had 77 receiving yards on four catches. Linebacker DJ Lalama had a game-high 11 total tackles, Mitchell Harrison had 5.5 tackles and one break-up and Jonathan Jones notched five tackles and two break-ups for the victors.

Calgary was led by Buckley's passing for 19-32 and 217 yards and running back Mercer Timmis with 71 rushing yards on 15 carries. Jake Harty was the top Dino in receiving with 100 yards on seven receptions while Simonise had 75 receiving yards on five grabs and 1 TD. On defence, Tanner Doll led the visitors with eight total tackles and Connor McGough finished with 3,5 tackles and one sack.

SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
MAN – Nic Demski 26-yard TD pass from Theo Deezar (Ryan Jones convert), 1:23, 7-0 MAN
CGY – Johnny Mark 22-yard FG, 5:13, 7-3 MAN
CGY – TEAM Safety, 9:18, 7-5 MAN
MAN – Jayden McKoy 60-yard blocked punt return TD (Ryan Jones convert), 12:11, 14-5 MAN
CGY – Johnny Mark punt single, 14:03, 14-6 MAN
MAN – Nic Demski 75-yard TD pass from Theo Deezar (Ryan Jones convert), 14:25, 21-6 MAN

2nd Quarter
MAN – Ryan Jones missed FG single, 4:07, 22-6 MAN
CGY – Andrew Buckley 15-yard TD run (Johnny Mark convert), 7:50, 22-13 MAN
MAN – Zach Regert punt single, 9:11, 23-13 MAN
MAN – Kienan LaFrance 2-yard TD run (Ryan Jones convert), 14:25, 30-13 MAN

3rd Quarter
CGY – Jimmy Underdahl 1-yard TD run (Johnny Mark convert), 6:03, 30-20 MAN
MAN – Nic Demski 8-yard TD pass from Theo Deezar (Ryan Jones convert), 14:01, 37-20 MAN

4th Quarter
CGY – TEAM safety, 1:50, 37-22 MAN
MAN – Alex Christie 10-yard TD run (Ryan Jones convert attempt fumbled), 3:36, 43-22 MAN
MAN – Jordan Linnen 7-yard blocked punt return TD (Ryan Jones convert), 5:03, 50-22 MAN
CGY – TEAM safety, 12:14, 50-24 MAN
CGY – Rashaun Simonise 34-yard TD pass from Jimmy Underdahl (Johnny Mark convert), 13:16, 50-31 MAN

-30-