WINNIPEG – A last-second field goal attempt to tie the game on the final play of regulation went wide left for the University of Calgary Dinos in another wild finish that saw Manitoba win, 33-31, Saturday afternoon from Princess Auto Stadium.

Trailing by 10 with 1:30 to play, the Dinos roared back and nearly forced overtime in wind one that saw both teams combined for 15 points in the final 104 seconds.

The loss moves the Dinos to 2-5 on the year and complicates their playoff hopes going into the final weekend. Manitoba moves to 4-3 and clinches a playoff berth for their seventh consecutive season – a new record for that program. 

Despite swirling winds inside Princess Auto Stadium, Calgary quarterback David Jordan finished 22-30 for a career-best 315 yards and two scores. Zion Grant (5 catches, 139 yards) and Matt Sibley (7 catches, 102 yards) both went over 100 yards receiving on the day for the Dinos.

On the other side of the ball, Jackson Tachinski went 22-32 for 333 yards, one passing touchdown and one interception. Tachinski also ran the ball 11 times for 49 yards and two scores.

Breydon Stubbs led the Bisons' ground game with 121 yards rushing on 19 carries. The senior also caught the ball six times for 65 yards.

Defensively, Everett Schmuland recorded a career-high 14 tackles and a sack in an impressive showing for the third-year lineback from Kelowna, B.C.

The Dinos took advantage of the windy conditions on the opening kickoff as Vince Triumbari tallied a rouge to make it 1-0 Dinos. Manitoba answered back with a 17-yard field goal by Maya Turner on its opening drive. 

A sack by Styles Lepage deep in Manitoba's own territory led to a Bisons' ceded safety before a 31-yard kick by Triumbari made it 6-3 Calgary with 1:42 left in the opening quarter.

Manitoba answered back with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 10-yard completion to Braeden Smith to put the home team back ahead, 10-6.

The Dinos responded with a big drive of their own, marching 75 yards in 12 plays that was capped by a two-yard run from Jet Zakrzewski, with the offensive line creating a hole wide enough to drive a truck through. Zakrzewski's score put Calgary back at 13-10 at the break.

On the opening possession of the second half, Evan Smith collected a check down from David Jordan and rumbled 15 yards for his fifth career touchdown – the first through the air – as the Dinos established a 20-10 lead just 3:33 into the third quarter.

The Bisons were able to swing momentum back in their favour, starting with a pair of field goals from Turner before a two-yard run by Jackson Tachinski gave Manitoba a 23-20 heading into the fourth.

Manitoba and Calgary traded field goals to keep this a three-point game until the game's closing moments. 

Another short-yardage scoring run by Tachinski gave Manitoba a 33-23 lead with just 1:44 to play in what looked like the nail in the coffin for the Dinos. 

But Calgary has shown time and again it never quits. On the first play of the ensuing drive, David Jordan found a wide open Zion Grant, who did made a man miss and jogged into the end zone for a 78-yard score to suddenly make this a three-point game again with 1:28 to play.

The Dinos' defence did its job to force a punt, getting the ball back with just 15 seconds left from the Manitoba 31-yard line. After a short run, Calgary attempted a 27-yard kick, only to see it go just wide and out the back of the end zone for a single on the final play of the game.

Calgary closes out the regular season at home this coming Saturday, hosting Alberta from McMahon Stadium at 1 p.m.

-UC-