Slow start = end of football season for Bisons
Last game for QB Ryan Zahara?
Sheri Lamb
Photo by Pete Yee.
Ryan Zahara set the bar for future Bison quarterbacks during his record-breaking 2005 season, showing grit and determination right until the very end.
The third-year quarterback, who led the league in passing with 2,128 yards, overcame a hip injury in the first quarter of the Canada West semi-final on Sat. Nov. 5 at Field Stadium in Edmonton, but couldn’t help the Bisons extend their season after a poor start, falling 33-24 to the U of A Golden Bears.
Neither Zahara or head coach Brian Dobie made any excuses for the Bisons’ slow start, acknowledging that they had two weeks to prepare.
“We had a terrible start; it was shocking,” said an exhausted-sounding Dobie on the phone from Edmonton on Sunday.
The Bears were out of the gate quickly, capitalizing on Bison mistakes in the first quarter to build a 15-0 lead. During the opening quarter, Bears quarterback Darryl Salmon completed passes to Aaron Holba and Darren Balderson in the end zone. Salmon finished the game 16-for-25 for 175 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception.
“We could just do nothing offensively in the first 20 to 22 minutes of play,” said Dobie. “It was beyond frustrating.”
Down 8-0 midway through the first quarter, the Bisons looked tired and defeated when Zahara was brought down awkwardly during a pass attempt, his legs twisting unnaturally as he fell. Zahara laid on the ground for several minutes with both teams’ athletic therapists examining his hip, which had popped out of its socket.
It looked like Zahara’s day was done when he was helped to the locker room. Much to coach Dobie’s and his teammates’ surprise though, Zahara was back on the sidelines after missing only one series.
“It was unbelievable — he was in the locker room one minute and back on the bench the next,” said Dobie.
Zahara said the ball of his hip popped out of its socket, and when the doctors pushed it back in, he was okay to return to the field.
“The doctor was more shocked then me that it wasn’t more serious,” said Zahara, who was 25-for-42 for 261 yards, with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
At one point it was 23-0, but the Bisons fought back, outscoring the Bears in the final three quarters 24-17, but it was too little, too late when playing the fourth-ranked team in the country.
“It’s always very tough and emotional when the end comes,” said Dobie of his CIS ninth-ranked team. “Until it’s there you don’t realize how sudden it is and it’s like that every year.”
If the Herd is to improve next season, they’ll likely have to do it with a new pivot, since Zahara is ready to begin his law career by articling with a firm in Calgary.
Dobie was pleased with the Bisons’ achievements during the 2005 season, but knows they still have to make some adjustments to beat the Bears and second-ranked U of S Huskies.
“We’re just not quite there yet, obviously,” said Dobie. “But, we’re close.”
WEEK 10 SCOREBOARD
Saturday, Nov. 5
AUFC semi-final - StFX 47, Saint Mary’s 29
QUFL semi-final - Montreal 28, Concordia 17
QUFL semi-final - Laval 72, Sherbrooke 14
OUA semi-final - Western Ontario 18, Ottawa 10
OUA semi-final - Wilfrid Laurier 43, McMaster 21
Canada West semi-final - Alberta 33, Manitoba 24
Canada West semi-final - Saskatchewan 32, UBC 6
CIS FOOTBALL WEEK 11 SCHEDULE
Saturday, Nov. 12
AUFC final - (#2) StFX (6-3) at (#1) Acadia (5-3)
QUFL final - (#2) Montreal (7-2) at (#1) Laval (9-0)
OUA final - (#2) Western Ontario (7-1-0-1) at (#1) Wilfrid Laurier (9-0)
Canada West final - (#2) Alberta (8-1) at (#1) Saskatchewan (9-0)
A look at the impressive season had by the Bisons’ third-year quarterback Ryan Zahara:
Ryan Zahara Stats and Records Broken in 2005 season
First in CIS in passing yardage: 2128 (First a Bison has led the nation)
First in CIS in passing completions: 155
Second in CIS in passing attempts: 270
Set Bison record for most passing yardage in a season:
2128 (old record: 2088)
Set Bison record for most attempts in a single season:
270 (old record: 249)
Set Bison record for most completions in a season:
155 (old record: 147)
Third place in Bison record for highest completion
percentage in a season: 57.6%
Third place in Bison record for most TD passes in a season: 14
Set Bison record for highest passing percentage: 57.3%
Fourth place in Bison record for most TD passes in a career: 28
Second place in Bison record for most attempts in a game:
45 (vs. Cgy. on Oct. 21)
Third place in Bison record for most completions in a game:
26 (vs. Cgy. on Oct. 21)
Third place in Bison record for most passing yards in a game:
403 (vs. Reg. on Oct. 8)
Third place in Bison record for most TD passes in a game:
4 (twice and holds record at 7)
Zahara was named Canada West Athlete of the Week twice during the 2005 football season – Sept. 18 and Oct. 23
