The Bisons men’s football team have been eliminated from the 2024 season following a 28-25 defeat to the University of Regina Rams on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Princess Auto Stadium.

The Bisons and the Regina Rams came all out in the playoff game, as they exhibited intensity, tenacity and strength of character. The game had an attendance of 2,300 fans.

The playoff game was the final game for the retiring head coach Brian Dobie who has been in charge for 29 years.

The visiting team made a purposeful statement in the first quarter as it ended with a 7-3 score. The Regina Rams started the game on a high note as Noah Pelletier had a one-yard run. The Bisons restored confidence into the game with Maya Turner delivering a 25-yard field goal.

The second quarter witnessed a different approach from the Bisons, ending with a 5-3 score. Turner showed resilience with an 11-yard field goal for the Bisons. Isaac Wegner earned a rouge point for the Regina Rams.

The game produced nostalgic moments in the third quarter as the Bisons and the Regina Rams remained tactful and dedicated to their ambitions. The third quarter ended with a 9-8 score with the Rams still in the lead. For the Bisons, Turner made a good kick for Jackson Tachinski to make an eight-yard run following a touchdown to earn seven points. At the Regina Rams’ side, D’Sean Mimbs came in with an 11-yard run after receiving a pass from Pelletier to earn seven points. Wegner came in with another rouge point.

The fourth quarter was a deciding moment for the two teams following a fierce performance throughout the game. The Bisons put up a remarkable display with a revamped strategy, but the Regina Rams stayed on track for victory, as the fourth quarter ended with a 10-8 score. Wegner continued to dominate the headlines with a 30-yard field goal for the Regina Rams. Breydon Stubbs made a mark for the Bisons with a 58-yard run followed by a touchdown to earn six points. Nicholas Sirleaf propelled the Regina Rams to victory after earning seven points with a 16-yard pass from Pelletier and a good kick from Wegner.

The Bisons football head coach Brian Dobie stated that he knew that there could be a moment of win or lose.

“It’s tough to express. I knew this moment would come. Intellectually I knew this moment would come, that we’re either going to lose or we’re going to win the national championship. That’s exactly what you’re in when you’re in the playoffs,” said Dobie.

“But I didn’t know how I would feel. I thought I would feel the way I do, and I was right. Right now, that’s what I said to our team, I feel for all these kids. I’ve coached for 50 years and had been on teams that have had great wins and championships, but I’ve also coached for 50 years, teams that have [had] daggers pulled out of their hearts and this is one of those,” he stated.

He praised his players for their performances in all games this season.

“They did all the right things all year. They are probably the most unselfish team. That’s the label I gave them about a week ago. I said, ‘every team has a signature,’ and the signature I’m anointing on you guys is you’re the most unselfish team I’ve ever coached. For these guys, they’re just shocked and they’re devastated, and I’ve had my share of shocks and devastations.”

Dobie continued, “you know, I’m 71 years old. I had my share of elations, and it’s exactly how I thought I’d feel. If and when it was to end, I knew how they would react, and yeah, that’s kind of all I’m thinking about right now.

“It’ll be weird getting up tomorrow morning and having coffee with my wife, and we’ll look at each other and go, ‘well, I guess we’re retired now.’ You know what? It didn’t end with a whimper, it ended with a bang. I mean, our guys fought to the end, [and] so did Regina.”

Recalling on the final match, Dobie stated that “it was an awesome football game in terms of pure fight by both teams.” He mentioned that watching your team battle to the end was a great way to go out in anyone’s career.

“These guys represented all the teams that I’ve ever coached, and that was my personal theme to them all year, and I stand by it. I’m so proud. They fought to the last inch and the second, and that’s all you can ask for any team. They did it. Every team doesn’t have the capabilities to do that, but these guys did. I’m proud that they’ve represented all these decades of Bisons football by fighting the way they did.”

The Bisons men’s football team ended the 2024 football season at 0-1, 7-1.