The U of M Bisons kicked off the second half of the season by dropping a 32-31 decision to the University of Regina Rams in overtime.
The Rams controlled the game, leading 18-6 heading into the fourth quarter, before the Bisons battled back with 19 points to force overtime. But a blocked two-point convert attempt sealed the herd’s fate, as the club dropped to 2-3 with the loss.
“The ball’s on their five-yard-line,” Bisons head coach Brian Dobie said postgame.
“How do you know in the next overtime we get back down to the five? Can you guarantee that? Not even close, you know, so went and you know, we ‘balled out’ as they would say in the locker room.”
The two sides stayed on the ground for the first half, as both clubs had trouble getting yardage in the pass game.
Kyle Borsa opened the scoring for Regina, rumbling into the end zone with a four-yard run to make it 7-0 in the first quarter. The teams traded singles and Brad Mikoluff punched in a 28-yard field goal to end the opening quarter 8-4.
Manitoba forced a safety in the second quarter — the only points scored that quarter — to draw within two, ending the half down 8-6.
The game opened up in the second half as Bisons quarterback Des Catellier got his throwing game going. At the other end, Regina quarterback Noah Picton ramped up his pursuit of the all-time U Sports lead in career passing yards.
Rams kicker Aldo Galvan notched his first field goal of the game in the third. Then Seb Britton stretched out in a short yardage situation to give Regina an 18-6 lead heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, after Ryan Schienbein snagged a 46-yard pass for a Rams touchdown, Manitoba buckled down for the comeback.
On the play, Picton surpassed 11,477 career passing yards and became the all-time U Sports leader.
Down 25-8, Catellier found Shai Ross wide open with a six-yard pass to make it 25-15 Regina. Mikoluff added a field goal to bring the herd within seven, and in the final minute, Macho Bockru played the hero.
With less than a minute left, Catellier stretched out a 37-yard bomb, finding Bockru in the end zone. Bockru fought off coverage and snagged the ball for the touchdown.
Mikoluff added the convert to tie the game 25-25 with 48 seconds left and force overtime.
In the extra frame, Picton found Borsa for his second touchdown of the game. Galvan added the convert for the 32-25 Rams lead.
Manitoba forced down the field on a five-play drive, which finished with Catellier finding Ross once again. Ross caught a 16-yard pass near the sideline, and the herd was down one.
“From what I can remember, it was third and one and I had a short route,” Ross said post-game.
“The guy was sorta playing the stick so I had to convert into a fade. Des threw a great ball and I adjusted and made the play.”
Dobie elected to go for the win and called for a two-point convert. The attempt was knocked down, and Manitoba fell to 2-3 on the year with a 32-31 loss.
Ross admitted post-game that the decision to go for the win surprised him.
He said he “came off of the field and […] then when I turned around I was kinda surprised,” but had faith in his coaches to make the right call.
Dobie explained the choice, saying he wanted to capitalize on the momentum of the drive.
“We had momentum. We had just scored,” Dobie said. “And I was also thinking, ‘We flip back again in the next [overtime], and the advantage goes back to them,’ which I feel is an advantage.”
“We would’ve had first possession in the next round,” he said. “And, depending what we do, then they get the advantage of reacting to us.”
The Bisons will look to get back to .500 next week, when they visit the undefeated University of Calgary Dinos. Kickoff is 8 p.m. MDT on Oct. 12 in Calgary.
