Football student-athlete Anthony Coombs has been named the Smitty's Bison Sports Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending January 6/13.

Manitoba Bisons running back/kick returner Anthony Coombs started the 2013 season right where he left off after another CIS All-Canadian and Canada West All-Star performance last season. He finished the season home opener with 223 rushing yards on only 16 carries (a whopping 13.9 average) with 2 rush TDs of 84 and 62 yards. Coombs added another 37 yard receiving touchdown while only playing in three quarters during the 65-41 home victory over the Alberta Golden Bears on Friday, August 30 in the Bisons first-ever football game at the new stadium – Investors Group Field.

The third year running back/kick returner led the #10 Bisons as he rattled of eight runs of 10+ yards and ten runs of 6+ yards in the 24 point win. His three highlight touchdowns pushed a close contest at the end of the second quarter into a comfortable victory by Manitoba when he caught a 37 yard TD pass to push the lead to eight points with two minutes left in the half.

Then, the Winnipeg native electrified an announced attendance of 10,199 with an 84 yard TD run as he darted and weaved his way through the Bears’ defence after only 34 seconds gone in the second half and finished with another scintillating 62 yard TD run with 4:43 in the third and pushed the Bisons lead to 60-26 at that point.

In addition, Coombs 223 rushing yards was eighth highest in team history while his 84 yard TD run was the fifth longest run by a Bison. Coombs is first in Canada West all-purpose yards with 271 yards, first with 223 conference rushing yards and tied for first in Canada West touchdowns with three after game one.

Next up for #10 Manitoba is another home game at Investors Group Field to try and have the first winning streak in the new stadium when they host the Saskatchewan Huskies (1-0) on Saturday, September 7 at 5 p.m. CT in the SHAW TV Game of the Week.

Anthony Coombs
Sport: Football
Ht: 5’9”
Wt: 190 lbs.
Year: 3
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
Last Team: Sturgeon Heights HS
Faculty: Science