Churchill Bowl Game Preview
Manitoba Bisons vs. McMaster Marauders
by Marc Bartschat, CIS Communications Manager

Nov. 15 - The 37th Churchill Bowl game is set to take place in Winnipeg at Canad Inns Stadium at 1:00 PM CST this Saturday, November 17th. The game will feature the Canada West Champion University of Manitoba Bisons, ranked third in the nation, hosting the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Champion McMaster University Marauders, who are ranked number two. This will be the first ever meeting of the two teams. Ironically, their CFL cousins will also square-off on Sunday, in the CFL Eastern Final when the Blue Bombers host the Ti-Cats.

THE TEAMS:

The Manitoba Bisons finished the regular season 7-1 in Canada West conference play and lead all teams in the West with 302 points scored (2nd in CIS) and just 91 points allowed (3rd in CIS). They are coached by Canada West Coach of the Year Brian Dobie. On Sunday, the ‘Herd’ as they are known locally, won their first Hardy Trophy in 28 years, dating back to 1973. It would be their ninth Canada West Championship overall. (1923, 1924, 1927, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 2001).

The Bisons won their conference semi-final 31-10 over Calgary before getting revenge against the Regina Rams in the final, winning 23-17. Last year Regina came from behind in the dying moments to steal the Hardy Trophy on a field that looked more like a skating rink.

The McMaster Marauders head into their second consecutive Churchill Bowl following a near perfect season. The only blemish to Greg Marshall’s (2000 CIS Coach of the Year) 10-0-1 record (including playoffs) was a 21-21 tie in Week 2 against Waterloo. Like the rest of the bowl game competitors, the Marauders led their conference both offensively and defensively. The attack scored 301 points, (3rd in CIS) while the defence held the opposition to just 81, second only to Saint Mary’s in the nation.

Last weekend’s Yates Cup Championship would be the second straight for McMaster, but only the second in team history. Prior to 1965, McMaster played in the Ontario Intercollegiate Football Conference where they won the championship on five occasions. (1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1964).

THE PLAYERS:

Not surprisingly both teams in this game boast numerous conference all-stars. Manitoba saw an astounding 16 Bisons named to all-Canada West Team while six Marauders where named to the 1st Team OUA, and six more were named to the second team.

Each team can rely on outstanding play and experience at the Quarter Back position, but only McMaster can say that they have the CIS all-time career leader in yards passing. That would be Hec Crighton nominee Ben Chapdelaine (5th Year, Montreal, QC) who led the country this year with 2207 yards passing and 142 completions. Right behind him however was Canada West All-Star QB Shane Munson (3rd Year, Thunder Bay, ON) with 2097 yards passing and 122 completions. Munson on the other hand was third in the nation with a QB Efficiency rating of 149.1, throwing 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions, while Chapdelaine came in at seventh with 136.4 mark with 10 TDs and 11 INTs.

With such dominating quarterbacks, it is not surprising that five of the CIS Top 15 receivers (yardage) are from these two clubs.

Chapdelaine’s favourite targets this season were Chris Rankin (3rd year, Hamilton, ON) who was fourth in the country with 665 yards receiving and running back Kyle Pyear (3rd year, Belleville, ON) who was 11th in the nation with 560 yards, both were named OUA First Team All-Stars. The wild-card for the Marauders is Vaughn Swart (2nd year, Fonthill, ON) a little used running-back-turned-receiver who, after almost quitting the team at mid-season, was named the Yates Cup MVP following a three touchdown, seven catch and 201 yard performance against the Ottawa Gee-Gees.

Manitoba for their part, boasts three of the top ball-catchers in the CIS, including all-stars Joe Orel and Mike Faisthuber, as well as up-and-coming slotback Andrew Sharp. Orel, a 3rd year Campbell River, BC product led the team with 640 yards receiving (6th CIS), while 4th year slotback Faisthuber of Kamloops, BC (486 yards, 13th CIS) and 3rd year Sharp from Abbotsford, BC, (484 yards, 14th CIS) give Munson two more dangerous weapons.

Like all great teams, both the Bisons and the Marauders high-flying receivers are set-up by bruising runners, capable of dominating the game on the ground.

Ken Vermette is the go-to-guy when the Bisons need to run the ball. The 3rd year All-Star from Lethbridge, AB was fourth in the country with 841 yards on the ground this season, collecting five touchdowns along the way.

The Marauders RB Kyle Pyear was also an All-Star but ranked just 11th in the nation with 530 yards gained this season. This is because the “MAC Attack” also features Kojo Aidoo, the 2000 CIS Male Athlete of the Year (Howard, Mackie Award) and Hec Crighton Trophy Winner. Aidoo, (4th year, Oakville, ON) who set a new CIS record for points scored last season, began the 2001 campaign injured. He would miss five games following an ankle injury suffered while filming a remake of the movie “Brian’s Song” this summer, but slowly he has been returning to the form he showed a year ago.

THE DEFENSES

As previously mentioned, both teams led their conferences in offence, but both teams were also the stingiest on defence.

The Canada West Defensive All-Star Team is almost entirely made up of Bisons with eight of thirteen players from the University of Manitoba. Joey Mikawoz who was the 2000 Presidents’ Trophy winner, anchors the defence. The 4th year, Winnipeg native, finished the season tenth in the nation with 49 tackles, earning Canada West All-Stars honours for the second year in a row. Israel Idonije (3rd year, Brandon, MB) who tied for fifth in the country with 6 quarter back sacks, was also an all-star, as were Warren Doepker (RE), Rob Stewart (Tackle), Scott Coe (LB), Mike Chalifoux (HB) Jamie Boreham (Safety) and Darnell Edwards (CB).

Despite allowing an average of just over 10 points-per-game, the McMaster defence garnered just one OUA 1st Team All-Star selection. That went to Ray Mariuz, a third year linebacker from Mississauga, ON. Mariuz led the Marauders with 39 unassisted tackles, 1 sack, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions. Others to watch for are Kojo Aidoo’s brother Kwame (2nd Year, Oakville, ON), at cornerback and veteran halfback Greg Restivo (5th year, Ancaster, ON), both named second team OUA all-stars.

This clash of the titans will surely go down in the records books as one of the greatest Churchill Bowls ever played.