Vanier Cup Preview
by Marc Bartschat, CIS Communications Manager

TORONTO (CIS) – The 37th Vanier Cup game, symbolic of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) football championship game, is set to kick-off Saturday at 5 PM (EST) from Toronto’s SkyDome. The game, which will be broadcast live on TSN and RDS, will pit the undefeated and top ranked Saint Mary’s University Huskies against the University of Manitoba Bisons, winners of ten straight games and ranked third in the nation. Now we look at how they got here.

How they got here:

The Saint Mary’s Huskies (10-0) won their third consecutive Jewett Trophy as the Atlantic University Football Conference (AUFC) Champions this season and did so by dominating their opposition both offensively and defensively. During the regular season the Huskies led the nation in scoring with 480 points, an astounding 178 points more than the second best Manitoba Bisons. They also allowed a league low 35 points, less than half as many as the next best McMaster Marauders (81). They have yet to give up a rushing touchdown this year.

The post season would see more of the same for the Huskies, who have won their last 23 AUFC regular season games and 26 of their last 27 overall. A 38-7 triumph over Acadia had people wondering if the Maritime competition was just not up to the calibre of the rest of the country, but an even more lopsided victory over the Laval Rouge et Or in the Atlantic Bowl (48-8) put to rest any doubt that the Huskies deserved their number one national ranking. The Huskies win put an end to a streak that had seen the last four QIFC (formerly OQIFC) champions advance to the Vanier Cup. The margin of victory would be the greatest since the Western Mustangs handled the Mount Allison Mounties 54-3 in 1985. That year however, the powerful Mustangs went on to lose to the Canada West Champion Calgary Dinos 25-6. Could the same happen again?

The Manitoba Bisons (10-1) certainly hope so. For their part, the Bisons were nearly as dominating this year, having won all of their games since their season opening loss to the Rams. The Bisons, who gave up a CIS 3rd best 91 points this season, gave up only 51 in their final seven regular season games. In their last ten games including playoffs, the Bisons have allowed an average of just 8.4 points, while scoring at a rate of 35.4 points per game. Just as impressive is the fact that the Bison’s did not allow a single 100-yard rushing game during the entire regular season and only Calgary has achieved the feat in the playoffs.

The Bisons defence sacked the opposing quarterback an unbelievable 26 times this year while the offensive line allowed just six against their own QB. Over the past two seasons, the Bisons have a remarkable +38 sack differential. Another interesting stat in favour of the Bisons, is that their ten consecutive victories ties their club record set back in 1970, the last time they won the Vanier Cup.

THE PLAYERS

Predictably both teams in this game boast numerous conference all-stars. Manitoba saw an impressive 16 Bisons named to the all-Canada West Team, while no less than 19 of the 28 players named to the AUFC All-Star team play for the Huskies.

Offence:

At quarterback, both teams can rely on conference all-stars to lead the attack. Saint Mary’s is directed by fifth-year veteran Ryan Jones (Halifax, NS) who was named a CIS Second Team All-Canadian this season. Jones, having been at the helm of SMU two years ago in the Vanier Cup, won’t be intimidated by his surroundings or the pressure of playing in the big game. This year Jones led the country with a CIS record QB Efficiency rating of 176.5 while completing 63.2% of his passes for 1977 yards (3rd in CIS). Jones threw for 21 touchdowns, the 5th most in CIS History, however he was intercepted 10 times.

For the Bisons, third year pivot Shane Munson (Thunder Bay, ON) established himself as one of the nation’s best this year with 2097 yards passing (2nd CIS), setting a new school record at Manitoba. His QB Efficiency rating of 149.1 was third best in the nation while his touchdown-interception ratio (16:4) was second best. Munson is a strapping 6’2” and 217 pounds, capable of throwing deep or running the ball. Along with his 16 touchdowns through the air, Munson ran for four more. He also broke open the Churchill Bowl with a 57 yard draw up the middle to break a 6-6 tie in the 4th quarter.

The all-star parade continues at the running back position where both teams can rely on conference all-stars and all-Canadians. SMU will be counting on the CIS leading rusher Luis Perez, a first team All-Canadian and Hec Crighton nominee. The 5th year native of Brampton, ON gained 284 more yards than anyone in the country this season and finished fourth in scoring. He averaged an impressive 8.9 yards per carry (2nd in CIS) and scored 11 touchdowns while running for 1257 yards (9th best in CIS history), despite being pulled in the fourth quarter of most games. Perez also caught two TDs collecting 13 on the season, second only to Jason Clermont of Regina.

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

Finally, at the receiver position, more all-stars. Fourth year receiver Jay Currie (Halifax, NS) was named a first team All-Canadian for the first time in his career as he lead the AUFC with 582 yards receiving (9th CIS) and eight touchdowns. He is joined by second team member Pat Thibeault (Baie Comeau, QC) who finished with 538 yards and six touchdowns.

The Bisons for their part, boast three of the top 15 receivers in the country. Joe Orel (Campbell River, BC) was the lone second team All-Canadian with 640 yards and five touchdowns, but Munson is equally comfortable passing to all-star Mike Faisthuber (486 yards, 5 TDs) or up-and-comer Andrew Sharp (484 yards, 2 TDs).

Defence:

On the other side of the ball, both teams are capable of completely shutting down their oppositions with Saint Mary’s not allowing a single point until their fourth game of the season. Manitoba also shutout their opposition twice this year, and kept them to a touchdown or less on fourth occasions.

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 and a RBC Top 10 Academic All-Canadian, anchors a defence full of CFL prospects. 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 but somehow was overlooked by the coaches association as an all-Canadian. Defensive tackle Israel Idonije (3rd year, Brandon, MB) who tied for fifth in the country with 6 quarterback sacks, earned his first CIS 1st Team All-Canadian selection, along with teammates Scott Coe (Winnipeg, MB) at linebacker and cornerback Darnell Edwards (Lachine, QC). Warren Doepker (RE), Rob Stewart (Tackle) and Jamie Boreham (Safety) were all named second team all-Canadians providing Saint Mary’s their most formidable defence of the season.

The Huskies also placed seven players on the AUFC defensive all-star team but only two were named all-Canadian. Defensive tackle Doug Borden (Dartmouth, NS) and cornerback Curtis Nash were both named to the first team. Nash (3rd year, Lasalle, QC) was third in the country with 5 interceptions this season.

Special Teams:

With such evenly matched offences and defences, there is a good chance this game will come down to the special units. Once again, the teams are pretty evenly matched with the top two scorers in the CIS this year playing for these squads.

With all their offence, the Huskies Dominico Bartolacci finished second in the nation with 88 points, 62 to of which came by way of converts! First in the nation was kicker/punter/safety/kick returner Jamie Boreham who chalked up 114 points (6th best in CIS History) with a touchdown, 23 field goals, 31 converts, and 8 safeties. Boreham was also second in the nation with a punting average of 42.8 yards. The Huskies however, do have a secret weapon of their own in cornerback/kick returner Curtis Nash who ran a Laval punt back for a touchdown in the Atlantic Bowl.

THE COACHES

With teams as dominant as Manitoba and Saint Mary’s it is of no surprise that both coaches were named best in their conference this year and thus are in competition with each other for the Frank Tindall Trophy as CIS Coach of the Year.

During the last two seasons of Canada West play, the Manitoba Bison football program has undergone a major transformation, improving from a league worst 0-8 in 1998 to a league bests of 6-1-1 in 2000 and 7-1 this past year. Coach Brian Dobie has been a huge part of this process as he is a tireless worker who spends countless hours recruiting, watching video, and developing his players.

Blake Nill is entering his fourth season as the Saint Mary’s Huskies head coach and has also been instrumental in a major turnaround in his team’s fortunes. In 1998 the team missed the playoffs going 4-4 in AUFC play but following a season opening loss in 1999, the Huskies have not lost another regular season game since.

For one of these coaches, the Vanier Cup will mark the end of a remarkable winning streak. For the other it will be the culmination of three years of hard work and the pinnacle of their coaching careers.