Manitoba 36, Regina 13
by University of Regina Athletics

September 1 - The Manitoba Bisons spoiled the home opener for the University of Regina’s football team on Saturday afternoon, defeating the hometown Rams by a score of 36-13 at Mosaic Stadium.

The Rams (0-1) held a 10-5 lead early in the second quarter after a touchdown reception by running back Graham Mosiondz, but never recovered after the Bisons (1-0) scored 20 unanswered points in the second and third quarters. The Bisons had 309 yards of total offence, while the Rams could muster only 153.

Playing in his first game at the CIS level after a standout junior career with the Vancouver Island Raiders, Bisons kicker Scott Dixon connected on six of his seven field goal attempts and accounted for 22 of his team’s 36 points. Dixon becomes just the third Canada West player to kick six field goals in a game, joining Saskatchewan’s Matt Kellett (7 vs. Alberta in 1996) and Calgary’s Bruce Parsons (6 vs. UBC in 1992).

Manitoba quarterback John Makie hit Randy Simmons twice for touchdown passes. Makie was 15-for-33 and threw for 185 yards. Simmons and Simon Blaszczak each led the Bisons with four receptions. Karim Lowen had a game-high 73 rushing yards for Manitoba. Kenton Onofrychuk and Justin Shaw each had six tackles for the Bisons.

For Regina, Teale Orban connected on 13 of his 32 passes for 104 yards and one touchdown. Chad Goldie led all receivers with 6 receptions, while rookie Taylor Kidby had a team-high 38 rushing yards. Steve Wilson had eight tackles to become the U of R’s all-time career leader, while Stan Van Sichem had a game-high three sacks.

The Rams opened up with the ball and a 40 km/h wind at their backs in first quarter. Regina won the battle for field position for most of the quarter, earning a team safety and adding another single by Perri Scarcelli to take a 3-0 lead before the midway point of the first frame.

The Bisons got their running game off the ground late in the first, as Matt Henry put together a 24-yard rush and a 16-yard rush followed by a 28-yard rumble by Neil Fulgueras on Manitoba’s final possession of the first quarter. The possession ended in a punt by Dixon which pinned the Rams deep in their own zone to start the second quarter. Manitoba forced a quick two-and-out and Scarcelli conceded in the end zone to cut the Rams’ lead to just one.

On the ensuing possession, Manitoba took advantage of the wind and drove downfield, setting up a 36-yard field goal by Dixon to take a 5-3 lead.

But the Rams offence had a quick response. A pair of Orban passes, two Bisons penalties, and a rush by Mosiondz quickly put Regina into the red zone. Orban capped off the drive with an 11-yard toss to a wide-open Mosiondz to give the Rams a five-point lead in the early stages of the second.

Back-to-back Manitoba scores gave the Bisons the lead back, as Dixon nailed a 25-yarder and Makie found Simmons in the end zone for a 20-yard completion just over two minutes later. Dixon added two more field goals – his third and fourth of the half – to extend the Bisons’ lead to 22-10 after two quarters. The Manitoba defence forced the Rams’ offence to four consecutive two-and-outs to end the half.

Dixon’s fifth field goal of the game gave Manitoba its 20th consecutive point just under four minutes into the third quarter. Despite having the strong northwest wind at their backs during the third, the Rams could only muster a field goal from Scarcelli during the third frame.

In the fourth, the Bisons pulled even further ahead. Dixon hit his sixth field goal of the contest and Makie and Simmons connected for another touchdown to give the game its final score of 36-13.

Manitoba will travel to British Columbia (0-0) next Saturday, while the Rams will head to Edmonton to square off with the Alberta Golden Bears (0-1).

NOTES: The Bisons’ win extended their win streak over the Rams to four games … WR Jordan Sisco was used as the quarterback in short yardage situations for the Rams … With 235 career tackles, Rams LB Steve Wilson became the U of R’s all-time leading tackler during the fourth quarter … the Rams are now 3-6 in season openers and have dropped the first game of the season in five consecutive years … Manitoba has now won 10 consecutive Canada West regular season games.

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