The 5’11” 210 lbs back combined with fellow running back Karim Lowen (5th, Manson, St. Kitts) for a grand total of 212 yards from the line of scrimmage as Manitoba ate up the turf at Foote Field, improving their record to 5-0 while Alberta drops to 2-4.

With the score tied 3-3 early in the second quarter, courtesy Scott Dixon (Manitoba) and Hugh O’Neill (Alberta) field goals, the two teams exploded for 29 points combined, starting off with a 32 yard touchdown pass from Bisons’ pivot John Mackie (4th, Regina) to receiver Jeff Strome (5th, Winnipeg).

The Golden Bears defence stepped up and went to work, as DE Ryan Semenchuk (2nd, Calgary) recovered a Lowen fumble and rumbled 56 yards untouched for the major at the nine minute mark.

A blocked Alberta field goal attempt with four minutes remaining to the half, gave the Bisons the ball back on their own 37 yard line where Mackie and Henry went to work. The 4th year QB and 2nd year running back moved the chains on the Alberta defence, with an eight play 73 yard drive, culminating in Henry’s first TD, a 10 yard run with 2:34 left. Dixon would add another field goal and Manitoba went into the break with a 21-11 lead.

The teams traded field goals again in the third quarter, while Alberta was also able to add a safety to their totals, making the score 22-16 after three quarters of play. The Bears looked to have scored a major in the third quarter when quarterback Quade Armstrong (2nd, Claresholm, AB) found slotback Damon Fraietta (3rd, Edmonton) in the end-zone but had the ball slapped out of his hands before gaining control.

After posting 207 passing yards in the first half, Makie and the Manitoba offense began to slow down as the Alberta defence adjusted at the break and limited the veteran passer to just 81 yards passing and held Henry and Lowen to 40 yards rushing after three quarters. The Bisons were also guilty of too many penalties, being flagged for eight infractions for 96 yards midway through the fourth and nine for 106 yards against by game’s end.

Despite the improved defensive play and the Manitoba penalties, Armstrong and the Golden Bears offense could not find a way to exploit the Bisons’, who let the home-town Bears hang around in the second half.

After a missed Dixon field goal attempt, Armstrong marched the Bears 20 yards before stalling and turning the ball over on downs at their own 44 yard line. With the seconds draining off the clock, Henry took a hand-off and burst through an opening, powering for 42 yards to the Alberta two yard line, where he eventually punched it in, giving Manitoba the 29-16 win with 22 seconds remaining.

Armstrong finished 23 of 40 for 223 yards and 2 INTs, while wide out Aaron Holba caught eight passes for 77 yards. Alberta running back Tendayi Jozzy (3rd, Edmonton) picked up 60 yards on 15 rushes.

Rookie DB Rhys Coppens (1st, Edmonton), the reining CIS Defensive Player of the Week, recorded eight tackles to lead the Bears.

Mackie completed 24 of 30 passes for 305 yards and 1 TD to Strome who banked 143 yards on nine catches, while the two-headed monster back field of Henry and Lowen combined for 30 carries, 212 yards and two TDs.

Alberta (2-4) travels to Regina next weekend in a crucial match-up against the #10 ranked 4-1 Rams. Alberta will need an upset of the Rams or the Huskies in their final two weekends if they are to entertain thoughts of the playoffs. Manitoba (5-0) is at home next weekend as they host the UBC Thunderbirds (3-3) for the SHAW TV Canada West Football Game of the Week.

Complete statistics...