Source: Chris Zuk, Manitoba Sports Info
2013 regular season record: 5-3
2013 regular season standings: 2nd in Canada
West
2013 playoff record: 1-1
2013 playoff finish: Won 37-36 over Saskatchewan
at home in Canada West Semi-Final ; Lost 43-28 at Calgary in Canada
West Final
Is this the year? The Manitoba Bisons football team has crept closer to a conference title during the last couple seasons. Two years ago, the program played in a post-season game for the first time since the 2007 Vanier Cup Championship season. In 2013, the Bisons won their first playoff game since that championship season and were a Canada West finalist.
On paper, the team brings back a veteran laden core with 10 of the 12 starters on offence and eight of 12 starters on defence from last season.
Head coach Brian Dobie, in his 19th season at the helm, is excited for the team assembled but knows it will be a difficult road in the highly competitive Canada West conference. Perennial powerhouse Calgary looks to extend their record conference title run to seven seasons while UBC and Saskatchewan are better than last years’ playoff squads. In addition, Regina seeks a strong campaign in head coach Frank McCrystal’s final season as coach and Alberta has greatly improved during the off-season.
Manitoba depth at starters on both sides of the ball and strong recruiting season was necessary to stay in the mix for this year’s conference title to offset some losses of CIS All-Canadian RB/KR Anthony Coombs and LB Thomas Miles, who were both drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in 2014. Graduating stars departing included SB Andrew Smith and K Nick Boyd who both were drafted by the Montreal Alouettes.
The Bisons start 2014 on the road at Saskatchewan, one of the toughest place to play on the road in CIS, play Calgary twice and begin the campaign with the first three of five regular season games on the road. The task of ending the drought of conference titles will not be easy. The advantage of the new era of Bison Football has been in full effect with the first full off-season at the new Investors Group Field. The players have trained, bonded and committed to a higher level to match the competitive nature of Canada West and will now try to answer the question if indeed, this is the year.
Quote from head coach – Brian Dobie:
“This year, like last year, is a continuum that we
need to be as productive as possible from key fourth and fifth year
players. The group gained valuable experience in the Canada West
playoffs in 2013 and we need to accelerate moving forward this
season. This is a very good group that competes in arguably the
toughest conference in the nation. The group needs to take the next
step and excited to watch the squad builds to a point to be truly
competitive in 2014. I can’t wait for the season to
starts!”
Head Coach – Brian Dobie:
- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2014):
19th
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2014): 19th
- Career regular season record with team: 75-67-1
- Career regular season record in CIS: 75-67-1
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs
only): 85-75-1
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only):
85-75-1
OFFENCE
Number of returning starters: 10
Key returning players:
- QB Jordan Yantz returns for his second year with
Manitoba, fifth year eligibility, after a sterling year one at the
university level. He started and played all regular season and
playoff games at the pivot position. Yantz was a 2013 Canada West
All-Star and led the nation with 25 passing TDs with only six
interceptions, along with fourth in CIS with 2, 474 passing
yards
- SB/KR Nic Demski is in his fourth season and make up the ‘dynamic duo’ with Yantz. He is a three-time CIS All-Canadian and was 2013 First Team All-Cdn. After tenth in CIS with 640 receiving yards and sixth in CIS with seven receiving touchdowns (tied for ninth in CIS with seven overall TDs). Plus, Demski was sixth in conference all-purpose yards at 1,030 while starting all eight conference regular season games.
- WR Dustin Pedersen and WR Matt Sawyer return as starters in their second season at Manitoba. Pedersen improved throughout last season and had one TD with 52 receiving yards while Sawyer was fifth on the Bisons in 2013 with 252 receiving yards with two TDs.
- RB Kienan LaFrance and RB Alex Christie. LaFrance in his
fourth season and Christie in his second season will be in the
backfield and give two different looks as LaFrance is a between the
tackles running while Christie is quick and open field running.
Both have an opportunity with the loss of Coombs this season.
- OL Alex McKay returns for fourth year after being a 2013 Canada
West All-Star at the tackle position. He was durable as he played
in all regular season and playoff games last season. In addition,
the whole starting offensive line returns from last season with
Tyler Fabbri (C), Matt Hallock (G), Geoff Gray (G) and Rob Smith
(T).
Key recruits or transfers:
- QB Ashton McKinnon and QB Theo Deezar. McKinnon was recruited for one of the top high school in the nation at Mount Douglas and looks to a big future while Deezar comes back to the Bisons after a year with the Okanagan Sun in the BC junior football league.
- WR/SB Danny Turek returns to Manitoba after a year absence. In 2012, he was second on the team in receiving with 431 yards (21.5 average) with one TD and played in all eight games.
- OL Christian Kruse is another highly sought recruit from Mount Douglas HS.
Key losses:
- Former starting running back/kick returner Anthony Coombs
- Former starting slotback Andrew Smith
DEFENCE
Number of returning starters: 8
Key returning players:
- DT Evan Gill is back with the Bisons after being drafted in the CFL first round by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was also a CIS representative for the West at the 2014 East-West Shrine Bowl Game. Gill, was a 2013 Canada West All-Star as he was tied for second in Canada West with 7.5 tackles for losses and tied for seventh with 3.0 sacks in 2013. He also registered 28.5 tackles, which tied for fourth on the team, two break-ups, one forced fumble and one block kick.
- DE Lauren Kroeker completes his fifth season at Manitoba and brings tons of skill and experience to the front four. He led the team with three sacks and fourth with 28.5 tackles while playing all reg. season and playoff games in 2013.
- DT David Oneymata looks to have a breakout year in his third season with the Herd. He recorded 25.5 tackles and one sack while not missing a game in 2013.
- LB Mitchell Harrison is the lone linebacker returning this season as he converted over from the secondary and will continue to improve on his ten tackle, one sack season in 2013.
- S Tyler Fong, HB Brett MacFarlane, CB Tremaine Apperley, CB Cam Teschuk are the four returnees at the starting position in the secondary. Fong and Apperley both played their first season at Manitoba and made an immediate impact as Fong was third on team with 31 tackles and first with three interceptions while Apperley had 20.5 tackles and led team with six break-ups. MacFarlane, in his fourth year, and Teschuk, third year, both racked up numbers with 26 and 27 tackles respectfully with two picks for Teschuk and one for MacFarlane.
Key recruits or transfers:
- DL Evan Foster from the Langley Rams. He set a CJFL single season quarterback sack record with 16 in a season and was a CJFL All-Canadian and BCFC Outstanding Defensive lineman award winner.
- DB Eric Plett from Winnipeg Rifles was team rookie of the year in 2012.
Key losses:
- Former starting linebacker Thomas Miles
SPECIAL TEAMS
Key returning players:
- Nic Demski
- Kienan LaFrance
Key recruits or transfers:
- Five players battling for starting spots in the kicking department
Key losses:
- Former starting kicker/place kicker Nick Boyd