The Manitoba Bisons have played a playoff brand of football all season and will get to continue that trend from the comfort of their home stadium throughout the Canada West post-season.
The No. 8-ranked Bisons, powered by 436 rushing yards from the most prolific ground attack in U Sports, rumbled to a 51-38 victory over the No. 6 UBC Thunderbirds at Princess Auto Stadium Saturday afternoon, securing home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs and the right to host a national semifinal.
The Bisons improved to 7-1 and will enter the post-season as the No. 1 seed for the first time since its Vanier Cup title run in 2007.
Manitoba running back Breydon Stubbs had a career-best 244 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries Saturday.
Manitoba will host the Regina Rams in the conference semifinal next Saturday at 2 p.m. UBC dropped to 5-3 and will host the Saskatchewan Huskies in the other semifinal.
“It’s special anytime for any team to have that situation,” said head coach Brian Dobie, who coached in the final regular season game of his career. “I said it when I announced that I was retiring —and I made a real point with them and I meant it — that, to me, they represent all the players that I’ve coached for 50 years. They just represent them, and for this group to be the group that they are…listen, this is my last ride and it couldn’t be better.”
A strong ground attack has been the identity of the Bisons offence, whether it has come traditionally through the running backs, via dual-threat quarterback Jackson Tachinski or the club’s blazing receivers.
Five players got in on the action on this day, with running back Breydon Stubbs leading the way with a career-best 30 carries for 244 yards and four touchdowns.
The fourth-year back’s eye-popping stat line vaulted him to the top of the national leaderboard in rushing yards (937) and touchdowns (14).
Stubbs’ 14 rushing majors also set a new single-season program record, surpassing the mark set by Dominic Zagari in 1995.
“During the week, we talked about how close I was to (Zagari’s) record and I saw his highlight tape and looked at his film and was like, ‘That’s a mean running back right there,’ so to be able to beat someone who plays that well, it’s an honour,” said Stubbs, who had TD runs of one, 12, 12 and two yards.
“The team leaned on me when we needed it and they pushed me to get to those four touchdowns this game. They trusted me that I could run the ball and the O-line freed me up so well… I love all of (those guys).”
Saturday’s win was the final regular-season home game for Bisons head coach Brian Dobie, who will retire after his 29th season at the helm.
Stubbs said it was his goal to prove he was one of the best running backs in the country this season. He was afforded ample opportunity to do just that, leading all players with 162 rushing attempts.
“I saw this guy do that all of high school,” said Tachinski, who was recruited with Stubbs out of Vincent Massey Collegiate. “It’s amazing to see him do that on any sports field because it’s pretty unfair what he does, and I kind of feel bad for defenders when they try to tackle him. It looks very painful.
“But I’m proud of him. He’s a great guy, a great teammate and I love that guy.”
The Bisons offence, which averaged 252 rush yards per game during the regular season, has now posted at least 200 yards on the ground in every game— the only team in Canada West that can make that claim.
It was yet another clinic put on by one of the most experienced offensive lines in the nation, as receiver Braeden Smith also toted the rock three times for 90 yards and a third-quarter score.
Aidan Wiberg recorded the lone receiving touchdown on the day for the hosts on a one-yard underhanded pitch in the opening quarter from Tachinski, who only needed to post a modest stat line in the win, completing 10 of 14 passes for 158 yards.
“I said it at the beginning of the year to essentially anybody that would listen, the offensive line is the most improved group on our team,” said Dobie. “It’s the best unit on our team, the most solid unit — and I’m not just talking about how much they can bench press — and all five of those guys have just… been lining up from left to right, and what a unit.
Linebacker Dario Macchia (50) led the Manitoba defence with seven solo tackles and a sack.
“I think doing what they did today really added to the cupboard of confidence that they’re storing.”
Manitoba never trailed in the game, holding 24-3, 31-24 and 45-31 quarter leads.
Though the T-birds finished with 507 yards of offence, it was a dominant performance from the hosts in many ways, led by some quintessential complimentary football.
While the Bisons ran wild, the offence was continuously set up in prime field position thanks to four turnovers — three interceptions by the defence and a forced fumble on special teams.
UBC’s highly regarded quarterback Garrett Rooker tossed for 426 yards on 26-of-35 passing, including two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
A negative game script for the T-Birds largely stifled its ability to use one of its biggest weapons, star running back Isaiah Knight. The Bisons held the standout rusher in check, conceding 26 yards on just six carries. Knight’s highlight came on a one-yard rushing major in the third quarter.
The Bisons finish the regular season as the most prolific offence with 251 points. Coming up is the conference’s stingiest defence, the Rams, who allowed just 177 points this season.
Manitoba beat Regina 22-13 at home on Sept. 28.
Bisons quarterback Jackson Tachinski, who completing 10 of 14 passes for 158 yards and one TD, also ran the ball for 58 yards on seven carries.
“It’s a big thing,” Tachinski said of hosting playoff games. “Playing on the road in this league, it’s really hard. So having the ability to host a bunch of playoff games in November in Winnipeg, it’s gonna be a blessing for us because I don’t think many people want to come here in November when it’s cold, it’s dark, it’s windy, it’s snowy and that kind of plays to our favour.
“That’s our kind of football, we thrive in that, so we’re all excited for this playoff run and we’re just ready to get started.”
X: @jfreysam
Joshua Frey-Sam
Reporter
Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He’s reported primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports and writes a weekly real estate feature for the business section. Read more about Josh.
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