Bisons are back for another playoff game at Griffiths Stadium
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When Manitoba coach Brian Dobie and his Bison football team entered the 2022 football campaign, there was one goal. It was to avenge the 2021 Hardy Cup loss to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Coincidence, or fate you may call it, has handed the Manitoba Bisons exactly what they were looking for…a chance to knock off the defending champs on their home turf this weekend.
Depending on Saturday’s weather (snow is in the forecast), this contest starts and finishes around a tested Bisons secondary versus the firepower of Mason Nyhus and his receiving corps. No secondary in Canada West has had more breakups, with the Herd’s defense combining for 21 on the season. Manitoba also had eight interceptions in the 2022 regular season, second most in the conference. Manitoba second year cornerback Sebastian Reid, who is tied for the conference lead with three, had the game sealing interception in a 44-30 win over Regina last week at Mosaic Stadium.
On the opposite side, Huskie quarterback Mason Nyhus led the nation in passing and finished second in touchdown strikes with 18. Scott Flory’s squad also had two of the top 10 receivers in the country. Rhett Vavra and Daniel Perry follow each other at nine and ten respectively. Vavra had 603 yards and five touchdowns on just 30 receptions, averaging 20.1 yards per catch. Perry had 602 yards on 41 grabs and a pair of scores.
As for the Bisons offense, 5th year quarterback Des Catellier had 318 yards through the air in his final regular season contest, a 44-30 win at Regina. He set a new program record with 7,616 yards for a career. Reciever AK Gassama, who caught five Catelier passes for 210 yards against the Rams, is the conference leader in receiving yards. On the ground Bisons running back Breydon Stubbs had 132 yards and two majors.
