Manitoba Bisons climb back into U Sports football top ten rankings after punching playoff ticket

Photo courtesy: Manitoba Bisons

The Manitoba Bisons are back in the U Sports football top ten rankings after defeating the Regina Rams 44-30 this past weekend to punch their ticket to the Canada West playoffs.

The Bisons generated an early 20-3 lead at Mosaic Stadium before allowing 23 unanswered points in the second quarter to trail the Rams 26-23 at halftime. Manitoba eventually completed the comeback on the strength of touchdown runs from Breydon Stubbs and Vaughan Lloyd as well as a 42-yard touchdown pass from Des Catellier to AK Gassama.

Regina, having already clinched a spot in the postseason, rotated a number of players out during the second half of the contest. The club fell two spots as a result of their loss, being surpassed by the Montreal Carabins and Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.

This marks Manitoba’s third different stint on the top ten rankings this year. They will visit the No. 4-ranked Saskatchewan Huskies in the Canada West semi-finals this week with kickoff at Griffiths Stadium scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5 at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

1. Western Mustangs (8-0)
2. Laval Rouge et Or (7-1)
3. Queen’s Golden Gaels (8-1)
4. Saskatchewan Huskies (7-1)
5. St. FX X-Men (8-0)
6. Ottawa Gee-Gees (7-2)
7. Montreal Carabins (6-2)
8. Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (6-3)
9. Regina Rams (5-3)
10. Manitoba Bisons (4-4)

Click here for a full recap of this past week’s U Sports action.

This week’s postseason schedule is as follows. All games will take place on Nov. 5.

Canada West (CW)

Manitoba Bisons at Saskatchewan Huskies — 2:00 p.m. EDT
UBC Thunderbirds at Regina Rams — 5:00 p.m. EDT

Ontario University Athletics (OUA)

Wilfrid Laurer Golden Hawks at Western Mustangs — 1:00 p.m. EDT
Ottawa Gee-Gees at Queen’s Golden Gaels — 1:00 p.m. EDT

Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ)

Concordia Stingers at Laval Rouge et Or — 12:00 p.m. EDT
Sherbrooke Vert et Or at Montreal Carabins — 3:30 p.m. EDT

Atlantic University Sport (AUS)

Mount Allison Mounties at Bishop’s Gaiters — 2:00 p.m. EDT