Bisons Fall to Thunderbirds

VANCOUVER – The University of Manitoba Bisons dropped a quadruple-overtime heartbreaker to the UBC Thunderbirds Friday night, falling 53-50 against the defending Vanier Cup champions.

The Bisons came up just shy in an epic game that featured 13 different lead changes at Thunderbird Stadium and fall to 2-3 in the Canada West standings while the T-Birds improve to 3-2.

The extra sessions helped, of course, but UBC smashed its old school record for offensive yards with 753 Friday (the old mark was 729, set in 2004) while that total was also the second-most surrendered by a Bison team in their history.

UBC receiver Trivel Pinto, who split time as a defensive back on Friday, had three touchdowns, running back Ben Cummings rumbled for 246 yards while quarterback Michael O’Connor threw for 463 passing yards.
Longtime Bisons head coach Brian Dobie, whose team pummeled the T-Birds in the pre-season, acknowledged that UBC showed their full potential in what he labelled as one of the most exciting contests of his illustrious career.
“I’ve been in two or three overtimes, but (none) like that one,” said Dobie. “It was crazy. I’ve coached for 42 years and without a doubt that was a Top-10 game.

“We lost in a heartbreaker, and the big key is moving forward.”

Bison QB Theo Deezar was 33 for 48 for 368 passing yards and five TDs – tied for second most in a single game by a Bison —  and three interceptions, in connecting with nine different receivers. Pulling in TD passes were Shai Ross, Riley Harrison, Ethan Diakow and, in OT, Trysten Dyce and Marquise Thompson.
Bison kicker Brad Mikoluff was four-of-six on field goals, Jayden McKoy had two interceptions while DJ Lalama accumulated 12.5 total tackles (good for third place tie in team history) during the road loss.
The Bisons, after the conference bye, will be back on the road in Calgary to face the Dinos on Friday, October 14 at 8 p.m.

–with files from Bison Sports.