Dinos top Bisons in Hardy Cup rematch

Sonny Sachdeva, September 17, 2015 —

After starting their season with a dominant 49–16 win over the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, the Dinos football program continued their winning ways by taking down the University of Manitoba Bisons by a score of 46–38 at Winnipeg’s Investors Group Field.

It was the first time the two clubs faced each other since Manitoba eliminated the Dinos from the playoffs last season in the 78th Hardy Cup.

“You have to win these big games,” Dinos head coach Wayne Harris said. “Playing Manitoba just one time this season, this game was crucial and could have big implications at the end of the season. We knew what was on the line.”

The Dinos once again rode their exceptional rushing game to victory. Calgary posted 302 rushing yards in the contest, nearly doubling Manitoba’s 157. Dinos runningback Mercer Timmis led the way once again, posting 276 yards and two touchdowns.

The rest of the Dinos offense played a crucial role in earning the victory as well. Quarterback Andrew Buckley threw for 340 yards and one touchdown while Dinos receiver Rashaun Simonise finished with 178 yards and one touchdown — the finest single-game performance of his career.

The Dinos now hold a 2–0 record, but it didn’t come easy. Manitoba led the game until the final minutes of the fourth quarter, when Dinos kicker Johnny Mark connected on a 26-yard field goal to give his team a 39–38 lead.

With one minute left, Timmis ran in his second touchdown of the game to put it out of reach and cement the 46–38 victory for Calgary.

The win was a special one for kicker Johnny Mark. With 14 points on the night, Mark’s career total extended to 422, tying him with CIS all-time leading scorer Lirim Hajrullahu. It’s now a foregone conclusion that Mark will become the top scorer in CIS history during the Dinos’ next contest.

The Dinos return home to face the rival University of Alberta Golden Bears on Sept. 17 at McMahon Stadium, playing the first match of the year against their cross-province rival. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. — the game will be broadcast on Shaw TV and CanadaWest.tv.