Manitoba Bisons Vanier Cup dreams dashed in loss to Carabins

Just 12 yards stood between the Manitoba Bisons and a trip to their first Vanier Cup since 2007 on Saturday afternoon, however fate would not play into the visitors hands on this day, as they fell 29-26 against a stingy Montreal Carabins defence. 

Trailing by five points with 1:32 remaining, Bison quarterback Jordan Yantz led his team 82 yards all the way into the Montreal red-zone. A sack and forced fumble by Anthony Coady would end any chance of a Manitoba comeback, though, as the Carabins recovered the ball with just 30 seconds left to play.

Comeback football

The Bisons team were forced to play comeback football all day long.

Montreal wasted very little time taking the lead, as Carabin QB Gabriel Cousineau found receiver Mik Davidson from 89 yards out, on just the second play from scrimmage, to pull ahead.

After a Felix Ménard-Brière rouge made the score 8-0, the Bisons answered back, as Yantz found long-time teammate Matt Sawyer from eight yards out for the first of two touchdown connections on the day.

Davidson would haul in his second TD on the ensuing drive for Montreal, followed by a field goal and safety, to give the Carabins a commanding 20-7 lead after one quarter.

The Bisons answered back early in the second frame, as Yantz connected with Sawyer from 30 yards out to give the Herd some momentum. Manitoba would carry the momentum for the majority of the second quarter, until a six yard Cousineau scamper with 2:48 remaining replenished Montreal's 13-point lead.

Getting the ball back with 2:42 left in the first half, Manitoba answered yet again, as Yantz called his own number, diving in from 10 yards out, to make the score 27-21 heading into the break.

Carabins seal the deal in 2nd half

A combined total of just seven points were scored in the entirety of the second half, as both defences stood their ground.

Montreal recorded two safeties, while the Bisons got a 40-yard field goal from kicker Ryan Jones. But it wasn’t enough to topple the second ranked Carabins.

Yantz finished the day 22-of-35, for 320 yards, and two scores against the nation's best pass defence. But when it counted, the Carabins stood their ground, advancing to the national championship bout in their own backyard next Saturday.

Montreal will face the McMaster Marauders in the Vanier Cup next weekend, after the Marauders trounced the Mount Allison Mounties 24-12 to win the Mitchell Cup Saturday.

Mike Still is the Sports Editor at The Manitoban.