News

Manitoba Bisons quarterback John Makie and his undefeated team were confident going into the Mitchell Bowl, but even he didn't expect a win so lopsided.

Makie and the Bisons are headed to the Vanier Cup after routing the Western Ontario Mustangs 52-20 on Saturday.

"You don't usually put up 52 points in one of these kind of games so it feels good," Makie said after his team set a school record for playoff points in a game. "We're solid in every corner of our team. We've got playmakers on both sides of the ball and we can get it done."

The victory sends the No. 3-ranked Bisons (11-0) to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football final on Nov. 23 in Toronto. They'll take on the No. 4 Saint Mary's Huskies (9-1), who upset the top-ranked, defending national champion Laval Rouge et Or 24-2 in the earlier Uteck Bowl.

"Everything's coming together like it should, maybe it's fate," said Makie, who completed 14 of 24 pass attempts for 235 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

"Hopefully, we bring the Cup home."

Manitoba hasn't been to the Vanier Cup since 2001, when it lost to Saint Mary's, 42-16.

The Bisons' last national championship was in 1970, the second of back-to-back wins.

Manitoba's previous record for playoff points in a game was 48, which they put up against Regina in last week's Canada West final Hardy Cup (48-5).

The Bisons are 20-1 over the past two seasons. Their only loss was to Saskatchewan in last year's Hardy Cup.

Manitoba's 12-year head coach Brian Dobie praised his team's all-round effort, which included TDs on offence, defence and special teams.

"It's peaking, it's accelerating," Dobie said. "I feel very, very happy. I feel very proud for our guys."

While preparations for Saint Mary's will start immediately, Dobie said he was going to take off a few hours on Sunday to watch the Winnipeg Blue Bombers play the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL East Division final, with the winner of that game going to the Grey Cup Nov. 25 in Toronto.

"Go Bombers Go," Dobie said. "Go kick some Argonaut ass 'cause we want to see you with us and we want to be together.

"For this city to have that kind of pride generated, for both teams to go to the Grey Cup and the Vanier Cup in the same weekend, in the same stadium, in the same city, it would be incredible."

The No. 10 Western Mustangs (7-5) came into the game on a seven-game winning streak, but found themselves down 31-5 at halftime after Manitoba put up 24 unanswered points in the second quarter.

The Bisons got a TD from defensive back Brady Browne after a blocked punt and linebacker Jim Jeavons took an interception 99 yards for the major.

Receivers Simon Blaszczak and Terry Firr and fullback Neil Fulgueras also scored TDs, while running back Matt Henry ran for a pair of one-yard TDs. Scott Dixon added a 41-yard field goal.

The Mustangs' scoring came off a six-yard TD run by Randy McAuley and a one-yard keeper by quarterback Michael Faulds. Kicker Derek Schiavone connected on a 28-yard field goal and Manitoba conceded a pair of safeties.

McAuley's TD at 4:51 of the third quarter was the first Manitoba had given up in 245:28 of play.

Faulds ended up throwing an astounding 70 passes, with 36 completions for 387 yards and four interceptions. He was sacked four times and Western tallied 10 turnovers.

"We'll give them a ton of credit, they're a great team," Faulds said. "I think they'll win the Vanier, but we felt like we made enough mistakes that kind of let them get some of those points, too."

Western first-year head coach Greg Marshall said Jeavons' interception return for the TD early in the second quarter was a big momentum-switching play.

"There's lots of good things," Marshall said of the overall season. "We lost a game today against a very good football team."

Western receiver David Clayton led all receivers with 12 catches for 107 yards. Blaszczak topped Manitoba's pass catchers with three receptions for 69 yards.

Manitoba running back Karim Lowen rushed 13 times for 96 yards and McAuley had nine carries for 65 yards.