Entering the 2014 U SPORTS football season, the Manitoba Bisons knew they had unfinished business. 

The season prior, the Herd had advanced to the Hardy Cup, thanks to a back-and-forth 37-36 win against Saskatchewan which included a blocked field goal with two seconds left. It was the team’s first playoff win since the 2007 Vanier Cup year and also the first victory over Saskatchewan in a playoff game since 1973. 

But the following week, they ran into a familiar opponent in the Calgary Dinos, who’d had their number for the last six seasons. Canada West MVP and future CFL draft pick Mercer Timmis went off for 279 yards rushing, as the Dinos topped Manitoba 43-28, beating them for the 11th consecutive time. 

In order to re-write history and cement their legacy, the Bisons needed get past the roadblock that was the Dinos, who’d won each of the last six conference titles. 

“I remember at the beginning of the 2014 season in meetings, coach [Vaughan] Mitchell, he said it pretty bluntly. He said ‘listen guys, we’re going to have to play Calgary three times,” noted offensive lineman Tyler Fabbri, the team’s veteran centre who was in his final year of eligibility at the time.

“We have them twice in the regular season and we’re going to have to play them in the playoffs, whether it’s the semis or the Hardy Cup. We have to win two of those games.’”

The layout of the roster 

There’s no doubt that the Bisons had the weapons on offence to make Mitchell’s statement a reality. 

First off, 6’1”, 213-pound quarterback Jordan Yantz was back for his second year (fifth-year eligibility). The multiple-time CJFL national champ with the Vancouver Island Raiders – who many considered the most prized recruit in head coach Brian Dobie’s long tenure as head coach – had been named a conference all-star in 2013 and was instrumental in the high-scoring Bisons’ march to the Hardy the year before. More importantly, he gave the team some much-needed consistency under centre.  

“I had gone through three different quarterbacks in my first three years,” noted Fabbri. 

“I went from Khaleal Williams to Cam Clark and then Ryan Marsch. Those guys were all great quarterbacks, but having Jordan for two years in a row was something that I think made that 2014 run even more special, because we had so much chemistry going into that second year together.”

Yantz had more than enough weapons to distribute the ball to. Future Grey Cup champ Nic Demski (589 yards, five scores, All-Canadian in 2014), as well as long-time VI teammate Matt Sawyer (451 yards, five scores, CanWest all-star) and the big-bodied Alex Vitt (489 yards, four scores) were just a few of the impact receivers that returned to the lineup. 

And while the team graduated one of the best players in program history at running back in Anthony Coombs, there was no need for concern as former Sturgeon Heights teammate and future Grey Cup champ Kienan LaFrance stepped in with ease, earning all-star status along the way. 

“[Coombs] was so fast and so quick, but then transitioning to Kienan, he was more of a one-cut downhill running back,” Fabbri said. “He’s not going to make 16 guys miss in a phone booth like Coombs could, but he’ll make somebody miss, he’s going to run hard and he’s going to finish all of his runs.”

Just as important was the team’s consistency on the offensive line. Along with Fabbri, Alex McKay, Nevin Gamblin, Geoff Gray and Rob Smith all returned up front, as did hybrid tight end/h-back Matt Hallock. The 2014 season also marked the first time that all five guys started all 11 games. 

“Coming into 2014, that was the first time that all five of us were coming back, which was huge. We had bonded so much just from the beginning of 2014 all the way through that season. There’s things that we started doing. Like Rob, the first huddle of every series, we’d always dap up and throw our hands in the middle, and then Rob would say ‘o-line’ and we’d go ‘dominate.’ That always set the tone for us going into those games, especially in the playoff run, we just became so close,” recalled Fabbri. 

“Geoff was still super raw, because he was the young one in the group, but even then, I didn’t have to worry about talking to all four guys when we broke the huddle and I saw a certain look for the defence. It was just well, okay, Calgary is in their base 30 defence, they’re probably going to blitz. Alex is okay out there at tackle and so is Rob, and Nevin and Geoff knew what their responsibilities were. I knew if nobody blitzed I’d be getting help from somebody somewhere else. There was a lot of non-verbal communication that I think really helped us become closer.”

Defensively, the theme in 2014 was professionalism. The year prior, the team was filled with playmakers who could change games in an instant, however there were also some lapses in judgement which resulted in big plays. Entering the new season, a change in attitude was necessary for a squad that was packed with stars, including future NFL draft pick David Onyemata and CFL draft picks Evan Gill and Evan Foster all on the defensive line. 

“We became a lot more physical,” noted linebacker Mitch Harrison, who was in his fourth year of eligibility in 2014.

“Throughout the season, you could feel a professional vibe coming from the defensive side. It was less about being athletes and making plays are more about doing our job and focusing collectively. It was nice to see it not just from the guys in the starting group, but also the backups.”

Look no further than Harrison for a textbook example of the team’s adeptness. 

Harrison made the transition from defensive back to strong side linebacker in 2013, and was prepared to stick there in 2014. After a 44-24 loss to Saskatchewan in week one however, plans changed. 

“The whole offseason I was focused on trying to keep my weight down a little bit, because I didn’t want to get too heavy. [Strength coach] Matt Barr really helped me transition properly and do the things I needed to do to be able to play. I got to about 215, and then we got absolutely destroyed by Saskatchewan in the first game, and coach [Stan] Pierre was like ‘we have to completely change the linebacking corps’ and I moved to WILL. My whole game plan completely changed.”

Harrison was under-sized on the weak side. Well known for his football IQ, he made it work and got better week by week. 

“It’s not the same technique playing SAM as it is WILL. I didn’t know how to destroy blocks properly, I just relied on running around linemen and shooting gaps until finally coach Pierre talked to me. On campus I would walk up to poles and pretend they were linemen just so I could learn my technique faster. 

Eventually I started to get it. The blitz game I got before, but it was more of what gap I was in and how it fit. I needed a game-and-a-half and I think I got it pretty quickly. From there it was the most fun I ever had playing football, plus I was playing beside [halfback] Jayden [McKoy], and we’re best friends so it was ideal.”

Along with Harrison, the rest of Manitoba’s linebacking corps was the main point of interest defensively. Jonathan Jones, a teammate of Yantz’s at VI with gifted athleticism, had secured the starting spot at strong side, but was still getting a grip on the playbook, while DJ Lalama – a future Presidents’ Trophy winner and CFL Draft pick – moved into the middle linebacker spot previously held by Thomas Miles. 

“We got along, but early on there were some mistakes and we had to have some tough conversations to get things sorted out. I think those tough conversations really helped in the long run and we were able to have open conversations from that point on,” noted Harrison.

“DJ was also more of an emotional leader than myself. I’m not a yeller or anything like that. It was cool dynamic to be able to have him be that guy, while I was able to focus more on the mental side of things. Those other two could just fly around. You saw how many plays they were making. Coach Pierre gave me the freedom to make checks as often as I needed to and that gave them the freedom to fly around and make plays. I’ve never had more fun in a season with a group of linebackers.”

Overcoming adversity 

The regular season was filled with ups and downs. Dominant wins over Regina in week two and Saskatchewan in week five were leveled out by heartbreaking defeat, such as a 42-41 loss to Calgary in week four which also saw defensive leader Gill go down with a severe knee injury. The loss was Manitoba’s 12th in a row to the Dinos, who kicked the game-winning field goal with just 53 seconds left.

Instead of frustration, there was hope as the Bisons went shot-for-shot with the nation’s best. 

“We knew going into that season that we had a very, very talented football team and a very close knit-football team,” said Fabbri. “Yeah, it came down to the wire and we didn’t end up pulling it out, but I don’t remember anybody being super down or upset about it. It was okay, we know we can beat these guys.”

Entering the final week of the regular season at 3-4, the team needed a victory over the #2 ranked Dinos to secure their spot in the playoffs. They marched into the home tilt with confidence, despite Yantz being unavailable due to a concussion from the week prior against Saskatchewan. 

Cue Theo Deezar. The former St. Paul’s standout had joined the Bisons roster following a successful stint with the Okanagan Sun of the BCFC, and was prepared. Despite the importance of the game, Deezar didn’t let the moment overcome him. He followed the game plan to a tee, throwing for 210 yards and three majors while Alex Christie and LaFrance also combined for over 100 yards as Manitoba snapped their losing streak against Calgary at the perfect time in a 50-31 win. 

The defence also did their part, with McKoy, as well as roommate and former Langley Rams standout Jordan Linnen both recording fumble recoveries for touchdowns. 

“My ritual before the game, I would always dap up the quarterback before the coin toss. I just remember giving Theo a hug and I saw that he was ready. He gave me the confidence knowing that we were going to do this,” Fabbri recalled. 

“We came out with a good game plan and ran the ball for the majority of the game with double tight ends. Calgary, for whatever reason wasn’t ready for it and our defence started to put things together. From start to finish, that was probably the most complete game we’d played against Calgary.”

Defence takes it to another level in the conference playoffs

Manitoba’s high-powered offence received plenty of attention, and rightfully so, all season long. The Canada West playoffs were no different, with LaFrance rushing for more than 100 yards in both games, while Yantz threw for an average of 313. It was the Bisons’ defence however, that helped the team get over the hump. 

In two games, they combined for nine interceptions, led by Linnen and McKoy, who each had three. 

“The dominance came just from being confident in our system and knowing what the other team was going to do. It was never a matter of can we do this, it was how much effort do we need to put in collectively to make it happen? We were all near the end of our careers, except for Jayden basically, but he’s such a hard worker too and he did what he needed to do,” said Harrison. 

“We were tired about hearing about 2007, we were tired of hearing about all these other teams. We wanted to put our stamp on it. It was a confidence thing. We just felt confident in every matchup.”

The defence saved the best for last in their 27-15 Hardy Cup win over Calgary, forcing ten turnovers while helping fulfill Mitchell’s pre-season statement by beating the Dinos twice. 

Everyone stepped up for Manitoba, as Linnen and fellow defensive backs Cam Teschuk and Tyler Fong all recorded interceptions. Jones also had a pick, which he took back to the house to tie the game at seven just under five minutes into the game. 

“That play itself was so prototypical of the season. Jon was not in the right spot at all but they just threw it at him and he took it to the house,” joked Harrison.

“That’s exactly the type of plays we were having happen to us. Sometimes it’s a little bit of luck, but also it’s good athletes making plays.”

Uteck Bowl an all-time classic 

Riding the momentum of the school’s 11th Hardy Cup victory, Manitoba headed to Montreal to do battle with the #2 ranked Carabins in the Uteck Bowl. Due to U SPORTS rules, both sides only had two or three different game tapes to work with for the national semi. Offensively, the looks that the visitors had prepared for, compared to the looks they got in the front seven were different. 

“They just played a base 4-3, but we got to the game and [future CFL draft pick Byron] Archambault was on the line every single time, whether it was on top of me or on top of either of the guards. They were in this weird, essentially 50 front and they were doing a tonne of stunting and looping. It took us essentially until halftime to make the adjustment to figure out what was going on,” said Fabbri. 

“It felt like it was a blur at the beginning and then it all started to slow down and make more sense. It wasn’t even crazy. They were crashing two guys and looping one guy around. It was like okay, we can figure this out.” 

Defensively, Harrison and company had to adjust to the speed of a Carabins offence that featured multiple CFL draft picks, including Mik Davidson who was a problem on jet sweeps. The hosts jumped on the Herd early, taking a 20-7 into the second quarter. 

“It’s a completely different playing style from the CanWest to the RSEQ. It’s a faster game, whereas at the time, we were a lot more smash mouth with bigger and bulkier players. They were trying to stretch us to the sideline with super quick guys. I felt like their schemes were a lot simpler, but their athletes were so good that you had to just cover them.

I remember because coach Pierre would be like ‘you have to get out there. If [Davidson] got the jet sweep I was the guy who had to go, and I had to see it early. All I remember thinking was if they ran any inside zone off of this, that guy is probably gone, or if I can’t get out there I’m going to be in man. I was just petrified by that one guy’s speed. Outside of that I knew the playbook inside and out.”

On top of on-field adjustments – which included a shift from man-match coverage to zone in order to deal with over-under drag routes – Manitoba also had to deal with a ferocious crowd. 

“That stadium, they’re right on top of you. We didn’t know that until the game obviously. Our big crowd games were always in Saskatchewan on Friday nights in Saskatoon. Their military games, they’d get 8,000 people, but at the U of S, their fans are 50 metres behind you and in the bleachers. In the game against Montreal, our bench was underneath the stands essentially,” recalled Fabbri. 

“It was like a dugout. We had to practice a silent count, which we’d never put in. That was the first time in my career that we put in a silent count. I remember we tried the first play on a regular cadence, and I think I heard Jordan say one word, so we were just going on muscle memory. It was good that we’d worked together so much, because I knew the rhythm of his cadence and I timed up it well enough. But after going back to the huddle, we realized we couldn’t go on a regular cadence. That atmosphere, to this day was something special to play in.”

As the game progressed, so did Manitoba’s offence. Yantz connected with Sawyer for a 30-yard major and also ran one in himself from ten yards out as Montreal entered halftime up by just six at 27-21. 

 “We had a rhythm with our offence and we were making plays,” said Fabbri. “Everybody was making plays, from Sawyer to Demmer, to [Dustin] Pedey [Pedersen] to Kienan.”

Both defences stood their ground in the second half, with just seven combined points scored. The game came down to the final possession, with Manitoba taking the ball with 1:32 left, needing to drive the length of the field to advance to their first Vanier since 2007. 

Calmly, Yantz – who threw for 320 yards and two scores – marched his team into the Carabins red zone with just 30 seconds to play. 

“Our five-step passing game wasn’t working fantastic because of the way their defence was playing,” added Fabbri. 

“They were getting some pressure from Archambault, because that guy was an absolute tank. I remember we made an adjustment to just go to our three-step passing game, our salt and pepper stuff. That drive, from what I remember, was 90 percent short stuff.”

Unfortunately, the Bisons’ dreams were dashed courtesy of a sack and forced fumble by Anthony Coady. 

“We got the ball to the 11 and we had called our classic red zone play, and unfortunately one guy ran the wrong route. I remember Anthony Coady came down from free safety, and the defensive tackle was on top of me and he wasn’t really coming super hard and I was like, what’s going on? I turned my head and I see Coady get through the line. Jordan did what he could to get away, but Coady made a play that sent them to the national championship. Montreal made one more play than we did that game.”

Legacy 

Despite coming up 11 yards short of a Vanier Cup appearance, the 2014 Manitoba Bisons cemented themselves as the best team of the decade, demonstrating exceptional resolve in overcoming multiple injuries, as well as the Dinos. In a testament to their overall skill, 11 alumni from the 2014 roster eventually made it to the CFL in some form. 

“All throughout that season, coach Dobie was always comparing us to the 2007 team. Almost daily we were hearing something about the 2007 team. I think a lot of guys took that to heart. We’re like okay, we’re not the 2007 team. We’re the best team since the 2007 team,” stated Fabbri. 

“We want to be the big, bad Bisons. We want to be the best Bisons team this school and province has seen in the last eight years. With all the rule changes, this team is finally back. We have the core guys, we have everything. I’d be comfortable to say that the 2014 team was the best Bisons team in the 2010s. 

We can’t say we’re the best team in Bisons history because of the 2007 season and also 2001, but I think since the rules changed in U SPORTS and it kind of filtered out the older guys for lack of a better term, I think that was the best Bisons team since the Vanier. I don’t know if there’s been as good of a team since. Nothing against the program now, but I would like to say we’re definitely in that argument for sure.”