WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons broke a 3-1 game wide open in the second quarter, scoring on their first three drives of the middle frame en route to a blowout 34-7 win over Alberta.
 
The victory improved Manitoba's record to 2-2, while Alberta fell to 0-4. It's now a log jam for the third to fifth place spots in Canada West, with the Bisons, UBC and Calgary all at 2-2.
 
The momentum-shifting play occurred on special teams with Manitoba up by two. Just under four minutes into the second, Aidan Wiberg forced a fumble on an Evan Hirst punt return, and redshirt freshman Matthew Gillespie recovered the loose ball. The Bisons took possession at Alberta's 28, and needed just two plays to score.
 
Noah Anderson ran the rock the entire distance, including a 19-yard rush that set up his nine-yard major, which featured a nasty stiff arm. Anderson finished the day with 64 yards on just six carries – including a hurdle late in the game that got the fans on their feet – while the Herd chunked up 315 yards on the ground overall.
 
A Dario Macchia interception on Alberta's next drive led to another quick score. Quarterback Jackson Tachinski broke away for a 50-yard rush and one play later he found Mula Yitna from three yards out, the second game in a row where Yitna recorded a major.
 
All-Canadian running back Breydon Stubbs capped the second quarter scoring with an 11-yard score, the 24^th of his Bisons career in the regular season. That total moved him into second all-time in school history, ahead of Vanier Cup champ Matt Henry.
 
Stubbs finished with 129 yards rushing on 21 carries, while the Bisons averaged 7.9 yards every time they carried the ball, paced by offensive linemen Sean Rowe, Carter Moore, Mark Rauhaus, Matt Stokman and Victor Olaniran.
 
Alberta's offence featured three different quarterbacks while four players ran the rock. They got on the board on their first drive of the second half, thanks largely to Ope Oshinubi, whose 52 yards on six carries – all in the second half – led the Golden Bears.
 
Oshinubi had 42 yard on four carries to open the third, setting up a ten-yard major to Erik Torhjelm on a dot from Eli Hetlinger.
 
Alberta entered play throwing the ball more than any other team, and they continued to focus on an aerial attack against Manitoba. Carter Kettyle, who leads the conference in yards per catch, continued his big season with eight grabs for 131 yards, while six different players hauled in a pass.
 
But it was simply not enough to match a physical Bisons defence, and a diverse offensive attack.
 
Seven different Bisons had at least three tackles, while Nic Pereira added to his conference-leading solo tackles total, with five. He now has 24 on the year. Carter Dallas also had the best game of his Bisons career at halfback with six tackles and two pass breakups.
 
Manitoba went to backup quarterback Cole Anseeuw in the second half, and he delivered the final nail in Alberta's coffin.
 
The redshirt freshman went seven-for-nine for 102 yards, ran for 20 yards and threw his first career U SPORTS passing touchdown to Payton Yakimishyn from seven yards out. The major was also Yakimishyn's first U SPORTS score.
 
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