EDMONTON – The Golden Bears (1-4) were unable to recapture their offensive spark from last weekend, and weren't able to get any consistent momentum going in a home loss to the Manitoba Bisons (3-2).
Ishe Matanga led the offence for the visitors with 22 rushes for 119 yards in addition to 38 receiving yards on a pair of catches. Quarterback Cole Anseeuw attempted just 17 passes, completing 10 of them for 142 yards and a touchdown.
Seth Poelzer again paced the Bears on the ground with 86 yards on 12 carries, while Ayden McDonald led the receiving corps with 53 yards through the air, including a 25-yard catch and run late on that was the second-longest pass play of the night for either team.
Both sides played smothering defence in the opening quarter. There were no points on the board for either team after the first 15 minutes concluded, although the Bisons did end the period with the ball on the Alberta one-yard line. They drew first blood on the next play, with running back Aidan Wiberg taking a direct snap and pushing his way into the end zone for a touchdown.
The Golden Bears took an intentional safety a few minutes later after getting pinned deep in their own end, and needed a spark to come from somewhere. They then got one just a couple plays later in the form of a massive Samson Sachter sack to get the ball right back.
After working their best drive of the half, Poelzer nearly snagged a touchdown on a pass from Eli Hetlinger but saw it slip through his fingers. A field goal attempt followed a couple plays later, but it was blocked by Manitoba's Carson Thomas. That helped preserve a 9-0 halftime score, with the two teams combining for just 250 yards of total offence at the break.
The Golden Bears were able to get the ball in advantageous positions several times throughout the evening, but found themselves undone on a few occasions by ill-timed turnovers, including an interception on a trick play early in the third.
A 19-yard Charlie Wiersma field goal did get the home team on the board midway through the frame and briefly made it a one-possession game, but the Bisons struck right back with a fast drive down the field capped by a touchdown reception for Mikun Odunuga. They were stuffed on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt, however, with Nitro-Ice Hanna flying in for the sack on Anseeuw.
Unfortunately, the green and gold were unable to get any more points on the board. Maya Turner pushed her team's score up to 18 with a 46-yard field goal early in the final frame, and that was all the Bisons needed to see the game out.
The Golden Bears will now get a bye weekend to recuperate, ahead of a trip to Regina to face the Rams on Thursday, October 15.
