WINNIPEG – It certainly wasn’t the start to the season the Manitoba Bisons’ football team was hoping for.
The Bisons got off to a slow start and suffered a 44-23 loss to the Saskatchewan Huskies in their home opener on Friday at Investors Group Field. The Huskies built up an early lead after scoring three touchdowns in the first half. The Bisons attempted to erase a 21 point halftime deficit and battled back to make it a one possession game. But a Huskies touchdown with under five minutes remaining sealed the Bisons’ fate.
Evan Kopchynski scored a pair of touchdowns for U of S in the win. Mitch Hillis and Chad Braun also had touchdown catches for the Huskies while quarterback Kyle Siemens scored on a 10 yard scamper. Siemens finished the night with 419 yards passing.
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The Bisons compiled 17 points in the third quarter to narrow the gap. Jamel Lyles scored the Bisons first touchdown on a short four yard run in the third quarter. Shai Ross hauled in a 30 yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to make it a seven point game but the Bisons still came up short.
In returning to the Bisons lineup for the first time since the 2015 season, Lyles rushed 16 times for 85 yards with one touchdown. Ross was the Bisons leading receiver with five catches for 74 yards. Manitoba quarterback Theo Deezar completed 18 of his 31 passes for 215 yards in the loss.
The announced attendance at Investors Group Field was 1,501.
The Bisons will once again look for their first win next Saturday when they travel to UBC to face the Thunderbirds. The Huskies will next see action on Friday at home to the Alberta Golden Bears.
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