No. 8 ranked Bisons reach the red zone six times, but UBC stands tall in 21-9 win to open regular season play

VANCOUVER – The No. 8 nationally ranked Manitoba Bisons reached the red zone on six different occasions, including five of six drives in the second half, but UBC's defence stepped up when it counted, forcing two key turnovers in a 21-9 win to open the 2025 Canada West regular season.
 
Jackson Tachinski led the Herd with 207 passing yards and 61 rushing yards, while Breydon Stubbs added 92 yards on the ground on 15 carries. Manitoba ran for 207 yards overall while forcing two turnovers on defence.
 
Despite the Herd's efficiency on both sides of the ball, the T-Birds never trailed in the contest, breaking a scoreless game open in the second quarter with two majors on drives that combined for just ten total plays.
 
Former NCAA Division 1 commit Drew Viotto found Edgerrin Williams from 12 yards out just under five minutes into quarter two to open the scoring.
 
Manitoba responded on the strength of their ground game, with four returning starters up front along with All-Canadian running back Stubbs. The Herd ran the rock on seven straight plays, getting all the way down to the UBC six-yard line thanks to 51 rushing yards from Stubbs, however the eighth rush went the way of UBC.
 
The T-Birds sent a blitz – something they'd go back to often – and it paid off, as they forced a Stubbs fumble, which was recovered by Tyson Lewis.
 
The two sides went back and forth afterwards on defence, until UBC broke the game open with a four-play scoring drive in the final minute that started on their own 20-yard line. Viotto hit Trey Montour and Williams for gains of 38 and 37, respectively, with the latter going for six.
 
Manitoba had plenty of success on offence in the second half. Despite pressure in his face on a variety of occasions, 2024 Canada West Player of the Year Jackson Tachinski kept numerous plays alive with his arm and legs.
 
He found Payton Yakimishyn for the Herd's biggest pass play of the day, 46 yards, to open the third, but a 37-yard missed field goal kept the visitors off the board.
 
The ground game continued to pay off shortly afterwards for Manitoba. Stubbs and captain Vaughan Lloyd combined for 39 yards, once again getting the Bisons into striking territory, however a 35-yard field goal hit the upright.
 
One drive later, the Bisons got on the board on a 23-yard Maya Turner field goal. The drive included a highlight-reel play from Tachinski, who evaded the UBC rush, and then stopped up near the Manitoba sideline and delivered a dart to Nathan Udoh, with two UBC players in his face.

"Udoh did a really good job staying alive and following the play," said Tachinski of the veteran receiver who had a career-high five receptions for 47 yards to lead all Bisons. 

"He's a big body and works his butt off. He's easy to find out there."
 
Manitoba continued their momentum, forcing a two and out on the ensuing UBC drive at the end of the third quarter. Linebacker Nic Pereira made a key tackle on first down, one of a game-high eight on the day for the captain, seven of which were solo.
 
Eight plays, and 91 yards later, the Bisons scored their first major of the season.
 
Tachinski completed passes to five different receivers, including a diving grab by Braeden Smith for 32 yards to the T-Birds 16 on second and ten. The pivot finished things off with a one-yard rushing major. A two-point convert was no good, making the score 14-9 with 8:55 to play.
 
But the hosts had the response. Derek Engel, pressed into action after an injury to Viotto, led UBC downfield with two big completions and a 13-yard rush, capping the scoring drive off with a four-yard pass to Trey Montour.
 
With just under five minutes to play, the Bisons once again drove the field thanks to 22 of Tachinski's 61 rushing yards, however UBC shut the drive down with an interception. Like they did all game, they brought pressure, forcing an early throw which was picked off in the end zone by Darrien Brown to seal the deal.

"I feel like we were prepared for the pressure. I just didn't execute our plays to the best of my ability," Tachinski added. "I think there's lots of positives we can take. We moved the ball well and didn't quit in the second half."
 
Manitoba continues regular season play next Friday at 8 pm CT on the road against Calgary.