In a rare opening homestand, the Dinos play back-to-back home games to start the CanWest season.
Following a dramatic loss last week to the Regina Rams for their home opener, the Dinos now prepare to host the Manitoba Bisons at McMahon Stadium for what's sure to be a Friday night classic under the lights.
The Bisons are coming off a 21-9 loss to the UBC Thunderbirds on the road, which saw them come away with plenty of opportunities to run away with the game.
Despite driving inside UBC's 20-yard line six times, the Thunderbirds' defence managed to keep the Herd at just nine points.
The Dinos' offence was far from perfect either. Still, the new-look Dinos managed to show spurts of what they're actually capable of, as they managed to trip up the Rams' game plan to come back from a 20-33 deficit late in the final quarter, forcing Regina into overtime.
Key to the Game #1: Clash of the Quarterbacks
One needs to get back on form and the other continues his path of proving himself in CanWest.
Jackson Tachinski of the Bisons has proven himself to be a dual-threat nightmare for any defensive line. He's just one rushing touchdown away from moving into the top four all-time in program history to tie Brett Watt.
But last week proved to be a challenge for Tachinski as he threw for 17-of-25 but with two interceptions. If he can manage to bounce back and punish Calgary's defence through the air, the Bisons will find success.
On the flip side, the Dinos' front seven will be doing everything in their power to make sure they get on the board early and capitalize on every single drive.
First-year Dinos' quarterback David Jordan found his stride early in the game, completing 23-of-38 attempts for 266 yards and three touchdowns.
He found the hot hand of Matt Sibley who was responsible for two of those touchdowns. Sibley capped off the night with eight catches and 132 yards.
Key to the Game #2: A Running Game
Both teams like running the ball when the opportunity presents. Calgary's defense in particular will need to keep Tachinski and Stubbs contained.
Friday night's battle will likely be decided by both team's running game. For Manitoba, Breydon Stubbs opened his season with 92 yards on 15 carries, averaging 5.1 yards per touch.
Stubbs was a steady force for the Bisons, punishing the tiniest gaps in the opposing defence. He's on a milestone run as every yard he fights for is bringing him closer to program history — he’s only 45 yards shy of breaking into the all-time top five in rushing.
Beyond the numbers, Stubbs is capable of shifting the momentum of a game, giving Tachinski options to force Calgary's defense on its heels, creating mismatches across the line.
On the other side, Calgary comes into this game knowing their run defence needs to improve if they hope to quiet Stubbs.
Last week against Regina, the Dinos gave up 204 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground to Marshall Erichsen and the Rams.
While they managed to claw back some points and come back on a game-tying drive, this isn't something that will come as easily with this veteran Bisons' defensive core.
The Dinos' defence will need to adjust accordingly to force Tachinski into making throws as opposed to allowing him gaps to run the ball.
The question is whether Calgary's scrambled defence will be able to execute a new plan against one of the most productive rushing teams in CanWest.
Key to the Game #2: Special Teams
With two strong kickers, special teams could be the deciding factor if all else plays out (or not).
While much of the focus will be on quarterbacks and ground games, the battle on special teams may quietly decide Friday’s outcome. For Manitoba, the kicking unit enters the week under a cloud.
Two missed field goals against UBC turned what could have been a tight finish into a frustrating defeat. The Bisons cannot afford a repeat if they hope to break their two-decade drought of consecutive road wins in Calgary.
On the other sideline, the Dinos have every reason to feel confident in their kicking game. Vince Triumbari is coming off a performance that earned him the Canada West Special Teams Player of the Week honour, after he posted ten of Calgary’s points against Regina.
Beyond the accuracy of his leg, Triumbari’s reliability and ability to flip the field with placement and power gives the Dinos a strategic weapon.
His effective play changes how Calgary manages drives, knowing that stalled possessions past midfield can still give them points — or at the very least, force Manitoba into long-field situations.
Final Word
The Bisons haven't beaten Calgary in back-to-back trips to McMahon since before most of the players on both teams were even born.
The Dinos, despite being one of the youngest rosters in the conference, nearly handed the defending Hardy Cup champions a jarring win last week.
With both teams holding an 0-1 record, there may be a hint of desperation but for different reasons. Manitoba needs to prove their talent translates into results while Calgary needs to prove 'lack of experience' will not be the downfall of this team.
Prediction
The grit and resilience of both teams will come out early but it will be a bit of a chess match early on as they feel each other out.
If Manitoba manages to clean up its red-zone execution, they are more than capable of pushing forward with rushing yards to grind out a win from the Dinos.
But they have to treat Calgary like a wildcard. Jordan and his receivers proved they are more than capable of connecting for touchdowns and their defense can, in fact, shut down a drive.
One thing is for sure: this game will be tight as any factor can tilt the score either way.
Final score call: Manitoba 27, Calgary 21
It'll be a dramatic, grind-it-out win, but the experience of Manitoba could elevate them into breaking a generation curse.