CHILLIWACK, B.C. - Playing in front of a raucous 1,600 fans at Chilliwack’s Exhibition Stadium, the visiting CIS #7 ranked Manitoba Bisons (2-0) set two new team records, first for points in a game with 77 and for margin of victory in a 77-7 win over host Simon Fraser University.
The Clan fall to 0-1 on the season and are winless in Canada West conference play since a 14-12 victory at Calgary on Oct. 23, 2004.
Manitoba, picked by some along with #2 ranked Saskatchewan as a front-runner for the Canada West title, demonstrated its experience and age early in the first quarter, scoring touchdowns on the evening's first two possessions. Manitoba starting quarterback John Makie (Regina) connected on two touchdown strikes, finding Terry Firr (Windsor, Ont.) on a 22-yard scoring strike two minutes into the game, and then connecting with Steve Gronick (Bethune, SK) on a seven-yard pass after a four-play, 47-yard drive.
The Bisons were able to ratchet up their lead to 26-0 before the Clan found an offensive spark, when SFU fourth-year quarterback Jason Marshall (North Vancouver) drove the Clan 73 yards and connected with Milos Zivkovic (Burnaby, B.C.) on a nine-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter. Zivkovic made an outstanding second effort to cross the goal line on the play.
But Zivkovic’s touchdown marked the Clan’s lone highlight of the game as the Bisons continued to steamroll SFU on offence, piling up 653 total yards, including 333 on the ground. Makie finished the game 15-for-21, throwing for 276 yards and three touchdowns before giving way to backup Nathan Friesen in the second half.
Manitoba had three running backs rush for over 70 yards as Karim Lowen (91), Jon McLaren (90) and Matt Henry (74) combined for 254 of 333 yards rushing. Backup QB Friesen even joined in, rushing for 56 yards on two carries, including a late-game 45-yard touchdown.
Marshall struggled at the helm for the Clan, completing 12-of-21 passes for 89 yards, with one interception and one touchdown. The Clan were only able to amount 178 total yards on offence. Marshall was the leading rusher for SFU, scampering for 51 yards on eight carries.
There is no indication if the offensive ouput is a Canada West record, but the Saint Mary's Huskies (AUS) lambasted the Mount Allison Mounties to the tune of 105-0 on Sept. 20, 2001, a game the Huskies led 49-0 after one quarter and 77-0 at halftime under current Calgary Dinos Head Coach Blake Nill.
The Laval Rouge et Or downed Sherbrooke Vert et Or 94-0 in QIFC action on Sept. 20, 2003, a season that saw Sherbrooke lose all eight conference games by a combined 491-10. To top it off, Laval had actually scored 92 the week before against Bishop's.

Canada West Single-Game Team Scoring (1995-2006)
1. Manitoba, Aug. 8, 2006 at SFU 77
2. Alberta, Sept. 20, 2003 vs. Man 71
3. Calgary, Oct. 10, 1998 at Man 63
4. Calgary, Sept. 5, 1998 vs. Man 59
4. Regina, Sept. 21, 2001 vs. UBC 59
6. Calgary, Sept. 20, 1996 at UBC 57
6. Saskatchewan, Sept. 25, 2004 vs. UBC 57
6. Saskatchewan, Oct. 22, 2005 at Reg 57
9. Calgary, Oct. 14, 1995 at AB 56
9. Saskatchewan, Sept. 10, 1999 vs. Reg 56