Archive photo courtesy Ron Hole / SFU Athletics: Return specialist Jeff Thompson brought back six punts for 100 yards in SFU's season-opener to grab Week 1 CIS Special Teams Player of the Week honours

BURNABY, B.C. – Looking back, the 2008 game between the Simon Fraser University Clan and the University of Manitoba Bisons (video recap available here: video recap) went down as one of the oddest in Canada West football history.

Playing in a torrential downpour in Abbotsford at Rotary Stadium, SFU managed only 209 total yards on offence to the Bisons 326, yet at the end of regulation Clan kicker Jeff Biles (Burnaby, B.C.) found himself in position to break the 7-7 tie. Biles’ 38-yard field goal attempt was tipped at the line and in overtime, the boot was on the other foot, when Manitoba’s Scott Dixon sailed his 38-yard game tying kick wide to give the Clan a 10-8 victory.

The game proved to be the turning point in both teams’ respective seasons. It was SFU’s fourth win of the year, almost guaranteeing a playoff spot for the Clan, while the Bisons dropped to 2-3, and never truly recovered, missing the playoffs in their attempt to repeat as Vanier Cup champions.

While still early in 2009, Friday’s home opener for the Clan (7 pm – Clan TV) is of equal importance to both teams. Simon Fraser has enjoyed a week to recover following their season opening 26-7 win over UBC, and squandering the rest and home crowd against a Bisons team licking their wounds from a lopsided 28-10 loss at the hands of the Regina Rams is not really an option. With the loss to the Rams, the Bisons have almost entered into must win territory in an eight-game regular season. Looking down their schedule, if Manitoba enters their September 26, bye week with less than two wins, they could miss the postseason for the second year in a row.

A look at the Clan:
(1-0 Canada West – Tied for first)

While Simon Fraser may not have played perfectly in their season opener against UBC, they did leave the field significantly healthier than when they initially put on their uniforms at Thunderbird Stadium. This is because SFU is expected to have middle linebacker Chris Folk (Kelowna, B.C.), defensive tackle John Reeves (New Westminster, B.C.), halfback Aeron Kawakami (Richmond, B.C.) and wideout Spencer Watt (North Vancouver, B.C.) all back in the lineup against the Bisons.

Even without three defensive starters, the Clan’s defence looked impressive against the Thunderbirds, and SFU now sits with the top-rated passing defence (125 yards per game) and third-rated rushing defence (131 yards per game) in the Canada West after one game. In place of Folk, Rob Coombs (Aldergrove, B.C.) and Andrew Marshall (Nanoose Bay, B.C.) played respectably in the middle, while outside linebacker Mark Bailey (Surrey, B.C.) showcased his speed by flying across the field, enough to earn CIS Defensive Player of the Week honours. And while in the first half the Clan’s secondary had three significant miscommunications that left UBC receivers open, the unit, led by CFL Draft Picks Anthony DesLauriers (Surrey, B.C.) and Ray Wladichuk (Vernon, B.C.) went into lockdown mode in the second half.

And while no team in three-down football can truly state they are ‘run first,’ the Clan showcased in the season opener that their league leading run game from 2008 is still dangerous. Gabe Ephard (North Vancouver, B.C.) touched the ball only eight times, and yet racked up 68 yards, including 27 yards on his second quarter cutback touchdown run. Quarterback Bernd Dittrich (Vienna, Austria), always a threat to take off, showcased a new level of maturity, putting up efficient numbers (13-for-23, 185 yards, no interceptions) in the air, while rushing for three first downs, and a 9.0 yard per carry average.

And after years of searching, the Clan may also have finally found a dangerous returner, with redshirt Jeff Thompson (St. Louis, MO) posting SFU’s second longest punt return under Canadian rules, a 47-yard return against UBC, and putting up 134 all-purpose yards to earn CIS Special Teams Player of the Week. Thompson, who doubles as a sprinter on Simon Fraser’s track and field team, was instrumental in the Clan’s first half touchdown drive by returning UBC’s kickoff to midfield.

A look at the Bisons:
(0-1 Canada West – Tied for fifth)

After scoring the opening three points of the game against Regina, Manitoba struggled in their loss against the Rams. With the graduation of quarterback John Makie, the reigns of the offence were handed over to Nathan Friesen, and the result in the season opener was less than impressive. Friesen threw for 100 yards on the nose, completing only 8-of-24 passes with a touchdown and two interceptions. And while deep in the backfield, the Bisons running back tandem of James Gerardy and Matt Henry were unable to punch in a major.

The Bisons posted the Canada West’s best run defence in 2008, and allowed only 126 yards rushing against the Rams, however Manitoba hemorrhaged against the Regina passing attack, allowing quarterback Marc Mueller to shred the Bisons for 360 yards and two touchdowns, completing 24-of-34 passing attempts in his first career start.

Manitoba however has history on their side. Since SFU moved to the Canada West in 2002, Manitoba has won seven of nine against the Clan, and have never lost back-to-back games against SFU.

Media:
Friday’s game will be the first streaming video broadcast on SFU’s Clan TV, available at http://www.educationcdn.com/schools/clan/. CKNW and Shaw TV’s Jim Mullin and Scott McLean will have the call. Pregame begins at 6:45 pm.

Promotions:
The Simon Fraser Student Society is holding the inaugural ‘Clan Kickoff Concert’ in Convocation Mall from 4-7 pm on Friday, September 11, which will feature live bands including Lillix and AK-747s.

SFU vs. Manitoba regular season history
(Since SFU moved to the Canada West from the NAIA in 2002)

Manitoba leads series 7-2
2002: Manitoba defeats SFU 47-7 in Burnaby
2003: SFU defeats Manitoba 16-12 in Winnipeg
2003: Manitoba defeats SFU 35-28 in Burnaby
2004: Manitoba defeats SFU 41-36 in Winnipeg
2005: Manitoba defeats SFU 35-30 in Winnipeg
2006: Manitoba defeats SFU 77-7 in Chilliwack, B.C.
2006: Manitoba defeats SFU 63-8 in Winnipeg
2007: Manitoba defeats SFU 22-0 in Coquitlam, B.C.
2008: SFU defeats Manitoba 10-8 (OT) in Abbotsford, B.C.