WINNIPEG – It was just under a year ago, that the Manitoba Bisons travelled to UBC to take on the Thunderbirds in the Canada West semi-finals. Trailing for most of the game, UBC battled back to win, 29-21, ending the Herd's record-breaking fifth straight playoff appearance in the first round.
 
Following the game, there was an enormous amount of emotion. Players hugged each other, embracing everything they'd been through, not only during the season, but in their entire U SPORTS careers together.
 
Many players stuck around the field, soaking in what they had just experienced. One of the last to leave was running back Breydon Stubbs, one of 25 players eligible for senior status that offseason.
 
As members of the roster trickled off the field, Stubbs remained, alone. An outpouring of emotion quickly turned to motivation, as multiple teammates came to lift him up, not physically, but emotionally.
 
Like they'd done all season, Manitoba's veteran roster had each other's back. In the moment, there was sadness. But that sadness quickly turned to motivation.
 
Every single eligible senior returned for 2024, including Stubbs, knowing exactly how much potential the group of close teammates and friends had. A consistent off-season including countless 6 am workouts and field and gym sessions together, led to results on the field.
 
Offensively, Manitoba's hard work culminated in one of the greatest single-game performances in school history on Saturday at home.
 
Sparked by the gritty and determined play of returning starters Sean Rowe (left tackle), Giordano Vaccaro (left guard), Mark Rauhaus (centre), Matt Stokman (right guard) and Victor Olaniran on the offensive line, the Bisons rushed for 436 yards, the second-most in a game in school history.
 
In a full-circle moment from the year prior, the dominant rushing showcase came against UBC, with Stubbs leading the way.
 
His four rushing touchdowns (distances of one, 12, 12 and two) gave him 14 on the season, shattering a 29-year school record of 13, held by the program's all-time leading rusher Dominic Zagari since 1995.
 
A four-year starter, Stubbs rushed for 244 yards on the day, going over 200 for the first time as a Bison, while going over 100 for the fifth time on the campaign.
 
Along the way, Manitoba defeated UBC 51-38, sweeping the Vanier Cup contenders in two games for the first time in 12 years.
 
Not a rah-rah player by trade, Stubbs – much like he did following the prior year's loss to UBC in the playoffs – wore his heart on his sleeve as he addressed his teammates.
 
"I wouldn't be here without all of ya'll," he said proudly.
 
"We worked day and night, all throughout the winter last year. We fought, we battled. Training camp, we set the tone right from the rip. I have to give a shout out to my five o-linemen. I love you all. I appreciate you all."
 
Stubbs' 14 scores led the nation, four clear of anyone else, while his 162 total carries were also the most in the country. He finished the season with a career-high 937 rushing yards – just 15 shy of Saskatchewan's Ryker Frank for first.
 
More importantly, Stubbs helped improve Manitoba's record to 7-1, and they locked up first place in the Canada West standings, as well as the right to host Saturday's 2 pm conference semi-final, plus the Hardy Cup and the national semi-final (for the first time in 17 years).
 
"Every year he's gotten better. He's never plateaued. He's never slid down. Experience is invaluable," said Brian Dobie, coaching in his final regular season home game as head coach, after 29 seasons.
 
"You can only garner it through the accumulation of experiences. That's what gets you to the bank. I watch him run the ball now, he has outstanding patience. When he came in here, he might've thought he had that, he didn't have that. He has outstanding patience and with that comes vision. I see him as a mature running back. I see him as a seasoned, experienced back. I think that's how it's transformed for him."
 
As his coach mentioned, Stubbs carved up the T-Birds by staying patient. He let his offensive line set the tempo with a variety of kick-out blocks and pulls, and as usual, he displayed his physicality and strength in space.
 
"We just stuck to the process as a team. Me personally I just wanted to make it a goal to show that I'm one of the top running backs in this conference. I wanted to make a name for myself. I think I did," he said.
 
"To be honest, the team leaned on me when we needed it. They pushed me to get those four touchdowns. They trusted me, that I could run the ball. The offensive line freed me up so well this game. Shout out to all five of my o-linemen."
 
Manitoba opened up a lead of as large as 28 in the first half, with starting quarterback Jackson Tachinski and receiver Braeden Smith – who's also a sprinter on Manitoba's track and field team – adding 138 rushing yards to the Herd's mind-blowing total.
 
That number included Smith's first career rushing touchdown, the longest play of his career on the ground, of 50 yards (90 total on just three carries). Meanwhile, Tachinski finished the regular season with a career-high 570 rushing yards. He has 1,452 as a member of the Herd, while he and Stubbs have combined for 39 rushing scores.
 
The T-Birds pushed back, capitalizing on three missing starters in the secondary. Garrett Rooker threw for a career-high 426 yards, as UBC scored four straight majors at one point and cut Manitoba's lead to seven multiple times.
 
But whenever UBC pressed, Manitoba countered, like they've done all year, with a dominant ground showcase.
 
The Herd's starting five paved the way for over 200 yards for the ninth time in the last two seasons, and defensively, Dario Maccia recorded his second interception of the season, while Jarrett Alcaraz also had an interception, and the Bisons stuffed a UBC third down attempt, all in the second half.
 
As a whole, the Bisons rushed for 2,016 yards on the season, the most of any team in the country. It's a philosophy that's sure to pay off when Manitoba welcomes Regina to Princess Auto Stadium on Saturday, November 2^nd at 2 pm in what's sure to be a cold weather day in the province.
 
"Running the ball is huge in football. It opens up a lot of the game passing-wise and play action-wise. That's the big thing about running the ball," said Tachinski.
 
"The way we're able to run the ball, the way we're able to punish these teams, and be the more physical team every week, it's really going to be helpful for us, especially when we're playing in wind and snow and all that. It's going to be key for our playoff run. I'm excited."