Bears Football stumble to 0-4: Time is running out

It was a game that started with promise but quickly unraveled. The Golden Bears were right there after the first quarter, trailing just 3-1. But then came the second, and with it, a storm they couldn’t withstand. Manitoba rattled off three straight touchdowns, all in the span of 10 minutes, and just like that the contest slipped away.

The numbers tell the story. Alberta finished with 362 total yards, but only 84 of them came on the ground. Manitoba, meanwhile, bulldozed their way to 315 rushing yards, averaging 7.9 yards per carry. That kind of imbalance puts far too much pressure on Alberta’s quarterbacks and receivers to keep drives alive.

Rookie running back Seth Poelzer has flashed frequently. He has demonstrated his burst and shiftiness, and he looks like a player that could grow into a star. Fifth-year Ope Oshinubi displayed his 4.42 speed in this game, however, the holes just aren’t there for either running back. The run blocking unit is losing battles at the line of scrimmage, and without those lanes, Poelzer and Oshinubi are being asked to create something out of nothing. That’s not a sustainable plan, and it’s one reason why Alberta leads Canada West in the wrong categories: least points scored (69) and most points allowed (133).

On the flip side, the passing attack continues to grow. Carter Kettyle is proving he can be a reliable weapon, racking up 131 yards on eight catches against Manitoba. Quarterback Eli Hetlinger also showed some poise, finding Erik Torhjelm for Alberta’s lone touchdown of the day. Dual-threat quarterback Trey Reider was also given significant snaps, which he capitalized on for some big-time plays. The air game is developing into a real strength, but without the run to complement it, opposing defenses don’t have to respect balance. They can sit back, rush the passer, and shut things down.

On special teams, the Golden Bears struggled. In a game with two missed field goals (both under 40 yards), and a lost fumble on a punt return, there are serious questions on the consistency of these units. Recent Golden Bears signing of Kicker Remi Doderai (Austin O’Brien High School) could give starting kicker Eric Schwarz some competition for his job. Doderai’s signing was announced just one day after the Manitoba loss, which could suggest that Shwarz has lost his starting job.

Defensively, the Bears are putting up individual numbers, but not the stops that matter. Sacks and tackles look nice on the stat sheet, but opponents are pounding the ball through Alberta’s front seven. Second downs, in particular, are where the Bears are hurting. Instead of forcing punts, they’re giving up chunk runs and extending drives. That’s why teams are scoring at will. Until Alberta finds a way to plug those gaps, every opponent will lean on the ground game to control the tempo. That does not rule out the secondary, however. The Manitoba passing game looked equally as unstoppable. Frequent intermediate gains to the boundary marched the Bisons down the field quickly. Although Jackson Tachinski’s passing game is elite, it is clear this was not good enough to be a successful team in the Canada West division.

The Bisons exposed those flaws again and again. Whether it was Noah Anderson stiff-arming his way into the end zone, Breydon Stubbs carving up the middle, or quarterback Jackson Tachinski breaking free on a long run, Manitoba’s deep backfield dictated the pace. By halftime, it was already too late.

So here we are: 0-4. Bottom of the Canada West. Out of runway if the Bears want to dream about playoffs. Friday September 26, the Bears face off at Foote Field against the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds. UBC sits at 2-2 and has yet to win on the road. That makes this a golden opportunity for Alberta to grab its first victory.

If the Bears want to flip the script, it has to start with balance on offense and discipline on defense. The rushing attack needs space and time, the passing attack needs support, and above all, the defense has to stuff the run when it counts.

Because if not now, when?