The University of Calgary Dinos football team overcame an 18-point deficit before falling to the Manitoba Bisons 38-36

The University of Calgary Dinos football team overcame an 18-point second-quarter deficit before running out of answers and falling to the Manitoba Bisons 38-36 in a double-overtime thriller on Saturday at Murray Field.

David Jordan led the comeback bid through the air, finishing 18-of-32 for 267 yards and two touchdowns, while Matt Sibley caught eight for 137 yards.

Matthieu Clarke was Calgary’s workhorse, piling up 112 yards on the ground and catching a touchdown in the second overtime, while De’Von Young made the game’s biggest defensive play, returning an interception 49 yards to set up the tying score late in the fourth.

The loss drops Calgary to 1-2, while Manitoba improves to 1-1.

Manitoba jumped out early, going up 7-3 after the first quarter, then scored twice in quick succession early in the second to take a commanding 21-3 lead.

But the Dinos refused to fold.

Evan Smith’s two-yard touchdown run before the half trimmed the deficit to 21-10, and Calgary came out of the break and took over, scoring the third quarter’s only points to turn a two-score game into a one-point one. Jordan connected with Zion Grant on an 18-yard touchdown, and Boaz Comeau added a 20-yard field goal to make it 21-20 heading into the fourth.

Manitoba answered with a touchdown of its own early in the fourth, but a failed two-point convert kept Calgary’s comeback alive.

The Dinos defence answered. Young jumped a short pass from Manitoba quarterback Cole Anseeuw and nearly took it the distance, returning the interception 49 yards before finally being run down. Calgary cashed in on the turnover, with Jet Zakrzewski capping the drive with a one-yard touchdown to tie the game 27-27 with under three minutes left.

The Dinos weren’t done making plays either. Manitoba drove into field goal range with a chance to win it in regulation, but on the Bisons’ final snap, the Dinos defence kept the runner on his feet just long enough for time to expire, denying Manitoba a chance to kick for the win and sending the game to overtime.

Calgary matched Manitoba blow for blow through the first extra session, both sides trading field goals to make it 30-30 and force a second overtime.

But the Dinos’ comeback finally ran out of road. Manitoba scored and converted for two to go up 38-30, and although Jordan answered immediately with a touchdown pass to Clarke, Calgary’s two-point try failed.

For Manitoba, Anseeuw completed 23 of 36 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns, Ishe Matanga scored three total touchdowns, and Nathan Udoh caught nine passes for 102 yards and two scores.

The Dinos will return to action Friday, Sept. 25, when they host the Alberta Golden Bears at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at GoDinos.com/Tickets.

Manitoba will host the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday, Sept. 26.