WINNIPEG - Leapfrogging themselves into a playoff spot with one week to go, the Manitoba Bisons picked up a 44-30 win over the Alberta Golden Bears, Saturday afternoon at IG Field. 

On the field, quarterback Des Catellier, one of six seniors playing in their final home game, went off for 418 yards, 14 short of a career best, and also tied for a career high with four majors. He went back and forth all game with Alberta pivot Luke Hornung, who was making his first start of the season in place of injured Eli Hetlinger and threw for 416 yards and two majors while also rushing for 73 and scoring twice. 

With the win, Manitoba moves into the fourth and final playoff spot at 3-4, while Alberta falls to 2-5. Manitoba will reach the postseason with a win next week against Regina. If they lose, and Alberta wins, the Golden Bears would take their spot due to winning the points differential. 

There were four different lead changes in the game, however Manitoba took control in the second half, out-scoring Alberta 29-10 after trailing 20-15 at the break. Two fourth quarter interceptions, one from Sebastien Reid and the other from Marcel Arruda-Welch, who also tied the program record with his 20th pass breakup, were the difference, also Catellier continued to play a near perfect game. 

The Calgary native and seven-year veteran of the program went 25-for-36 and found Braedan Smith, Abdul-Karim Gassama, Ishe Matange and Brendt Adams for majors. Smith's 12-yard major on Manitoba's first offensive possession was the first touchdown of his Bisons career, while nine different players caught a pass overall for the Herd. 

Hornung had two rushing touchdowns in the first half, and gave his side a 20-15 lead in the final minute after a 72-yard bomb to Orin Schellenberg. He was dangerous in RPO situations all game, which also opened up the run game as he and Matthew Peterson combined for 111 yards. 

But for as good as he has, Catellier was even better. He found Brendt Adams on a 32-yard major to open the third quarter and the hosts didn't trail the rest of the way, as Catellier threw two more majors, while the Bisons defence locked things down in fourth after Alberta narrowed the score to 29-23 after three on a field goal from Jonathan Giustini, who also had six tackles to lead his side.