EDMONTON - Alberta's offence clicked for a second-straight week, finishing with 504 yards in a 37-16 win over the Manitoba Bisons on Friday night. 

The Bears finished with 287 rushing yards on just 34 carries, led by 158 yards from fourth-year back Matthew Peterson. Alberta only punted twice on Friday night, compared to nine punts for the visiting Bisons. 

Along with their strong ground game, the Bears were led by 196 yards and three passing touchdowns from Eli Hetlinger, as well as 102 all-purpose yards and a touchdown from Jonathan Rosery. Jonathan Giustini added three field goals for the Bears, who start their season 2-0 for the first time since 2015. 

Manitoba mustered just 262 yards of total offence, and played most of the game without star QB Jackson Tachinski, who left in the second quarter with an upper-body injury. Sawyer Thiessen threw for 63 yards on 4/13 in relief of Tachinski, as Manitoba went 51:32 between major scores, recording their only two touchdowns early in the first, and late in the fourth. 

After a slow start, which saw them fall behind 7-0 through one quarter, Alberta's rush attack found their groove in the second quarter. Backup QB Luke Hornung scored on a sneak early in the second, followed by short TD tossed from Eli Hetlinger to Carter Kettyle and Chevy Thomas late in the half. 

Giustini added to the Bears lead with three field goals in the third, before Rosery capped off the win with a 14-yard TD reception. 

Noah Anderson and Vaughn Lloyd scored the two Bisons TD's, coming off six and 33-yard rushes. 

 Alberta (2-0) will visit the 2-0 Saskatchewan Huskies next Friday night, who earned a 40-6 win over Regina tonight. Manitoba (0-2) will visit the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday afternoon looking for their first win of 2023.