Box Score

You can throw out all the possible playoff scenarios and tiebreaking procedures.

For the Regina Rams and the Manitoba Bisons this Friday night, it's as simple as this: win and you're in, lose and you're done.

The Rams (4-3) meet the Bisons (3-4) in both teams' final game of the Canada West schedule. A win for the Rams puts them in third place in the conference, while a win for the Bisons would place Manitoba in the fourth spot. The losing team will finish in fifth place and out of the Canada West playoffs.

Friday's game will be the final Canada West game for nine Rams in their final year of eligibility, including quarterback Teale Orban and slotback Chad Goldie, who have smashed numerous school, conference, and national records during their five years on campus. Orban is the all-time conference leader in passing yards, pass completions, and touchdown passes, while Goldie is the Canada West leader in career receptions.

The Rams' other fifth-year players include left tackle Ryan Ackerman, running back Luke Derkson, cornerback Aadon Fieger, linebacker Greg Girard, safety Charlie McCrystal, defensive tackle Paul McDill, and cornerback Andrew Rumbaugh.

The Rams are coming off of a 38-31 win over the Alberta Golden Bears last weekend in which they were led by Orban, who tossed five touchdown passes to four different receivers and was named the Canada West Offensive Player of the Week. The game was sealed in the final minute of the fourth quarter when Darren Geddert picked off a Quade Armstrong pass at the Rams' 35-yard line, killing the Golden Bears' drive.

The loss came at a price for the Rams, as Derkson – who came into the game as the conference's leading rusher – went down with a knee injury in the second quarter. He won't play against Manitoba and will be replaced by second-year running back Austin Kappel, who rushed 21 times for 115 yards after Derkson went down.

Last week, the Bisons were downed 25-18 by Calgary. Manitoba led by four points going into the final quarter, but the Dinos scored 11 unanswered points to take the victory. Had Manitoba won that game, point differential would have come into play and the Rams would have had to beat the Bisons by at least 14 points to qualify for the postseason. Manitoba quarterback John Makie, who hails from Regina, will be among the nine fifth-year Bisons playing in their final regular season contest on Friday.

The Bisons come into the game with recent history on their side. Including playoff games, Manitoba has won seven consecutive games over the Rams. The last time Regina defeated Manitoba was on Oct. 8, 2005, when the Rams took a 30-27 overtime win in Winnipeg.

Friday's game will kick off at Mosaic Stadium at 7 p.m. Michael Ball and Chad Ehman will have the radio call live on 620 CKRM and on the Internet at 620CKRM.com. Access7 (Lee Jones, Michael Thomas) will rebroadcast the game on Sunday at 9 a.m. and Tuesday at 6 p.m., while Max Local on Demand (Ron Rimer, Marco Ricci) will have the game available on Channel 48 to SaskTel subscribers by midweek following the game.