Game Notes

The University of Regina Rams (3-3) are back in action this Saturday with a road game against No. 3-ranked Calgary (5-1). The game will be featured as the Shaw TV Game of the Week, with the live feed being picked up by Access7 in Regina.

This will be the second meeting of the season between the two teams, as the Dinos scored a 41-15 win over the Rams back on Sept. 18 in Regina.

The Rams entered the week only needing a win in one of their final two games of the season to clinch a playoff berth. That all changed on Wednesday, as the conference's decision to overturn two Simon Fraser wins due to the use of an ineligible player improved Manitoba's record to 3-3, pulling the Bisons into a three-way tie with the Rams and Alberta for third place in the conference.

Regina can still clinch a playoff spot this weekend, but the Rams will need to defeat No. 3-ranked Calgary and hope that the UBC Thunderbirds – who were given a faint glimmer of postseason hope with the Simon Fraser ruling – can score a home win over the Manitoba Bisons.

University of Regina Rams (3-3)
Last Week: Lost 33-22 to Alberta
Next Week: vs. No. 5 Saskatchewan (Oct. 30)

The Rams could have clinched a playoff spot last week, but were handed a 33-22 loss by the Alberta Golden Bears at Foote Field in Edmonton. Regina trailed by just two points at the half, but the Rams were unable to generate any second-half offence. The loss snapped Regina's two-game winning streak, as the Rams had recorded wins over UBC and Simon Fraser coming into the weekend.

Third-year quarterback Marc Mueller, on pace to throw for over 2100 yards this season, controls an offence that relies heavily on the passing game. The Rams rank second in Canada West in passing yards per game (260.3) and last in the conference in rushing yards per contest (102.2). Mueller's top target is fourth-year slotback Jordan Sisco, who has 35 receptions for 435 yards this season. Graham Mosiondz (304 rushing yards) and Cale Inglis (219) handle the ground duties for the Rams.

Fifth-year linebacker Brandon Ganne, a Canada West all-star last season, leads the Rams this year with 39½ total tackles. Jamir Walker has been a standout in the backfield for Regina, as the second-year corner is tied for second in the conference with four interceptions and also has a team-leading six pass breakups.

The Rams will finish off their conference schedule on Oct. 30, when they'll host No. 5-ranked Saskatchewan at Mosaic Stadium.

University of Calgary Dinos (5-1)
Last Week: (Bye)
Next Week: at Alberta (Oct. 31)

While the Rams are just hoping to qualify for the postseason, Calgary has had a playoff spot clinched for two weeks now and are trying to nail down top spot in the conference. After losing 34-33 to Saskatchewan to start out the season, Blake Nill and the Dinos have reeled off five straight wins, including a 41-15 victory over the Rams on Sept. 18.

Calgary leads Canada West in points per game (38.2), passing yards per game (265.8), and rushing yards per game (288.7). The Dinos also lead the conference in rushing defence, allowing an average of just 94.7 yards per game.

Dinos quarterback Erik Glavic leads the conference with a 65.9% completion rate and boasts a conference-best pass efficiency rating of 177.3. Running back Matt Walter is well on his way to a second consecutive all-star nod, as he leads Canada West with 877 rushing yards and six touchdown runs. As if that wasn't enough, the Dinos also sport the conference's top receiver, as Anthony Parker is the conference leader in receptions (39), receiving yards (648), and touchdown catches (4).

Defensive halfback Matt Grohn leads the Dinos in both total tackles (31½) and pass breakups (7), while linebackers Chase Moore, Geoff Paiment, and Andrea Bonaventura have combined for ten tackles for loss and just under 90 total tackles.

SISCO CLIMBING UP THE CHARTS

Fourth-year wide receiver Jordan Sisco is starting to etch his way into the University of Regina record book. Sisco, a prospect for the 2010 CFL Draft, moved up to No. 3 on the Rams' all-time lists in both career receptions and receiving yards after his big game against Alberta last Saturday. Sisco needs just 14 catches to catch Cory Olynick for second place on the receptions list, but is still just under 400 yards behind Jason Clermont on the school's receiving yards list. He'll also jump into the top five in career touchdown receptions with his next TD catch.

IT'S ALL ABOUT PERRI

There's been plenty of talk about Rams fifth-year kicker Perri Scarcelli lately, and why not? All he's done so far this year is set the U of R's single-season record with 15 field goals made, lead the conference with 54 points scored, and move up to No. 3 on the Canada West all-time list in career points (277). He's been named the Canada West Special Teams Player of the Week two times this season and was also named CIS Special Teams Player of the Week a week ago thanks to his last-minute field goal against Simon Fraser.

Scarcelli also ranks fifth on the Canada West list in career field goals made (51) and needs three to move into fourth place. He's ranked No. 1 in the conference record book in both career punts (322) and field goals attempted (82) and is No. 4 in field goal percentage (62.2%).

FORMER RAMS IN THE PROS

The impressive list of former University of Regina players now toiling in the professional ranks is led by the Seattle Seahawks' Jon Ryan, who currently ranks No. 2 in the NFL with an average of 49.9 yards per punt. Nine former University of Regina Rams are now in the CFL, including Chris Bauman (Hamilton), Jason Clermont (Saskatchewan), Tamon George (Saskatchewan), Chris Getzlaf (Saskatchewan), Neal Hughes (Saskatchewan), Nick Hutchins (Saskatchewan), Brendon LaBatte (Winnipeg), Joel Lipinski (Saskatchewan), and Stan Van Sichem (Montreal). Randy Srochenski, who suited up for the Regina Rams during their days as a junior program, is with the Toronto Argonauts.