Box Score

The University of Regina Rams trailed 18-0 after the first quarter, but outscored Manitoba by a 41-1 margin the rest of the way and cruised to a 41-19 win over the Bisons in a Canada West game on Saturday afternoon at University Stadium.

Manitoba went into halftime with an eight-point advantage, but could only manage a solitary rouge in the third quarter against Regina's defence despite having a blustery west-northwest wind at its back. Chris King hauled in a 50-yard touchdown pass in the third to draw the Rams closer before the offence exploded in the final quarter. Adrian Charles ran for touchdowns on back-to-back possessions early in the fourth, and quarterback Marc Mueller added a touchdown on a one-yard plunge to make it a three-score lead with less than six minutes remaining on the clock.

The Rams (5-1) move into sole possession of first place with the win, while Manitoba drops to 1-5 with the loss.

Charles had a huge game for the Rams, as his 222 rushing yards stands as the third highest single-game total in U of R history. His rushing yardage includes a 90-yard run in the second quarter, which set up a five-yard touchdown pass from Mueller to Brenden Owens.

Mueller was 19-for-28 for 244 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed eight times for 70 yards. Owens had a team-high seven receptions, while King ended up with 101 receiving yards.

Bruce Anderson had 8.5 tackles to lead the Rams, while Benton Gieni, Steve Famulak, and Jas Dhillon each had a solo sack and Logan Brooks and Stefan Charles teamed up for a fourth sack.

Manitoba quarterback Khaleal Williams completed 13 of his 24 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Henry had 138 rushing yards for the Bisons, while Stu Schollardt had three catches and 100 receiving yards to lead his team in both statistical categories.

John Tietzmann led the Manitoba defence with eight solo tackles, a pass breakup, and a sack. The Bisons will be back in action next Saturday on the road against Alberta.

The Rams will finish off their Canada West schedule against Calgary next Friday and at Saskatchewan the following week.

NOTES: Charles' 222 rushing yards ranks behind only Neal Hughes (295 against Alberta on Oct. 25, 2003) and Ronald Arnold (249 against Saskatchewan on Sept. 23, 2000) ... Charles now has nine rushing touchdowns on the season, which ties him with Hughes for the most in a single season by a Ram ... Charles needs just 65 yards to break Hughes' single-season rushing record, set at 953 yards back in 2003 ... Charles needs 111 yards to become the first 1000-yard rusher in program history ... Charles' 90-yard run in the second quarter ties his own run at UBC in Week 4 as the second longest rush from scrimmage in Rams history.