Complete game notes [pdf]

THE GAME
The University of Regina Rams qualified for the Canada West postseason with a 31-22 road win over Manitoba last weekend. Their reward? A trip to Calgary to square off with the No. 2-ranked Dinos in the Canada West semifinals for the second consecutive season and the third time in the last four years. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday at McMahon Stadium.

THE HEADLINES
• The winner of Friday's game advances to the Hardy Cup, where they'll take on the winner of the UBC/Saskatchewan semifinal
• Entering Friday, Calgary has won eight consecutive games over the Rams including playoffs
• The two teams have met four times in the postseason, all four of which have been Canada West semifinal games played in Calgary
• The Rams won postseason games over Calgary in 2000 and 2002, while the Dinos replied with victories in 2008 and 2010
• In terms of total offence, this game features Calgary's No. 1-ranked offence (499.2 yards per game) against Regina's No. 1-ranked defence (335.9 yards per game allowed)
• The game also features the top running backs in the conference, as Regina's Adrian Charles finished with 911 yards and Calgary's Steven Lumbala had 898
• Rams punter Chris Bodnar finished as the nation's leader in average yards per punt (44.6)
• Calgary receiver Chris Dobko tied for the CIS lead in touchdown catches (8), while Johnny Mark was a perfect 33-for-33 in extra-point attempts and was good on 17 of his 19 field attempts to lead all CIS kickers with an 89% success rate

UNIVERSITY OF REGINA RAMS (3-5)
Faced with a must-win game to keep their season alive, the University of Regina's football team held on for a 31-22 win over the Manitoba Bisons last Saturday to clinch a berth in the Canada West postseason.

The Rams' defence was strong once again for Regina, coming up huge in the fourth quarter to preserve the lead despite Manitoba's offence having a significant wind at their backs. Back-to-back sacks by Stefan Charles snuffed out one Bisons drive early in the fourth quarter, and Charles was named the Canada West Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts after tying for the team lead with 5½ tackles.

Special teams was also a strength for Regina. Jorgen Hus blocked a punt early in the first quarter and Steve Famulak returned the fumble 10 yards for the score, giving the Rams their first major of the game. Hus, who's also the team's long snapper, was named the Canada West and CIS Special Teams Player of the Week.

Rams players led several Canada West individual statistical categories, including interceptions (Jamir Walker – 4), sacks (Akiem Hicks – 6½), tackles for loss (Stefan Charles and Logan Brooks – 10½), fumbles recovered (Steve Famulak – 4), rushing yards (Adrian Charles – 911), and average yards per punt (Chris Bodnar – 44.6).

The Rams will be looking for their first postseason victory since defeating Saskatchewan back in the 2007 Canada West semifinals.

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY DINOS (7-1)
Their hopes for an undefeated season having been dashed last week in a game that had no bearing on the standings for them, the Dinos dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 in the FRC-CIS Top Ten but will enjoy home field advantage all the way through the Mitchell Bowl.

Last week's 36-23 loss at UBC, the only blemish on the season for the 7-1 Dinos, saw flashes of brilliance from the offence followed by stretches of mistake-filled football. The three touchdown drives by Calgary in the first half were as good as any on the season, culminating in scores by Chris Dobko, Richard Snyder, and Eric Dzwilewski.

In addition to the exploits of the Lumbala-Walter-Woodson rushing machine that has made most of the offensive waves for the Dinos this season, Chris Dobko has emerged as the go-to receiver in Canada West. He finished the season with 56 receptions, the best single-season total by any receiver in the conference since Don Blair's 1995 Hec Crighton-winning season.

UBC's Jordan Grieve was the only player in the conference with more receiving yards (768) than Dobko's 676, and no other receiver came close to Dobko's eight touchdowns on the season. Three of those Dobko scores came Week 3 against the Regina Rams.

Calgary's defence, anchored by linebackers Sam Hurl and Jordan Verdone, was the best in the conference against the run, allowing just 117 yards per game along the ground. They trailed only Regina in total yards allowed – and that by just two yards over the course of the entire season. Calgary will remain without the services of Michael Lau, the fifth-year cornerback who suffered a leg injury Week 7 against Manitoba and is out indefinitely.