Box Score Box Score

The No. 2-ranked University of Calgary Dinos secured a berth in the Hardy Cup after a 16-4 win over the Regina Rams on Friday night in a Canada West semifinal at McMahon Stadium.

Incredibly, for the second consecutive year against the Rams in the conference semifinals, Calgary's offence connected for a major on the very first play from scrimmage. Last year it was Erik Glavic hitting Anthony Parker to open the game with a long Dinos touchdown, and on Friday night Eric Dzwilewski aired out a 90-yard pass to Richard Snyder for the major.

A major by Calgary running back Matt Walter late in the first half would prove to be the only other touchdown of the game.

Calgary will now host the winner of the UBC/Saskatchewan semifinal, which goes Saturday afternoon at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver.

Steven Lumbala ended up with a game-high 113 rushing yards for Calgary, while Dzwilewski completed eight of his 16 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. Snyder caught four passes for 143 yards, most of which came on the long game-opening major. Sam Hurl led Calgary defensively with seven solo tackles, six assisted tackles, and a pair of sacks.

Regina quarterback Zach Oleynik was 18-for-35 and threw for 193 yards. Mark McConkey led all players with five receptions, while Jay Smith had a team-high 44 receiving yards. Adrian Charles rushed 14 times for 63 yards.

Jamir Walker had a pair of interceptions for the U of R, becoming the first Rams player to record multiple picks in a postseason game. Akiem Hicks led the Rams with 10 ½ tackles, pacing a U of R defence that held the top-ranked offence in the conference to its lowest offensive output of the season.

Chris Bodnar's field goal midway through the first quarter cut the lead to 7-3 after Snyder's opening play score, but the 39-yarder would be the visitors' lone points of the first half.

Stuck deep in their own territory late in the second quarter, the Rams bought themselves some breathing room by conceding a safety. Calgary, though, put together a quick seven-play, 75-yard drive that was finished off by a 21-yard Walter run to send the Dinos into halftime with a 16-3 advantage.

A 55-yard Bodnar rouge stood up as the only point of the second half. Both teams had chances in the red zone but were unable to convert, as Dzwilewski had a pass picked off by Walker on the goal line and a bad snap forced the Rams well back after driving to the Calgary 15-yard line in the waning moments of the contest.

Calgary will host the Hardy Cup next Friday night at McMahon.