With second place and a home playoff game in the Canada West semifinals all wrapped up, the No. 7-ranked University of Regina Rams finish off their conference schedule this Friday at home against Alberta.
QUICK NOTES
• The Rams jumped one spot to No. 7 in this week's FRC-CIS Top Ten after they defeated Calgary 12-9 on Friday, handing the Dinos their first loss of the season
• A win for the U of R gives the Rams their second 6-2 season since joining Canada West and their first six-win season since 2007
• The Rams will finish in second place in the Canada West standings and will host either Saskatchewan or Manitoba next Friday in their first home playoff game since the 2007 season
• Regina will likely host Saskatchewan in the Canada West quarterfinals next Friday – the only way Manitoba can finish in third place is with a UBC victory over Saskatchewan on Friday and a Bisons win over Calgary on Saturday
• After missing the last two games after being injured in the Manitoba comeback win, Rams quarterback
Marc Mueller is expected to start under centre in Week 8
• Still searching for their first win of the conference schedule, Alberta will finish in sixth place in the Canada West standings – not counting the two forfeit wins in 2011 due to UBC's ineligible player, Alberta is looking for its first victory since defeating Manitoba on Oct. 23, 2010
TEAM PREVIEW: #7 REGINA (5-2)
Thanks to a spectacular effort from their defence, the Rams dealt then-No. 2 Calgary its first loss of the season with a 12-9 victory over the Dinos last Friday. The win clinched second place in the Canada West standings for the Rams and assured them a home playoff game for the first time since 2007.
After being decimated by injuries over the past few weeks, the Rams are starting to get back to full strength. Defensive tackle
Stefan Charles returned to the lineup against Calgary after being out since Week 2, and quarterback
Marc Mueller is expected to start under centre this Friday after being injured in Week 5 against Manitoba.
Before being injured, Mueller was leading Canada West in several quarterbacking categories and was on pace to threaten Teale Orban's school record for passing yards in a season. He's completed 138 of his 202 passes this season for a 68.3% completion rate, the highest single-season rate in University of Regina history.
Jared Janotta and
Kolten Solomon are the Rams' top two receivers, as Janotta leads the team in both receptions (40) and receiving yards (450) and Solomon has a team-high four touchdown passes to go along with 33 receptions for 435 yards.
Jay Smith is also having a fine season for the U of R, as the fifth-year slotback has 27 catches for 359 yards.
Though he rushed for only 35 yards against Calgary, second-year running back
Michael Kiapway still ranks fourth in the conference with 523 rushing yards on the season and is tied for second in Canada West with five touchdown runs.
The reigning Canada West Defensive Player of the Week,
Joey Dwyer returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown last Friday against the Dinos and added two key pass breakups and six total tackles to help lead the Rams to victory.
Chris Sciog leads the U of R with 38 total tackles, while
Ryan Wellman leads the team in both tackles for loss (7½) and sacks (3),
Jamir Walker and
Kirby Kezama share the team lead with four interceptions each, and
Brady Aulie is the only U of R player with multiple fumble recoveries on the year.
Walker was named the Canada West Special Teams Player of the Week after reeling off an 86-yard return off a missed field goal, the second longest punt return in school history. Walker ended up with two returns for 102 yards in the victory.
TEAM PREVIEW: ALBERTA (0-7)
Still searching for their first victory of the conference schedule, the Alberta Golden Bears are coming off a 27-10 home loss to Saskatchewan and finish off their season in Regina on Friday night.
Curtis Dell controls the Alberta offence, which scored a season-high 38 points in a Week 4 loss to Manitoba. The third-year pivot has thrown for 1132 yards and three touchdowns this season, but has only completed 48.2% of his pass attempts. Dell's top targets have been Ryley Richardson (39 receptions for 426 yards) and Jess Valleau (28 catches for 429 yards), while Richardson and Dillon Prince both have two touchdown catches heading into Week 8.
Second-year running back Tyler Lewis has been efficient for Alberta, ranking sixth in the conference with 427 rushing yards and averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
Fifth-year cornerback Brent Krawchuk is tied with Kezama and Walker for the Canada West lead with four interceptions this season, while linebacker Ryan Dean has a team-high 38½ tackles and recorded an 80-yard return on a recovered fumble last week against Saskatchewan – the longest fumble return on record by a Canada West player. Defensive back Tanner Lestus ranks second on Alberta with 33 total tackles and leads the Golden Bears with two sacks.
Four fifth-year players will be playing their final game for the Golden Bears, including Dean, Krawchuk, Lestus, and defensive back Randon Ralph.
RAMS MILESTONE WATCH
• QB
Marc Mueller needs three touchdown passes to tie Mark Anderson for second on the U of R's all-time list
• CB
Jamir Walker has 17 career interceptions and needs one more interception to move into sole possession of fourth place on Canada West's all-time list and two more to tie former Saskatchewan player Phil Guebert
• Walker and HB
Kirby Kezama needs just one more interception to tie Walker's school single-season record of five (2010)
• Kezama also needs one more interception to collect the ninth of his career, which would tie Steve Ryan for No. 2 on the U of R's all-time list
• DE
Logan Brooks ranks third on the U of R's all-time list with 10½ career sacks – Brooks needs just one sack to overtake Sean Brimacombe for No. 2 and three to pass Stan Van Sichem as the school's career leader
