• Regardless of what happens on the out-of-town scoreboard, the Rams can clinch a postseason berth with a Saturday victory over Alberta.
• This is the lone meeting of the Canada West schedule for these two teams, marking the second consecutive year they've only matched up once in conference play.
• The last four games between the Rams and Alberta have all been decided by seven or fewer points – a 29-22 win for Alberta last year, a 35-31 win for the Rams and a 44-42 win for Alberta in 2014, and a 25-20 win for Regina in 2014.
• The Rams hold an 18-7 advantage over Alberta in the all-time series.
RAMS STEADY AT NO. 4: The Rams have now been ranked No. 4 in three consecutive CIS Top Ten polls since their win over Calgary, marking their highest ranking since the team started out 5-1 to earn the No. 3 spot in the weekly poll. Calgary (No. 5) and UBC (No. 10) are also ranked.
NESBITT CONTINUES PLAYER OF THE WEEK RUN: LB
Danny Nesbitt earned CIS and Canada West Defensive Player of the Week honours after collecting a pair of interceptions, a pass breakup, one solo tackle, and four assisted tackles in the team's 37-29 win over Saskatchewan at the new Mosaic Stadium. Nesbitt's selection marks the fifth time this season the Rams have had a Canada West Player of the Week and the fourth time this year they've had a CIS weekly honour.
PICTON NEARS COMPLETIONS MARK: QB
Noah Picton is nearing the Canada West single-season completions record, set at 182 by former Rams pivot Marc Mueller in 2010 and matched by Saskatchewan's Drew Burko last year. He's only 37 completions short of surpassing that mark as he comes into Saturday's game with 146 for the season. He's also on pace to break Derek Wendel's CIS record of 216 completions that was set just last season, but so is Wendel – the Ottawa quarterback has 183 with two games left on the OUA schedule.
MORE NOAH NUMBERS: Besides his completions mark, Picton is on pace to break Andrew Buckley's Canada West and CIS record of 3162 passing yards that he set last season in his final year with the Dinos. Picton is also on pace to threaten Teale Orban's mark of 26 touchdown passes, which has stood as the University of Regina and Canada West record since the 2006 campaign. The third-year quarterback enters Week 6 with 2084 passing yards and 18 touchdown passes.
CLOSING IN ON CLERMONT: Out of all the quality receivers that have come through the Rams program, Jason Clermont went on to have the most successful professional career of them all. And
Mitchell Picton has one of his U of R records squarely in his sights, as the fourth-year slotback has a CIS-leading nine touchdown receptions this season – just two short of Clermont's mark of 11, which has stood as the school record since way back in 2001. Picton is also within reach of Addison Richards' U of R record of 55 receptions, and he's on pace to break the Canada West record of 66 set last season by Saskatchewan's Mitch Hillis.
DHEILLY CANADA WEST SACKS LEADER: He's only had a pair of starts in his CIS career, but rookie DL
Nicholas Dheilly has taken over sole possession of first place in the Canada West sacks race. He had three in the Calgary game, and added one more against Saskatchewan to give him a conference-leading four for the season. No first-year player has led Canada West in sacks since the conference began tracking the statistic in 1981.
JACOB PALMARIN SIGNS CIS LETTER OF INTENT: Named a CJFL All-Canadian last year for the Kamloops Broncos, RB Jacob Palmarin committed to the Rams this week. Palmarin led the CJFL in carries (121), rushing yards (1089), and rushing touchdowns (13) in 2015, but has missed the entire 2016 campaign due to injury. He becomes the 10th member of the University of Regina's 2017 recruiting class.
IN THE FAMILY: Three players on the offensive side of the ball for the Rams are first cousins – RB
Blake Anaka, SB
Mitchell Picton, and QB
Noah Picton - while K/WR
Daniel Scraper and WR
Michael Scraper are brothers. LB
Danny Nesbitt is the son of defensive line coach
Greg Nesbitt.
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