The University of Regina Rams matched Calgary stride for stride for most of the first three quarters, but the No. 3-ranked Dinos went on a late surge and pulled away for a 46-26 win on Friday night at McMahon Stadium in Calgary.
The two teams traded leads four times in the first half and Calgary went into halftime with a 22-17 advantage, then made it a two-possession game on a long 54-yard catch-and-run by Adam Sinagra to Hunter Karl. The Rams responded later in the third with a seven-play, 68-yard drive capped by a 28-yard touchdown catch by
Kyle Moortgat to make the score 29-24, but the Rams only scored two more points the rest of the way – and those came off a conceded safety. Calgary went back up by two scores on a 12-yard touchdown rush by Robert Stewart, and ended any hope of a Rams comeback with a late drive that took well over three minutes off the clock and finished with a Karl major on a fake field goal.
Sinagra finished 26-for-33, compiled 350 passing yards, and threw for three touchdowns. In addition to his 17-yard touchdown run on the late fake field goal, Karl finished with six receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Michael Klukas also hit triple digits in receiving for the Dinos with six catches for exactly 100 yards. On the ground, Jeshrun Antwi had 18 rushes for 114 yards. Brett Wade, Matthew Carson, and Joel Van Pelt all had sacks for the Calgary defence while Michael Schmidt had a big second-half interception.
Noah Picton was 25-for-37 for the Rams, finishing with exactly 300 passing yards and throwing touchdown passes to
Mitchell Picton and
Mitch Thompson as well as Moortgat.
Mitchell Picton and Moortgat tied for the team high with seven receptions, with Picton ending up with 86 yards and Moortgat registering a career-high 78.
Rookie linebacker
Nick Cross led the Rams (1-1) in tackles for the second time in as many games, finishing with five solo and six assisted.
Zack McEachern had both a fumble recovery and an interception for the Rams, while
Nicholas Dheilly and
Ryan Warner both had sacks.
The Rams will now play two consecutive games on home turf at Mosaic Stadium. They'll meet Alberta (0-2) next Saturday and Manitoba (0-1) on Sept. 23.
TURNING POINT
After the Rams had scored to make it 29-24, momentum appeared to be completely on Regina's side after the defence followed that up with a two-and-out. The Rams took over on their own 43-yard line, but a Picton pass intended for
Adam Rask was picked off by Calgary's Schmidt. The Dinos capitalized immediately, driving downfield and restoring the 12-point lead with Stewart's 12-yard touchdown run.
CHART CLIMBING
The touchdown catch by
Mitchell Picton (clip below) was the 17th of his Rams career. He's now tied with Michael Thomas for third in University of Regina history in career touchdown receptions, is just two behind second-place
Jason Clermont's total of 19, and is four back of Chad Goldie's school record of 21.
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NEXT TIME OUT
Though Alberta has been hammered twice to open Canada West play with 55-26 and 43-17 losses to Calgary and Saskatchewan, respectively, the Rams are unlikely to take the Golden Bears lightly after last year's lone meeting between the teams. Alberta defended Foote Field with a 16-15 victory over the Rams last October, marking just one of two times that Regina was defeated during the eight-game Canada West schedule.
