QUICKLY
• Thursday's game has significant playoff implications for the Rams, who could move into sole possession of a postseason position with a win over Alberta and a Calgary loss at UBC on Friday. Wins by both Regina and Calgary would create at least a three-way tie at 3-3 in the Canada West standings, with the possibility of a four-way tie if Saskatchewan also defeats Manitoba on Friday.
• The Rams will play a Thursday game for just the second time in their U of R history. The only previous Thursday contest came on Sept. 8, 2016, when Regina scored two touchdowns in the final 95 seconds to pull out a 41-38 comeback victory over Manitoba. Noah Picton threw for 499 yards in that win.
• Thursday's contest will be the second meeting of the season between Regina and Alberta. The Rams opened their Canada West schedule with a convincing 39-8 road victory over the Golden Bears on Sept. 4, a game which saw Christian Katende rush for 130 yards and Ty Gorniak set a school record with six field goals.
RAMS/BEARS SERIES: The Rams enter Thursday's contest riding a four-game winning streak over Alberta dating back to Oct. 25, 2024. Regina won that meeting 29-22 before sweeping the 2025 season series with 47-23 and 22-20 victories over the Golden Bears. The Rams extended the streak with a 39-8 win in Edmonton earlier this season and now hold a 27-13 advantage in the all-time series. Alberta remains the only Canada West opponent that Regina has never faced in postseason play.
DEFENCE STILL HOLDING: Despite the three consecutive close losses, the Rams continue to lead Canada West in both scoring defence and total defence. Regina has allowed just 18.6 points per game, a figure which ranks sixth in U SPORTS, while its average of 348.8 yards conceded per contest leads the conference and ranks eighth nationally. The Rams have held three of their five opponents to 14 points or fewer this season.
RUNNING GAME LEADING THE WAY: Regina has rushed for 927 yards through five games, averaging 185.4 yards per contest and 5.9 yards per carry. RB
Christian Katende leads the Rams with 380 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while rookie RB
Carter Ashman has added 337 yards and three majors. The two running backs have combined for 717 yards on the ground, accounting for over 77% of Regina's rushing production. The Rams have collected 56 first downs on the ground compared to 49 through the air.
GORNIAK THREATENING SCHOOL MARKS: K
Ty Gorniak continues to put together one of the finest kicking seasons in Rams history. Gorniak went 4-for-5 on field goals in Regina's Week 5 game at Calgary, bringing his season total to 15-for-17. His Canada West-leading success rate of 88.2% is currently ahead of the U of R single-season record of 87.0% set by Perri Scarcelli in 2009. Gorniak is also on pace to tie Aldo Galvan's school record of 24 field goals in a season, set in 2018. With 57 points through five games, Gorniak needs just 28 more over Regina's final three contests to surpass Jason Clermont's single-season school record of 84 points that the former receiver established in 2001.
ASHMAN CHASING ROOKIE RECORD: RB
Carter Ashman has made an immediate impact in his first season with the Rams after coming over from the Regina Thunder. Ashman has rushed 53 times for 337 yards and three touchdowns, with his rushing total already ranking fourth in U of R history among first-year running backs. RB
Marshall Erichsen holds the school rookie record with 529 rushing yards in 2023, narrowly ahead of Graham Mosiondz (527 in 2005) and Atlee Simon (524 in 2014). Ashman needs 193 rushing yards over Regina's final three games to establish a new school record.
SIRLEAF CLOSING IN ON TOP TEN: WR
Nicholas Sirleaf continues to climb the U of R's career receiving charts. Now in his third season with the program, Sirleaf has accumulated 105 receptions for 1367 yards and needs just 11 more catches to move past Jason Clermont (1999-01) and Kyle Moortgat (2014-19) into the U of R's all-time top ten. Jared Janotta holds the school record with 191 career receptions from 2009 to 2014.
NEARING 1000: SB
Renzel Arinaza is closing in on a career receiving milestone. Arinaza has accumulated 78 receptions for 904 yards through 20 career Canada West games and needs just 96 more yards to reach the 1000-yard mark. He has nine catches for 137 yards and a touchdown through five games this season.
SOMBACH DOING IT ALL: DB
Carson Sombach has been one of Regina's most productive defensive players through the first five games of the season. Sombach ranks second on the Rams with 24.5 tackles and leads the team with four pass breakups. He has also contributed an interception, a fumble recovery, and a tackle for loss.
ZIMMER LEADING THE WAY: LB
Owen Zimmer leads the Rams with 27 tackles through five games, recording 19 solo and 16 assisted through five games. Zimmer recorded his third and fourth career sacks in Regina's Week 5 game at Calgary, joining
Brandon Wong as the only Rams to register sacks this season. Wong had both of his sacks in the Week 3 game at UBC, giving Regina four sacks on the season with all four coming in two individual two-sack performances.
FORCING TURNOVERS: Regina has forced eight turnovers through its first five games, intercepting three passes and recovering five opposition fumbles. The Rams have committed just five turnovers themselves, giving them a plus-three turnover differential for the season. The defence has also produced one touchdown, courtesy of
Chase Murray's 72-yard fumble return in the Saskatchewan game.
Â
