QUICKLY
• The Regina Rams host the UBC Thunderbirds on Friday night at Leibel Field in a game with major implications for the Canada West playoff picture. UBC can clinch a top-two finish and a home semifinal with a win, while Regina can move into a tie for second place and potentially gain the head-to-head tiebreaker with a victory by six or more points.
• Friday's game will be the second meeting of the season between the two teams. UBC defeated Regina 25-20 in Vancouver on Sept. 18 and has won two consecutive games against the Rams. The all-time regular season series is almost perfectly even, with the Thunderbirds holding a 20-19 advantage.
• Regina enters Friday's contest coming off a 43-17 victory over Alberta that snapped a three-game losing streak. Rookie running back Carter Ashman rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns as the Rams piled up 317 rushing yards, the second-highest single-game total in program history. Regina also forced five turnovers and blocked two punts in the win.
HOME SWEET LEIBEL: The Rams have enjoyed plenty of success at Leibel Field since beginning to play select home games at Regina Minor Football's impressive facility, compiling a 5-1 all-time record. Their only loss at Leibel came against UBC in Week 8 last season, when the Thunderbirds claimed a 31-29 overtime victory.
MAGIC NUMBER: Regina needs a victory by at least six points on Friday to gain the head-to-head tiebreaker over UBC, which won the first meeting between the teams by five. A Rams win by one to four points would leave the Thunderbirds with the tiebreaker, while a victory by exactly five would send the tiebreaker to overall points for and against. In that scenario, Regina would enter Week 8 with a +64 point differential compared to +39 for UBC.
CHANCE TO CLINCH: The Rams could secure a Canada West playoff berth this weekend with a win over UBC combined with a Calgary loss to Manitoba on Saturday. Regina enters Week 7 tied with Manitoba for third place at 3-3, one win ahead of Calgary. The Rams will finish their regular season next weekend at Manitoba.
STOPPING THE RUN: The Rams have been strong against the run this season, allowing just 674 rushing yards through six games for an average of 112.3 per contest. Regina held Alberta to only 59 yards on 14 carries in last Thursday's 43-17 victory. The Rams will face another challenge on Friday against a UBC team that ranks sixth in U SPORTS with an average of 184 rushing yards per game.
ASHMAN CLIMBING THE CHARTS: First-year RB
Carter Ashman enters Friday's game with 551 rushing yards, already the most by a first-year player in University of Regina history and the 12th-highest single-season total in program history. He now needs just 20 yards to catch Michael Kiapway (571 in 2012) for 10th place and 62 yards to match Kyle Borsa (613 in 2018) for ninth. Ashman, the son of former Rams receiver Chris Ashman, ranks third in Canada West in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns (5).
GROUND GAME GAINS: Regina's rushing attack is coming off a historic performance against Alberta last Thursday, with
Carter Ashman rushing for 214 yards and
Kaiden Banfield adding 103 as the Rams finished with 317 rushing yards, the second-highest single-game total in school history. Regina leads Canada West with 1244 rushing yards through six games and ranks fourth in U SPORTS with an average of 207.3 per contest.
RECORD CHASE: K
Ty Gorniak has scored 68 points through six games, the seventh-highest single-season total in U of R history. The second-year kicker leads Canada West and ranks sixth nationally in scoring with 17 field goals, 16 converts, and one single. The school record of 84 points was established by Jason Clermont in 2001, when the future CFL star scored 14 touchdowns.
A LEG UP: Gorniak has connected on 17 of his 20 field-goal attempts this season, putting him just three shy of Perri Scarcelli's school record of 20 field goals set in 2009. His 85.0% success rate is the second-highest single-season mark in program history, trailing only Scarcelli's 87.0% performance that same year. Gorniak leads Canada West and ranks sixth in U SPORTS in field-goal percentage among kickers with at least 10 attempts.
WONG EYES RECORD: LB
Brandon Wong has now recovered four fumbles this season, tying the University of Regina single-season record shared by
Bruce Anderson (2010) and Steve Famulak (2011). Wong's latest two recoveries came on blocked punts last week against Alberta, including one he returned for a touchdown. Anderson now serves as Regina's special teams coordinator, giving Wong an opportunity to break a record currently shared by one of his own coaches.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: RB
Kaiden Banfield and LB
Kyler Banfield each blocked a punt in Regina's victory over Alberta, marking the first time the Rams had blocked two kicks in a single game since Oct. 29, 2005 against Simon Fraser. Wong recovered both of the blocked punts, returning Kaiden's block for a touchdown in the second quarter and Kyler's block 15 yards to set up another touchdown in the third.
SIRLEAF CLOSING IN: WR
Nicholas Sirleaf enters Friday's game with 109 career receptions, putting him within striking distance of the University of Regina's all-time top 10. Jason Clermont (1999-2001) and Kyle Moortgat (2014-19) are currently tied for 10th with 115 career catches. Sirleaf leads the Rams this season with 27 receptions for 380 yards and three touchdowns.
WEEKLY HONOURS: Regina's
Jacob Tkachuk and
Brandon Wong were named Canada West BioSteel Players of the Week following the Rams' 43-17 victory over Alberta. Tkachuk earned defensive honours after finishing with 5.5 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup. Wong claimed special teams honours after recovering two blocked punts, returning one for a touchdown and setting up another major with the second recovery. The Rams have now earned four Canada West weekly honours this season, with Gorniak named Special Teams Player of the Week following Week 1 and Tkachuk also earning Defensive Player of the Week honours after Week 2.
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