Dinos host T-Birds looking to lock up first place
CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos have the opportunity to clinch first place in Canada West for the fourth straight year Saturday as they host the UBC Thunderbirds on Enterprise Seniors’ Day at McMahon Stadium.
Kickoff is 2 p.m. MT, live on CanadaWest.tv.
Prior to the game, the Dinos will recognize their six graduating seniors ahead of the final regular season home game of their careers, presented by Enterprise Rent-A-Car: linebackers Anton Bellot, Doctor Cassama, and Thomas Spoletini, defensive lineman Tyler Langlais, fullback Mac Sarro, and quarterback Eric Dzwilewski.
Thanks to their 52-37 win at Alberta last week, coupled with Saskatchewan’s loss at Manitoba, the Dinos come into the game 5-1 and will clinch the pole position in the conference standings with a victory over UBC (2-4), a team they defeated 59-11 back in Week 2 this season. First place would ensure the Dinos would enjoy home field advantage through the 78th Hardy Cup on Nov. 15, beginning with a conference semi-final against the fourth-place team the weekend of Nov. 7-8.
While it’s a key game for the Dinos, it’s also a vital contest for the Thunderbirds as they battle for their playoff lives. UBC got a huge one-point win at home over Regina last week to keep Manitoba and Alberta in its sights as the stretch drive continues. A loss to Calgary would not necessarily eliminate the Thunderbirds from the postseason, pending other results in the conference, but UBC needs a win to maintain any control over its playoff destiny.
Here’s a look at the two teams:
No. 2 Calgary Dinos (5-1)
Last week: defeated Alberta 52-37; next week: at Manitoba
The Dinos didn’t have their best game of the season last Saturday at Foote Field in Edmonton, but quarterback Andrew Buckley may have had his as he led his squad to a 52-37 win over the Alberta Golden Bears. Buckley threw for more than 300 yards and two TDs while rushing for another 172 and three majors, accounting for almost 500 yards of total offence by himself to lead the Dinos to victory. Brett Blaszko picked up exactly 100 receiving yards to go with two touchdowns, extending his lead atop the conference to 10 receiving majors on the season.
Calgary’s offence, as it has done all season, continued to roll against the Golden Bears, rushing for 431 yards and racking up 768 total yards. Thanks to the result, the Dinos are within two of their all-time record in touchdowns in a season (42, set in 2012) and less than 800 yards from the total offence record of 4,720 yards, also set in 2012 – with two games remaining in the season.
Defensively, though, the Dinos were susceptible to the pass, allowing Alberta to put up 37 points and giving up more than 400 yards to the Bears – a side of the ball that also nearly cost them in Week 4 against Manitoba. But with two games left to play, the Dinos will look to seal those holes and continue to improve as a defensive group.
The Dinos did lose the services of backup running Quentin Chown to a leg injury in the third quarter against Alberta. Chown was starting in place of Mercer Timmis, who could make his return to the lineup as early as Saturday against UBC.
Calgary wraps up the regular season next Saturday, Nov. 1 when they make their first visit to Investors Group Field in Winnipeg to take on the Manitoba Bisons.
UBC Thunderbirds (2-4)
Last week: defeated Regina 33-32. Next week: host Saskatchewan
A late punt single by Quinn van Gylswyk may have saved UBC’s season as they squeaked out a 33-32 win over the Regina Rams last week in Vancouver to improve to 2-4 – and the Thunderbirds head to Calgary in need of a victory to maintain control over their playoff destiny.
Quarterback Carson Williams earned conference player-of-the-week honours thanks to his 256-yard, 3-TD performance passing and will look to continue his success. Meanwhile, the Dinos will also have to be wary of rookie returner Marcus Davis, who leads the conference with a 30.6-yard average on kickoff return and has the lone return TD in Canada West so far this season.
Notwithstanding their 59-11 home loss to Calgary in Week 2, UBC has been close in its previous three road losses, falling by 10 points at both Regina and Manitoba before a 6-point setback in Saskatoon before the bye week.
UBC hosts Saskatchewan to wrap up the regular season next week.
Photo credit: David Moll
(Source: Ben Matchett, Calgary Dinos Sports Information)
Rams back at home against No.9 Bisons
SITE: Mosaic Stadium (Regina, Sask.)
RANKINGS: Manitoba #9, Regina NR
REGINA RADIO: 620 CKRM (Michael Ball/PxP, Marco Ricci/CC)
LIVE VIDEO: www.canadawest.tv
• The two teams met earlier this season, with Manitoba defeating the Rams 42-18 in Winnipeg back in Week 2
• Jared Janotta is moving closer to a major Canada West record, as he needs just five catches to surpass former teammate Mark McConkey as the conference’s all-time leader in career receptions
• If UBC wins on Saturday, the Rams can only qualify for the playoffs if Manitoba and UBC both lose in Week 8 and the Rams either beat Manitoba by at least 23 points, or beat Manitoba and Alberta by a combined margin of at least 35
• If Alberta wins on Saturday, the Rams can only qualify for the playoffs if Manitoba and UBC both lose in Week 8 and the Rams win by at least 25 over Manitoba
• If both UBC and Alberta win on Saturday, the Rams are eliminated regardless of Saturday’s result at Mosaic
• After missing the Saskatchewan and Calgary games due to an injury suffered in Week 3 at Alberta, Cayman Shutter returned for the UBC game and was 28-for-40 for 377 yards and a TD
• For the season, Shutter has completed 61.7% of his pass attempts for a total of 1065 yards and three TDs
• First-year QB Noah Picton started both games in Shutter’s absence – combined with plenty of playing time in Week 2 and Week 3, he’s also completed 61.7% of his attempts while compiling 1194 yards and seven TDs
• Frankie Gray is third on the depth chart at QB, while fourth-year SB Landon Buch often serves as the team’s quarterback in short-yardage situations
• With Dillon Dawson out due to an injury suffered in the Calgary game, rookie Atlee Simon got his first start and gave the Rams their finest rushing performance of the season – Simon ended up with 18 carries for 121 yards and a TD
• Simon now has 39 carries for 265 yards this year and is averaging 6.8 yards per rush
• Jens Johnson has dressed as a backup RB in all six games so far this year, with 22 rushes for 127 yards and a TD
• Rookie Josh Koshman dressed for a Canada West game for the first time last week with Dawson out – with Dawson still questionable for Saturday, either Koshman or Parker Scott will likely dress for the Rams
• WR Addison Richards leads Canada West in receptions and receiving yards – he’s on pace for over 1000 yards, a mark which has only been surpassed three times in conference single-season history (see Page 2)
• WR Mitch Thompson starts opposite Richards and is third on the team in receptions (24) and fourth in receiving yards (198)
• SB Jared Janotta is second on the Rams in both receptions (37) and receiving yards (569) – see Page 2 for more as Janotta approaches school and conference records in two major receiving categories
• Like Janotta, Riley Wilson has started all six games at slotback for the Rams – he has 20 catches for 319 yards this season
• SB Landon Buch returned to the lineup last week after missing the Calgary game due to injury – Buch had three catches for 46 yards last week and has 11 catches for 119 yards this year
• SB Mitchell Picton and WR Richard Sindani are the only other non-RBs with receptions this season – both second-year players, Picton has seven catches for 138 yards and two TDs and Sindani has five for 55 yards
• The Rams have gone with the same starting five on the line in each of the last five games and that shouldn’t change this weekend, with Jeremy Zver (LT), Kyle Paterson (LG), Aaron Picton (C), Tristain Hoath (RG), and Matt Degelman (RT) expected to start again on Saturday against Manitoba
• Picton, who will be eligible for the 2015 CFL Draft, is the team’s most experienced lineman with 17 career Canada West starts and two postseason starts
• Also a post on the U of R’s basketball team, Zver will make his 15th consecutive start at left tackle for the Rams
• Degelman comes into Saturday with 13 career starts, while Paterson has 12
• Keenan Carrier, Nathan Cugnet, and Brandon Williams will also dress on Saturday
• The Rams have gone with the same starters on the line in all six Canada West games with Dean Viena at rush end, Bryce McKinnon at nose tackle, and Tyler Perkins at defensive end
• One of only two players in Canada West with multiple fumble recoveries this season, Perkins also has a pass breakup and 14 tackles including three TFLs and a sack
• Viena has a team-leading two sacks this year and has a total of 16 tackles and a pass breakup
• McKinnon has 12½ tackles (8 solo, 9 assisted) and one tackle for loss this year
• Eric Wicijowski continues his rapid development and was especially impressive on a play late in last Saturday’s game where he stuffed UBC RB Brandon Deschamps for a two-yard loss
• Grey McKen is likely to dress for the fourth consecutive game, while rookie Brad Sich might dress for the first time as a Ram
• The Rams went with the same starting linebackers for the second consecutive game last week with Zack McEachern at SLB, Connor Ketchen at MLB, and Michael Stefanovic at WLB
• Stefanovic is the team’s leading tackler (24 solo, 15 assisted) and also has a pair of TFLs
• McEachern stepped into the starting lineup for the Calgary game and leads the team with 14½ tackles over the past two weeks
• Ketchen has 17½ tackles this season including 2½ TFLs, while Minshull started the first four games of the year and has 24½ tackles including 3½ TFLs and 1½ sacks
• Ketchen and Minshull were teammates in high school (Neelin HS in Brandon, Man.)
• Cody Kezama (7 tackles) and rookie Danny Nesbitt (3 tackles) have also dressed for all six Canada West games, with rookie Alex Rorke a possibility to dress this weekend
• The Rams are expected to go with the same starting backfield as the last two games, including Tevaughn Campbell and Ryan Serbu at cornerback, Jeff Propp and Patrick MacDonald at halfback, Justin Edralin at safety, and Joey Dwyer at dimeback
• Kadeem Ellis, Korey Greene, Jordy Kibamba, Robbie Avram, and Kahlen Branning will also dress for the Rams as backups, while rookie Dilan Elgert could dress as well
• Edralin, MacDonald, and Serbu each have an interception this season, while MacDonald also has a team-high four pass deflections
• Dwyer is second on the team with 29½ tackles, has a forced fumble, and is the only defensive back on the Rams with a sack this year (he’s got 1½)
• Propp is third on the team with 26½ tackles (21 solo, 11 assisted) while MacDonald is fourth with 26 tackles (20 solo, 12 assisted)
• Both Propp and Campbell have three PBUs
• Former Calgary Colts kicker Andrew Fabian leads the conference with an 83% success rate (10-for-12) on field goal attempts – he’s also averaging 38.9 yards per punt
• WR Catlin Schneider and DB Tevaughn Campbell are expected to return both punts and kickoffs for the Rams
• Campbell is averaging 17.4 yards per kickoff return and a team-high 8.9 yards per punt return, while Schneider averages 5.7 yards per punt return and has returned a pair of kickoffs for an average of 31.5 yards
• WR Mitch Thompson will hold on field goal attempts, with DB Justin Edralin to snap for punts and OL Jeremy Zver on FG attempts
Game Date: Saturday, October 25, 2014, 1:30 p.m.
Game Location: Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park
Live Radio Broadcast: CK 750,www.ck750.com
Live Stats/ Live Webcast: canadawest.tv
THE GAME
The No. 10 University of Saskatchewan Huskies will look to secure a 2014 Canada West football playoff spot and move one step closer to a home playoff date with a win over the University of Alberta Golden Bears Saturday at Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park.
BROADCAST INFO
Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. It is also available live on CK750 or www.ck750.com or via webcast at canadawest.tv.
THE HEADLINES
- Saskatchewan (No. 10) is one of three Canada West teams to hold a spot in the CIS Top 10. Calgary (No. 2) and Manitoba (No. 9) join the Huskies in the national rankings.
- With a win on Saturday afternoon, the Huskies can secure one of four playoff spots. To secure a home playoff date, the Huskies must secure a win combined with an Alberta Golden Bears and Manitoba Bisons loss or win both remaining games in the 2014 season.
- Should the Huskies secure a home playoff date, it would be Friday, November 7 at 7 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium.
- Third-year starting quarterback Drew Burko is steadily moving up the Huskies’ all-time career lists in yards, pass completion and touchdowns (see media notes page 8).
- The Huskies will honour eight fifth-year athletes in a pregame ceremony. Athletes using all five years of eligibility with the Huskies include Andrew Abbs, Brad Nehring and Denton Kolodzinski. Athletes using part of their CIS eligibility with the Huskies include Tim Doerksen, Kit Hillis, Mark Ingram, Clayton Sarich and Richard Zacharias.
GOLDEN BEARS/HUSKIES SERIES
Since 2002, the Huskies are 17-3 against the Golden Bears. Saskatchewan narrowly won the first meeting between the teams in 2014 in overtime 42-41 in Edmonton on September 13.
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS (3-3)
Putting up a fight against the No. 2 ranked Calgary Dinos, the Alberta Golden Bears had a strong first quarter and fourth quarter in the game but gave up 40 points in the middle frames.
Alberta combined to outscore the Dinos 27-12 in the first and fourth quarters, but was in turn outscored 40-10 in the second and third quarters. Fifth-year quarterback Curtis Dell completed 20 of 36 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing three times for 30 yards. Jimmy Ralph hauled in seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown, while Tylor Henry, the conference’s top receiver last season, finished with six catches for 163 yards and one touchdown. Rookie runningback Levon Hawreliak also plunged into the Calgary end zone, while David Beard, an offensive lineman and long-snapper, also hauled in a TD catch.
Golden Bears linebacker Connor Ralph led all defensive players in tackles, with 11, while defensive back Brandon Foster picked up the game’s only interception.
No. 10 UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (4-2)
After a rough start to the second half of the Canada West football season, the Huskies will look to get back on track.
Needing to win the two remaining games on the schedule to be in control of their own playoff fate, the Huskies need to find the offensive rhythm seen earlier in the 2014 season.
Saskatchewan couldn’t find an offensive stride in a 41-8 loss to the Manitoba Bisons on the road. The Huskies lone touchdown in the game was on an 11-yard run by Shane Buchanan at 10:52 in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Drew Burko had his worst outing of the season going 14-for-27 for 164 yards in the game. Kit Hillis was the leading receiver with 49 yards on two catches, while Buchanan had 30 yards on nine carries.
Richard Zacharias tallied 11 tackles for the Huskies.
(Photo credit: Josh Schaefer)
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