THE GAME
Two of the four Canada West teams currently tied for second place in the conference with 1-1 records battle on Saturday night, as the University of Regina Rams host the Saskatchewan Huskies at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
THE HEADLINES
– Both teams are ranked in this weeks FRC-CIS Top Ten, with the Huskies at No. 6 and the Rams checking in at No. 9 for the second week in a row
– The teams will also play in Saskatoon on Friday, Oct. 29, marking the second consecutive season that the Rams and Huskies have met twice in the conference schedule
– Saskatchewan enters the game on a four-game winning streak against the Rams and hold a 14-4 advantage in the 18 conference games played between the two teams
– The Rams are 5-8 all-time against Saskatchewan at Mosaic Stadium (including playoffs)
– Saskatchewan leads Canada West in both yards of total offence (452.5/game) and least yards of total offence allowed (346/game)
– The Rams are tied for the conference lead in both interceptions (4) and sacks (6) and have yet to concede a point in the first quarter this season
– Regina QB Marc Mueller leads Canada West in completions (41) and passing yards (530)
– Reginas Brenden Owens leads the conference in receptions (13) and receiving yards (214)
– The Rams have committed just one turnover in their first two games of the season
– Regina DB Steve Famulak had another sack against Calgary and has 3 for the season
– Saskatchewans Luke Thiel leads Canada West with an average of 17.4 yards per punt
UNIVERSITY OF REGINA RAMS (1-1)
After a 45-11 win over Manitoba in Week 1 to start off the Canada West schedule, the Rams saw their record drop back down to the .500 mark after suffering a 24-21 loss to Calgary last week.
The Rams had the ball deep in Calgary territory trailing by five points in the final minute, but an interception by Calgarys Michael Lau snuffed out the potential game-winning drive. The Dinos gave up a safety and gave the ball back to the Rams on their own 35-yard line with eight seconds left, but it wasnt enough time to get into Chris Bodnars range for a game-tying field goal.
Running back Adrian Charles had a fantastic game for the Rams, rushing for 135 yards and scoring both of the teams majors on one-yard plunges. His 135-yard effort was the first time a U of R player reached triple digits in rushing yards since the 2008 season.
Quarterback Marc Mueller was 25-for-41 and piled up 341 passing yards. Brenden Owens was his top receiver for the second consecutive game, ending up with eight catches for 117 yards. Starting his second consecutive game at slotback, Rory Copithorn enjoyed career highs in both receptions (6) and receiving yards (85).
Safety Matt Yausie was credited with a team-leading 12 total tackles (11 solo, two assisted) last week against Calgary and now leads the Rams with 15 tackles for the season.
UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (1-1)
After a convincing 34-13 road win over defending Canada West champion Calgary to open the season, Saskatchewan was ranked No. 2 in last weeks FRC-CIS Top Ten. The top-two ranking was short-lived, however, as Saskatchewan dropped a 31-12 decision at home to the UBC Thunderbirds last week and saw its ranking plummet to No. 6.
Ben Coakwell was among Saskatchewans bright spots last week, rushing 16 times for 104 yards against the Thunderbirds to register his second 100-yard effort in as many weeks. With 213 rushing yards for the season, Coakwell ranks behind only Albertas Matthew Jarvis (234) and Reginas Adrian Charles (218) in the category.
The Huskies started quarterback Laurence Nixon last week against UBC, but replaced him with Trent Peterson late in the third quarter in an attempt to spark the offence. Peterson, in his first year back in the country after a two-year Mormon mission in Paraguay, was 7-for-11 and had 78 passing yards, including a 10-yard touchdown strike to Mitch Stevens midway through the fourth quarter.
Safety Bryce McCall has been the Huskies leader on defence this season, recording a team-high 13 total tackles and one of the teams two interceptions.
After Saturdays game against the Rams, the Huskies will prepare for a road game against Canada West-leading Alberta (2-0) on Friday, Sept. 24.
…BUT HES JUST A LITTLE GUY!
Usually a conferences leader in sacks is a physically imposing figure. Take Albertas Craig Gerbrandt (62, 250 lbs.) for example, who led Canada West in sacks in 2009. Or two-time conference sack leader Scott McCuaig from UBC, who stood 64 and checked in at 255 lbs.
Well, so far this season, score one for the little guy. Rams dimeback Steve Famulak is all of 510 and tips the scales at 185, but recorded another sack last week against Calgary to bring his Canada West-leading total to 3 for the season.
Famulak – who was the conferences Defensive Player of the Week following the Manitoba game – is the only player in Canada West with more than two sacks and is already more than halfway to reaching the Rams single-season mark of six, set by Sean Brimacombe back in 2005.
UP THE CHARTS FOR OWENS
Fourth-year slotback Brenden Owens is starting to make his mark on the U of Rs all-time charts. He now ranks seventh on the Rams list in career touchdown catches (10), ninth in career receptions (83), and 10th in career receiving yards (1224).
FORMER RAMS IN THE PROS
The impressive list of former University of Regina players now toiling in the professional ranks is led by the Seattle Seahawks Jon Ryan, who ranked No. 8 in the NFL last season with an average of 46.2 yards per punt.
Seven former University of Regina Rams are now in the CFL, including Chris Bauman (Hamilton), Jason Clermont (Saskatchewan), Chris Getzlaf (Saskatchewan), Neal Hughes (Saskatchewan), Nick Hutchins (Saskatchewan), Brendon LaBatte (Winnipeg), and Jordan Sisco (Saskatchewan).
RAMS PLAYER NOTES
#4 Jeff Lukomski (CB, 6-0, 195, 5th – Archbishop M.C. ONeill HS) – Recorded his second career interception in Week 1 against Manitoba … is out indefinitely with a broken collarbone.
#8 Chris Bodnar (P/K, 5-11, 190, 3rd – Saskatoon Hilltops) – Canada Wests leader in punting average (42.0 yards) … has a season-long punt of 60 yards … has been successful on three of his four field goal attempts with a season long of 35 yards.
#10 Matt Yausie (S, 5-10, 180, 5th – University of Saskatchewan) – Was credited with a team-leading 12 total tackles (11 solo, two assisted) last week against Calgary … leads the Rams with 15 tackles for the season.
#12 John Kanaroski (Rec., 5-10, 180, 5th – Calgary Colts) – Has 32 career punt returns for an average of 5.0 yards per return … has 10 career kickoff returns for an average of 21.5 yards per return.
#14 Marc Mueller (QB, 6-0, 200, 4th – Sheldon-Williams Collegiate) – Needs just 13 completions to pass Darryl Leason for third place on the U of Rs all-time list … leads Canada West in completions (41) and passing yards (530).
#15 Kirby Kezama (HB, 5-11, 185, 3rd – Balfour Collegiate) – Had four solo tackles and one assisted tackle last week against Calgary … has 7 total tackles for the season.
#18 Mark McConkey (WR, 6-2, 190, 3rd – Lord Beaverbrook HS) – Has had three receptions in both games this season … has 70 catches for 851 yards and three TDs in his three seasons.
#19 Steve Famulak (DB, 5-10, 185, 3rd – Regina Thunder) – The conferences leader with 3 sacks … is just 2 sacks short of tying Sean Brimacombes single-season team record of six.
#20 Cale Inglis (RB, 5-11, 204, 5th – Acadia University) – Got the start in Week 1 against Manitoba and had three rushes for 10 yards … did not play against Calgary.
#21 Jared Janotta (SB, 6-3, 195, 1st – Michael A. Riffel HS) – Went down with a shoulder injury in camp and is out indefinitely.
#22 Jamir Walker (CB, 5-11, 181, 3rd – Sheldon-Williams Collegiate) – Had a solo tackle and an assisted tackle last week against Calgary … returned a pick 53 yards for a touchdown in Week 1 against Manitoba … has five career interceptions.
#23 Connor Haas (WR, 5-9, 174, 3rd – Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS) – Started at wide receiver last week for the second consecutive game and had four catches for 41 yards.
#28 Mike Kerr (HB, 6-1, 202, 4th – Michael A. Riffel HS) – Returned his first career interception 38 yards for a touchdown in Week 1 against Manitoba … has two touchdowns in his career.
#29 Daniel Knaus (DB, 5-8, 150, 2nd – Sheldon-Williams Collegiate) – Got the start at cornerback last week in place of the injured Lukomski and had 4 tackles.
#33 Adrian Charles (RB, 5-9, 184, 5th – Saskatoon Hilltops) – Rushed for 135 yards and scored both of the teams majors on one-yard runs last week against Calgary … ranks second in the conference with 218 rushing yards.
#40 Bruce Anderson (MLB, 6-0, 232, 5th – Butte College) – Had a 48-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Manitoba … is the teams active leader with 102 career tackles (62 solo, 80 assisted) … also has five career sacks and four interceptions.
#43 Chris Sciog (OLB, 6-1, 224, 3rd – Kelliher HS) – Starts at outside linebacker … ranks second on the Rams with 13 total tackles (11 solo, four assisted).
#45 Logan Brooks (DE, 6-4, 254, 2nd – Regina Thunder) – Forced a fumble last week at Calgary … has two solo and two assisted tackles for the season.
#68 Benton Gieni (DT, 6-3, 293, 3rd – Unity Composite HS) – One of the teams starting defensive tackles … has one solo tackle and two assisted tackles for the season.
#72 Chris King (WR, 5-6, 165, 5th – Sheldon-Williams Collegiate) – 104 receiving yards for the season ranks second on the Rams … ranks third on the team with 143 all-purpose yards … had three catches for 68 yards last week at Calgary.
#80 Rory Copithorn (SB, 6-0, 185, 1st – Campbell Collegiate) – Broke out last week against Calgary with career highs in both receptions (6) and receiving yards (85).
#81 Brenden Owens (SB, 6-1, 185, 4th – Archbishop M.C. ONeill HS) – Leads Canada West in receptions (13) and receiving yards (214) … ranks second in the conference in TD catches (2) … ranks seventh on the Rams list in career touchdown catches (10), ninth in career receptions (83), and 10th in career receiving yards (1224).
#82 Jason Price (SB, 6-5, 240, 4th – Sheldon-Williams Collegiate) – Big receiver could be available this week after missing the first two games of the season to injury … had 14 catches for 177 yards in his first three seasons with the Rams.
#90 Stefan Charles (DE, 6-5, 285, 3rd – Big Kahuna Rams) – Has 5 total tackles (four solo, three assisted) this season … also has a sack and a forced fumble.
#99 Akiem Hicks (DT, 6-6, 306, 3rd – Sacramento City College) – Has 5 total tackles (three solo, five assisted) this season … also has a half sack and a pass breakup.
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