Colts’ bid for a perfect regular-season road record goes awry in Regina

REGINA — He could have mentioned the fact that the Queen City hasn’t been very hospitable to the Calgary Colts in recent memory. He might have blamed the nasty little superbug that’s ravaged the club’s roster in the past few days.

But . . .

“Those are excuses. They had nothing to do with it. Absolutely nothing,” said offensive co-ordinator Ray Salverda, in the wake of the Colts’ 32-19 Prairie Football Conference loss to the host Regina Thunder on Sunday afternoon.

“I really believe that we just made way too many mental mistakes. We had way too many two-and-outs on offence. And as an offence, collectively, we allowed them to make plays, because we made mistakes,” added Salverda. “Give it to Regina. They’re a very physical defence, they did a terrific job in that regard, and we didn’t respond to that physicality.”

In spite of Sunday’s loss, the Colts (5-2) are still in the driver’s seat, as far as locking up a home playoff game is concerned. A win by Keith Kendal’s group on Sunday, Oct. 9, in its regular-season finale against Winnipeg (3-4) at McMahon Stadium, or a loss by Regina (4-3) on Oct. 9 against the homestanding Edmonton Wildcats (2-5), means the Colts will play a PFC semifinal on home turf during the weekend of Oct. 15-16.

“As Coach K (Kendal) said in his post-game speech, the second time we play teams this year, we’re always better,” noted Salverda. “If win against Winnipeg, and we get a home playoff date, chances are we’ll get Regina again. And from an offensive standpoint, we’ll be better prepared for them.”

Statistically speaking, Sunday was a forgettable day for the Colts, who managed only 99 yards of net offence compared to Regina’s total of 423.

Starting quarterback Clayton Masikewich (3rd year, Calgary, John G. Diefenbaker HS) connected on 10 of 27 passing attempts for 58 yards, and was replaced by backup Jeremy Long (3rd year, Calgary, Notre Dame HS) in the late stages.

Mac Sarro (2nd year, Calgary, Notre Dame HS), on a 34-yard grab, and Brendan Kearl (2nd year, Calgary, William Aberhart HS) caught touchdown passes for the Colts, who trailed 19-11 at the half and 31-11 after three quarters. The visitors’ running game was almost completely nullified – managing just 23 yards along the ground, 14 of those by Chris Huband (1st year, Calgary, Rundle College).

On the other side of the ball, defensive backs Robbie Morgan (5th year, Calgary, John G. Diefenbaker HS) and Richard Pilkington (3rd year, Calgary, Central Memorial HS) each picked off a pass by Regina pivot Wyatt Catley, but Catley finished the afternoon with 381 yards through the air.

The Colts’ defence, which entered Sunday’s contest as the stingiest in the conference, also recorded two quarterback sacks, forced a fumble, and blocked a Regina punt.

“Defensively, we hung in there for a while. I thought the players competed well, and worked hard, but we just got worn down in the second half a little bit,” said Colts defensive co-ordinator John Stevens. “We caused a number of turnovers. Defensively, we made some plays out there . . . we just didn’t make enough of them.”

Andrew Fabian (2nd year, Tilley, Alta., Brooks Composite HS) booted a 15-yard field goal and added a missed-field-goal rouge for the Colts, who were successful on a two-point conversion following Kearl’s fourth-quarter TD.

The Colts finish the 2011 regular season with a 3-1 road record.