Dinos look to bounce back at KICKOFF vs. Regina

CALGARY – It’s fitting that Eric Dzwilewski’s first university football start would come on a Friday night.

Playing under the lights after school on Friday is a rite of passage for American high school football players, so the preparation schedule certainly won’t be a shock to him. Even if the fact that he’s actually the starting quarterback this week was.

Dzwilewski has a name that’s easy to pronounce (de-LESS-key) and impossible to spell. He’s a pure freshman from Centennial High School in Boise, Idaho and was considered the University of Calgary Dinos’ quarterback of the future coming into the season.

He has since become the quarterback of the present following the loss of two-time national MVP Erik Glavic to a knee injury in Saturday night’s season opener against Saskatchewan. It’s a game the Dinos would sooner forget, and after a short week they’re back on the field Friday night.

It’s KICKOFF V, the University of Calgary’s annual welcome back celebration and homecoming football game, as the fifth-ranked Dinos take on the No. 9 Regina Rams at McMahon Stadium. The game is sponsored by CalFrac Well Services.

The tailgate starts up outside McMahon Stadium at 4 p.m. with the game set to kick off at 7.

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The Dinos, who fell from their No. 1 perch after the Saskatchewan loss, can ill afford to open the season 0-2 at home before heading out on a two-game road swing. And with four All-Canadians sitting out due to injury, the remaining players will need to step up their effort to take pressure off their freshman quarterback.

In their two meetings last season, the Dinos came out on top of both with a 41-15 road win and a 47-29 triumph at home. All-time, Calgary is 8-5 in the regular season against the Regina Rams.

Here’s a look at the two sides:

No. 5 Calgary (0-1)

Last week: lost 34-13 to Saskatchewan

Next week: at Alberta

Not much went right for the Dinos last Saturday night, and it wasn’t just on the scoreboard. In addition to Glavic, receivers Anthony Parker and Anthony Woodson were also sidelined, as was wide-out Taylor Nill. Woodson, who was taken to hospital after a prolonged injury time-out early in the third quarter, was back at practice this week after being released from hospital late Saturday night.

The early deficit against the Huskies prevented the Dinos from establishing the run, which has been a key to the team’s success over the last few seasons. Glavic was the team’s leading rusher with 69 yards, while Matt Walter had just 62 on 16 carries. The 2009 All-Canadian and 2008 conference MVP will look to establish himself along the ground much more assertively against the Rams.

Calgary’s offensive line is sure to see increased pressure from a much-improved Regina defensive front seven and will need to clear the space for Walter to run while giving Dzwilewski the time to throw.

With Parker out, Nathan Coehoorn led the Dinos with five catches for 71 yards Saturday and will look to have a big game against Regina. Chris Dobko and Richard Snyder will also be important cogs in the receiving corps, while Matt Little will return to the offensive side of the ball after a one-game stint as a defensive back.

Calgary’s defence, meanwhile, gave up three big plays in the first half that all led to Saskatchewan scores but settled in during the second half. The linebackers, who had been virtually gutted by injuries during training camp, should get some help with the anticipated return of Geoff Paiement and Chris Folk to the lineup. Folk was a conference all-star last season with Simon Fraser University, while Paiement had a breakout season for the Dinos.

Sam Hurl was easily Calgary’s top defensive player in his first game at middle linebacker after moving up from his usual halfback spot. With 12.5 tackles, a sack, and 2.5 tackles for loss against Saskatchewan, Hurl seems to have found a new position and the Dinos hope that he’ll thrive there.

The Dinos play consecutive road games at Alberta and Manitoba before returning home to face UBC on Oct. 2.

No. 9 Regina

Last week: defeated Manitoba 45-11

Next week: host Saskatchewan

The Rams defence scored 22 points in their season-opening whitewash of Manitoba with one fumble return touchdown, two pick-sixes, and a pair of safeties. Led by Steve Famulak’s 5.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks, the Regina defence was the difference in that game as the offence managed just 302 total yards.

One of the most significant off-season acquisitions in the conference was that of defensive end Akiem Hicks by the Rams. A third-year transfer from Sacramento City College, Hicks spent last season with the LSU Tigers and seems to have found a home in the Saskatchewan capital. The Regina defensive line held Manitoba’s Matt Henry to just 55 yards rushing and will look to hold Walter to a similar total.

The Rams’ one major injury is to cornerback Jeff Lukomski, a two-sport athlete who also plays for the Cougars men’s basketball team. He is expected to miss Friday night’s contest.

Offensively, the Rams are led by fourth-year pivot Marc Mueller. The grandson of CFL legend Ron Lancaster, Mueller completed 16 passes for 189 yards and two majors against Manitoba. His leading target was Brenden Owens who had five catches for 97 yards, while Chris King hauled in three catches for 36 yards.

Adrian Charles is the Rams’ key tailback, posting 83 yards on 18 carries last weekend against the Bisons.

The Rams return home to face the No. 2 Saskatchewan Huskies next weekend. Calgary and Regina will hook up once more this season on Friday, Oct. 22 at Mosaic Stadium.