First place, top 10 battle at KICKOFF

CALGARY – For the eighth time KICKOFF takes over McMahon Stadium this weekend as the 2-0 University of Calgary Dinos football team hosts the similarly 2-0 University of Saskatchewan Huskies in a top-10 battle for first place early in the 2013 Canada West season.

KICKOFF is always the highlight of the home schedule for the Dinos, and this year’s edition is shaping up to be the best ever with the Calgary Stampeders on board to provide a full CFL in-game experience. The tailgate starts at 3 p.m. in the east parking lot of McMahon, with kickoff set for just after 5 p.m.

After three weeks on the road the team is more than ready to take the field at McMahon Stadium, a place that has been extremely kind to them over their five-year stretch as conference champions. Dating back to the end of the 2007 season, the Dinos have won 21 of their last 22 regular season contests and 10 of 11 playoff games – 31 wins in 33 games overall.

That one regular season loss, however, came in the team’s home opener of 2010 against the Saskatchewan Huskies – a team that should present the Dinos with their toughest test of the young season. Both the Dinos and Huskies have eked out their two wins on the season, all by a touchdown or less in a conference that seems to be as wide-open as ever this season.

It has also been tough going for home teams in the conference to this point in the campaign, with the visiting team taking wins in four of the six Canada West games played so far – and the Dinos accounting for two of those.

Dinos-Huskies games are always intense and this should be no different as Calgary looks to get some breathing room atop the standings while Saskatchewan aims to reassert the dominance it held so long in Canada West – and avenge a 45-4 loss in the teams’ only meeting last season. Calgary and Saskatchewan will meet up once more this year in a Friday night match-up Oct. 4 at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.

Here’s a look at the two teams:

No. 5 Calgary Dinos (2-0)
Last week: def. Regina 34-27
Next week: host Manitoba

Andrew Buckley got the job done in his first CIS start last weekend in Regina as the Dinos remained undefeated and kept their No. 5 ranking with a 34-27 win – but it was a game in which the Dinos never really seemed comfortably in front, and a last-ditch Rams effort in the end zone fell incomplete to preserve the win.

Nevertheless, the youthful Dinos are 2-0 and gaining experience and confidence every day. Paced by the solid running of sophomore Mercer Timmis, who had 254 rushing yards and five touchdowns through the first two games, Calgary has managed to fend off challenges from UBC and Regina to emerge from the season-opening road swing unbeaten and ready for a two-game homestand.

Calgary’s return game was impressive against Regina last week, with rookie Rashaun Simonise picking up a big 53-yard punt return to set up a touchdown in the second quarter while Élie Bouka had a long return touchdown called back on a roughing the kicker call.

Defensively, the Dinos have allowed fewer yards points per game than any other team in the conference, despite having just two returning starters on that side of the football. The defence will be stretched against the Huskies’ offence that includes a veteran receiving corps and a strong run game. Calgary defensive lineman Brett Wade was named the Canada West defensive player of the week for his 2.5-sack performance against Regina.

Prior to the game, the Dinos will honour their graduating fifth-year seniors, Cuong Thai Lieu and Chris Dobko. Dobko is on the milestone watch this season, sitting within striking distance of the school’s all-time receptions record. With nine catches so far this year, Dobko now has 131 on his career, just one back of former teammate and current Edmonton Eskimo Nate Coehoorn for second on the Dinos’ all-time list. Leading the way is the legendary Don Blair, who recorded 138 receptions in his illustrious career. Dobko needs just seven catches to tie and eight to break Blair’s record.

The Dinos remain at home next week, hosting the Manitoba Bisons on Friday night, Sept. 20. Kickoff goes at 6 p.m.

No. 6 Saskatchewan Huskies (2-0)
Last week: def. Manitoba 36-34
Next week: host Alberta

Like the Dinos, Saskatchewan has squeaked out a pair of victories so far this year with a 40-33 win over Regina in Week 1 and last week’s nail-biting 36-34 defeat of Manitoba on the road thanks to CIS special teams MVP Denton Kolodzinski.

With Drew Burko at the controls, the Huskies offence is averaging 38 points in its first two games and will look to avenge last season’s contest against Calgary where they picked up just 123 yards offence and four points. Saskatchewan comes in with the running back tandem of Dexter Janke and Shane Buchanan averaging nearly 190 yards per game, while Burko is completing passes at a 63 per cent clip and averages 295.5 yards through the air.

Defensively, the Huskies have the strongest run defence in Canada West and will bring pressure on the Calgary offence, with three players in the top five in sacks so far this year.

The sixth-ranked Huskies return to Saskatoon next Friday night to host the Alberta Golden Bears at Griffiths Stadium.

Photo credit:  David Moll