BOX SCORE
The victory not only ties a school record for most Canada West victories in a season for the Rams (6-2), but also marks the first time that the Rams have shut out an opponent since they joined the CIS prior to the 1999 season.
Quarterback Marc Mueller returned for the Rams after missing two games due to injury and completed seven of his 12 passes for 77 yards in a quarter and a half of playing time. Mueller engineered a 12-play, 95-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown plunge by Landon Buch to score the first major of the game and give the Rams a 9-0 advantage midway through the second quarter.
Mueller gave way to second-year pivot Frankie Gray following that drive. Gray completed five of eight passes for 87 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown pass to Connor Haas three minutes before halftime. Jared Janotta tied for the game high with four receptions, while Addison Richards led all players with 72 receiving yards.
Logan Brooks led the Rams with 4.5 total tackles and had two tackles for loss, while Ryan Wellman had a fumble recovery and both Steve Famulak and Benton Gieni registered sacks.
Curtis Dell started at quarterback for Alberta and was 9-for-22 with 70 yards. Ryan Schwartz came in for the fourth quarter and was 6-for-12 with 66 passing yards. Ryley Richardson led Alberta with four catches and 54 receiving yards.
Tanner Lestus led all players with 7.5 tackles for the Golden Bears and got through to Gray twice for a pair of sacks. Connor Ralph had seven total tackles for Alberta, while Randon Ralph picked off Mueller to register the game’s lone interception.
The Rams scored the only points of the first quarter on an early conceded safety, then extended the lead with the Buch touchdown and took a 16-0 lead into halftime after the major by Haas late in the quarter. Taylor Wandler‘s chip shot field goal from 22 yards out early in the fourth quarter stood as the lone points in the second half.
The Golden Bears finish the season with an 0-8 record, while the Rams will now prepare for a Canada West semifinal game next weekend at home against Saskatchewan.
The Rams and the Huskies will face off next Friday night (7:00 p.m.) at Mosaic Stadium, with the winner advancing to the Hardy Cup against the winner of the Calgary/Manitoba semifinal.
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