Preview: KK Sonuga and Adrian Charles lead their teams in to battle in Edmonton

EDMONTON – Two of the best running backs in Canada West will slug it out this Saturday at Foote Field as Alberta Golden Bear KK Sonuga and Regina Ram Adrian Charles will look to carry their respective programs to a 1-3 record.

Both teams come into the Saturday afternoon contest in Edmonton at 0-3, and with serious ground to catch up in the conference standings.

For Alberta, this Saturday represents an opportunity to finally get traction in 2011 in all three facets of the game at once. In week one, the Bears’ defence recorded three interceptions, three sacks, and scored on a fumble recovery. In week two, special teams were on point as Jess Valleau returned a Manitoba kick-off 100 yards for a major and CIS Special Teams Athlete of the Week honours. Against UBC, the Golden Bears offence put up 30 points, including two TDs by Sonuga, but still lost by 10.

Now, against the Rams, the Evergreen and Gold have the chance to earn their first win of 2011, and Sonuga will be a key part of those plans.

The fourth-year back, who originally hails from Abu Dhabi, UAE, has been patiently waiting in the understudy wings since his arrival from Victoria Composite High School. Biding his time as a back-up linebacker and special teams demon, Sonuga started getting carries in 2010, hauling the mail 25 times for 256 yards and four TDs before an injury shut him down for the season.

After earning the starting gig in training camp this year, the energetic Sonuga has become the fourth-leading rusher in the conference with a conference-high 56 rushes for 237 yards and three majors. He has been the consistent bright spot on an offence that has struggled to find its form.

He’ll face a stiff test against a Regina defence that ranks third in Canada West at stopping the run, yet the Rams have yielded an average of 147 yards per game and four touchdowns to opposing backs in three games this season. Coupled with the suspension of Regina linebacker Austin Bates, Sonuga could be in line for a breakout performance at a time when his team needs it most.

The same opportunity exists for fifth-year Rams’ running back Adrian Charles.

The shifty speedster was a Canada West First Team All-Star and a first team CIS All-Canadian in 2010 after picking up a conference-best and Regina single season record of 972 rushing yards. The former two-time 1,000-yard rusher from the Prairie Football Conference also had nine touchdowns last season and a seven yard-per-carry average, as well as a 121.5 yard-per-game average.

In 2011, Charles is second in Canada West rushing with 54 attempts and 338 yards. Although he has yet to find the endzone, the Toronto native is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and 112 per game.

Given that Regina just announced that 2010 conference passing leader quarterback Marc Mueller is done for the season with a shoulder injury, the Bears defence should expect a steady diet of Charles on Saturday.

The Bears are allowing an average of 228 yards along the ground through three games, but, with Regina likely leaning towards a run-heavy offensive scheme, Alberta might be able to stuff the box and limit Charles’ effectiveness.

Although the running back showdown will have the spotlight, look for the Golden Bears to exploit Regina’s fifth-ranked pass defence. Receivers Ryley Richardson, Porter Brown, and Jess Valleau could all be in store for big games, while starting quarterback Julian Marchand, or back-up Curtis Dell, will look to put the offence on track for good.

Frankie Gray will likely get the starting nod at QB for Regina, and although Alberta ranks sixth against the pass, Gray, the Ram’s third-stringer out of camp, could be in for a long day in his second career CIS start.

Source: Alberta Sports Info