KICKOFF:Ā Friday, Sept. 5Ā (7:00 p.m. MDT)
SITE:Ā Mosaic Stadium (Regina, Sask.)
CAPACITY:Ā 33,427
RANKINGS:Ā UBC #7, Regina RV
CAPACITY:Ā 33,427
RANKINGS:Ā UBC #7, Regina RV
TELEVISION:Ā Access7 (Mitchell Blair/PxP, Gary Bresch/CC)
RADIO:Ā 620 CKRM (Michael Ball/PxP, Marco Ricci/CC)
INTERNET:Ā www.canadawest.tv
INTERNET:Ā www.canadawest.tv
TICKET INFORMATION:Ā www.reginarams.com
Highlights
ā¢ This will be the first of two meetings between the Rams and UBC this season – theyāll also playĀ Oct. 18Ā in Vancouver
ā¢ No. 7 UBC has two straight wins over the Rams, winning 37-27 in Regina last year and 24-17 in October of 2012 as part of a season split with the U of R
ā¢ The last time the Rams beat UBC was on Sept. 7, 2012 (49-20 in Regina)
ā¢ Officially, the Rams are 12-9 all-time against UBC though that includes two 2011 games that were originally UBC wins later forfeited to Regina
ā¢ No. 7 UBC has two straight wins over the Rams, winning 37-27 in Regina last year and 24-17 in October of 2012 as part of a season split with the U of R
ā¢ The last time the Rams beat UBC was on Sept. 7, 2012 (49-20 in Regina)
ā¢ Officially, the Rams are 12-9 all-time against UBC though that includes two 2011 games that were originally UBC wins later forfeited to Regina
Game Notes
RAMS FIFTH IN CANADA WEST POLL:Ā The Rams were ranked fifth in the Canada West preseason poll releasedĀ Wednesday, garnering four fifth-place votes and one sixth-place vote for a total of 13 points in the poll. Calgary chalked up the maximum 50 points as the unanimous favourite, with Manitoba second (36 points), UBC third (31), Saskatchewan fourth (19), and Alberta sixth (7).
RAMS RECEIVE VOTES IN CIS TOP TEN:Ā The first FRC-CIS Top Ten of the season was releasedĀ on Tuesday, with the Rams not ranked in the poll but receiving a total of six points. Four Canada West teams did break into the poll, led by No. 2 Calgary (260 points) and also including No. 6 Manitoba (140), No. 7 UBC (80), and No. 10 Saskatchewan (56).
THOMPSON WITH STRONG DEBUT:Ā After a fine career with the Regina Thunder that he capped with a CJFL national championship in 2013, wide receiver Mitch Thompson looks to make an immediate impact with the Rams. And he got off to a great start in the non-conference game at Alberta, catching four passes for a total of 134 yards including an 88-yard connection for touchdown on the first play of the second half after his cousin Cayman Shutter found him behind the Golden Bears defence.
FAMILY TIES:Ā Thompson and Shutter are first cousins, but theyāre not the only family members on the Rams. Offensive lineman Aaron Picton and slotback Mitchell Picton are brothers, and their cousin Noah Picton is a quarterback in his first season of CIS eligibility with the U of R. Thereās also a pair of Wilsons, as Riley is a third-year slotback with the Rams and his younger brother Luke is a rookie defensive back. Defensive coordinator Paul Dawson has a son (running back Dillon Dawson) and a nephew (linebacker Danny Nesbitt) on the team, while head coach Frank McCrystalās son Charlie McCrystal is on the staff as a defensive backs coach.
JANOTTA WATCH:Ā Fifth-year slotback Jared Janotta continues to ascend the Rams charts in several career categories – including career receptions, as Janotta needs just three catches to overtake Jordan Sisco for No. 3 in University of Regina history. Janotta also needs seven receiving yards to pass Michael Thomas for No. 6 on the school list and one touchdown catch to pull into sole possession of sixth place.
RAMS/UBC SERIES:Ā Of the 21 games played between these two teams since the Rams ascended to the CIS level in 1999, 10 have been at Mosaic Stadium. The Rams are 7-3 against UBC in those 10 games, though one of those wins was originally a 21-10 victory for UBC in 2011 that was forfeited due to the Thunderbirdsā use of an ineligible player. The Rams and UBC met once last year, with UBC scoring a 37-27 win.
FIRST-TIME STARTERS:Ā If theĀ WednesdayĀ depth chart holds up, there should be four players making their first Canada West starts for the Rams – Mitch Thompson at wide receiver, Dean Viena on the defensive line, Dylan Minshull at linebacker, and Robbie Avram at defensive halfback.
Breakdown – Offence
QUARTERBACKS
ā¢ Cayman Shutter will return to start at QB for the second consecutive season
ā¢ Shutter, a transfer from the University of Hawaii, completed 180 passes for 2428 yards and 13 TDs in 2013
ā¢ John Kiesman and Noah Picton are still battling for No. 2 on the depth chart, and a decision hadnāt been made as ofĀ Wednesday
ā¢ Both Kiesman and Picton were effective against Alberta, as Kiesman was 5-for-6 for 35 yards and Picton was 9-for-13 for 139 yards last Friday
RUNNING BACKS
ā¢ As he did against Alberta, Dillon Dawson is expected to get the start at running back – the fifth-year veteran had five rushes for 37 yards against the Golden Bears
ā¢ Expect to see both Jens Johnson and Atlee Simon see duty at RB throughout the game
ā¢ Johnson, who played hockey for three years in the SJHL before joining the Rams, had 21 rushes for 89 yards last year
ā¢ Simon, a rookie, starred for Thom CollegiateĀ last year and was No. 91 in CanadaFootballChat.comās Top 100 ranking for the 2014 class
RECEIVERS
ā¢ Addison Richards and Mitch Thompson should form one of the conferenceās most dynamic duos at wide receiver
ā¢ Richards was a second-team All-Canadian last year, while Thompson won a junior football national championship last year with the Regina Thunder and had four catches for 134 yards including an 88-yard TD last Friday
ā¢ A trio of returning players will get the start at the three slotback positions, including Jared Janotta, Landon Buch, and Riley Wilson
ā¢ Janotta enters his final season of CIS eligibility needing 42 receptions to pass former teammate Mark McConkey as Canada Westās all-time leader
ā¢ Janotta also needs 706 receiving yards to overtake Chad Goldie as the U of Rās career leader
ā¢ Buch, who has missed five games due to injury over the past two seasons, caught 12 passes for 264 yards and tied for second on the team with four TD receptions in 2013
ā¢ Wilson had 17 receptions for 175 yards as a second-year player in 2013
ā¢ Second-year receivers Davin Johnston, Mitchell Picton, and Richard Sindani are also expected to see field time
OFFENSIVE LINE
ā¢ After an injury-plagued 2013 season which forced four first-year Rams to see significant playing time on the offensive line, the staff expects this to be a much-improved position
ā¢ Expect to see two-sport athlete Jeremy Zver and second-year lineman Matt Degelman start at left tackle and right tackle
ā¢ Saskatchewan Roughrider draft pick Kyle Paterson will get the start at left guard, while Nathan Cugnet will start at right guard
ā¢ Draft-eligible lineman Aaron Picton will start at centre, where he played the last two games of 2013 for the Rams
ā¢ The team recruited Keenan Carrier and Tristain Hoath from the Saskatoon Hilltops, but were involved in a car accident two weeks ago and missed significant camp time ā¢ Hoath should be activeĀ Friday, but Carrier is just getting back up to game speed
ā¢ Lyndon Smith is out for the UBC game after being injured against Alberta
ā¢ Cayman Shutter will return to start at QB for the second consecutive season
ā¢ Shutter, a transfer from the University of Hawaii, completed 180 passes for 2428 yards and 13 TDs in 2013
ā¢ John Kiesman and Noah Picton are still battling for No. 2 on the depth chart, and a decision hadnāt been made as ofĀ Wednesday
ā¢ Both Kiesman and Picton were effective against Alberta, as Kiesman was 5-for-6 for 35 yards and Picton was 9-for-13 for 139 yards last Friday
RUNNING BACKS
ā¢ As he did against Alberta, Dillon Dawson is expected to get the start at running back – the fifth-year veteran had five rushes for 37 yards against the Golden Bears
ā¢ Expect to see both Jens Johnson and Atlee Simon see duty at RB throughout the game
ā¢ Johnson, who played hockey for three years in the SJHL before joining the Rams, had 21 rushes for 89 yards last year
ā¢ Simon, a rookie, starred for Thom CollegiateĀ last year and was No. 91 in CanadaFootballChat.comās Top 100 ranking for the 2014 class
RECEIVERS
ā¢ Addison Richards and Mitch Thompson should form one of the conferenceās most dynamic duos at wide receiver
ā¢ Richards was a second-team All-Canadian last year, while Thompson won a junior football national championship last year with the Regina Thunder and had four catches for 134 yards including an 88-yard TD last Friday
ā¢ A trio of returning players will get the start at the three slotback positions, including Jared Janotta, Landon Buch, and Riley Wilson
ā¢ Janotta enters his final season of CIS eligibility needing 42 receptions to pass former teammate Mark McConkey as Canada Westās all-time leader
ā¢ Janotta also needs 706 receiving yards to overtake Chad Goldie as the U of Rās career leader
ā¢ Buch, who has missed five games due to injury over the past two seasons, caught 12 passes for 264 yards and tied for second on the team with four TD receptions in 2013
ā¢ Wilson had 17 receptions for 175 yards as a second-year player in 2013
ā¢ Second-year receivers Davin Johnston, Mitchell Picton, and Richard Sindani are also expected to see field time
OFFENSIVE LINE
ā¢ After an injury-plagued 2013 season which forced four first-year Rams to see significant playing time on the offensive line, the staff expects this to be a much-improved position
ā¢ Expect to see two-sport athlete Jeremy Zver and second-year lineman Matt Degelman start at left tackle and right tackle
ā¢ Saskatchewan Roughrider draft pick Kyle Paterson will get the start at left guard, while Nathan Cugnet will start at right guard
ā¢ Draft-eligible lineman Aaron Picton will start at centre, where he played the last two games of 2013 for the Rams
ā¢ The team recruited Keenan Carrier and Tristain Hoath from the Saskatoon Hilltops, but were involved in a car accident two weeks ago and missed significant camp time ā¢ Hoath should be activeĀ Friday, but Carrier is just getting back up to game speed
ā¢ Lyndon Smith is out for the UBC game after being injured against Alberta
Breakdown – Defence / Special Teams
DEFENSIVE LINE
ā¢ Fourth-year veteran Tyler Perkins will anchor the teamās defensive line
ā¢ Perkins had 13Ā½ tackles, forced a fumble, and blocked a kick for the Rams in 2013
ā¢ After making six starts on the offensive line last year as a rookie, Bryce McKinnon will move over to the defensive side of the ball and will be an interior starter
ā¢ Also starting on the DL for the Rams will be Dean Viena, who played basketball at Shoreline CC (Shoreline, Wash.) last year
ā¢ Viena was heavily involved last Friday against Alberta, collecting two solo tackles, two assisted tackles, and a pass breakup
ā¢ Eric Wicijowski and Thomas Lill are also expected to be in the rotation on the line
ā¢ Wicijowski is a rookie out of LeBoldus HS in Regina, while Lill played both offensive line and defensive line last year as a rookie for the Rams
ā¢ Fourth-year veteran Tyler Perkins will anchor the teamās defensive line
ā¢ Perkins had 13Ā½ tackles, forced a fumble, and blocked a kick for the Rams in 2013
ā¢ After making six starts on the offensive line last year as a rookie, Bryce McKinnon will move over to the defensive side of the ball and will be an interior starter
ā¢ Also starting on the DL for the Rams will be Dean Viena, who played basketball at Shoreline CC (Shoreline, Wash.) last year
ā¢ Viena was heavily involved last Friday against Alberta, collecting two solo tackles, two assisted tackles, and a pass breakup
ā¢ Eric Wicijowski and Thomas Lill are also expected to be in the rotation on the line
ā¢ Wicijowski is a rookie out of LeBoldus HS in Regina, while Lill played both offensive line and defensive line last year as a rookie for the Rams
LINEBACKERS
ā¢ Connor Ketchen and Canada West all-star Michael Stefanovic will reclaim their starting positions in 2014
ā¢ Stefanovic and Ketchen finished one-two on the team in tackles last year, with Stefanovic also leading the conference outright in tackles for loss
ā¢ Dylan Minshull redshirted last year, but is expected to join Stefanovic as a starting outside linebacker
ā¢ Zack McEachern, who comes to the Rams after playing junior with the Calgary Colts, had three solo tackles and four assisted tackles against Alberta
ā¢ Rookie Danny Nesbitt – ranked No. 36 in CFC.comās Top 100 for the 2014 class – could also contribute at linebacker, but missed the Alberta game with an injury
ā¢ Connor Ketchen and Canada West all-star Michael Stefanovic will reclaim their starting positions in 2014
ā¢ Stefanovic and Ketchen finished one-two on the team in tackles last year, with Stefanovic also leading the conference outright in tackles for loss
ā¢ Dylan Minshull redshirted last year, but is expected to join Stefanovic as a starting outside linebacker
ā¢ Zack McEachern, who comes to the Rams after playing junior with the Calgary Colts, had three solo tackles and four assisted tackles against Alberta
ā¢ Rookie Danny Nesbitt – ranked No. 36 in CFC.comās Top 100 for the 2014 class – could also contribute at linebacker, but missed the Alberta game with an injury
DEFENSIVE BACKS
ā¢ The teamās depth in the defensive backfield will be tested immediately with Mason Rossler out and Tevaughn Campbell, Korey Greene, and Patrick MacDonald all questionable forĀ FridayĀ with injuries
ā¢ Kahlen Branning will start at one of the cornerback positions with newcomer Kadeem Ellis at the other if Campbell canāt play
ā¢ Either MacDonald or Robbie Avram will get the start at defensive halfback, while Jef Propp will start at the other halfback spot
ā¢ The other two starting positions in the defensive backfield will go to Joey Dwyer (dimeback) and Justin Edralin (safety)
ā¢ The teamās depth in the defensive backfield will be tested immediately with Mason Rossler out and Tevaughn Campbell, Korey Greene, and Patrick MacDonald all questionable forĀ FridayĀ with injuries
ā¢ Kahlen Branning will start at one of the cornerback positions with newcomer Kadeem Ellis at the other if Campbell canāt play
ā¢ Either MacDonald or Robbie Avram will get the start at defensive halfback, while Jef Propp will start at the other halfback spot
ā¢ The other two starting positions in the defensive backfield will go to Joey Dwyer (dimeback) and Justin Edralin (safety)
PUNTERS/KICKERS
ā¢ Andrew Fabian comes to the U of R from the Calgary Colts organization and is expected to handle both placekicking and punting duties in 2014
ā¢ Zach Schmidt backed up Taylor Wandler last year and will serve in the same capacity for the Rams this year
ā¢ Andrew Fabian comes to the U of R from the Calgary Colts organization and is expected to handle both placekicking and punting duties in 2014
ā¢ Zach Schmidt backed up Taylor Wandler last year and will serve in the same capacity for the Rams this year
RETURNERS
ā¢ Tevaughn Campbell is questionable with an injury, and if heās unavailable then the punt return and kick return duties will fall to Mitch Thompson and Kadeem Ellis
ā¢ Ellis returned six punts for a total of 52 yards and also had a 16-yard kickoff return against Alberta, while Thompson had one punt return for 15 yards
ā¢ Tevaughn Campbell is questionable with an injury, and if heās unavailable then the punt return and kick return duties will fall to Mitch Thompson and Kadeem Ellis
ā¢ Ellis returned six punts for a total of 52 yards and also had a 16-yard kickoff return against Alberta, while Thompson had one punt return for 15 yards
HOLDER
ā¢ Mitch Thompson will also be the teamās holder on field goal attempts
ā¢ Mitch Thompson will also be the teamās holder on field goal attempts
LONG SNAPPER
ā¢ Offensive lineman Jeremy Zver is expected to be the U of Rās long snapper on both punts and field goal attempts
ā¢ Offensive lineman Jeremy Zver is expected to be the U of Rās long snapper on both punts and field goal attempts
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