Regina fourth-string QB, and usual slotback, Zack Oleynik leads Rams to win

EDMONTON, Alta. – The University of Alberta Golden Bears’ football team suffered a 38-14 loss to the Regina Rams, Saturday afternoon at Foote Field.

Fourth-year running back KK Sonuga churned out another solid performance, grabbing 16 carries and 101 rushing yards with one touchdown for the Bears. Receiver Brad Quartel caught Alberta’s other touchdown. Veteran quarterback Julian Marchand completed 15 of 29 pass attempts for 196 yards, with one INT and his first passing TD of the season. Laine Rogers led Alberta’s receiving corps with five catches for 75 yards.

Regina fourth-string QB, and usual slotback, Zack Oleynik, threw four touchdown passes, while completing 14 of 23 pass attempts for 254 yards and one interception in his first-ever CIS game under the centre. The 6’4” slotback was pressed into service as the starting QB thanks to injuries to Marc Mueller and Dylan Hart. Freshman quarterback Frankie Grey also saw time at QB, completing two of three passes, while also rushing six times for 61 yards. In fact, a total of four different players took snaps for the Rams, as starting running back Adrian Charles received two direct snaps in short yardage situations, while Kahlen Branning, listed on the depth chart as a defensive back and the fifth-string QB, rushed twice as QB for 24 yards.

Charles, a 2010 CIS First Team All-Canadian, showed great form along the ground, racking up 22 carries and 165 yards, as well as his first rushing TD of the season. Receiver Jared Janotta set a personal best with seven catches for 147 yards, including a 69-yard catch and run job early in the first. Veteran receiver Mark McConkey had five catches for 65 yards and a TD, while Brenden Owens caught Oleynik’s other TD strike.

The Golden Bears, who drop to 0-4, suffered numerous self-inflicted wounds on the day; including 14 points against via turnovers and 11 penalties for 95 yards. Alberta also lost the battle of field position, resulting in Marchand routinely having to direct the offence from deep in his own zone.

Regina punter Chris Bodnar put on a kicking clinic, punting 10 times for an average of 46 yards, including three inside the Alberta 20-yard line, and one 56-yard punt. Alberta’s rookie punter, Steve McCaffrey, a highly-touted defensive back before taking on the kicking game, cracked off 13 punts for an average of 37 yards.

The Rams, now 1-3, opened the scoring with a nine-play, 95-yard drive midway through the first quarter that ended with a four-yard touchdown catch by McConkey. That major was set up by Janotta’s big catch and run play up the seam, and then he got in on the scoring act, hauling in two touchdown passes in the second quarter to increase Regina’s lead to 21-0.

Alberta struck before the half when Sonuga strafed into the endzone from 14 yards out, making the score 21-7 at the half. The Bears then cut the lead to just seven points at the start of the third quarter, when Marchand marched the Bears on a five-play, 51-yard drive that culminated in Quartel’s TD reception from 17 yards out.

Turnovers and penalties prevented the Bears from picking up even more momentum, however, and soon enough the Rams retook control the game, as Charles put Regina back up by two touchdowns with a 10-yard rumble late in the third quarter. Owens put the game out of reach with a 25-yard TD catch midway through the fourth, and Bodnar completed the scoring with a 33-yard field goal late in the contest.

The Golden Bears will return to action in eight days when they travel to Calgary to take on the 4-0 Dinos at McMahon Stadium on Sunday, October 2.

NOTES: Jason Hetherington’s interception against Regina leaves him tied for 1st place all-time in Golden Bears career picks with 16…Hetherington is also 6th all-time in Canada West…Former Golden Bear Jason Milne retired with 16 as well…Freshman receiver and kick returner Dillon Prince put up solid numbers for the Alberta return game, taking six kick-offs for 182 yards total, including one 51-yard scamper…Regina now has a career 13-5 record against the Golden Bears.

Source: Alberta Sports Info