Stretch drive opens with provincial rivalry

For the Dinos, Friday night’s contest is a chance to reset after the bye week and start creating a rhythm as the team heads toward the playoffs. The only team in the conference that has already clinched a postseason berth, Calgary could clinch home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a win over the Bears along with a loss by Manitoba at Saskatchewan on Friday night. The Bears, meanwhile, are still searching for their first victory on the field since they upset Saskatchewan in the 2010 conference semi-final, a streak of 14 losses.
It’s Calgary’s first trip to Foote Field since the third week of the 2010 season, a 23-14 Dinos victory. Overall, the Dinos are riding an eight-game win streak over Alberta, six of which have come in regular season play.
Here’s a look at the two teams:
No. 2 Calgary Dinos (5-0)
Before bye: defeated Saskatchewan 45-4
Next week: at Regina

The Dinos’ offence as continued to cruise, putting up 1,328 yards in the last two games before the bye, including a 62-7 road win at UBC and a 45-4 defeat of Saskatchewan – the Huskies’ worst loss in a decade. With more than 3,000 yards total offence through five games, Calgary is in range of the school’s single-season record of 4,651 yards set in the 2009 season. They’re also on pace to shatter the total points record of 317, set in 1995, with 242 through five games – if they average just 25 points per game the rest of the way, the Dinos will break that mark.
At the controls for this offensive juggernaut is third-year quarterback Eric Dzwilewski. The nation’s leading passer at 337 yards per game, he is also the most accurate starting QB in the country with a 70.3 per cent completion rate. And with 4,325 career passing yards heading into the Alberta game, the 2010 CIS rookie of the year is just 50 away from moving into sixth on the Dinos’ all-time passing list past Don Siler (1973-76).
Dzwilewski’s task has been made easier thanks to an all-star group of receivers, with the Dinos enjoying at least one 100-yard receiving performance each game so far. And they’re taking turns – the first two weeks it was rookie Brett Blaszko with the big numbers, and then in week three Chris Dobko set a school record with 13 catches against Manitoba. The last two weeks it has been veteran Richard Snyder leading the way, including a 238-yard performance against Saskatchewan – the fourth best single game in school history. All in all, the Dinos have four receivers with at least 300 yards and four with three touchdowns apiece through five games of the season.
The aerial attack has meant that Calgary’s vaunted run game has been relied on less than usual in the first half of the season. Steven Lumbala, a first team all-Canadian a year ago, has racked up just 288 yards on the year – though he did sit out one game with an injury and dressed but did not carry the ball against Saskatchewan. Still, Calgary has churned up more than 1,000 yards on the ground so far this year with Mercer Timmis, Cuong Thai Lieu, and Denzel Morrison joining Dzwilewski and Lumbala with more than 100 rushing yards on the season.
Defensively, the Dinos have been just as solid. Having given up just 50 points through five games – easily the lowest total in the nation, Calgary is also the top pass defence in all of CIS, allowing just 171 yards per game through the air, and is part of a select group of just three teams that have given up fewer than 100 rushing yards per game.
Linebackers Jordan Verdone and Mike Edem have been the Dinos’ stalwarts on defence, with Verdone winning Canada West defensive player of the week honours against Saskatchewan with five tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a knockdown. In the second half against Saskatchewan, the Dinos allowed just one first down and 15 yards of total offence in a dominant defensive performance.
The secondary is home to several ball-hawks, as well – fifth-year safety Wyatt Getty has doubled his career total with three so far this campaign, while corner Jamahl Knowles has a pair while Tye Noble and lineman Mike Klassen have one each.
Next week, the Dinos head to Regina for what will likely be a first-place showdown to decide home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, followed by a season-ending home game against the Manitoba Bisons Oct. 27.
Alberta Golden Bears (0-5)
Before bye: lost to UBC 29-10
Next week: Host Saskatchewan

The Bears’ performance on the field has improved since they last met the Dinos in early September, but a rash of injuries has impeded their progress. The biggest loss is undoubtedly veteran linebacker Tyler Greenslade, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
Still, Alberta has shown improvement in the past three games after being outscored 97-6 in the first two weeks on the road at Saskatchewan and Calgary. They put up 38 points in a loss at Manitoba and they were tight with Regina heading into the fourth – but in their last outing, the UBC Thunderbirds built up a 22-0 lead at halftime en route to a 29-10 victory on the battle of winless teams before the bye.
The offence is led by Calgary-raised pivot Curtis Dell, who has put up decent numbers despite the situation his team finds itself in. He’s approaching the 1,000-yard passing mark with 904 heading into the game, completing 68 of 134 passes on the season. His top target has been veteran Ryley Richardson, who has two receiving TDs on the year for Alberta and is fourth in the conference in receptions with 26, racking up 315 yards. Jess Valleau has 329 yards through the air, while Tyler Lewis is the team’s rushing leader with 305 yards and a major.
Quarterback Dell actually leads the team with three rushing touchdowns, also adding a respectable 175 rushing yards on the year.
On defence, Ryan Dean, Tanner Lestus, and Jon Mora lead the way with at least 20 tackles apiece.
Friday’s game is the second of three straight at home for the Bears, who play host to Saskatchewan next weekend. Alberta wraps up its regular season Friday, Oct. 26 when they face the Regina Rams at Mosaic Stadium.