MEDICINE HAT, Alta. - The Calgary Dinos scored 14 points off turnovers to defeat the Regina Rams 26-10 Saturday in exhibition football action at the Methanex Bowl in Medicine Hat, Alta.
In front of approximately 1200 spectators in the southeastern Alberta city, Calgary jumped out to an early 12-0 lead and never looked back, extending the lead to 26-0 at the half before the Rams hit the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.
“I thought we came out and executed fairly well offensively and defensively,” said third-year Dinos head coach Blake Nill. “We lost some focus in the second half, which happens when you start mixing up players in games like this. The goal in these games is always to come out without getting anybody hurt, and I think we did that for the most part.”
The two teams' top players faced off head-to-head in the opening quarter, with the Dinos emerging with a 10-0 lead. Jordan Flagel took starter's reps at quarterback for Calgary, while returning second team All-Canadian Anthony Woodson looked sharp in his return to the field.
The Calgary defence succeeded in keeping two-time defending Canada West player of the year Teale Orban, the Regina pivot, out of the end zone in the opening quarter – the only action he saw all afternoon. Following a 16-yard Aaron Ifield field goal to open the scoring for Calgary, linebacker Andrea Bonaventura picked off an errant Orban pass and ran it back 75 yards for a major on the final play of the first quarter, giving Calgary a 10-0 lead
“Defence is going to be our strength this year,” said Nill. “We're a veteran defence with a lot of speed. I was happy with the pressure we put up and the job that Coach (John) Stevens and his staff have done, now it's just a matter of getting the offence ramped up.”
A safety early in the second quarter made it 12-0 Calgary and on the ensuing Dinos drive, 2007 Canada West rookie of the year Matt Walter exploded out of the backfield for a 78-yard touchdown run to put Calgary well out in front 19-0. The Dinos defence again showed a knack for big plays late in quarters when defensive lineman Deji Oduwole stripped Regina backup quarterback Marc Mueller of the football and recovered the fumble, running it back for a 42-yard major to give the Dinos a 26-0 lead heading into halftime.
The game took a decidedly different feel in the second half as both teams began to evaluate younger players. Calgary used a total of five different quarterbacks in the game, while Mueller took over in the second quarter and went the rest of the way for Regina.
The best opportunity to score in the third quarter came when the Rams were first and goal at the Calgary one yard line, but a fumble in the end zone was recovered by Calgary linebacker Austin Little. Regina finally hit the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter when Perry Scarcelli scored a 29-yard single off a missed field goal. Mueller then connected with Evan Fornwald for a 27-yard touchdown strike, but a bad snap on the convert attempt kept the score 26-7. Scarcelli rounded out the scoring with a 32-yard field goal in the final minute.
The game was a homecoming for two Dinos who grew up in the Medicine Hat area – offensive lineman Reed Alexander (Medicine Hat) and receiver Nathan Coehoorn (Redcliff, Alta.).
Both teams open the season on the road next weekend, with the Rams in Manitoba to face the defending Vanier Cup champions next Saturday while the Dinos play the Saskatchewan Huskies under the lights in Saskatoon Friday night. Kickoff goes at 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on The Fan 960, fan960.com, and Shaw TV (Cable 10).
-UC-
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
3-0 CALGARY – Ifield 16-yard FG
10-0 CALGARY – Bonaventura 75-yard interception return for TD (Ifield convert)
2nd Quarter
12-0 CALGARY – Safety
19-0 CALGARY – Walter 78-yard TD run (Ifield convert)
26-0 CALGARY – Oduwole 42-yard fumble return for TD (Ifield convert)
3rd Quarter
No scoring.
4th Quarter
26-1 REGINA – Scarcelli 27-yard single
26-7 REGINA – Fornwald 27-yard TD catch (no convert)
26-10 REGINA – Scarcelli 32-yard FG
