CALGARY – Big players put up big numbers in big games – and the University of Calgary Dinos have their big guns to thank for a 40-33 Canada West semi-final win over the Regina Rams Saturday afternoon at McMahon Stadium.

BOX SCORE

Erik Glavic found Anthony Parker for a 70-yard TD strike on the opening play of the game as the fifth-ranked Dinos built up a big lead, then staved off yet another fourth-quarter charge by the Rams to hang on for the victory.

The Dinos (7-2) will host the Alberta Golden Bears (4-5) in the 74th Hardy Cup game next Saturday afternoon at McMahon Stadium for the conference championship after Alberta stunned the Saskatchewan Huskies with a 28-point fourth-quarter comeback in the other semi-final. Calgary, which won both previous games against the Golden Bears this season, will be looking for a third straight Canada West title, while the Bears will search for their first conference banner since 1981.

The ending followed a familiar script – Calgary opening up a lead and the Rams fighting back late to make a game of it for the third time in as many games between the two clubs in 2010.

“We've played them three times now, and we've been able to get out to a lead in every one of them,” said Calgary coach Blake Nill. “But they're too good. They're offence is too good, and it's only a matter of time before they make some big plays. It's too bad it had to end that way, but at the same time this is a good football team. It's just another example of what kind of football is played in this conference.

Despite the nervous moments at the end, it was the Dinos' best offensive performance of the 2010 season. Season-highs included Glavic's passing (360 yards), Matt Walter's 162 rushing yards, Parker's 145 receiving yards, and the team's 587 yards total offence.

“Our offensive line really played well today,” said Nill. “To beat a team three times in this conference says a lot – it says that there's some level of consistency, despite what we've been through.”

After the opening score and a pair of Aaron Ifield singles, Nathan Coehoorn added a 28-yard major on the last play of the first quarter and the home side was off to a 16-0 lead after 15 minutes.

Parker hauled in a wildcat pass from Steven Lumbala from 20 yards out midway through the second quarter, then scored his third on a 45-yard pass from Glavic late in the third. Anthony Woodson also hauled in a major.

The Rams scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but the 22-point Calgary lead was too much to overcome. Two of those majors came courtesy Brenden Owens, while Adrian Charles scored his second of the afternoon with just 59 seconds on the clock.

Glavic completed 18 of 27 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns, while Regina's Marc Mueller went 27-for-37 for 331 yards and two touchdowns. Parker was the game's leading receiver with five catches for 145 yards and three TDs, while Coehoorn had eight catches for 133 yards and the lone major. Owens led the way for the Rams with 101 yards on nine catches.

Walter won the head-to-head battle between the two leaders in Canada West rushing this season, out-gaining Charles 162 yards to 127.

The Dinos get the chance to host the Hardy Cup for the second time in three seasons as they look for the three-peat as conference champions. And to win the banner they'll have to repeat the same feat: beat the Golden Bears for the third time this season.

“It's a difficult task,” Nill said. “It's going to be about who shows up ready to play. If you execute, you'll be in good shape and if you don't, you'll be in trouble. Teams in this conference just have too much power. I'm glad we're at home though.”

It will be the first conference championship game between the Dinos and Bears since 1993, when Calgary won 32-12 at McMahon Stadium. All-time the Dinos are 3-2 against Alberta in the post-season, including a conference semi-final win last year, and Calgary is 2-1 in conference final games against Alberta after a loss in 1980 and wins in 1984 and 1993.

SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
CGY – Parker 70-yard TD catch from Glavic (Ifield convert), 0:15, 7-0 CGY
CGY – Ifield 77-yard kickoff single, 0:19, 8-0 CGY
CGY – Ifield 42-yard punt single, 11:24, 9-0 CGY
CGY – Coehoorn 28-yard TD catch from Glavic (Ifield convert), 15:00, 16-0 CGY

2nd Quarter
REG – Charles 12-yard TD run (Bodnar convert), 3:45, 16-7 CGY
CGY – Parker 20-yard TD catch from Lumbala (Ifield convert), 7:15, 23-7 CGY
CGY – Ifield 20-yard FG, 12:19, 26-7 CGY
REG – Bodnar 17-yard FG, 14:37, 26-10 CGY

3rd Quarter
REG – Bodnar 43-yard missed FG single, 8:57, 26-11 CGY
CGY – Parker 45-yard TD catch from Glavic (Ifield convert), 10:41, 33-11 CGY

4th Quarter
REG – Owens 8-yard TD catch from Mueller (Bodnar convert), 0:58, 33-18 CGY
CGY – Woodson 6-yard TD catch from Glavic (Ifield convert), 4:39, 40-18 CGY
REG – Owens 5-yard TD catch from Mueller (Owens pass from Mueller), 10:05, 40-26 CGY
REG – Charles 1-yard TD run (Bodnar convert), 14:01, 40-33 CGY

-UC-