BOX SCORE

CALGARY – Eric Dzwilewski led a balanced offensive attack while Steven Lumbala scampered for 150 yards and two touchdowns as the third-ranked University of Calgary Dinos opened 2012 with a 37-12 win over the Regina Rams Saturday night at McMahon Stadium.

Lumbala's touchdowns of one and 10 yards bookended receiving majors by rookie Brett Blaszko and sophomore Jake Harty as Dzwilewski picked up his first career 300-yard passing game, completing 25 of 38 passes for 307 yards. The Dinos improve to 1-0 on the season, while Regina drops to 0-1.

Dinos head coach Blake Nill was relieved with the result, despite his team having to shake off some rust early in the contest.

“It's not bad, not perfect, but I didn't expect it to be perfect, that's our first time hitting someone since the Laval game (2011 Mitchell Bowl),” said Nill. “I'm just glad we got out of there with the victory tonight. Defensively we weren't too bad; we got some young guys in there going against one of the top passing attacks in our conference and in the country. And Eric Dzwilewski played a level up, much more composed than I've seen before and I thought he did very well.”

Dzwilewski's longest toss of the day went to freshman Blaszko, whose first CIS catch went downfield for a 65-yard score. He finished the night as the Dinos' leading receiver with eight catches for 104 yards – not bad for a university debut.

“A lot of people have been saying he is the best receiver to come out of Ontario since Andy Fantuz,” said Nill. “He's physically mature, he has outstanding speed, and we're going to see him be a big part of this program for the next four or five years.”

Lumbala finished the night with 19 carries for 150 yards and two touchdowns, while Dzwilewski added 29 yards on five carries.

In his return from injury, Marc Mueller was 32-for-48 for the Rams, with his 32 completed passes tying a career high for the fifth-year pivot. Mueller had 344 passing yards, including a 10-yard touchdown strike to Mark McConkey in the first quarter. McConkey ended up with a game-high 11 catches for 92 yards, while Stefan Charles led Regina's defence with a pair of sacks.

Special teams were the difference early in the contest, as Calgary's Elie Bouka had a 74-yard return on the opening kickoff and Harty added a 53-yard punt return following the Rams' first offensive possession. Harty's long return was followed by a quick Calgary drive which was finished off by Lumbala's first major of the game, giving the Dinos an 8-0 lead.

The Rams got on the board late in the first quarter, as an 11-play, 76-yard drive was finished off by back-to-back-to-back McConkey catches – the last of which gave the Rams their first points of the game and cut the lead to 8-7.

Calgary notched a pair of touchdowns in the first half of the second quarter, Blaszko's 65-yarder and Harty on a seven-yard reception on the Dinos' next offensive possession.

The Rams were given life just before halftime, as the Rams defence forced two turnovers late in the second quarter – one on a Kirby Kezama interception, and another off a forced fumble following an Alex Meldrum sack. Filling in at quarterback in a short-yardage situation, Landon Buch finished off a short Rams drive with a one-yard plunge to bring the Rams to within seven at halftime.

The Dinos gave themselves some breathing room late in the third, as a Johnny Mark field goal, a conceded safety, and Lumbala's second touchdown run of the contest gave Calgary a 34-15 advantage. Following another short Mark field goal in the waning moments of the fourth, Dillon Dawson's first career touchdown rush brought the Rams to within two scores but Calgary was able to run out the clock on the ensuing possession.

Mike Edem led Calgary's defence with 12.5 tackles including a sack, while Jamahl Knowles had 9.5 tackles and a key interception in the third quarter. The Dinos now have a 10-game winning streak over the Rams, which includes seven Canada West wins and three postseason victories dating back to the 2008 season.

Both teams are back in action at home next Friday night. The Rams play host to UBC (0-1) in their home opener at Mosaic Stadium, while the Dinos host provincial rival Alberta (0-1) in KICKOFF, the University of Calgary's annual homecoming game.

The Dinos and Golden Bears hook up at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7 at McMahon Stadium. The tailgate party in the east parking lot, marking the end of orientation week, begins at 3 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
CGY – Johnny Mark 42-yard missed FG single, 2:15, 1-0 CGY
CGY – Steven Lumbala 1-yard TD run (Johnny Mark convert), 6:00, 8-0 CGY
REG – Mark McConkey 10-yard TD catch from Marc Mueller (Chris Bodnar convert), 13:15, 8-7 CGY

2nd Quarter
CGY – Brett Blaszko 65-yard TD catch from Eric Dzwilewski (Johnny Mark convert), 1:36, 15-7 CGY
CGY – Jake Harty 7-yard TD catch from Eric Dzwilewski (Johnny Mark convert), 6:05, 22-7 CGY
REG – Chris Bodnar 62-yard punt single, 12:20, 22-8 CGY
REG – Landon Buch 1-yard TD run (Chris Bodnar convert), 13:59, 22-15 CGY

3rd Quarter
CGY – Johnny Mark 27-yard FG, 9:13, 25-15 CGY
CGY – TEAM Safety, 27-15 CGY
CGY – Steven Lumbala 10-yard TD run (Johnny Mark convert), 14:55, 34-15 CGY

4th Quarter
CGY – Johnny Mark 16-yard FG, 10:40, 37-15
REG – Jared Janotta 4-yard TD run (Marc Mueller pass failed), 12:51, 37-21 CGY

-UC-