CALGARY – It's time for KICKOFF, the University of Calgary's seventh annual homecoming game as the No. 3-ranked Dinos host their provincial rivals, the Alberta Golden Bears. The game kicks off Friday night at McMahon Stadium with the special start time of 5:30 p.m., live on CanadaWest.tv.

GAME NOTES (.pdf)

Tailgate festivities for KICKOFF begin in the east parking lot of McMahon Stadium at 3 p.m., and doors open at 4:30. KICKOFF is the official end to orientation week at the University of Calgary, and thousands of first-year students will be on hand to cheer on the Dinos to victory and kick start the 2012-13 school year.

Including 2012, the Bears have been the opponent in four of the seven KICKOFF games, including the first one – a 17-15 Alberta win. Since then, the Dinos have been dominant on home turf, defeating the Bears in both 2009 and 2010. Overall, Calgary has won the last four KICKOFF games, including an electrifying 30-25 victory over UBC last year on Steven Lumbala's last-minute touchdown.

On the whole, the Battle of Alberta has been mostly one-sided over the past several years with the Dinos riding a seven-game overall win streak against the Bears, including playoff wins in both 2009 and 2010. That streak started with a KICKOFF win in 2009, a 34-31 thriller; since then, the Bears have averaged fewer than eight points per game in their six subsequent contests against the Dinos.

The two teams enter Week 2 of the season on different paths: Calgary, ranked number three in the nation and the four-time defending conference champs, shook off some rust early en route to a 37-21 win over Regina last Saturday, extending their regular season home win streak to eight games and holding the Rams under 350 yards of total offence.

Alberta, meanwhile, opened on the road in Saskatoon last week where the Huskies pitched a shutout, holding the young Golden Bears to just 208 offensive yards in a 32-0 win. Second-year head coach Jeff Stead and the Bears will look to improve on that performance as they take on the Dinos Friday night.

It's the first of two meetings between the provincial rivals this season; the Dinos will visit Foote Field in Edmonton on Friday, Oct. 12 in the return match. Calgary won the lone meeting in 2011, taking a 61-7 win at McMahon Stadium on Oct. 2.

Here's a look at the two teams:

No. 3 Calgary Dinos (1-0)
Last week: defeated Regina 37-21
Next week: at Manitoba

Ranked a unanimous No. 1 in the pre-season coaches poll, the Dinos lived up to the expectations in their first game action in nine months last Saturday to move their record to 1-0 with a 37-21 win over the Regina Rams.

Rookie Elie Bouka set the tone early with his 74-yard return of the opening kickoff, while third-year QB Eric Dzwilewski recorded the first 300-yard passing game of his career as the Dinos spread out their offence. Lumbala picked up 150 rushing yards, while Brett Blaszko took a short pass over the middle 65 yards to the house on his first-ever CIS catch. He finished as the team's leading receiver with 104 yards on six catches – an impressive rookie debut.

For his performance, Dzwilewski was named the Canada West offensive player of the week.

Defensively, the Dinos gave up just 55 rushing yards against the Rams – 17 of which came from kicker Chris Bodnar on a fake punt. Marc Mueller completed 32 of 48 passes for 344 yards for the Rams, but the Dinos were in his face all night with four sacks and several hurries. Defensive back-turned-linebacker Mike Edem led the way with 12.5 tackles and a sack, while Jamahl Knowles picked up 9.5 tackles and a 25-yard interception return.

It wasn't all good news for the Dinos, though. After losing linebacker Zach McNeill to a leg injury in practice last week, three more players went down in the Regina game. Bouka, offensive lineman Carson Rockhill, and defensive lineman Martin Kalonji all left the game and did not return, and all are questionable for Friday night's game against the Golden Bears.

After opening with two straight at home, the Dinos head on the road for a pair starting next week in Manitoba followed by a date with the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver. Calgary returns to McMahon Stadium Sept. 29 to face the Saskatchewan Huskies.

Alberta Golden Bears (0-1)
Last week: lost to Saskatchewan 32-0
Next week: host Regina

The Golden Bears were officially 2-6 last season, but both wins came by forfeit. On the field, the Bears were 0-8 and are riding a 10-game overall losing streak, one that started with a 56-3 loss to the Dinos in the 2010 Hardy Cup.

The Bears started 12 pure freshmen in 2011, all of whom now have a season under their belts and should continue to improve in Canada West play. The strongest, most experienced part of the team is at linebacker with fifth-year Duncan Morris, third-year Tyler Greenslade, and sophomore Connor Ralph.

The quarterback situation remains unsettled. Curtis Dell got the start against Saskatchewan last week, while Simon Fraser transfer Ryan Schwartz went 5-for-6 for 31 yards in relief late in the game last Friday. Expect both to see the field Friday night as Coach Stead continues his evaluation at the position.

Freshman kicker Stephen Fabian had a solid CIS debut, following in the footsteps of former Bear Hugh O'Neill with a 38.2 punt average. Dillon Prince made some noise on the return game against Saskatchewan, while Yembeh Moiba and veteran Jess Valleau were the Bears' leaders at receiver against the Huskies.

Alberta returns home to host the Regina Rams next Friday night.

-UC-