CALGARY – They're both undefeated and ready to rekindle a classic rivalry that has been dormant for nearly 20 years.

For the first time in history, the No. 1 Western Mustangs (10-0) will play at McMahon Stadium as they take on the third-ranked Calgary Dinos (10-0) in the Centaur Mitchell Bowl Saturday, with a trip to the Vanier Cup on the line.

GAME NOTES (.pdf)

Tickets for the Centaur Mitchell Bowl are available at www.godinos.com/tickets, and at the door at McMahon Stadium on game day.

The Mustangs and Dinos are both led by super sophomores crowned league MVPs as they get set to meet for the first time since the 1995 Vanier Cup, a 54-24 Dinos victory.

Quarterback Will Finch set single-season conference records for passing yards (3,047) and completion percentage (69.7) as Western became the highest-scoring team in OUA history with 458 points in eight contests, the third best tally in CIS annals.

Calgary counters with running back Mercer Timmis, who led CIS in rushing with 1,157 yards and established new Canada West season standards for most all-purpose touchdowns (19) and rushing majors (18), both tops in the nation this fall. He is fresh off a career-best 279 ground yards in the Dinos' 43-28 defeat of Manitoba in Hardy Cup final.

Finch and Timmis are the faces of two programs that might have achieved success a little quicker than expected in 2013. The Dinos claimed their record sixth straight Hardy Trophy despite losing no less than 15 players to the CFL draft over the last three years, including defensive tackle Linden Gaydosh, the first player selected last spring.  The Mustangs, who hold the all-time record with 12 CIS Bowl wins and rank second behind Saint Mary's in Final Four appearances (20 vs. 22), started nine second-year players on offence at one point this season.

"It's a great matchup between two good teams that have a lot in common," said Western head coach Greg Marshall, whose squad reached the 50-point plateau in seven of eight games in league play, a CIS record, and put on another impressive display in a 51-22 Yates Cup win over Queen's. "We're both fairly young teams that have gone through and had outstanding regular seasons and playoffs. Both teams have showed great consistency so it should be a great game.

"It's been a long time since we last played. We've never played in Calgary, and the last time we played was in 1995, but we certainly have a lot of respect for their football program, their coaching staff, and what they do there. We're looking forward to a great game and a great experience for our players."

Blake Nill, the Dinos sideline boss, was also very complimentary of his next opponents.

"We are excited to be back in the Mitchell Bowl. Playing Western is a great opportunity for our program – they're the best team in the country this year, Coach Marshall has done an outstanding job building that team, and we relish the opportunity to learn from this experience. We will prepare as well as we can, and I believe that the experience we will gain will be very beneficial to our program in the near future.

"Our defence has been completely rebuilt for the season based on our graduation and guys that have gone to the pros. We have had moments where we've played well and moments where we haven't, and inconsistency is not uncommon with a team this young. Western will challenge us physically... it's a unique offence unlike any other we've seen, and we will need to be ready for the physicality of that offence."

Nill, whose troops dominated Manitoba 43-28 in the Canada West final, was quick to point out that Western excels at both ends of the field.

"Their defence is very good as well. Mixed with a lot of senior players and recognized athletes, and they have the best defensive line that we will have seen this year. Again, it'll be a challenge for us, but one that we have to accept positively and look at this as an opportunity to build our program. That's how we're approaching it."

CENTAUR MITCHELL BOWL
When: Saturday, Nov. 16, 2 p.m. MST (4 p.m. EST)
Where: McMahon Stadium, Calgary, Alta.
Who: No. 1 Western Mustangs (10-0) at No. 3 Calgary Dinos (10-0)
TV: Sportsnet 360 & Radio-Canada
Web: www.CIS-SIC.tv

WESTERN UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS (OUA champions)
2013 season summary
Overall record: 10-0
Regular season record: 8-0
Regular season standing: 1st   
Playoff record: 2-0
Top 10 final ranking (Oct. 29): No. 1
Top 10 best ranking: No. 1 (polls 6 to 10)
Top 10 lowest ranking: No. 4 (polls 1 & 2)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 10
Regular season offence points (57.2 ppg): 1st OUA / 1st CIS
Regular season offence total yards (647.8 ypg): 1st OUA / 1st CIS
Regular season offence passing (422.0 ypg): 1st OUA / 1st CIS
Regular season offence rushing (225.8 ypg): 1st OUA / 3rd CIS
Regular season defence points (18.5 ppg): 2nd OUA / 6th CIS
Regular season defence total yards (387.6 ypg): 3rd OUA / 8th CIS
Regular season defence passing (277.8 ypg): 6th OUA / 15th CIS
Regular season defence rushing (109.9 ypg): 2nd OUA / 6th CIS

2013 results
Aug. 25 (away): Western 50, Toronto 14
Sept. 2 (home): Western 71, Carleton 4
Sept. 7 (away): Western 58, McMaster 15
Sept. 14 (home): Western 83, Ottawa 27
Sept. 21 (away): Western 45, Laurier 24
Sept. 28 (home): Western 50, Queen's 31
Oct. 5 (away): Western 51, Windsor 23
Oct. 19 (home): Western 50, York 10
Nov. 2 (home): Western 32, McMaster 3 (OUA semifinal)
Nov. 9 (home): Western 51, Queen's 22 (OUA final)

2013 OUA individual honours
Major awards: Will Finch (MVP), Pawel Kruba (defensive MVP), Greg Marshall (coach)
All-stars offence (First Team): Will Finch (QB), Brian Marshall (IR), George Johnson (WR), Matthew Van Praet (C), Kadeem Adams (T)
All-stars defence (First team): Daryl Waud (DT), Dylan Ainsworth (DE), Pawel Kruba (LB), Beau Landry (LB)
All-stars special teams (First Team): Lirim Hajrullahu (K & P)
All-stars offence (Second Team): Joe Circelli (C), Eddie Meredith (T)
All-stars defence (Second Team): Ricky Osei-Kusi (DE), Simon Bahru (CB)
All-stars special teams (Second Team): None

All-time head-to-head vs. Calgary
Overall record: 1-3

1995 (neutral: SkyDome, Toronto): 54-24 loss (Vanier Cup)
1988 (home): 34-15 loss (Western Bowl)
1985 (neutral: Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 25-6 loss (Vanier Cup)
1977 (home): 24-22 win (Forest City Bowl)

Bowl history (since inception of national semi-finals in 1967)
Overall record: 12-7
Home record: 6-1
Away record: 6-6

2010 (away): 13-11 loss vs. Laval (Uteck Bowl)
2008 (home): 28-12 win vs. Saint Mary's (Mitchell Bowl)
2007 (away): 52-20 loss vs. Manitoba (Mitchell Bowl)
1998 (away): 33-17 loss vs. Saskatchewan (Churchill Bowl)
1995 (away): 55-45 OT win vs. Acadia (Atlantic Bowl)
1994 (away): 41-24 win vs. Bishop's (Churchill Bowl)
1990 (away): 31-30 loss vs. Saint Mary's (Atlantic Bowl)
1989 (away): 38-33 win vs. Saint Mary's (Atlantic Bowl)
1988 (home): 34-15 loss vs. Calgary (Western Bowl)
1986 (away): 29-22 win vs. Acadia (Atlantic Bowl)
1985 (away): 34-3 win vs. Mount Allison (Atlantic Bowl)
1982 (home): 17-7 win vs. Concordia (Western Bowl)
1981 (away): 32-31 loss vs. Alberta (Western Bowl)
1980 (away): 14-4 loss vs. Alberta (Western Bowl)
1979 (home): 32-14 win vs. Queen's (Yates Cup)
1977 (home): 24-22 win vs. Calgary (Forest City Bowl)
1976 (home): 30-8 win vs. UBC (Forest City Bowl)
1974 (home): 41-17 win vs. Saskatchewan (Central Bowl)
1971 (away): 44-13 win vs. Saint Mary's (Atlantic Bowl)

Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 6-6

2008 (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton): 44-21 loss vs. Laval
1995 (SkyDome, Toronto): 54-24 loss vs. Calgary
1994 (SkyDome, Toronto): 50-40 OT win vs. Saskatchewan
1989 (SkyDome, Toronto): 35-10 win vs. Saskatchewan
1986 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 25-23 loss vs. UBC
1985 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 25-6 loss vs. Calgary
1982 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 39-14 loss vs. UBC
1979 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 34-12 loss vs. Acadia
1977 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 48-15 win vs. Acadia
1976 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 29-13 win vs. Acadia
1974 (CNE Stadium, Toronto): 19-15 win vs. Toronto
1971 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 15-14 win vs. Alberta

Head coach: Greg Marshall
Season: 14th (7th with Western / 7 with McMaster 1997-2003)
Career regular season record: 86-24-2 (.777) / 44-12 with Western (.786)
Career playoff record: 25-12 (.676) / 14-6 with Western (.700)
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 111-36-2 (.748) / 58-18 with Western (.763)
Career overall record vs. Calgary: 0-0
Bowl record: 1-6 / 1-2 with Western
Bowl wins: 2008
Bowl losses: 2010, 2007, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
Vanier Cup record: 0-1 / 0-1 with Western
Vanier Cup wins: None
Vanier Cup losses: 2008

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY DINOS (Canada West champions)
2013 season summary
Overall record: 10-0
Regular season record: 8-0
Regular season standing: 1st   
Playoff record: 2-0
Top 10 final ranking (Oct. 29): No. 3
Top 10 best ranking: No. 3 (polls 1 & 6 to 10)
Top 10 lowest ranking: No. 5 (polls 2 to 5)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 10
Regular season offence points (42.4 ppg): 1st CW / 3rd CIS
Regular season offence total yards (549.8 ypg): 1st CW / 3rd CIS
Regular season offence passing (317.5 ypg): 3rd CW / 8th CIS
Regular season offence rushing (232.2 ypg): 1st CW / 1st CIS
Regular season defence points (22.9 ppg): 1st CW / 8th CIS
Regular season defence total yards (448.2 ypg): 4th CW / 19th CIS
Regular season defence passing (320.6 ypg): 4th CW / 21st CIS
Regular season defence rushing (127.6 ypg): 1st CW / 9th CIS

2013 results
Aug. 31 (away): Calgary 41, UBC 31
Sept. 6 (away): Calgary 34, Regina 27
Sept. 14 (home): Calgary 36, Saskatchewan 24
Sept. 20 (home): Calgary 48, Manitoba 24
Sept. 28 (away): Calgary 76, Alberta 21
Oct. 4 (away): Calgary 24, Saskatchewan 12
Oct. 18 (home): Calgary 46, Regina 27
Oct. 25 (home): Calgary 34, UBC 17
Nov. 2 (home): Calgary 42, UBC 28 (CW semifinal)
Nov. 9 (home): Calgary 43, Manitoba 28 (CW final)

2013 Canada West individual honours
Major awards: Mercer Timmis (MVP), Doctor Cassama (defensive MVP), Rashaun Simonise (rookie), Andrew Buckley (Russ Jackson Award nominee), Blake Nill (coach)
All-stars offence: Andrew Buckley (QB), Mercer Timmis (RB), Chris Dobko (IR), Sean McEwen (C), Sukh Chungh (G)
All-stars defence: Tyler Langlais (DE), Doctor Cassama (LB), Tom Spoletini (LB), Cyril Iwanegbe (DB), Adam Laurensse (CB)
All-stars special teams: Johnny Mark (K)

All-time head-to-head vs. Western
Overall record: 3-1

1995 (neutral: SkyDome, Toronto): 54-24 win (Vanier Cup)
1988 (away): 34-15 win (Western Bowl)
1985 (neutral: Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 25-6 win (Vanier Cup)
1977 (away): 24-22 loss (Forest City Bowl)

Bowl history (since inception of national semi-finals in 1967)
Overall record: 7-6
Home record: 3-1
Away record: 4-5

2012 (away): 45-6 loss vs. McMaster (Mitchell Bowl)
2011 (home): 41-10 loss vs. Laval (Mitchell Bowl)
2010 (home): 35-8 win vs. Saint Mary's (Mitchell Bowl)
2009 (away): 38-14 win vs. Saint Mary's (Uteck Bowl)
2008 (away): 59-10 loss vs. Laval (Uteck Bowl)
1995 (home): 37-7 win vs. Ottawa (Churchill Bowl)
1993 (away): 37-23 win vs. Saint Mary's (Atlantic Bowl)
1992 (away): 21-11 loss vs. Saint Mary's (Atlantic Bowl)
1988 (away): 34-15 win vs. Western (Central Bowl)
1985 (home): 56-14 win vs. Carleton (Western Bowl)
1984 (away): 12-7 loss vs. Guelph (Central Bowl)
1977 (away): 24-22 loss vs. Western (Forest City Bowl)
1975 (away): 38-13 win vs. Acadia (Atlantic Bowl)

Vanier Cup history
All-time record: 4-4

2010 (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City): 29-2 loss vs. Laval
2009 (PEPS Stadium, Quebec City): 33-31 loss vs. Queen's
1995 (SkyDome, Toronto): 54-24 win vs. Western
1993 (SkyDome, Toronto): 37-34 loss vs. Toronto
1988 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 52-23 win vs. Saint Mary's
1985 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 25-6 win vs. Western
1983 (Varsity Stadium, Toronto): 31-21 win vs. Queen's
1975 (CNE Stadium, Toronto): 14-9 loss vs. Ottawa

Head coach: Blake Nill
Season: 16th (8th with Calgary / 8 with Saint Mary's 1998-2005)
Career regular season record: 96-32 (.750) / 47-17 with Calgary (.734)
Career playoff record: 26-11 (.703) / 14-6 with Calgary (.700)
Career overall record (season and playoffs): 122-43 (.739) / 61-23 with Calgary (.726)
Career overall record vs. Western: 0-0
Bowl record: 6-5 / 2-3 with Calgary
Bowl wins: 2010, 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999
Bowl losses: 2012, 2011, 2008, 2004, 2000
Vanier Cup record: 2-4 / 0-2 with Calgary
Vanier Cup wins: 2002, 2001
Vanier Cup losses: 2010, 2009, 2003, 1999

-UC-