CALGARY – Five decades ago, the University of Calgary became its own entity and its days as an offshoot of the University of Alberta came to an end. Saturday, Calgary's university will celebrate that milestone at the Battle of Alberta as the Dinos football team takes on the Alberta Golden Bears at McMahon Stadium.

Festivities begin at 2 p.m. in the east parking lot with inflatables, carnival games, food trucks, and a performance by Juno Award-winning group Dear Rouge at 2:30. The game will kick off shortly after 3:30 p.m., live on CanadaWest.tv (pay-per-view).

The Dinos will pay tribute to their history throughout the afternoon, with a special function for football alumni and halftime recognition. The team will wear special edition retro gold jerseys for the contest, and Dear Rouge will perform another set on the sidelines at half time.

For further information and tickets, CLICK HERE.

It's just the Dinos' second home game of the 2016 season, and it couldn't come at a better time after a grueling start that included back-to-back bus trips to Saskatchewan. Both teams come into the game after a loss: Calgary dropped its first of the season 32-27 at Regina, while Alberta was shut out 62-0 at home to UBC last week.

GAME NOTES (.pdf)

HEADLINES

• Only meeting of the year between the provincial rivals
• Not including an eligibility forfeit in early 2014, the Dinos have won 14 consecutive contests against the Golden Bears dating back to the final week of the 2008 season. Scores in the two games last season were 80-18 at home and 64-28 on the road for the Dinos.
• The average margin of victory for the Dinos over their last 10 games against the Bears (dating back to 2010) has been 48.4 points
• Both teams, along with the rest of the conference, will enjoy the Thanksgiving bye next week before returning to action. Calgary will host Manitoba Oct. 14, and Alberta will welcome Regina Oct. 15

No. 5 Calgary Dinos (3-1)
Last week: lost 32-27 at Regina
After bye: host Manitoba

• Last week's loss at Regina, after a comeback that came just a yard short, was the first regular season loss of Wayne Harris' tenure as head coach and the first loss in the month of September for the program since the first game of the 2010 season
• The loss dropped the Dinos to No. 5 in the national rankings, and they sit tied with Regina for first place in the conference at 3-1
• Calgary will play its next three games at home, with Manitoba and Saskatchewan visiting McMahon after the bye before a season-ending road trip to UBC
• The injury bug has taken its toll on the Dinos so far this year, with several receivers and a pair of offensive linemen missing time. Running back Quentin Chown went down against Regina and is doubtful for Saturday's contest against the Golden Bears
• The Dinos have not lost back-to-back games since the 2009 Vanier Cup and the 2010 season opener. The last back-to-back losses in a single season came in the midst of a four-game skid in 2007.
• The Dinos remain the stingiest defence in Canada West, allowing just 73 total points and 366.5 yards per game at the midway point of the season. Calgary's offence, meanwhile, is the third-most potent in the conference, averaging just under 500 yards per game to this point.
• QB Jimmy Underdahl has completed 99 of 153 passes for 1244 yards and four touchdowns for the Dinos.
• LB Boston Rowe's strong play continues, as he sits second in the conference in tackles with 29. The Dinos also lead the league in interceptions with seven, led by a pair from All-Canadian corner Adam Laurensse.

Alberta Golden Bears (0-4)
Last week: lost 62-0 vs UBC
After bye: host Regina

• The Golden Bears were in their early games at UBC and home to Saskatchewan this year, but dropped both before losing by 30 and 62 points to Manitoba and UBC, respectively, over the past two weeks. The 62-0 mark set a Canada West record for largest shutout loss.
• The Bears are the only team in the conference with more run yards than pass yards on the season, with 782 of their 1449 total yards coming via the run. Veteran Ed Ilnicki leads the way with 359 of those yards, though he has yet to find the end zone.
• Penalties have been a significant issue for Alberta, as they average 148 yards lost per game via the orange nylon.
• QB Ben Kobczynski has completed 46 of 95 passes on the season – the lowest attempt total among starters in Canada West – for 601 yards and two touchdowns. Colby Miller has been the bears' leading receiver to this point with 13 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown.
• Brandon Foster leads Alberta's defence with 24.5 tackles on the year.
• A loss to Calgary will all but eliminate the Bears from postseason competition.

-UC-