CALGARY – The Regina Rams' season hasn't gone exactly the way they expected it to, and it hangs in the balance as they visit McMahon Stadium in Week 7.

The Rams (1-5) visit the third-ranked, still-undefeated University of Calgary Dinos (6-0) in a contest that means everything to the road team but nothing to the home squad, at least in terms of playoff positioning: the Dinos have clinched first place already and will use their final two games to tune up heading into the playoffs. Regina, on the other hand, needs to win out to have any chance of qualifying for the postseason after being stripped of three wins due to an ineligible player.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday night at McMahon Stadium, live on TELUS Optik 997 and CanadaWest.tv.

GAME NOTES (.pdf)

"We're approaching it as a playoff game, because it really is for Regina," said Dinos Head Coach Wayne Harris. "They'd be a second-place team if circumstances were different, and they're going to be really hungry to play and come in with that kind of attitude. We have to understand that's the kind of approach we will need in playoff time, so it's a great opportunity for us to get some experience at that right now."

The Dinos defeated the Rams 49-35 in their season opener Aug. 31 in Regina, coming back from a 29-23 deficit at the half and scoring touchdowns from 62, 75, and 74 yards in the second half. Adam Sinagra threw for 444 yards in that contest, sparking him on the incredible season that has him in striking distance of the U SPORTS single-season passing record.

The Rams' situation is complicated by an injury to quarterback Noah Picton, who missed his first game ever last week against Alberta. Seb Britton showed will in his first start, completing 18 of 32 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams' 32-17 win.

HEADLINES

• Second of two meetings between the Dinos and Rams. Calgary took the season opener 49-35 on Aug. 31 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina
• All-time the Dinos are 21-7 against Regina in conference play, and the Rams have not won a game at McMahon Stadium in 15 years, dating back to Oct. 4, 2003.
• The Dinos will recognize their graduating fifth-year seniors prior to Friday's game: DL Joel Van Pelt, DB Aaron Statz, LB Boston Rowe, R Tyler Ledwos, and RB Quentin Chown.

No. 3 CALGARY DINOS (6-0)
Before bye: defeated Manitoba 34-16
Next week: at Alberta

 

• A Boston Rowe scoop-and-score sparked the Dinos to a 34-16 win over Manitoba last Friday night, clinching first place in Canada West for the seventh time in eight years. Calgary will host a Canada West semifinal Saturday, Nov. 3 and, if the Dinos win that game, the 82nd Hardy Cup would be at McMahon Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 10.
• With the playoffs and first place locked up, all eyes turn to Adam Sinagra's record chase. The fourth-year Dinos pivot enters the game with 2,450 passing yards on the season – that's already the third-best total in school history and No. 12 on the Canada West all-time list. He's chasing Regina's Noah Picton, who threw for 3,186 yards in the 2016 season to set the U SPORTS single-season record, needing 737 more in the final two games to get there. Sinagra's average on the season is 408 yards.
• Sinagra's career total is sitting at 5,557 yards. He's just 19 behind 1995 Vanier Cup champion Jason Assen's total and could move as high as No. 4 on the Dinos' all-time list by the end of the season.
• Hunter Karl is also moving up the Dinos' all-time receiving list with 2,063 career yards. That puts him just 44 yards behind Chris Dobko for No. 4 on the Dinos' all-time list, and he's 108 yards behind Dave Brown for No. 3.
• Calgary closes the regular season Oct. 27 on the road at Alberta.

REGINA RAMS (1-5)
Last week: defeated Alberta 32-17
Next week: host Saskatchewan

 

• The Rams bounced back from their eligibility announcement that stripped them of three wins over the bye week to defeat Alberta 32-17 last week in Regina, keeping their playoff hopes – however slim – alive at least one more week.
• Seb Britton got the start at QB for the Rams last week with Noah Picton out with a lower body injury, and it's unclear whether the all-time leading passer in U SPORTS history will be back in the lineup against the Dinos Friday night
• The Rams' playoff situation is convoluted, but one part is very straightforward: Regina needs to win. A loss to the Dinos would eliminate them from the postseason. Of course, they'll need other help as well: the Rams need Manitoba to win at Saskatchewan and UBC to beat Alberta to keep their chances alive heading into Week 8.

-UC-