CALGARY – They have a chance to finish an undefeated regular season and set a prestigious individual record as they head into the final week of the regular season, but the University of Calgary Dinos insist it's just another game as they prepare for the playoffs.

The third-ranked Dinos (7-0) head up the QEII to Edmonton's Foote Field for a Saturday matinee against the Alberta Golden Bears (2-5) in their final conference game of the season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. MT, live on CanadaWest.tv.

GAME NOTES (.pdf)

It's the only clash of the season between the provincial rivals, and in some ways it's anticlimactic: the Dinos have long since secured first place and home field throughout the Hardy Cup Playoffs, while the Bears were eliminated from the postseason with their 30-11 loss at UBC a week ago. Still, provincial bragging rights are on the line, and the Dinos will look to avenge a 53-3 loss to Alberta in the final regular season game of 2017 as they prepare for the playoffs.

Overlaid on the game is the record chase of Calgary quarterback Adam Sinagra, whose Hec Crighton-worthy season could be capped off Saturday. Averaging better than 411 passing yards per game, Sinagra heads to Edmonton just 308 yards behind Noah Picton's 2016 total of 3,186, the single-season Canada West and U SPORTS record. With 309 passing yards in Edmonton, Sinagra would break the record; with 322, he would further etch his name in the record books as the first quarterback in U SPORTS history to average 400 yards passing over an entire season.

The Dinos, the nation's most potent offence with 567.8 yards per game, face an Alberta defence that has given up more than 479 yards per game, on average – the second-highest total in the nation, behind Toronto. Alberta's offence, meanwhile, averages just 16.4 points per game – less than 40 per cent of Calgary's total.

Calgary returns home next week for a Saturday, Nov. 3 Canada West semifinal date, with the opponent to be determined this week. Kickoff of that game will go at 12 p.m. MT at McMahon Stadium.

HEADLINES

• Only meeting of the season between the provincial rivals. The teams went 1-1 in their two regular season meetings in 2017, including a 53-3 Alberta win in the final weekend of the regular season – a game that got the Bears into the playoffs. Calgary won that return meeting in the postseason, 39-22
• The teams met in a smoky non-conference game Aug. 22 in Red Deer, with the Dinos prevailing 50-38 after taking a 33-7 lead after the opening quarter.
• The Dinos have clinched first place, while the Bears will miss the playoffs with their 2-5 record.
• Just like in last year's season-ender, when Alberta's Ed Ilnicki became the single-season rushing recordholder in Canada West, this week could see another record set with Calgary QB Adam Sinagra needing just 309 passing yards to become the single-season passing leader in U SPORTS history.

No. 3 CALGARY DINOS (7-0)
Before bye: defeated Regina 58-6
Next week: host CW semifinal
 

• It's the second straight weekend the Dinos have played a game with no meaning from a standings perspective, having clinched first place in Week 6 with a 34-16 win over Manitoba
• The Dinos have enjoyed perfect regular seasons three previous times: 2011, 2013, and 2015. The 2011 season was only retroactively made 8-0 after a forfeit by UBC
• Since taking over in 2015, Wayne Harris' coaching record is an astounding 28-3 in the regular season – a .903 win percentage 
• In addition to the possible single-season passing record, Sinagra could move another rung up the ladder on the Dinos' all-time passing list. He enters the game with 5,985 career yards, just 124 behind Lincoln Blumell (1997-2000, 2002) for fourth place in school history.

ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS (2-5)
Last week: lost 30-11 at UBC

 

• Alberta's playoff hopes were crushed in a 30-11 loss at the hands of the UBC Thunderbirds last week in Vancovuer. The Bears' highlight in that game was undoubtedly a 104-yard touchdown pass from Brad Baker to Daniel Bubelenyi in the third quarter.
• Baker has three receivers over 300 yards and 15 catches on the season in Bubelenyi, former quarterback Ben Kopczyinski, and Colby Miller. Miller leads the way with 30 receptions for 423 yards on the season, while Jonathan Rosery is Alberta's rushing leader with 535 yards and two touchdowns on 82 carries.
• The Golden Bears will honour several seniors at Saturday's game. OL Joe McQuay and R Scott Pearson spent five full seasons with Alberta, while the nonet of Blake Adams, Brad Baker, Colton Balicki, Jonathan Harke, Levon Hawreliak, Tyrell Herring, Kemal Kochisarli, Andrew MacLean, and Dylan Neidermaier will also play their final U SPORTS contest Saturday.

-UC-