CALGARY – The Dinos football team hits the road for the first time in 2024, traveling up Highway 2 to take on the University of Alberta Golden Bears. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Foote Field.

HEADLINES

• After a slow start in last week's opener, Calgary got things going late and scored 14 points in the final quarter but saw their comeback effort fall just short in a 24-16 loss to Regina. 
• The Bears opened the season with an impressive 42-28 road win over reigning Hardy Cup champs UBC.
• The Dinos and Golden Bears met just once last season - all the way back in the 2023 season opener. Alberta connected on a pair of big plays on offence that sparked a 33-9 win for the visitors at McMahon Stadium in that one.
• The road team has now won eight of the last ten in the Battle of Alberta. The Bears have won three of the last four - their longest run since the early 2000's. Calgary has won the last 10 in Edmonton, last dropping a road game in this rivalry series back on Oct. 25, 2008.

Calgary Dinos (0-1)
Next week: at Saskatchewan

• The Dinos didn't look as smooth as expected in last week's opener, but still managed to rack up 256 yards through the air, as the passing game hit on a number of big plays late in the comeback effort.
• Luke Gutek was a big part of that aerial assault by the Dinos, hauling in four passes for an even 100 yards and a touchdown in his U SPORTS debut. The highly touted rookie from Okotoks, Alta. also made the highlight reel with a 50-yard catch with a defender right in his face before finding the endzone.
• The Dinos defensive unit once again made its presence known. In Friday's opener against Regina, Calgary tallied four takes aways - interceptions by Steen Rasmussen and Isaiah Smith and fumble recoveries by Smith and Liam Reid. Second-year D-lineman Sylvester Ibelo also recorded his first career sack on Friday, while Osasere Odemwingie also had a sack and forced fumble.
• Calgary will look to improve its ground game in Week 2, after tallying just 30 yards rushing in the opener.
• The Dinos stay on the road for their next contest, heading to Saskatchewan to take on the Huskies in another game under the lights with kickoff set for 7 p.m. next Friday.

Alberta Golden Bears (1-0)
Next week: at Manitoba

• In a rematch of last year's Hardy Cup thriller, Alberta exacted some revenge over UBC with a 42-28 road win - marking their first win in Vancouver since 2019. Despite trailing 13-11 at the half, the Bears outscored the Thunderbirds 31-15 after the break and led by as many as 22 in the fourth quarter.
• Third-year QB Eli Hetlinger completed 17 passes for 248 yards and two scores in the win. His favorite target in that one proved to be Chevy Thomas, who had five catches for 164 yards and a touchdown.
• With the win, Alberta moved from seventh to fifth in the weekly U SPORTS national rankings - their highest ranking in nearly 20 years.
• The Golden Bears have won their last five home openers, including a 37-16 victory over Manitoba last season. Up next, Alberta heads to Winnipeg to take on the Bisons for a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday.

-UC-