CALGARY – Seth Poelzer ran for an Alberta program-record 296 yards on Friday, powering the University of Alberta Golden Bears past the University of Calgary Dinos football team 42-35 at McMahon Stadium.
The loss drops the Dinos to 1-3 on the Canada West season. Alberta also sits at 1-3.
"This one hurts," said Dinos head coach
Ryan Sheahan. "I thought they were a good football team that just got on the wrong end of a few mistakes in their first three weeks, and they're way better than people think. They had a good plan against us, and they were pesky on defence. Mistakes were costly, and we have to learn from this, because it's never over in this conference. It's still a bit of a dogfight."
Calgary opened the scoring with a single on the opening kickoff, but Alberta answered with an Eli Hetlinger touchdown run.
David Jordan put the Dinos back in front with a 10-yard touchdown run, before Hetlinger found Isaiah Edwards for a five-yard score with 17 seconds left in the quarter. A two-point convert gave the Golden Bears a 15-8 lead after one.
The Dinos responded in the second quarter, riding an 84-yard drive to a
Boaz Comeau field goal. Late in the half, Jordan capped a 95-yard march by finding
Matt Sibley for a 32-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left, pulling Calgary level at 18-18 at the break.
Alberta took control in the third quarter. Anthony Haines returned a Jordan interception 64 yards for a touchdown, and Charlie Wiersma added an 18-yard field goal to make it 28-18 through three.
The Dinos clawed their way back early in the fourth. Jordan found Sibley again, this time for 33 yards, to cut the lead to three, and a safety on Alberta's next possession pulled Calgary within one at 28-27. The Golden Bears answered with touchdowns on back-to-back possessions. The first was set up by a Calgary fumble, and the second was an 18-yard Poelzer run that capped his 24-carry night and pushed the lead to 42-27.
Calgary had the last word.
Jet Zakrzewski found
Saboor Zeeshan for a 12-yard touchdown on the final play, and the Dinos converted the two-point attempt to set the 42-35 final.
Jordan finished 25-of-35 passing for 262 yards and two touchdowns, while Sibley hauled in nine catches for 155 yards and both of Jordan's scoring throws. Calgary outgained Alberta 321 yards to 122 through the air, but the Golden Bears' ground game proved decisive.
Sibley said his two touchdowns came about differently. "The one before the half, we just took a shot at the end zone trying to get back in the game, and we were able to convert it," he said. "The second one, we schemed that up all week and it paid off."
He added that the Dinos have work to do.
"We didn't play complementary football. It's a full group evaluation, we've got to go back, watch the film and tighten everything up."
The Dinos will return to action Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. when they host the Regina Rams at McMahon Stadium. Tickets are available at GoDinos.com/Tickets.
Alberta will host the Manitoba Bisons on Friday, Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m.
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