The two squads prepare for Friday night’s Shaw TV “Game of the Week” @ 7:00 p.m. in Saskatoon.
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THE HEADLINES
• Rams first-year QB Dylan Hart, who completed 14 of his 28 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown after going in for an injured Marc Mueller, will make his first career start on Friday
• Running back Adrian Charles became the third Rams player to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards during the UBC game; he now stands at 1164 over his two seasons at the U of R
• Cornerback Jamir Walker is currently tied with Steve Ryan for the school’s career lead in interceptions (9) and is the U of R’s all-time leader in interception return touchdowns (3)
UNIVERSITY OF REGINA RAMS (0-1)
What a difference a week makes… the Rams were named the favourites to win the conference in the Canada West preseason coaches’ poll. Now, after a costly loss to UBC in which fifth-year quarterback Marc Mueller suffered a shoulder injury on the team’s first offensive possession, the team finds itself needing a big road win at Saskatchewan to avoid starting the season at 0-2.
With Mueller out indefinitely, the quarterbacking duties fall squarely on the shoulders of Dylan Hart. Hart completed 14 of his 28 passes for 134 yards including, an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jared Janotta in the third quarter.
The Rams turned to the ground game early and often last week, as running back Adrian Charles led all CIS players in Week 1 with 192 rushing yards. Charles’ 26 carries ties for the fifth highest single-game total in U of R history, and he’ll likely be used heavily again on Friday.
The Rams defence was a strong point against UBC, as it held the Thunderbirds to just 88 rushing yards and 360 yards of total offence – both of which ranked second in the conference last week. Linebacker Austin Bates had four tackles for loss against UBC, while Chris Sciog recorded his first career fumble recovery in the first quarter.
#5 SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (1-0)
The Saskatchewan Huskies kicked off the 2011 season in style last week, delivering a 38-7 home thumping over Alberta on Friday night.
Saskatchewan’s defence limited Alberta to just 59 rushing yards and only 217 yards of total offence. Defensive back Seamus Neary was named the Canada West Defensive Player of the Week after tying for the team lead with 4½ tackles and returning an interception 60 yards for a touchdown.
The team’s offence is controlled by second-year quarterback Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren, who completed 15 of his 22 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 and scrambled nine times for 50 rushing yards. Garrett Bolen was the team’s top receiver with five catches for 59 yards, while Jeffrey Moore and Braeden George both had touchdown receptions. Ben Coakwell had 54 yards on 13 rushes for the Huskies.
Friday’s game marks the third consecutive week that the Huskies will be in action at Griffiths Stadium, as they also registered a 34-23 home non-conference victory over Windsor back on Aug. 26. Saskatchewan hits the road for the first time in 2011 next weekend, as they’ll square off with Manitoba on Saturday afternoon at Winnipeg’s University Stadium.
by U of R Sports Information
Saskatchewan Huskies and Regina Rams renew football rivalry
University of Saskatchewan
Provincial foes the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and the University of Regina Rams will renew their bitter rivalry in an early season contest Friday in Saskatoon’s Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park.
The Huskies opened the Canada West season last week with a 38-7 victory over the Alberta Golden Bears, the Rams had an unexpected 0-1 start after loosing 21-10 to the UBC Thunderbirds. Since the Rams joined the league, the Huskies are 18-6 against their provincial foes.
Hurting the Rams in the opening game was an injury to starting quarterback and leader Marc Mueller. The injury forced him out of the game in the Rams first drive. Backup Dylan Hart entered the game completing 14-of-28 passes for 134 yards with one touchdown. The rookie quarterback is the brother to Huskie defensive lineman Zach Hart.
Running back Adrian Charles once again was a big threat on the ground for the Rams carrying the ball 26 times for 192 yards, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. He also added three catches for 16 receiving yards. Jared Janotta was the main receiving target in last week’s affair making eight catches for 99 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, Justin Edralin and Austin Bates led the Rams with 5.5 tackles each. Bates also added a sack.
Huskie second-year quarterbacks Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren and Trent Peterson split time calling the plays. Gilbert-Knorren played the majority of the game completing 15-of-22 passes for 172 yards and one touchdown. Peterson went five-for-seven for 81 yards and one touchdown. Gilbert-Knorren combined with running back Ben Coakwell for 104 rushing yards in the game.
The Huskies received scoring help from the defence and special teams. Defensive back Seamus Neary snagged an interception returning the ball 60-yards for a touchdown last week, while 2010 conference all-star on returns Luke Thiel added his second career punt return bringing the ball back 62 yards into the end zone.
Defensively, the Huskies were strong on all areas of the field with four Huskies with four or more tackles including Zach Hart, Neary, Mitch Friesen, Peter Thiel and Steven Kovach.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 306-966-1111. It can be heard on CK750 or [url]www.ck750.com. The game can be seen live on Shaw Cable.
Game Notes: The game is part of Huskie Week celebrating Huskie Athletics Centennial. University of Saskatchewan Athletic Wall of Fame inductees will be on hand signing autographs, and history will be displayed in a Centennial tent for fans to look at. The 2011 induction class includes Dan Farthing, Kelsie Hendry, Mickey Jutras, Kent Kowalski, Jacqueline Lavallee, Jamie Epp, Al Bodnarchuk, the 1987-88 men’s volleyball team and the 1996 football team. The game will also mark the annual Saskatchewan Hall of Fame game between the two rivals.
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