The University of Regina Rams need a spark and need it now.
After starting the season with back-to-back wins, including one in Calgary, the Rams have lost three straight to fall to 2-3 and into a three-way tie for third place in the tight Canada West conference standings. One of those teams in the three-way logjam, which includes Alberta and Saskatchewan, would miss the playoffs if the season ended now.
Regina hosts the last place 1-4 University of Calgary Dinos Saturday. The Rams offence has scored less than 11 points per game during the losing skid. Regina’s defence has surrendered eight more first downs per game then their offence has churned out. That failure to keep the chains moving cost the Rams in Manitoba last week.
“We’ve got to find a way to get first downs and keep the defence off the field,” head coach Mark McConkey said. “We have to win this one because if we do that, it puts Calgary even further behind us. It’s tight and anyone can beat anyone on any given week. You never know if UBC is going to lose and all of a sudden we’re 3-3 with them and we could potentially get second.”
Quarterback Noah Pelletier continues to lead Regina;s offence. There had been speculation the regular starter from training camp and game one, Owen Sieben might be ready to return from an opening night concussion in time for this game, but his return this season remains very much in doubt.
The Dinos record isn’t stellar but Calgary has proven to be a tough out for any opponent, including an eight-point loss to the Rams in Week 1 at McMahon Stadium.
In fact, the Dinos have yet to lose by double-digits this season which includes a controversial last-play touchdown catch wiped off the board two weeks ago. The referees have confessed that should have counted and Calgary would have beat Manitoba for the Bisons only loss so far this year.
The worst-should’ve-beaten-first scenario epitomizes the Canada West football conference where parity and unpredictability reigns supreme in 2024. McConkey knows all about it but he can see why some of the fans want it that way.
“It’s probably all going to come down to that last week, so that’s the exciting part of Can West,” McConkey said.
Barring a home playoff game, this tilt with the Dinos could be the Rams final home game at Mosaic Stadium this season with one more home game to be played at Leibel Field later this month on Friday, October 25.
This game can be heard live on CKRM 2 through the CKRM website with the pregame show at 1:45 and kickoff to follow at 2:00 Saturday afternoon.
