Rams move to 2-0 with 32-24 win over Calgary

September 10, 2022

HEADLINE

The No. 7-ranked University of Regina Rams held off a late charge by the Calgary Dinos and won 32-24 in their home opener on Friday night in a Canada West game at Mosaic Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • A five-yard touchdown run by Kyle Borsa and two Aldo Galvan field goals had the Rams up 15-6 at halftime
  • The Rams got two highlight-reel touchdowns in the third quarter, first on a 28-yard pick six by Anthony Bennett and then on a 64-yard strike from Noah Pelletier to D'Sean Mimbs
  • The Mimbs major put the Rams up 32-9 heading into the final frame, but Calgary got back into the game thanks to a pair of Daniel Sananes touchdown passes to Matt Sibley that brought the Dinos to within eight with 1:14 to play
  • Calgary had one last chance for a touchdown with just seconds remaining after recovering a late Rams fumble, but veteran safety Jaxon Ford picked off a heave into the end zone to seal the victory

RAMS HIGHLIGHTS
  • Anthony Bennett collected his Canada West-leading fourth sack of the season, registered just the second interception return touchdown by a defensive lineman in school history, and recovered a fumble deep in Calgary territory in the first quarter which led to Borsa's major
  • D'Sean Mimbs had five catches for a career-high 123 yards and a touchdown
  • Tanner Schmekel had two tackles for loss including a big sack for an 11-yard setback
  • Ryder Varga was the team's leading tackler with five solo and four assisted, including a half tackle for loss

QUOTABLE
"I'm so proud of our players and staff for finding a way to win another close game. I said this last week, but the scary part is that we're 2-0 and I don't feel we've come close to playing to our potential just yet. We'll continue to learn and improve each week." - Rams head coach Mark McConkey

HISTORY FILE
  • The Rams move to 2-0 for the first time since the 2002 season, when they collected season-opening home wins over UBC and Saskatchewan
  • Aldo Galvan had three field goals and three PATs and, with 192 career points, moves into third place on the U of R's all-time scoring list
  • With four sacks through his first two games, Bennett is already closing in on the U of R's single-season sacks record, which stands at 6.5 and is shared by Akiem Hicks and Nicholas Dheilly