RAMS FALL IN CALGARY, 46-26

The University of Regina Rams matched Calgary stride for stride for most of the first three quarters, but the No. 3-ranked Dinos went on a late surge and pulled away for a 46-26 win on Friday night at McMahon Stadium in Calgary.

The two teams traded leads four times in the first half and Calgary went into halftime with a 22-17 advantage, then made it a two-possession game on a long 54-yard catch-and-run by Adam Sinagra to Hunter Karl. The Rams responded later in the third with a seven-play, 68-yard drive capped by a 28-yard touchdown catch by Kyle Moortgat to make the score 29-24, but the Rams only scored two more points the rest of the way – and those came off a conceded safety. Calgary went back up by two scores on a 12-yard touchdown rush by Robert Stewart, and ended any hope of a Rams comeback with a late drive that took well over three minutes off the clock and finished with a Karl major on a fake field goal.

Noah Picton was 25-for-37 for the Rams, finishing with exactly 300 passing yards and throwing touchdown passes to Mitchell Picton and Mitch Thompson as well as Moortgat. Mitchell Picton and Moortgat tied for the team high with seven receptions, with Picton ending up with 86 yards and Moortgat registering a career-high 78.

Rookie linebacker Nick Cross led the Rams (1-1) in tackles for the second time in as many games, finishing with five solo and six assisted. Zack McEachern had both a fumble recovery and an interception for the Rams, while Nicholas Dheilly and Ryan Warner both had sacks.

The Rams will now play two consecutive games on home turf at Mosaic Stadium. They’ll meet Alberta (0-2) next Saturday and Manitoba (0-1) on Sept. 23.