//DATE: Nov. 2, 2007
//For Immediate Release
//Complete game statistics attached

Rams Defeat Huskies; Advance to Conference Final

REGINA, Sask. * The University of Regina Rams clinched their first Hardy Cup berth since 2002 on Friday night after defeating the Saskatchewan Huskies by a score of 19-13 in a Canada West semifinal at Mosaic Stadium.

With 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Rams' defence stood strong on a Huskie 3rd-and-1 on the Regina 50-yard line. Paul McDill burst through the line to stop Saskatchewan quarterback Laurence Nixon short of the first down, essentially sealing the victory for the Rams.

The Rams will play in next weekend's Hardy Cup against the winner of Saturday's semifinal game between Calgary and Manitoba.

Defensive end Stan Van Sichem was a terror on the line for the Rams all night long, recording four sacks for a total loss of 30 yards. One of his sacks resulted in a Nixon fumble which was recovered by Regina linebacker Mat Nesbitt. Cornerback Andrew Rumbaugh had a game-high four pass breakups for the Rams.

Offensively, quarterback Teale Orban completed 20 of 28 passes for 273 yards, but also threw two interceptions. Derek Belvedere had a strong game on the ground, collecting 94 rushing yards on 27 carries. Jordan Sisco led all Regina receivers with eight catches for 92 yards.

For the Huskies, Nixon was 14-for-29 with 208 passing yards and one touchdown. Scott McHenry was the team's top receiver, catching six passes for 108 yards. The Huskies had six players all tied with a game-high six tackles. Dylan Barker and Paul Woldu each recorded a pick for the visitors.

The Rams won the battle for field position for the majority of the first half, but it took them until the second half of the second quarter to get on the scoreboard thanks to some untimely turnovers. Down 3-0 after a first-quarter 40-yarder by Braden Suchan, the Rams replied with a field goal of their own from Perri Scarcelli and a one-yard touchdown plunge from Jordan Sisco and led 10-3 at the half.

Regina had 240 yards of total offence in the first half compared to just 79 for the Huskies.

The Rams moved the ball deep into the Huskie zone on their first two possessions of the second half, but had to settle for a Scarcelli field goal on both occasions.

Saskatchewan scored its first major of the game with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. After a gutsy call by the Huskies on 3rd-and-10 from Regina's 28-yard line resulted in a 13-yard completion over the middle, Karl Phillips hauled in a 16-yard pass from Laurence Nixon for a touchdown to cut the Rams' lead to 16-10.

After a 37-yard field goal by Scarcelli extended Regina's lead to nine early in the fourth quarter, the Huskies marched downfield. Saskatchewan had the ball on second down on the Rams' one-yard line, but a gaffe between the Huskies' quarterback and fullback resulted in a four-yard loss and they had to settle for a field goal.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Huskies were forced to punt on their own 47, but the snap sailed over Suchan's head. Suchan was able to retreat to the ball, but was only able to unleash a 13-yard punt, giving the Rams the ball near midfield after a no-yards penalty was tacked on. The Rams had to punt, setting up the last-chance Huskies drive that was stopped by the failed third-down gamble near midfield.

The Rams ended up with 425 yards of total offence to the Huskies' 312.

NOTES: Tonight's game marked the first time in the last 10 games between these two teams that they failed to combine for at least 50 points * next weekend, the Rams will make their first appearance in the Canada West final since making three consecutive trips stretching from 2000 to 2002 * the Rams improve their all-time playoff record to 6-5 and are now 2-1 in the postseason against the Huskies * kicker Perri Scarcelli set a Rams single-game playoff record by booting four field goals.

TOP OF PAGE