Win secures playoff game
Tim Switzer, The Leader-Post
Published: Monday, October 29, 2007

University of Regina Rams cornerback Andrew Rumbaugh has never had much love for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

On Saturday, he got to show them that first-hand when his late-game, end-zone knockdown helped the Rams secure a 34-31 win at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.

"I was just thinking, 'Do my job and don't get beat,' " said Rumbaugh, who also had an end-zone interception in the third quarter. "I love to beat them up there."

The win put Regina at 6-2 for the season and clinched a home playoff game against the Huskies (5-3). The Canada West semifinal will be played Friday (7 p.m.) at Mosaic Stadium.

Rumbaugh's late-game heroics were redemption after he took a pass-interference call that gave Saskatchewan, trailing 34-29 at that point, a first down deep in Rams territory.

"Those refs up there are something else," Rumbaugh said in reference to the call. "I don't know if they got a bonus for a home-field playoff game or what.

"They just wanted to keep the U of- going. I can't understand why."

Rumbaugh and the Rams won't be able to make such criticisms this week when they play at home.

"I don't think this gives us a great edge -- they'll play well here," said Rams head coach Frank McCrystal. "But we don't have to travel and it's fewer distractions."

Huskies quarterback Lawrence Nixon and the Rams defence will certainly be on each other's minds in the days leading up to the playoff matchup.

Nixon carved up Regina for 418 yards and two touchdowns, but also tossed four interceptions and was sacked five times.

He led the Huskies from their own 28-yard line on that late drive that nearly got them the lead.

"We need to deal with the system as opposed to the individual," said McCrystal. "He runs their system pretty darn well and so we have to prepare for what they do offensively."

The Rams defence was, however, able to hold Saskatchewan's historically potent rushing attack to 71 yards. The Huskies defence had the opposite problem.

It held Rams star quarterback Teale Orban to 185 yards passing -- well below his season average -- but gave up 153 rushing yards, including 126 and a second-quarter touchdown to Derek Belvedere, as high winds deterred the Rams from passing too often.

"We've got a crazy good O-line and we know we can run the ball and Teale can throw a hell of a ball too," said Belvedere.

"Just the way it happened (Saturday), I think they were gearing up to stop the pass and it opened the door for the run."

The Huskies spotted the Rams a 17-0 lead on touchdowns by Brenden Owens and Jordan Sisco and three singles by Perri Scarcelli, before coming back with a Karl Phillips touchdown, a Braden Suchan field goal and a conceded safety to make it 24-12 at the half.

Saskatchewan got within two in the third quarter after Dathan Thomas' one-yard touchdown plunge and a 36-yarder by Suchan. The Rams went back up by six after Scarcelli kicked a single and a 16-yard field goal early in the fourth.

The Huskies took their first lead midway through the fourth when Nixon connected with Scott McHenry for an eight-yard major, but Regina went back up for good after Aadon Fieger's interception led to a 10-yard touchdown pass from Orban to fullback Sheldon Tillotson.

Now the Rams hope to repeat the performance on Friday.

"Again, there's no travel involved so it gives us a little more time to prepare and get ourselves ready technically and mentally," said McCrystal.

RAMBLINGS: Owens (shoulder) and offensive lineman John Hashem (ankle) both left the game and did not return . . . Playoff tickets go on sale today at the Rams office at the U of R, the Roughriders ticket office, the SIAST Students Association or Co-op gas bars. Prices are $10 for adults, $6 for students and $2 for children.

© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007

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