//DATE: Sept. 21, 2007
//For Immediate Release
//Complete game statistics attached

Rams Sink Thunderbirds; Move Into Third in Canada West

REGINA, Sask. - The University of Regina Rams moved into sole possession of third place in Canada West after defeating the University of British Columbia by a score of 55-28 at Mosaic Stadium on Friday night.

The Rams (2-1) fell behind by a score of 21-3 to the Thunderbirds (2-2) early in the second, but scored 31 consecutive points in the second and third quarters to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Regina got a huge game defensively from linebacker Steve Wilson, who recorded nine tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception. His forced fumble and interception came on consecutive UBC possessions and both turnovers led directly to a Rams touchdown.

Offensively, the Rams received another quality game from quarterback Teale Orban, who completed 21 of 33 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns. Nine of those passes were caught by second-year receiver Jordan Sisco, who had 163 receiving yards, two touchdown catches, and another rushing touchdown.

For UBC, first-year quarterback Marc McVeigh stepped in for starter Doug Goldsby and performed admirably, completing 17 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns. Tyler Hamade had four catches for 114 yards and a touchdown to lead Thunderbird receivers.

The Rams came within inches of getting on the scoreboard on their first drive of the game. Four straight rushes by Graham Mosiondz put Regina on UBC's eight-yard line. Teale Orban connected with Jared Ralko on a short pass to the right, but Ralko fumbled as he reached for a touchdown. The ball was picked up in the end zone by UBC defensive back C.J. Stephenson, who ran it all the way back to the UBC 31.

The only scoring in the quiet first quarter was a 35-yard field goal by Regina kicker Perri Scarcelli, making the approximately 1800 fans in attendance wonder if they'd see a defensive battle this year instead of a battle between two potent offences.

But the second quarter would erase all of those thoughts.

UBC took the lead after backup quarterback Marc McVeigh led his Thunderbids on a seven-play, 64-yard drive that culminated in a five-yard pass to Darren Wilson for a major. Less than four minutes later, UBC took a 14-3 lead after McVeigh found Tyler Hamade for a 65-yard pass-and-run.

McVeigh, in only his second game at the CIS level, did the exact same thing on UBC's next possession. He needed just one play to find Derek Townsend streaking across the middle, and Townsend outraced the Rams defensive backs to record a 53-yard touchdown. Townsend's score gave the Thunderbirds 21 unanswered points in the span of 5:22.

Just when it looked like UBC might run away with the contest, the Rams came storming back.

Orban found Jordan Sisco behind the UBC secondary and the two combined for an 81-yard catch-and-run for Regina's first touchdown of the game. On UBC's first play from scrimmage following Sisco's major, a Steve Wilson sack jarred the ball loose from McVeigh, resulting in a fumble recovery touchdown by Stan Van Sichem.

The Rams regained the lead late in the second quarter after Jordan Sisco stepped in for Orban at quarterback and scored on a one-yard sneak. Again, the Rams defence - specifically, Wilson - came up big on UBC's first play from scrimmage after the major. Wilson dropped back into coverage and picked off a McVeigh pass, giving the Rams possession on UBC's 15-yard line. Orban didn't take long to take advantage of the short field, finding Sisco in the end zone to give the Rams a 31-21 lead that they would take into halftime.

The two teams combined for seven touchdowns and 49 points in the wild second quarter.

The Rams scored their 31st unanswered point in the third quarter after Scarcelli hit a 27-yarder. After the wide-open second quarter, Scarcelli's field goal was the only scoring in the third.

Early in the fourth quarter, UBC reached into its bag of tricks to cut the Rams' lead to six. McVeigh pitched the ball to tailback Derek Townsend about five yards behind the line of scrimmage. As several Rams converged on Townsend, he launched a pass into the end zone that was caught by Alan Pepper for a 17-yard touchdown.

But that was as close as the Thunderbirds would get, as the Rams got late touchdowns from Chad Goldie, Mosiondz, and Derek Belvedere to seal the victory.

The Rams had 463 yards of total offence compared to UBC's 371, but the story of the game might have been in the interceptions category. The Thunderbirds turned the ball over seven times during the game, while Regina gave the ball away just twice.
 
The Rams will play a road game at Simon Fraser (0-3) next weekend, while the Thunderbirds will host No. 2-ranked Saskatchewan (3-0).

NOTES: The Rams have yet to give up a point in the first quarter this season * Steve Ryan's second-quarter interception gave him eight for his career and the all-time U of R lead * Stan Van Sichem's fumble return touchdown was the Rams' first since Andrew Rumbaugh recovered a ball in the end zone on Oct. 8, 2005 against Manitoba * Graham Mosiondz became the first Ram to rush for 100 yards in a game this season * Teale Orban passed the 6000-yard barrier in career passing yards * Regina first-year quarterback Marc Mueller made his CIS debut late in the fourth quarter * UBC rushed just 17 times during the game for a total of 45 yards on the ground.


Braden Konschuh
Sports Information Coordinator
University of Regina
3737 Wascana Parkway
Regina, SK  S4S 0A2
Phone: (306) 585-5199
Fax: (306) 585-5693
braden.konschuh@uregina.ca
http://www.uregina.ca/cougars/


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