The University of Regina Rams have punched their ticket to the Canada West playoffs for the first time since 2017 with a 19-14 win over the University of Alberta Golden Bears on Saturday afternoon at Leibel Field.
Alberta opened the scoring on a 19-yard reception by Orin Schellenberg in the first quarter.
The Rams answered back in the second quarter with an Aldo Galvan field goal, followed by a nine-yard touchdown dash from running back Olivier Savard.
It capped off a 60-yard drive featuring a trio of Riley Boersma runs and a catch as well. The Rams went into the half with a 12-8 lead.
The Rams entered the fourth quarter with a 13-8 lead but quickly expanded the lead to 16-8 with a 32-yard field goal from Galvan with six minutes remaining.
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The Golden Bears didn’t go away quietly. Dakota McKay scored on a late touchdown but the Bears could not convert on the two point try to draw them close.
Rams quarterback Noah Pelletier then led an 11-play, 77-yard drive that killed 4:42 off the clock and resulted in a field goal to make it 19-14.
“I’m so proud of the way our guys battled,” said Rams head coach Mark McConkey following the game. “I know we’re 4-1 heading into the bye week, but I still feel like this team has a ton of room to improve moving forward.”
Pelletier finished the afternoon 20-for-34 for 227 yards. Bennett Stusek led all Rams receivers with six catches for 99 yards.
Rookie Olivier Savard, who was making his U-Sports debut, rushed 16 times for 64 yards and a Regina touchdown.
The Rams now enter their bye-week. They return to action on Saturday, Oct. 15th against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon.