Regina's resilient Rams ready for Rouge et Or with Vanier Cup berth at stake
11/15/2024 08:16 PM
The University of Regina Rams have thrived since being 2-and-5.
A three-game winning streak — one that includes back-to-back Canada West playoff victories — has propelled the Rams into Saturday's Mitchell Bowl against the Laval Rouge et Or.
As a bonus, the U Sports football semi-final will be played at Mosaic Stadium, beginning at 2 p.m.
"It's truly amazing," Rams quarterback Noah Pelletier marvels. "I don't think there's any better way to put it.
"We're taking the time to look back and reflect on this season and what we've been through. It's amazing that we've been able to make it this far and finally show what we're capable of.
"It's the goal and the hope that we get to play another week of football after this but, looking back on the season, it has been absolutely amazing."
The Rams secured a Canada West playoff spot on the final weekend of the regular season by defeating the visiting University of Alberta Golden Bears 29-22 on Oct. 25.
Regina trailed 22-4 before rallying for 25 unanswered points.
Christian Katende rushed 26 times for 228 yards to power the Rams to victory.
The U of R squad staged another comeback in a conference semi-final, defeating the University of Manitoba Bisons 28-25 in Winnipeg on Nov. 2.
Pelletier threw a game-winning, 16-yard touchdown pass to Nicholas Sirleaf with 19 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter against a Manitoba team that led the conference's regular-season standings with a 7-1 record.
Next stop: Saskatoon, where the Rams outlasted the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 19-14 in the Hardy Cup — the Canada West championship game — on Nov. 9.
A 46-yard interception-return touchdown by Carson Sombach, who scored at 5:13 of the third quarter at Griffiths Stadium, put the visitors ahead to stay.
Laval (7-1) is the visiting team on Saturday because the scheduling rotation called for the Canada West champion to host the RSEQ winner in the Mitchell Bowl.
In Saturday's Uteck Bowl, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA) will face the host Bishop's Gaiters (AUS) in Lennoxville, Que.
The Rams are preparing to host a national semi-final for the first time, with the ambition of advancing to the Vanier Cup (Nov. 23 in Kingston, Ont.).
"We definitely had to earn our home game," Pelletier says leading up to the Rams' first semi-final appearance since 2000.
"We were the fourth seed, so we knew we'd be going into a couple of away games. We were able to take care of it and now we're blessed to have the opportunity to be back at home and have all those things that come with it.
"It's nice not having to travel. It's nice having those home-cooked meals and having a locker room you're used to and obviously having a lot of fans out there as well.
"It's definitely beneficial and we're glad that we have that opportunity."
Tickets are available HERE.
(The Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation supports amateur, junior and university football in the province.)
RAMS TO ROUGHRIDERS
The U of R/Green and White Connection
Ryan Ackerman: 2007 (training camp), 2008 (training camp)
Chris Bodnar: 2012 (training camp), 2013 (mini-camp)
Riley Boersma: 2022 (training camp)
Kris Calcutt: 2016 (training camp), 2017 (training camp)
Tevaughn Campbell: 2016 (17 games played), 2017 (practice roster)
Jason Clermont: 1999 (training camp/practice roster), 2009 (16), 2010 (18), 2011 (18)
Nicholas Dheilly: 2021 (practice roster), 2022 (8), 2023 (7), 2024 (5)
Josh Donnelly: 2022 (training camp)
Jaxon Ford: 2023 (15), 2024 (6)
Evan Fornwald: 2012 (practice roster)
Tamon George: 2009 (8), 2010 (4), 2011 (8)
Chris Getzlaf: 2007 (practice roster), 2008 (5), 2009 (18), 2010 (18), 2011 (18), 2012 (18), 2013 (17), 2014 (15), 2015 (10), 2017 (8)
John Hashem: 2012 (practice roster)
Neal Hughes: 2004 (14), 2005 (5), 2006 (15), 2007 (18), 2008 (12), 2009 (7), 2010 (18), 2011 (18), 2012 (18), 2013 (13), 2014 (2)
Layne Hull: 2019 (practice roster)
Jorgen Hus: 2015 (18), 2016 (9), 2017 (18), 2018 (18), 2019 (18), 2021 (14), 2022 (18), 2023 (18), 2024 (18)
Nick Hutchins: 2009 (6), 2010 (9), 2011 (injured), 2012 (training camp)
Brendon LaBatte: 2012 (16), 2013 (18), 2014 (15), 2015 (18), 2016 (3), 2017 (18), 2018 (18), 2019 (6)
Darryl Leason: 1993 (training camp), 1994 (training camp), 1999 (mini-camp)
Joel Lipinski: 2009 (9), 2010 (training camp)
Mike Maurer: 1996 (training camp), 1997 (4), 1998 (13), 1999 (18), 2000 (5)
D'Sean Mimbs: 2024 (training camp)
Cory Olynick: 1999 (training camp)
Teale Orban: 2008 (training camp)
Kyle Paterson: 2014 (training camp), 2015 (training camp)
Noah Pelletier: 2023 (training camp)
Aaron Picton: 2016 (training camp; practice roster)
Mitch Picton: 2017 (practice roster), 2018 (practice roster), 2019 (2), 2021 (10), 2022 (7), 2023 (15), 2024 (12)
Noah Picton: 2015 (training camp)
Tony Plett: 2003 (training camp)
Trent Poitras: 1999 (training camp)
Jon Ryan: 2019 (18), 2021 (10)
Perri Scarcelli: 2009 (training camp)
Atlee Simon: 2019 (practice roster)
Jordan Sisco: 2010 (practice roster), 2011 (8), 2012 (7), 2013 (2), 2014 (injured)
Kolten Solomon: 2011 (training camp), 2012 (training camp), 2013 (mini-camp)
Mike Thomas: 2003 (training camp)
Mitch Thompson: 2013 (training camp), 2014 (training camp/practice roster)
Chris Warnecke: 1998 (training camp), 1999 (training camp/practice roster)
Ryan Wellman: 2013 (training camp), 2014 (5), 2015 (1)
Craig Zimmer: 2004 (training camp)
Jeff Zimmer: 1998 (training camp), 1999 (training camp)
Jeremy Zver: 2017 (injured)
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 43
NUMBER OF PLAYERS WITH AT LEAST ONE CFL GAME: 16
DOCUMENTED CFL GAMES PLAYED: 848
