Regina Rams Lose Pre-Season Game To Calgary

The University of Regina Rams had their first game action of the 2016 season on Thursday night, but lost 37-13 to Calgary in a neutral-site exhibition game at the Methanex Bowl.

The Rams went into halftime trailing by just 10, but the Dinos scored 20 of the first 23 points following the break to take a commanding 33-6 lead four minutes into the fourth.

The offensive highlight of the game for the Rams came immediately following Calgary taking that 27-point lead, as rookie quarterback Seb Britton engineered an eight-play, 104-yard drive for the U of R's lone touchdown of the game. The drive featured three receptions by Brady Eurich and two by Michael Scraper, and it was capped off by a nice 35-yard connection from Britton to Kyle Moortgat for the major.

"I'm not displeased at all - we made a lot of mistakes but have to remember we were playing one of the more physical teams in the CIS tonight," Rams head coach Steve Bryce said. "We went toe-to-toe with them for most of the first half, and you eliminate a couple of those major mistakes and we're even closer at the break. We know we can play with anyone now, and now we go back to 0-0 and get ready for next week."

Noah Picton got the start under centre for the Rams and completed 14 of his 21 passes for 141 yards. Britton completed five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, while Tyler Vieira was 4-for-9 and had 71 passing yards - most of which came on a 51-yard deep ball to Khalid Kornegay.

Kornegay finished with three receptions for a team-leading 94 yards, while Eurich led the Rams with four catches. Moortgat and Riley Wilson joined Kornegay with three receptions. Third-year running back Atlee Simon had 10 carries for 44 yards.

Defensively, Zack McEachern led the way for the Rams in tackles (five solo, two assisted) and had the team's lone sack. Alex Rorke added five solo tackles, while Kaiden Jones and Medicine Hat product Travis Semenok both had pass breakups.

For Calgary, Jimmy Underdahl started at quarterback and completed 15 of his 20 passes for 235 yards. Austen Hartley (five catches for 88 yards), Dallas Boath (four for 117), and Whitman Tomusiak (three for 83) were the top receivers for the Dinos.

The Rams will now prepare for their Canada West season opener, set for next Friday against the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.

(Braden Konschuh/University of Regina)