By Jon Roe
An Aaron Ifield field goal from 51-yards out as the clock hit zero gave the University of Calgary Dinos a massive upset over the formerly nationally fifth-ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies in front of 3,024 fans at Griffith Stadium in Saskatoon, Oct. 13. The loss was the Huskies second of the year, dropping them to 4-2 and eighth in the national rankings. The Dinos are now 2-4 and kept their playoff hopes alive.
“We were physical, we were able to run the ball,” said Dinos head coach Blake Nill. “Defensively, we were able to get pressure, that was a big difference in the game. We were fortunate enough to make a few plays and win a football game.”
The Dinos, Canada West’s leading rushing offence, pounded out 222 yards on the ground behind second-year runningback Anthony Woodson’s 156 yards on 28 carries and one touchdown.
The game was close throughout the first half and, much like the Dinos’ Sep. 8 home opener against the Huskies, the Dinos held a slim two-point advantage at the half, 7-5. It didn’t take long into the start of the third for the Huskies to blow the game open. Huskie quarterback Lawrence Nixon hit Scott McHenry with a 56-yard throw on the first play for a touchdown, making the score 12-7.
An Ifield field goal brought the Dinos to within two points but the Huskies expanded their lead to 19-10 with 7:35 left in the fourth quarter after another long pass from Nixon, this time 20-yards to Karl Phillips.
Less than a minute later, the Huskies lead was cut to two points again after a quick two-play drive down the field by former Calgary Colt, and first-time starter for the Dinos, quarterback Julian Marchand. Marchand hit Nathan Coehoorn for two passes, one for 14 yards and one for 56 yards. An Ifield extra point made the score 19-17.
On the next possession, the Huskies came close to making it a two-score game again, but were foiled by a Scott Stevens fumble on the Dinos one-yard line. The Dinos took over, but turned over the ball on downs.
With only 1:41 left in the game and the Huskies holding on to the ball, it looked like the comeback was stopped dead in its tracks. But a second down, nine-yard sack by Dinos defensive lineman Brandon Rockhill gave the Dinos the ball and another chance to complete the comeback. The sack was Rockhill’s third of the game, earning him a CW defensive player of the week award.
The Dinos almost turned it over on downs again after taking two penalties and facing a third and 25 but received a gift in the form of a Huskies pass interference penalty, giving them a fresh set of downs. The Dinos moved the ball to the Huskies’ 44-yard line, setting up Ifield’s 51-yard winning field goal. With no time left, Ifield gave the Dinos a 20-19 victory over last season’s Vanier Cup finalists.
“That was the biggest kick [of my career],” said Ifield. “I’ve kicked a lot of footballs, but that was the most important one. I’m glad it went good.”
Ifield was named CW special teams player of the week. His 51-yard field goal was the first 50-yard plus field goal of the season in Canadian Interuniversity Sport and one yard shy of tying the record set by ’80s Dinos great kicker/quarterback Greg Vavra.
“Obviously, I’m proud of the players and the coaches for their efforts,” said head coach Nill. “But, football’s a weird game. You can enjoy it for that night but then it’s back to work for the next opponent.”
The Dinos now have two games left and a position in the playoffs on the line. If the Dinos can win both games, a playoff position is guaranteed. But it’s almost too easy for the Dinos to look past their first opponent, the 0-6 Simon Fraser Clan, who are currently on a 23-game losing streak. Nill made a point of telling his team how important it is to respect their opponent in practice Tuesday.
“You have to respect your opponent, there’s absolutely no difference,” said Nill. “You prepare for Simon Fraser as you prepare for Saskatchewan. As soon as you quit doing that, then you should be out of the game.”
After the Clan, the University of British Columbia T-Birds come to McMahon for a potential playoff play-off, Fri., Oct. 26. The T-Birds are currently 3-4 and are on a bye-week. If the Dinos beat the Clan, both the Dinos and the T-Birds will be 3Â-4 and whoever wins that final game will be in the playoffs.
“I think we can [make the playoffs],” said Nill. “I think there’s a sense of confidence to a point and also a sense of there is a possibility. They know it’s not going to come easy, they have to work and I’m certainly trying to make sure they continue to realize that. But I think we’ve got to come out and work and prepare like we do every week and we should be able to compete and have an opportunity to win these games.”
Dinos QB Jordan Flagel didn’t play against the Huskies and is out for the season after requiring surgery on the thumb he injured against the University of Regina Rams, Oct. 6. Flagel had been looking to play for the Dinos basketball team as well, but will now likely miss the beginning of the basketball season.