Dinos dominate Bears in Hardy Cup

By Rhiannon Kirkland

The Dinos dominated all the way through Saturday’s Hardy Cup game, beating the Alberta Golden Bears 56-3. The game was the second highest scoring in Hardy Cup history with UBC holding the record with their 57-3 trouncing of Manitoba in 1982. The Dinos have won the Hardy Cup for the last three consecutive years.

The Dinos started off Saturday’s game strong with a field goal from kicker Aaron Ifield and a touchdown by running back Matt Walter. The Bears responded with a missed Hugh O’Neill field goal attempt to score one point. With the game still close at 10-1, Dinos defensive line Linden Gaydosh intercepted the ball and returned it for a major. The Dinos went on to score two more touchdowns in the next six minutes to put them up 31-1. The Bears scored their last points of the game on a team safety before the half.

“The tide really turned when Linden had that interception for a touchdown,” said quarterback Erik Glavic.

During the third quarter the Dinos continued to add to their impressive lead. The Dinos marched 69 yards down the field leading to an Anthony Parker touchdown off a 13-yard throw from Glavic. Receiver Richard Snyder caught a 32-yard pass from Glavic to score in the sixth minute. Running back Anthony Woodson added another major with an 11-yard run with two minutes to go. The Dinos scored two team safeties in the fourth quarter.

Glavic was named offensive player of the game. He completed 14 of 18 passes for 270 yards and four touchdowns. Gaydosh was named defensive player of the game for his consistent efforts and an interception resulting in the third Dinos touchdown of the game.

“I just held my guy inside there and then Travis Payne broke off on the outside and he went and hit the quarterback at the right time,” said Gaydosh. “He just tried to throw a ball that shouldn’t have been thrown and it just went right into my hands. From there I didn’t hesitate and just ran it right in. We planned for them. We were just ready, we were in meetings all the time looking at formations, offensive line steps.”

The Dinos advance to host the CIS Mitchell Bowl on Nov. 20 at 1:30 p.m. at McMahon Stadium where they will play against Atlantic champion Saint Mary’s Huskies. The winning team will advance to the Desjardins Vanier Cup on Saturday Nov. 27 in Quebec City. The Dinos defeated the Huskies 38-14 in last year’s Uteck Bowl.

“We’re healthy, which is big, something that we’ve struggled with all year,” said Glavic. “This weather’s starting to get a little chilly but that’s something that might even play into our favour.”

“It’s going to be fun,” said Gaydosh. “I live for this weather, it’s going to be great. They’re not going to be ready for it.”

Squaring off in this year’s Uteck bowl in Quebec City will be the top-ranked Quebec champions Laval Rouge et Or (11-0) against the Ontario champion Western Ontario Mustangs (9-1) on Nov. 20.

“We played hard and we played with a lot of emotion,” said head coach Blake Nill. “If we’re able to do that we have better games. We’re looking for that to happen again for next week.”