Source: Ben Matchett, Calgary Assistant Athletic Director, Operations & Communications / Photo credit Yan Doublet
QUEBEC CITY – The University of Calgary
Dinos have made their way to La Belle Province to compete for
national supremacy on the gridiron and will take on the defending
national champions in Saturday's TELUS Vanier Cup at
TELUS-Université Laval Stadium.
Quebec City is a familiar place for the Dinos, who will see their
season end on the Université Laval campus for the fourth
time in six years as they face the host Rouge et Or in search of
their fifth national title. The game kicks off Saturday at 1 p.m.
local (11 a.m. MT), live on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360, Radio-Canada,
and Sportsnet 960 The Fan as the second- and third-ranked teams,
both undefeated at 11-0, do battle.
GAME NOTES (.pdf)
THE MATCH-UP
The Dinos and Rouge et Or both enter the Vanier Cup undefeated,
marking just the fifth time in the 49-year history of the
championship game that both combatants go in undefeated after 2005
(Laurier vs. Saskatchewan), 1986 (UBC vs. Western), and 1966 (StFX
vs. Waterloo Lutheran). Both are looking to become the 14th CIS
program to complete an undefeated season, a feat last accomplished
by Laval in 2010. It's the fourth meeting in the last six years
between the Dinos and Rouge et Or, with Laval taking all three
previous meetings.
FULL CIRCLE
The Dinos started the season with an exhibition contest at Laval,
falling 32-3 in a game that was tightly contested in the early
stages when Calgary had its full starting lineup on the field.
Strangely enough, it's the third year in a row and the fifth time
in eight years that Laval will face the team they took on in the
pre-season for the Vanier Cup, while it's the fourth time in six
years that Calgary's season will end on the Laval campus after the
2008 Uteck Bowl, followed by the 2009 and 2010 Vanier Cups.
THE WESTERN FACTOR
The Dinos made it to the Vanier Cup after a dominant 44-3 win last
week in the Mitchell Bowl over previously undefeated, No. 1-ranked
Western. It stretched the Dinos' all-time record over the Mustangs
to 4-1 after previous wins in 1985, 1988, and 1995 – and in
all three of those seasons, Calgary captured the Vanier Cup. The
1985 and 1995 Western games came in the national final, while the
1988 Central Bowl win in London, Ont. sent Calgary on to face Saint
Mary's for the Vanier Cup at Varsity Stadium in Toronto.
HOME COOKIN'
Saturday's Vanier Cup will be the first road game for the Dinos in
50 days. Calgary finished 4-0 on the road, most recently a 24-12
win over Saskatchewan on Friday, Oct. 4. After the Thanksgiving Day
bye, the Dinos finished the regular season with two more home
games, followed by three playoff contests to total five consecutive
home weekends. Calgary is 38-2 in its last 40 games at McMahon
Stadium and gets set to face a team that hasn't lost at home in
nearly a decade in Laval. The Dinos are 7-16 on the road all-time
in the postseason, with the last away win coming in the 2009 Uteck
Bowl in Halifax against Saint Mary's.
THE COACHES
Head coaches Blake Nill and Glen Constantin are
certainly no strangers. They have faced off nine times before,
including the 2003 and 2010 Vanier Cups – a 14-7 and 29-2
Laval victories, respectively. Nill is 2-7 against Constantin and
2-8 against Laval all-time, with another Vanier Cup loss coming in
1999. The 2003 Vanier Cup came while Nill was the head coach at
Saint Mary's University.
In 2009, Nill along with Queen's bench boss Pat Sheahan
simultaneously became the first CIS coaches to lead two different
programs to Vanier Cup appearances. Nill has another opportunity to
become the first CIS coach to WIN Vanier Cup titles with two
different programs after winning back-to-back championships in 2001
and 2002 with Saint Mary's. Nill is wrapping up his eighth season
as head coach of the Dinos and, since taking over the reins in
2006, has posted an overall record of 47-17, including an 15-6 mark
in the playoffs. Nill's Dinos have won six consecutive Hardy Cups,
emblematic of the Canada West championship – a new record in
Canada West, surpassing a four-year run by Saskatchewan in the
1930s.
COMPLETING THE CYCLE
The Dinos added to their Canada West record, winning their sixth
straight Hardy Cup title this year by defeating the Manitoba
Bisons. That win completed the cycle for the Dinos, who have beaten
a different opponent in each of those six years: Simon Fraser
(2008), Saskatchewan (2009), Alberta (2010), UBC (2011), Regina
(2012), and Manitoba (2013). Additionally, last week's Mitchell
Bowl completed a full Bowl game rotation for the Dinos, who have
now played each other conference home and away in national
semi-final action over the last six years – finishing with a
record of 3-3 along the way.
THE ROAD TO THE VANIER CUP
The Regular Season
Things certainly didn't start out all that well for the Dinos.
After losing the vast majority of the starting lineup from the 2012
Mitchell Bowl at McMaster, the Dinos headed to Vancouver to open
the season at UBC on Aug. 31. After throwing a touchdown pass in
the third quarter of the game, the reigning Canada West MVP,
Eric Dzwilewski, came up
limping and was removed from the game with a broken foot – an
injury from which he has still not returned. Thrust into the
starter's role, backup QB Andrew Buckley
calmly took the team over and, thanks to the first of many
spectacular runs by Mercer Timmis on
the season, helped the Dinos score 10 points in the final four
minutes of the game to break a 31-31 tie and take a 41-31 win over
the Thunderbirds.
A week later, Buckley got his first start and led the Dinos to a
34-27 win on the road at Regina, though Calgary did need to knock
away a last-second pass in the end zone to secure the victory.
Coming home to face the Saskatchewan Huskies for their home opener,
the Dinos scored 15 unanswered points in the third quarter thanks
to a pair of Jake Harty touchdowns,
thrilling a raucous KICKOFF crowd at McMahon Stadium with a 36-24
win over their longtime rivals. A week later, Buckley threw for 512
yards in a 48-24 win over Manitoba as the Dinos shot out to a 4-0
record at the halfway point.
Timmis scored four touchdowns as the Dinos thumped Alberta 76-21 on
the road in week 5, setting up the opportunity for Calgary to
clinch first place on Oct. 4 at Saskatchewan – the last time
the Dinos played away from McMahon Stadium. Timmis' season-long
80-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter sealed a tight game for
the Dinos, who clinched first place with a 24-12 victory and headed
into the bye 6-0.
Two weeks later back at home, Timmis became Canada West's
single-season touchdown king with three more scores in a 46-27 romp
over the Regina Rams. And on Oct. 25, the 2013 Dinos put the
finishing touches on their first-ever undefeated season with a
34-17 win over the UBC Thunderbirds.
The Playoffs
For the second year in a row, the Dinos opened the postseason by
facing the same team they had beaten the previous week, with both
games coming at home. Calgary fell behind early 17-0 in a blizzard
to UBC in the semi-final but rallied to take a halftime lead and,
ultimately, dispatch the Thunderbirds 42-28. Under much better
conditions a week later, the Dinos captured the program's 15th
Canada West championship with a 43-28 win over Manitoba, led by a
career-high 279-yard performance by Timmis, to earn the right to
host the Mitchell Bowl.
The Bowl Game
The Canada West title gave the Dinos the right to host the Centaur
Mitchell Bowl, their third home Bowl game in four years after
previously hosting the Mitchell in 2010 and 2011. Facing the No.
1-ranked Mustangs for the first time since 1995, the Dinos were
dominant throughout the contest, jumping out to a 17-0 lead and
keeping the nation's most explosive offence under wraps all day.
Western managed just three points on the day in a 44-3 Calgary win
that saw the Dinos dominate in every aspect of the game –
especially on special teams. They put together two fumble
recoveries on punt returns, an 80-yard punt return touchdown by
Rashaun Simonise, a blocked
field goal, and two fake punts on another cold, snowy day at
McMahon Stadium.
Doctor Cassama added a 71-yard
interception return touchdown after taking the ball from teammate
Brad Friesen, who had picked
off the errant pass, while Timmis scored another long TD –
this one from 41 yard– to go with his 16-carry, 139-yard
rushing performance, earning MVP honours in the Mitchell Bowl. The
Dinos out-muscled Western throughout the game, with OUA MVP Will
Finch forced to leave the contest due to a hip injury after being
held to just 105 passing yards in the game.
THE OFFENCE
Timmis and Buckley are the two main stories on offence, but a young
but effective offensive line has flown under the radar for most of
the year. Three players – LT Jordan
Filippelli, RG Ryan Preuter,
and RT Braden Schram – started
the season with a combined zero games of CIS experience, yet still
managed to open big holes for Timmis and protect Buckley in the
pocket. The line is anchored by veterans Sean
McEwen and Sukh Chungh, both
of whom earned conference all-star selection.
Buckley took over from Dzwilewski and put up impressive numbers all
season, leading the Dinos to their first-ever undefeated season
and, now, a berth in the Vanier Cup. The
kinesiology student, Canada West's nominee for the Russ Jackson
award who shared the all-star nod at quarterback, has a pedigree of
success coming out of Calgary's Rundle College and has yet to lose
a game as a starting quarterback in CIS.
Buckley's receivers were a mix of veteran talent and explosive
youth. The reliable Chris Dobko, one of
just two fifth-year seniors on the team, broke Don Blair's school
record for career receptions and continues to be a go-to inside man
for the Dinos. He's joined by the athletic Jake
Harty, who had a big game in the Mitchell Bowl. On the
outside, Canada West Rookie of the Year Rashaun
Simonise has explosive speed.
Timmis, of course, has been the offensive catalyst for the Dinos
all season long. He led the nation with 1,157 rushing yards on the
year, setting new school and conference records – again,
breaking those held by Don Blair – in both rushing (18) and
all-purpose (19) touchdowns on the season. Timmis is the Canada
West MVP and nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy.
All-stars: Buckley (QB), Timmis (RB), McEwen (C), Chungh (G), Dobko
(SB).
THE DEFENCE
Calgary had to replace 10 of 12 starters on defence, and the unit
has continued to improve as the season has progressed. Doctor Cassama, who took over
Mike Edem's spot at will
linebacker, followed in Edem's footsteps to win the Canada West
defensive MVP award, while a young defensive line anchored by
all-star Tyler Langlais performed
admirably for Calgary. In the secondary, halfback Cyril Iwanegbe had a breakout
season with 33.5 tackles, while corner Adam
Laurensse had a solid first year in CIS, finishing tied
for the Canada West lead with four picks.
All-stars: Langlais (DE), Cassama (LB), Spoletini (SLB), Iwanegbe
(HB), Laurensse (CB).
THE SPECIAL TEAMS
Calgary's special teams were a huge factor in the Mitchell Bowl,
but have also been strong throughout the season. Placekicker
Johnny Mark is a two-time
All-Canadian (2011, 2012) and was again the most accurate kicker in
the conference this year, while Simonise is a threat in the return
game.
All-stars: Mark (PK).
THE GAME NOTES
• The athletic teams at the University of Calgary have been
officially the DINOS since 1998, when the name was changed from
Dinosaurs. References to the Dinosaurs should be limited to teams
that competed BEFORE 1998.
• A Dinos win Saturday would be the 46th CIS national
championship in the University of Calgary's history and the fifth
Vanier cup title since the program started in 1964. Calgary has
also captured 136 Canada West conference titles in that span,
including 15 conference football championships.
• Only two players remain on the Calgary roster from the 2010
Vanier Cup game against Laval, receiver Chris
Dobko and quarterback Eric
Dzwilewski. Dobko is the only player that will play in
the game, with Dzwilewski – who was named the 2010 CIS rookie
of the year in his previous trip to Quebec City – still out
with the broken foot he suffered in Week 1 at UBC. Dobko led the
Dinos with 54 all-purpose yards in that game, all on kickoff
returns.
• One Dinos player was born in Quebec,
receiver-turned-defensive-back Élie Bouka. Bouka was born in
Laval, Que. and joined the Dinos after starring at Cégep
Montmorency.
• The Dinos will wear their road white Nike jerseys in the
Vanier Cup. It's the sixth time in their nine appearances the Dinos
have worn white, with wins in 1985 and 1988 and losses in 1993,
2009, and 2010.
• The trip to Quebec City is the Dinos' first road trip since
Oct. 4 when they defeated Saskatchewan 24-12 in Saskatoon. After
the bye week on Thanksgiving, the Dinos played five consecutive
games at McMahon Stadium, culminating in last week's Mitchell Bowl
win over Western. Kickoff on Saturday will be the first road game
for the Dinos in 50 days.
• Calgary is the last team to lose the Vanier Cup to a team
playing at home (1993, Toronto; 2010, Laval)
• Nill is the third Dinos coach to lead the team to a Vanier
Cup appearance after Mike Lashuk (1975) and Peter Connellan (1983,
1985, 1988, 1993, 1995).