(Complete game notes)

THE GAME
After a tumultuous 0-3 start, the University of Regina Rams are now right back in the Canada West playoff picture thanks to a big 38-14 road win over Alberta last Friday. A win for the Rams over Manitoba on Friday puts Regina into a tie for fourth place in the conference standings with just three games remaining on the Canada West slate. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium and will be broadcast live on Access7, on the dial at 620ckrm.com, and via webcast at www.canadawest.tv.

THE HEADLINES
• Regina and Manitoba will also meet on Oct. 29 in Winnipeg, meaning that not only the outcome but also the point spread will be critical on Friday
• The Rams have won four consecutive games over the Bisons dating back to Oct. 24, 2008
• Converted slotback Zach Oleynik got the call for the Rams at quarterback last Saturday, becoming the fourth player in as many games to start at QB for Regina this season — Oleynik is expected to get the start at pivot for the Rams on Friday
• Regina's Chris Bodnar remains the CIS leader with an average of 45.2 yards per punt
• After rushing for 165 yards against the Golden Bears, Rams running back Adrian Charles ranks second in both Canada West and the CIS with 503 rushing yards this season and is on pace to become the first player in Rams history to hit the 1000-yard barrier in a single season
• Manitoba quarterback Khaleal Williams ranks second in Canada West with 1160 passing yards this season (just 13 behind UBC's Billy Greene), while receiver Tyson Takasaki is third in the conference in both receptions (18) and receiving yards (299)

UNIVERSITY OF REGINA RAMS (1-3)
After a painful 0-3 start, the mood around the Rams' clubhouse has dramatically improved this week following a big 38-14 road win over the Alberta Golden Bears last Saturday.

The win was crucial for so many reasons — not only did a Rams offence that had sputtered through the first three weeks of the season finally get going in a big way, but the victory put the Rams just one win back of Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the Canada West standings.

Zach Oleynik will get the start at quarterback for the Rams again after a sparkling debut against Alberta. Running back Adrian Charles is ranked second in both Canada West and the CIS (behind Calgary's Steven Lumbala) in rushing yards, while slotback Jared Janotta is tied for third in the conference in receptions (18) and touchdown catches (3).

Defensively, Jamir Walker is tied for the Canada West lead with two interceptions (both of which came last week at Alberta) and leads the conference outright with five passes defended. Logan Brooks is tied for the Canada West lead with four sacks and is just two short of tying Sean Brimacombe's Rams single-season record of six (2005).

The Rams will have a week off before returning to action with a critical matchup at UBC on Oct. 15. 

UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA BISONS (2-2)
The Manitoba Bisons are no stranger to close games this season, as three of their four contests have been settled by a touchdown or less and the other featured only a 10-point victory margin.

Manitoba is coming off a close 29-23 loss to UBC in which a last-minute Bisons drive was snuffed out deep in Thunderbirds territory after a Khaleal Williams pass fell incomplete on third down. The loss puts Manitoba into a tie for third place in the Canada West standings with Saskatchewan, but the Bisons currently hold the tiebreaker due to their 26-16 win over the Huskies in Week 3.

Williams' 1160 passing yards this season ranks second in Canada West, while he ranks third in the conference in both touchdown passes (6) and pass efficiency (140.0). Williams' top target this season has been Tyson Takasaki, who is third in Canada West in receptions (18) and receiving yards (299). Running back Anthony Coombs averages 65.3 rushing yards per game, but also handles return duties for the Bisons and leads Canada West with 671 all-purpose yards despite missing a game to injury.

Thomas Hall and Lauren Kroeker both have two sacks on the season for Manitoba, while Hall, Grayson Wells, and Brett MacFarlane are among several players tied for second in Canada West with four passes defended.

Manitoba, which fell out of this week's rankings after the loss to UBC, returns to action two weeks from Saturday with a home game against Alberta.