CIS football Friday roundup: Calgary wins Top 10 battle

Photo credit David Moll, Calgary

Calgary 20, Saskatchewan 8 Final Boxscore

SASKATOON — In a showdown between two teams ranked in the top 10 in Canada, the University of Calgary Dinos were the victors Friday in Saskatoon.

The Dinos, rated No. 2, posted a 20-8 win over the No. 7 Saskatchewan Huskies in a Canada West conference football game at Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park.

Calgary is putting up big numbers this season, averaging 39 points a game, and leads the league by miles in rushing. However, the story Friday was the Dinos' dangerous dozen on defence.

Calgary limited Saskatchewan to 11 completions and 30 per cent passing efficiency. The Huskies mustered only 149 yards offence.

The Dinos' defence also delivered on the scoreboard. Halfback Mike Edem intercepted a pass by Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren and returned it 15 yards on the last play of the third quarter. Edem's pick came two plays after Saskatchewan safety Bryce McCall recovered a fumble by Dinos running back Steven Lumbala on the Huskies' six-yard line.

Johnny Mark had four field goals for the Dinos, from 37-, 28-, 24- and 19-yards, a convert and a single.

Shayne Dueck scored a touchdown for the Huskies on special teams. Dueck recovered the ball after Nico Higgs blocked a punt by Mark in the fourth quarter. Stephen McDonald added a convert and single for Saskatchewan.

The Dinos (6-0) have secured a berth in a league semifinal. The Huskies (3-3) are among four teams in the mix for the other three playoff spots. Combined, Calgary and Saskatchewan have won the west seven times in the last 10 years, with the Huskies taking four titles and the Dinos on a run of three in a row.

This was the Huskies' final home game of the regular season, with two games to go on the road. Saskatchewan is in Regina to play the Rams next Saturday, while Calgary is home to the Manitoba Bisons.

Dinos quarterback Eric Dzwilewski played all but one series Friday. He completed 16 passes for 234 yards. Andrew Buckley finished the game at QB.

Dzwilewski, 19, is from Boise, Idaho. He won the Peter Gorman Trophy as the rookie of the year in Canadian Interuniversity Sport football last season. Teammate Linden Goydosh, a defensive lineman, was CIS rookie of the year in 2009.

Trent Peterson started the game at quarterback for the Huskies. Peterson was 4-of-6 for 46 yards and threw one interception. Gilbert-Knorren went into the game in the second quarter. He was 7-of-25 for 58 yards, with two interceptions.

Lumbala had 133 yards rushing for Calgary and Matt Walter added 57. Walter, a fifth-year player, holds club records on the Dinos' for career rushing, with 3,845, and touchdowns rushing, with 28.

Source: Saskatchewan Sports Info