Box Score
Saturday, September 14, 20135:00 PMEdmonton, Alberta - Foote FieldBox Score
Score1234FinalUofR Rams23712455Golden Bears61412335
AB TDs: Tylor Henry (2) and Aundrey Webster
EDMONTON - Quarterback Cayman Shutter, who transferred to the Regina Rams this year after three seasons at the University of Hawaii, was simply lethal on Saturday night at Foote Field as he paced the Rams to their first win of the season, a 55-35 victory over the Alberta Golden Bears.
The fourth-year pivot completed 37 of 55 passes, with zero interceptions, for 484 yards and four touchdowns as the Rams torched Alberta for a combined 46 points in the first and fourth quarters. His aerial assault ranks as the 10th-best single game passing yards performance in Canada West history, and the Rams continue to lead Canada West this season in passing offence, averaging 402.3 yards per game.
Regina may have started strong on Saturday night, but they finished even stronger. Trailing the Golden Bears 32-31 to start the fourth quarter, and with possession following an Alberta touchdown at the end of the third, the Rams reeled off six plays and moved 70 yards, culminating in a 34-yard touchdown reception by slotback Rory Copithorn, to effectively break Alberta’s back and seal the win for the formerly winless Rams. They would add a rouge, a field goal, and two more touchdowns, both scored in the final 50 seconds of the game, to not only ensure the win, but give themselves the best possible points for and points against ratio against Alberta.
Although the rebuilding Bears showed tons of fight, overcoming a 30-6 deficit, they simply weren’t able to continue making plays, while the Rams, who are also rebuilding after losing 20 starters from 2012, had a counter for every Alberta punch.
“Mixed emotions tonight” explained Alberta’s quarterback Ryan Schwartz. “Obviously disappointed with the result; we really wanted a win, especially after last week, but I’m proud of the fight and effort the team showed to rally and come back after our first half. Unfortunately we weren’t able to sustain it, but each week is something to build off of.”
The fourth-year QB, and first-year starter, finished with 397 yards through the air and two touchdown passes. Rookie receiver Tylor Henry, who came in with 242 receiving yards, racked up another big night as he caught eight passes for 101 yards and a TD. The former Edmonton Wildcat also led all players in all-purpose yards as he finished with 225, and very nearly sparked his team to their first win of the season.
His six-yard TD reception at 13:30 of the second quarter gave Alberta their first major of the game, and made the score 30-13. And then, after Alberta forced Regina to punt, Henry ended the first half in the end zone after he took Regina’s punt 97 yards for the major.
It wasn’t enough to undo the damage Shutter and running back Michael Kiapway did in the first half, however, as Regina entered the break up 30-20. By then, Shutter had amassed 301 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Kiapway rumbled for 103 yards and one TD. Coming into the contest, Regina had only gained 69 rushing yards this season, but managed to finish with 117 rush yards against the Bears.
Alberta’s running game, which boasts two of the top six rushers in the conference, combined for just 80 yards on 30 carries on Saturday night as Alberta was outgunned on offence, 631 yards to 457.
The teams traded field goals in the third quarter, and Alberta was also awarded a safety, but the Bears suddenly struck from nowhere when Schwartz hit a streaking Aundrey Webster up the middle, and the first-year running back sprinted 60 yards for the major and a surprising 32-31 Alberta lead at the end of the third.
But Shutter, as he did all night, threw a dart through Alberta’s balloon, as he marched the Rams into Bears’ territory and retook the lead with the 34-yard TD strike to Copithorn.
After a field goal, Shutter capped off another drive with a one-yard TD plunge at 14:11 of the fourth, and then, following a Regina interception, Shutter hit Jared Janotta with an eight-yard TD toss with four seconds on the clock to finish the game at 55-35.
Regina returns home next weekend, when they take on the 1-2 UBC Thunderbirds, while Alberta bounces out to Saskatoon to take on the 2-1 Huskies.
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