CALGARY – Seth Poelzer rushed for a program-record 296 yards and sealed the game with an 18-yard touchdown run in the final minute, lifting the University of Alberta Golden Bears to a 42-35 win over the University of Calgary Dinos on Friday night at McMahon Stadium.

Poelzer's 296 yards on 24 carries — an average of better than 12 yards a rush — broke a 23-year-old Golden Bears single-game rushing record of 290 yards set by Jarred Winkel in 2003, and it's the eighth-most rushing yards in a single game in Canada West history. The second-year running back broke off two runs of more than 45 yards in the first half alone before putting the finishing touch on the win with his go-ahead score late in the fourth.

The win moves Alberta to 1-3 on the season, its first victory of 2026, while Calgary falls to 1-3.

Alberta jumped ahead early, with quarterback Eli Hetlinger scoring on a one-yard sneak and later connecting with Isaiah Edwards on a five-yard touchdown pass, capped by a two-point conversion, to take a 15-8 lead after one quarter. Calgary answered with a field goal and a touchdown before halftime to trail 18-18, but Alberta pulled away in the third quarter when Anthony Haines intercepted Calgary quarterback David Jordan and returned it 64 yards for a touchdown, part of a 10-point quarter that Calgary failed to answer.

The Dinos battled back behind a big-play passing attack in the fourth quarter, pulling within 28-27 after forcing a safety, but Hetlinger found Edwards again for his second touchdown catch of the night before Poelzer's late score put the game away. Calgary added a garbage-time touchdown with no time left to make the final margin 42-35.

Charlie Wiersma was perfect on the night, hitting both of his field-goal attempts and going 4-for-4 on converts. Anthony Haines' pick-six was Alberta's lone takeaway, while David Jordan finished 25-of-35 for 262 yards and two touchdowns for Calgary before giving way to backup Jet Zakrzewski late.

The Golden Bears will host the Manitoba Bisons on Friday, Oct. 2, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at bearsandpandas.ca/tickets.

-UA-