(SASKATOON) — One of the most successful seasons in University of Regina Rams history is over.
Lukas Scott's 23-yard game-winning field goal with 27 seconds left sunk the Rams in a 25-24 loss to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, robbing Regina of a chance to see their Rams play in the first Vanier Cup that will ever be played in the Queen City.
In a game sort of reminiscent to their only other trip to Griffiths Stadium this year, the Rams had a dominant second quarter, outscoring the Huskies 17-6, before the offence failed to score any second-half points en route to the gut-wrenching defeat.
The chilly minus-six temperature appeared to handcuff both offence's passing games in the first quarter before a gunfight broke out with the Rams second quarter explosion when Regina quarterback Owen Sieben fired touchdown passes to Kaleb Senz and Emmett Steadman, sandwiched around a Ty Gorniak field goal, to build a 17-6 lead before a Scott field goal for the Huskies just before halftime narrowed the score to 17-9 Rams.
Huskies' quarterback Jake Farrell, filling for starter Anton Amundrud since mid-season, had a dreadful time catching shotgun snaps throughout the afternoon which created a third-quarter fumble recovery scoop-and-score by Rams' defensive back Brandon Wong to build the U-of-R's cushion to 24-9 heading to the final quarter.
Farrell hit Liam Piccinin and Mason Grabwoski for fourth quarter touchdown passes that, along with a failed two-point convert, brought the Huskies within two before the dogs ultimately won it in the final minute with Scott's field goal as part of four field goal day for the U-of-S kicker.
Sieben, who took over the offence at mid-season much like Farrell did, though under different circumstances, showcased his gunslinger ways as Regina's quarterback, going 25-of-35 passing for 322 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Still, after the game he fought back tears and took all the bullets for the offence not scoring any points outside of the second quarter.
"I take full responsibility. I've got to be better in the second half and I love this team," Sieben said. "In the second quarter, we started to hit our stride and as an offence once we got rolling, we stayed rolling in that second quarter but we had to find a way to do it in the second half and couldn't get it done. It's my bad."
"It's the grittiest football team I've ever played on even though we didn't get it to the end. We fought to the zeroes on the clock, I will always remember that and be proud of that."
He meant that literally. The Rams offence, in the final seconds, did manage to move the ball down to the Saskatchewan 47-yard line with five seconds left. Isaac Wegner punted for a potential game-tying rouge that was deep enough to hit the end zone but was returned out of the end zone on the game's final play, giving Rams' head coach Mark McConkey a feeling of so close, yet so far.
"We had 20 seconds (to get close enough from the kickoff return). Owen did a good job of getting the guys to at least a range of where we could punt and cover," McConkey said. "The Huskies made a good play on it. That's not why we lost the game. You tip your hat to the U-of-S, they did a good job."
Both coach McConkey and his quarterback downplayed the effects of the sub-zero temperatures and the sight of snow all around the sidelines.
Playing without their superstar offensive weapon, running back Marshall Erichsen who was sidelined with a torn achilles tendon in last week's playoff win over Manitoba, the Rams got some big catches from their receiving group, including seniors Rylan Sokul and Emmett Steadman who were playing in what turned out to be the final game of their university careers. Steadman, one week removed from grabbing a clutch second-down conversion that set up a game-tying field goal which saved the Rams season against Manitoba left the field Saturday with no regrets, despite losing in such stunning fashion.
"It felt like we blinked a couple of times and boom, they were right back in it. I thought we were rolling pretty good and sometimes it's the way the cookie crumbles," Steadman said and swears the looming Vanier Cup game coming up at Regina's Mosaic Stadium didn't add any real pressure.
"Outside of the team, people thought the pressure was on but everything from meetings to practice, we really never felt that looming presence of the Vanier being at home. We talk a lot about living without regret and five years is a lot of football to play. It's actually my seventh year on the team but I've enjoyed it. Definitely bittersweet and sad to see it go but I'm excited to see what the program is building and where we're taking the Rams program."
While the Rams defence did manage to limit Canada West Football Player of the Year, Saskatchewan receiver Daniel Wiebe to 75 yards, they were not so successful at stopping Regina high school grad Ryker Frank who churned up 183 yards along the ground and through the air combined.
The Rams had 11 players in their final year of eligibility whose university playing days ended with the loss and the sting of it all isn't likely to let up knowing the No. 1 ranked Canada Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks were upset by Queen's University who would appear to be a more beatable opponent in Saturday's Mitchell Bowl, a national semi-final game game that will now be hosted by the Huskies, and not the Rams.
So will McConkey even be able to watch the Mitchell Bowl with the emotion of this loss still so raw even one week from now?
"I'm not sure," McConkey said. "I'll let you know on Saturday."
