Regina Leader-Post

Rams beat another top team

‘We’re finding a way to get them to believe in themselves. That’s all.’

- IAN HAMILTON ihamilton@postmedia.com twitter.com/IanHamilto­nLP

University of Regina Rams head coach Steve Bryce believes his charges are succeeding between the lines because of what’s between their ears.

The Rams, who went 0-8 during the 2015 Canada West season, are 3-1 so far this season after Friday’s 32-25 victory over the No. 2-ranked Calgary Dinos at Mosaic Stadium.

“It’s all psychologi­cal,” Bryce said when asked to explain the turnaround. “The people you see on the field are the same people you saw on the field last year. It’s all upstairs. We’re finding a way to get them to believe in themselves. That’s all.

“When I was here as a player (in the 1990s), there was an expectatio­n in our locker-room that we were going to win. They didn’t have that here. Somewhere along the way, they lost that expectatio­n to be great. I think we’re getting it back.”

You might say. All three of Regina’s victories have been over a team that was ranked in the CIS top 10 at the time.

The Rams have beaten the Manitoba Bisons (by three points), UBC Thunderbir­ds (by 10) and Calgary. Regina’s only loss was a two-pointer in overtime to the Saskatchew­an Huskies in Week 1.

“Steve has done a great job of really bringing the group together, coaches included,” quarterbac­k Noah Picton said. “Everyone understand­s that we’re playing for each other.

“There’s a real brotherhoo­d type of feel to it. It may seem like a little thing, but when you step on the field, it’s a pretty powerful factor.”

As Bryce said, most of the players were in the program in 2015. One of the few people who wasn’t is Bryce, who was hired during the off-season to replace the departed Mike Gibson.

When it was suggested to Bryce that he may be the difference, he replied: “I don’t know about that. It was here. We just needed to find a way to light that fire a little bit.” Consider the fire stoked. “Everyone has been preaching playing together,” said dimeback Joey Dwyer, whose biggest hit Friday forced a fumble by Dinos quarterbac­k Jimmy Underdahl at Regina’s one-yard line with 20 seconds to play.

“We know we could have easily won four games last year, if not more. Our attitude and effort were the reasons why we didn’t win them. We’ve turned that around this year.”

As proof, Dwyer pointed to the early stages of Friday’s game. Calgary held the Rams to minus-three yards of offence in the first quarter and scored the game’s first 14 points.

Instead of folding like they might have done in 2015 — “We would have hung our heads and probably let it get to 35-0 before the half,” Dwyer said — the Rams rallied and scored 25 straight points.

Picton, who had 10 yards passing in the first quarter, had 351 yards through three quarters as Regina assumed a 25-17 lead. He finished 23-for-35 for 452 yards (his third 400-yard game this season) with four touchdowns.

Picton’s cousin, Mitch, had 13 receptions (tying him for second in the school record book for catches in a game) for 215 yards (fourthmost in school history) and three touchdowns (tying the U of R singlegame mark). His majors covered 13, 13 and 58 yards.

Noah Picton also combined with Ryan Schienbein on a 68-yard pass-and-run TD. Riley Wilson added five catches for 124 yards for the Rams, who got a field goal and three converts from Daniel Scraper and a conceded safety.

Dwyer (10.0 total tackles), Zack McEachern (7.5 tackles), Michael Stefanovic (7.0 tackles, one sack) and Nicholas Dheilly (three sacks) starred for the Rams’ defence.

Regina, which beat the Dinos for the first time since Oct. 19, 2012, now is tied for first place in Canada West with Calgary — and no one in the Rams’ locker-room is surprised by that.

“I’ve had the utmost faith in this team since I signed here in 2013,” said defensive tackle Bryce McKinnon. “I’ve trusted these guys with my life. I’d trust them with anything. It’s starting to show how much we care about each other.”

The Rams entertain Saskatchew­an on Saturday, 2 p.m., at new Mosaic Stadium.

 ??  ?? Mitchell Picton
Mitchell Picton

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