Picton powers U of R Rams to win
Noah Picton was modest, unlike his passing totals, while assessing the University of Regina Rams’ first victory of the season.
“More than anything, the guys and myself are just happy to get in the win column and get to .500,” Picton said after quarterbacking the Rams to Friday ’s 51-13 Canada West football victory over the University of Alberta Golden Bears in Edmonton.
“Alberta is always a tough place to play and I thought we did a great job in the second half to put the game away.”
The Golden Bears closed the deficit to 14-13 midway through the second quarter, but the Rams responded with 37 unanswered points.
Picton led the way, throwing for 449 yards and three touchdowns, as Regina evened its record at 1-1. Alberta fell to 0-2.
Picton, who was 32-for-41, threw two TD passes to Ryan Schienbein and also hit rookie Bennett Stusek for a major.
Schienbein, who also caught a fourth-quarter TD toss from Seb Britton, finished with 13 catches for 176 yards. Stusek (four catches for 91 yards), Daniel Scraper (six for 90) and Kyle Moortgat (six for 73) also had big games for Regina, which got three field goals from Aldo Galvan.
Regina piled up 37 first downs and 583 yards of offence. Alberta had 17 first downs and 244 yards of offence.
Picton increased his career passing-yards total to 10,618, placing him fourth in U Sports. He moved past former Mcgill star Matt Connell (10,455) on Friday.
Jeremi Roch, who played for Sherbrooke from 2011 to 2015, leads the all-time list with 11,477 passing yards. Michael Faulds of Western (10,811; 2005-09) and Dan Brannagan of Queen’s (10,714; 2005-09) are also ahead of Picton.
Picton, the 2016 Hec Crighton Trophy winner, is on pace to lead U Sports’ all-time list by season’s end, but he has other priorities.
“I wouldn’t say I’m focused on chasing the numbers, but rather just trying to do my job each week and trusting that the yards and wins will come,” he said.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be surrounded by excellent receivers and strong offensive lines through the years, and not to mention have two offensive co-ordinators who are notorious for throwing the football in Bernie Schmidt and Mark Mcconkey.
“The records, quite frankly, are more because of my teammates and coaches than solely myself. I feel very lucky.”
The Rams did encounter some bad luck Friday. Star tailback Atlee Simon left the game with an upperbody injury on the Rams’ second possession and did not return.
The Rams are to return to action next Friday, 7 p.m., at Mosaic Stadium against the UBC Thunderbirds (1-1).
The Edmonton Huskies defeated the Regina Thunder 27-17 in PFC action Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.
The result left both teams with 2-2 records.
Thunder quarterback Brock Sich threw touchdown passes to Greg Lamb and Deshawn Lejour.
The Thunder is to return to action Sept. 22 against the host Saskatoon Hilltops.