After 701 days, the University of Regina Rams got back on the field Saturday as they opened the 2021 Canada West football season in Winnipeg against the University of Manitoba Bisons.

While the team got off to a good start as they had a 16-0 lead, but the Bisons defence tightened allowing them to stay in the game before a big defensive play gave them a lead they would not give up as they won 21-17.  That big play saw defensive end Brock Gowanlock scoop up a fumble by Regina quarterback Josh Donnelly and run 31 yards for ther score.

Donnelly threw two touchdown passes in the first half to Kyle Borsa and Cameron Cross, but he and the rest of the offence could not get much going in the second half until the final drive of the game when they marched from their own 3 to the Manitoba 25, but on third down with 12 seconds left, Donnelly was unable to connect with Bennett Stusek in the endzone to give Manitoba the win.

Head Coach Mark McConkey says it certainly was a game of two halves.

“We just didn’t execute the way we wanted to.” McConkey said. “They did a great job and clogged up the middle.  Add that to some inexperience and it hurt us.  Our defence did a great job, but the offence just wasn’t consistent with that scoop and score really hurting us.”

The Rams will have their home opener on October 2 when the Calgary Dinos come to Mosaic Stadium in a 2 o’clock start.