CIS Football Preview: Regina Rams (0-0) vs. Calgary Dinos (0-0)

Game Details

• Time: 1:00 PM MT / 3:00 PM ET
• Venue: McMahon Stadium, Calgary, AB
• Conference: Canada West Week 1

Season Context

Regina enters Year 2 under head coach Derek Schuurman after a 3–5 finish in 2024. The Rams blend youthful speed with veteran savvy, aiming for their first playoff berth since 2022.

Calgary, perennial Hardy Trophy contender, returns most of its key contributors from a 5–3 campaign. Under 16th-year head coach Wayne Harris Jr., the Dinos look to reassert themselves atop Canada West after a semifinal exit.

Team Overviews

Regina Rams

• Head Coach: Derek Schuurman (2nd season)
• 2024 Record: 3–5 CW, missed playoffs
• Offense:
  • QB Mason Kirk (1,850 yds, 12 TDs) orchestrates a balanced attack
  • RB Andre Lewis (800 yds, 4 TDs) runs with power between the tackles
  • WR Tyler Lazowski (45 rec, 750 yds) stretches defenses vertically
• Defense:

• LB Max Campbell (85 tackles) anchors the second level
• DE Luke Bennett (6 sacks) pressures with speed and counter moves
• DB Amir Hassan (3 INTs) thrives in man-to-man coverage

Calgary Dinos

• Head Coach: Wayne Harris Jr. (16th season)
• 2024 Record: 5–3 CW, lost in Hardy semifinal
• Offense:
  • QB Cameron Dukes (2,300 yds, 20 TDs) returns as the conference’s top passer
  • RB Patrick Grant (700 yds, 8 TDs) offers home-run speed on pitch-and-go plays
  • WR Jamarii Calhoun (60 rec, 800 yds, 5 TDs) excels in contested catch situations
• Defense:

• LB Spencer Anglin (90 tackles) leads the unit sideline-to-sideline
• DE Abdul Aristide (8 sacks) is a disruptive force off the edge
• DB T.J. Leroy (6 INTs) patrols the back end in zone schemes

Head-to-Head

• Calgary leads the all-time series, 22–15.
• Last meeting: Dinos won 31–17 at McMahon Stadium in 2024.
• Calgary has captured four of the past five matchups and is 8–2 at home versus Regina over the last decade.

Key Players to Watch

Regina Rams

• Mason Kirk (QB): Poised passer with deep-ball accuracy and quick decision-making.
• Andre Lewis (RB): Between-the-tackles grinder who can break long runs.
• Max Campbell (LB): Reads screens and runs down ball-carriers in space.

Calgary Dinos

• Cameron Dukes (QB): Dual-threat with the arm talent to push the ball vertically.
• Jamarii Calhoun (WR): Route-running specialist who wins contested catches.
• Abdul Aristide (DE): Explosive off the snap, consistently harassing quarterbacks.

Additional Notes

• Weather: Partly cloudy, winds 10 km/h, high near 15 °C—prime conditions for passing.
• Calgary’s O-line returns four starters, so Dukes should enjoy clean pockets. Regina’s defensive front has youth—tackle execution will be key.
• Special teams battle: Calgary’s punter averaged a 4.5-second hang time in 2024, while Regina boasts dynamic returner Amir Hassan for game-changing flips in field position.