REGINA, Sask. - Trailing by four points with two minutes left in the game, University of Regina quarterback Marc Mueller engineered a game-winning drive – capped by a 23-yard Connor Haas touchdown catch – to give the Rams a 30-27 victory over Manitoba on Friday night in a Canada West game at Mosaic Stadium.
After Manitoba's Cam Clark threw touchdown passes to Anthony Coombs and Brendon Bowman over a span of just over two minutes in the late stages of the game to give the visiting Bisons their first lead since early in the second quarter, Mueller went to work.
The fifth-year pivot shook off a Lauren Kroeker sack which clearly stung him on the first play, leading the Rams down the field with a 31-yard pass to Catlin Schneider and a 28-yard pass to Jared Janotta on third down. The Rams thought they had scored after Janotta hauled in a pass in the end zone, but the slotback was whistled for offensive pass interference which put the Rams at 2nd-and-25 from Manitoba's 35.
Mueller hit Janotta for a 12-yard gain, then connected with Haas on third down for the game-winning major.
The victory improves No. 7 Regina's record to 4-1, while No. 8-ranked Manitoba falls to 3-2 in Canada West play.
Mueller ended up 35-for-55 in the win, with his 35 completions standing at No. 2 in the U of R's single-game record book and his 55 pass attempts setting a new school mark. He ended up with 397 passing yards.
Janotta led all players in receptions (12) and receiving yards (107), while Jay Smith had eight catches for 92 yards and Kolten Solomon had 83 yards on just four receptions.
Regina's defence was led by Justin Edralin, who collected his first two CIS interceptions. Jamir Walker and Connor Ketchen also had picks for the Rams, while Ryan Wellman had a team-high 7.5 tackles.
Manitoba quarterback Cam Clark was 9-for-28 for 236 yards and two touchdowns, but threw four interceptions. Anthony Coombs led all players with 76 rushing yards, while Danny Turek led the Bisons with three catches for 75 yards.
Manitoba's Nick Boyd opened the scoring late in the first quarter with a 21-yard chip shot, a field goal that was answered 48 seconds into the second quarter by a 21-yard effort from the Rams' Taylor Wandler.
The Rams scored the game's first major four minutes into the second when Mueller heaved a nice 49-yard lob to Kolten Solomon for the fourth-year wide receiver's fourth touchdown catch of the season.
The Rams forced a two-and-out and took over deep in their own territory, but a Michael Kiapway fumble was recovered by Thomas Miles and taken into the end zone to tie the game at 10-10.
Wandler scored a rouge on a missed field goal late in the second to give the Rams an 11-10 lead at the half.
In the third quarter, the Rams got a pair of points off a conceded safety and took a 20-10 advantage into the fourth after a 12-yard touchdown run by Mueller. The two teams traded field goals in the final quarter before the late flurry of touchdowns.
After the bye week, the Rams will travel to the West Coast for a game against UBC on Sat, Oct. 13. The Bisons will return to action at Saskatchewan on Friday, Oct. 12.
(Courtesy U of R Athletics)
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