PDF Edition - The Gauntlet

sports
24 SEPTEMBER 13.07 GAUNTLET
Editor: Amanda Hu—sports@gauntlet.ucalgary.ca
f o o t b a l l
Amanda Hu
Sports Editor
Dinos
get hustled
by the Huskies
The University of Calgary
Dino footballsaurs met
a close 27–13 loss at the
2007 Kickoff game against the
University of Saskatchewan Huskies
at McMahon Stadium Sep. 8.
Th e Dinos were confi dent going
into their home opener aft er destroying
Simon Fraser University in their
fi rst game of the season 52–14, but
their zealousness proved ineff ective
as the Huskies took the lead in the
second half of the game.
“We did good for about a quarter
and a half, but then everything fell
apart and we started taking penalties
and making mistakes in the
second half, so we’ll just have to
come back strong next week and
prove ourselves,” said Dinos cocaptain
and undisputed game star
Anthony Woodson. “We fought
hard. It sucks because part of the
reason we lost is because of all the
“We fought hard. It sucks because
part of the reason we lost is
because of all the mental mistakes
and poor execution...”
mental mistakes and poor execution
in the second half.”
Calgary came into the game
strong, taking a 7–0 lead in the
first quarter, with an 11-play,
78-yard touchdown and Woodson
leading the charge. Th ey strengthened
their lead as second-year kicker
Aaron Ifeld brought score to 10–0
with a 34-yard fi eld goal. Th e Dinos
continued strong as Ifeld again led
the way, with the score standing
at 13–0.
Turmoil ensued when
Saskatchewan started down the scoring
path with a 10-play drive, with
kicker Braden Suchan pushing the
team through. Th e score landed at
13–11 as Suchan helped the Huskies
with another fi eld goal.
Th ings were tight all through the
third quarter as both teams tried to
fend off one another to keep anyone
from scoring.
Th e fourth quarter was peppered
with penalties as things became
more tense on both ends. Bad
weather also plagued the Dinos as
hard winds and heavy rain blowing
from the direction of the Huskies’
end zone made it diffi cult for the ball
to travel more than a few yards in the
air. Saskatchewan used the weather
to further their punts and throws,
leaving them with an unforeseen,
but well-utilized advantage.
Suchan’s fi eld goal in the second
half of the quarter put the Huskies in
the lead, and aft er Leighton Heron’s
return of Ifi eld’s punt, they scored
again from Calgary’s 10-yard line.
-Anthony Woodson,
Dinos runningback
Th e Huskies brought the score and
their lead to 27–13 aft er intercepting
a pass to Ifi eld and running it down
the fi eld for another touchdown.
Dinos head coach Blake Nill
was noticeably disappointed with
the team’s play following the game
and noted the seriousness of wins
and losses at this level of sport.
“I don’t want people to say, ‘you
did well,’ and that type of thing
because this game is about winning
at this level,” said Nill. “When you’re
this close to taking a game that most
people thought you didn’t have a
chance to win, you have to be able
to do that.”
Nill added this was an especially
tough loss and he took it as such.
“At this level, you’re paid to win
and you play to win,” said Nill. “You
just hate seeing eff orts like that go
to waste.”
Though the Dinos accepted
defeat in this game, they are still
hopeful with the progression of
Woodson and his performance
in the season so far. He is one of
the Dinos’ most promising players
this season, setting a Dinos top-13
record for rushing in a single game
of 208 yards.
“This is the first time in my
career that I’ve been able to come
back my next year in football and
know the off ensive line so it helps
to give me a better comfort zone,”
Woodson said.
The Dinos’ next game is at the University of
Manitobia in University Stadium Sep. 15.