Regina Rams beat Saskatchewan Huskies 37-29 at new Mosaic Stadium
Regina quarterback Noah Picton leads Rams with 370 yards, 4 touchdowns
While a new stadium may have been the main attraction for many people in Regina, football fans from across Saskatchewan were treated to a great football game on Saturday.
If any of those fans doubted the legitimacy of the University of Regina Rams before that game, they are likely believers now.
The Rams beat the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 37-29 in the first game played at the new Mosaic Stadium.
Believe it: The <a href="https://twitter.com/reginarams">@reginarams</a> are for real. <br><br>They win 37-29 at new Mosaic Stadium vs Huskies<br><br>Rams now 4-1, 1st in the Canada West. <a href=" https://twitter.com/hashtag/yqr?src=hash">#yqr</a> <a href=" https://twitter.com/hashtag/CIS?src=hash">#CIS</a> <a href=" https://t.co/L4QZ0AJ5eC">pic.twitter.com/L4QZ0AJ5eC</a>
—@TweeterMillsCBCRegina quarterback Noah Picton — an early candidate for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) player of the year award — led the Rams to their fourth-straight win with 370 passing yards and four touchdowns.
"We didn't want to drop this one," Picton said. "We made it a little closer than we would have liked in that fourth quarter, but to come out on top and have our defence really close it out for us like that, it's something we're not going to forget."
More than 16,000 people experienced the historic game, which shattered the Canada West single-game attendance record for any sport.
"It was a bit of a mutual crowd, so it kind of felt like mutual location; everyone is from Saskatchewan. But it was loud. It was electric and it was fun," Picton said.
With the win, the Rams improved to 4-1 and remain in first place in the Canada West conference. Regina was ranked No. 4 in Canada coming into the game.
In the end, it was the historic memory of being the first team to play and win at Saskatchewan's new football stadium that many players will be telling their kids and grandkids about one day.
"(I) Might just have to remind them of that one," Picton said. "This is one that I'll probably hold close to my heart for as long as I can remember."
The Huskies lost their third-straight game and fell to 2-3. They'll return home to host the UBC Thunderbirds (3-2) on Oct. 14.
The Rams will look to keep their winning streak alive in Edmonton against the University of Alberta (0-5) on Oct. 15.
Here are some numbers from both teams:
6
Games in a row the Huskies had beat the Rams before their Oct. 1 game.
189
Receiving yards on 13 receptions for second-year Regina receiver Ryan Schienbein vs the Huskies, a game high and career high.
416
Passing yards per game for Regina quarterback Noah Picton, the most in the CIS.
2,084
Passing yards for Noah Picton in five games, the most in the CIS.
114
Receiving yards per game for Regina receiver Mitch Picton, the most in the CIS.
9
Receiving touchdowns for Mitch Picton, the most in the CIS.
127
Rushing yards per game for Saskatchewan running back Tyler Chow, third best in the CIS. Chow had 64 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams on Saturday.
CBC's Peter Mills tweeted all the action from the sidelines. Find it all here: