FB: Regina DL repeats, Alberta receiver & Calgary kicker honoured in week two
Regina's Bennett, Alberta's Hurford & Calgary's Triumbari named Players of the Week
CALGARY – A Regina Ram defensive lineman is drawing the eyes of western Canada football fans with his game-changing play. Anthony Bennett has now been named the Canada West Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks to start the season. Joining him with week two honours are Kolby Hurford, named the Offensive Player of the Week, and Vince Triumbari, who earns the Special Teams Player of the Week.
Bennett was everywhere on the defensive side of the ball. He began his night with a sack, forcing the Dinos back seven yards. He then took it from them altogether, picking up a fumble as he hunted down Calgary's quarterback just moments later.
The fifth-year defensive lineman saved his best for the third quarter, when he deflected a Dinos' pass to himself, holding on as it bobbled and running it down to score. Bennett's pick six is just the second by a defensive lineman in the school's history.
The play gave the Rams enough distance to stave off the Dinos as they made a late-game push. Bennett's defensive presence has loomed large in the first two games of the season as the team that ranked last in the preseason coaches' poll is now 2-0.
The Rams will be back in action Saturday when they host the defending Hardy Cup champs, Saskatchewan Huskies (2-0), to see who will maintain their perfect record. That game goes at 7 p.m. You can catch all the action on SaskTel maxTV and maxTV stream, TELUS Optik TV or Canada West TV.
Meanwhile, Kolby Hurford was proving himself in the Golden Bears' home opener Friday evening. Against a Manitoba Bisons team hungry to get back into the win column, Hurford went off, expertly eluding defenders to post three of his team's four touchdowns.
Hurford made his move early in the second quarter, hauling in two touchdown passes (39 & 68 yards) within minutes of each other. His efforts helped the Golden Bears go up 14-2 as they looked to make an example of the team rated second by coaches prior to the season.
He only got more impressive from there, as he caught an 84-yard bomb, running the last forty effortlessly through the Bisons defence for his third touchdown of the game. The second-year receiver had 202 yards on the night.
The Golden Bears (1-1) will be back in action Friday when they travel to Calgary (0-2) for a 6 p.m. kickoff. You can catch all the action on SaskTel maxTV and maxTV stream, TELUS Optik TV or Canada West TV.
In Regina, the Calgary Dinos were looking to bounce back from a 44-5 beating in week one. Leading that charge in the early going was Vince Triumbari, who was absolutely perfect Friday night.
The kicker was called upon for two challenging field goal attempts in the first half, nailing both from 40 then 42 yards out. Triumbari's scores put the team on the board in the first half, allowing them to make a run in the second.
Triumbari then hit a 37-yard kick before the Dinos pulled within a touchdown with just over a minute left in the game. Calgary could not complete the comeback, but Triumbari's performance was a bright spot on the night.
He also posted two kick offs for 116 yards.
The Dinos (0-2) will be back in action Friday when they host Alberta (1-1) at 6 p.m. You can catch all the action on SaskTel maxTV and maxTV stream, TELUS Optik TV or Canada West TV.
