Regina Rams 36 - UBC Thunderbirds 20 (CW Football)

REGINA, Sask. – In a much hyped re-match of last season’s Canada West semi-final, the UBC Thunderbirds (0-1) couldn’t overcome a barrage of penalties in dropping their season opener 36-20 to the Regina Rams (1-0) at Mosaic Stadium on Friday night. UBC saw 23 yellow flags thrown against them, pushing them 210 yards backwards and wiping out two touchdowns in the process. Regina was not much better, getting called for 18 infractions for 118 yards, but the Ram penalties seemed to come at less critical moments throughout the contest. “That amount of penalties is just unacceptable,” said UBC head coach Blake Nill after the game. “We told the players in the locker room they need to be disciplined. This is the referee’s first game of the season as well, so they’re going to call it tight. Everyone needs to better than that, all through the coaching staff and right up to the head coach.” Regina’s Noah Picton won the battle of the quarterbacks over UBC’s Michael O’Connor. Picton, 2016’s Hec Crighton Award winner as U SPORTS, threw for 335 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while O’Connor managed just 155 yards with one interception.