Ground game powers Dinos to Battle of Alberta win

EDMONTON – Rookie running back Eri Olarubofin racked up a career-high 155 yards on just 17 carries and scored his first career touchdown with just 52 seconds remaining to help lead the Calgary Dinos to a 23-19 win over Alberta from Foote Field Friday evening.

Missing veteran running back Matthieu Clarke in this one, the Dinos' offensive line was big in helping create big holes for Olarubofin and fellow first year Jibreel Yahaya, who totted the ball just six times for an impressive 58 yards in his first career game. In all, the Dinos ran the ball 24 times for 215 yards in this one, with both touchdowns coming from the powerful ground game.

With the win, Calgary improves to 2-1 on the young season, with just an overtime loss to Regina in the opener as the lone blemish so far this year.

Alberta falls to 0-3 under first-year head coach Stevenson Bone.

It was the twelfth-straight win in Edmonton for the Dinos, who are 3-1 in their last four meetings against their Alberta rivals.

It was a quiet first half that saw both teams have touchdowns taken off the board due to penalties, sitting at 3-3 after the first 30 minutes.

After the break, Vince Triumbari opened the scoring with his second field goal of the night – this one from a career-long 47 yards to give Calgary a 6-3 lead midway through the third.

The Bears responded with an eight-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off with a nine-yard screen pass to Carter Kettyle for the game's first major as the home team led for the first time on the night at 10-6 with 3:25 left in the third.

On the ensuing drive, the Dinos turned to their ground game with resounding results. Olarubofin started things with back-to-back gashes of 14 yards. Yahaya then had a pair of big runs, including a 29-yard burst to make it first-and-goal for Calgary. Evan Smith finished things off, walking it in from two yards out untouched to quickly put the Dinos back in front, 13-10, to close out the third.

Calgary's rushing attack nearly pounded it in again to start the fourth, but the Bears' defence held the Dinos to a chip shot from Triumbari to make it 16-10.

A 64-yard bomb from Eli Hetlinger to Kettyle put Alberta back ahead, 19-16, with 3:39 to play.

With the game on the line, the Dinos got the ball back at their own 26 yard line. David Jordan started the drive by keeping the defence on its toes with quick passes to Zion Grant and Trey Loupelle before two more gashing runs from Olarubofin to bring the ball to midfield. Chunk passes to Matteo Civitarese and Loupelle brought the ball to the 18 yard line. Olarubofin took the handoff and patiently waited for his blocks before shedding four tackles to find the end zone and put the Dinos back on top for good with less than a minute to play.

Save for a few big plays from Alberta, the Dinos defence was once again strong in this one. Everett Schmuland came up with his first career interception and Liam Reid notched his first sack of the season. 

The win continues the Dinos long winning streak in Edmonton, where they have not lost a game since 2008.

Up next, the Dinos remain on the road as they travel to Vancouver next Friday night to take on UBC.