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It was a night to remember at Griffiths Stadium Friday, especially for Adam Sinagra.
The University of Calgary Dinos quarterback flirted with the record books, completing 30 of 42 passes for 569 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-28 win over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
Sinagra’s totals were the second-most yards thrown in any Canadian university football game, placing him just 58 yards behind Dinos legend Greg Vavra’s 35-year record of 627 yards, which was also against the Huskies.
Following the game, Sinagra didn’t seem to care about the record books and was unusually mum for a guy that had a performance of a lifetime.
“I didn’t even know what we threw for,” Sinagra said after being told he was just shy of the record. “I just felt like I was locked in on my guys and knew where to go with the ball every time.”
Sinagra was virtually unstoppable from the moment the game began.
Some fans would call it a perfect game, but not Sinagra.
“It’s never perfect, but I’m glad we got the W,” he said.
Even with a larger-than-life display, the Huskies were always within striking distance, never allowing the Dinos to run away with the game.
“We were within grasp, but that’s what it takes to get to the next level,” said Huskies interim head coach Jerry Friesen while usual coach Scott Flory was in Hamilton to be inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame Friday.
“We’ve got to go through some of this fire.”
Sticking around also meant more Sinagra throws, something he did with ease to start the game. Sinagra’s first incomplete pass didn’t come until the final 25 seconds of the first half, going 14 for 14 in that span.
Huskies defensive back Bowan Lewis led his team in tackles with eight and had a front-row seat to Sinagra’s ability all night.
“The thing with Sinagra is that he’s a dual-threat quarterback, so you also got to watch for his athletic ability,” he said. “Using a guy just to watch him takes an extra guy out of the coverage.”
Saskatchewan made good on its opening drive, going 54 yards on just four plays to start the game. The Dinos came back and kept coming, building a 21-13 lead at the half.
Calgary’s start to the second half was just as impressive, locking down a 31-16 lead after the third quarter.
The Huskies threatened a comeback throughout the fourth quarter, but were unable to get the crucial big plays that Calgary seemed to convert into touchdowns all night.
Lewis is okay with the scoreline, knowing the team has lots to improve on before the two teams meet again.
“It shows that we can compete, and were a team to compete (with) in the conference this year, so we’ll see them in two weeks,” he said.
The Huskies, now 2-1, were aided by Colton Klassen’s eight receptions, 134 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. Kicker Sean Stenger converted all four of his field goal attempts. His longest was a 46-yard strike.
The Dinos, 3-0, stayed unbeaten atop the conference thanks to Jalen Philpot’s eight receptions, 135 yards and two touchdowns, while Karl Hunter added a touchdown of his own on five catches for 131 yards.
After being told he was just shy of breaking Vavra’s record, Sinagra was able to pick out a play that cost him his chance.
“I shorted Tyson (Philpot) on the post, so that could have been it,” Sinagra said.
Asked if the missed pass would haunt him, Sinagra stuck true to his decorum on Friday.
“No, we got the W. I don’t really care.”
