By Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

Dinos, Golden Bears thrill packed house in Red Deer

Aug 23, 2018 | 6:48 AM

Setters Place at Great Chief Park was packed Wednesday night with fans looking for a taste of university football action.

They were certainly given their money’s worth of entertainment as they witnessed an offensive explosion between the U of Dinos and U of A Golden Bears.

In the end, the Dinos won the USports Canada West non-conference tilt 50-38.

Rosters for both teams featured several former central Alberta high school players who were excited to play at newly-renovated facility in front of family and friends.

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”It felt great, coming back home. (I)had a lot of family and friends watching. It feels good,” said Jacob Plamondon, Dinos defensive end and former Notre Dame Cougar.

Beko Wande, Plamondon’s Dinos and Cougars teammate, loved the electric atmosphere at the new and improved facility.

”It’s crazy, we haven’t been on this field since grade 10. Everything is upgraded and we’re back. New team, same place, same people, I love it,” Wande said.

Former Lacombe Rams quarterback Johnny Ericson entered the game late in the fourth quarter and looked comfortable, completing 7 of 8 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.

“It felt really good to get out there and compete again,” he said after the game. “I was confident in my ability and I was confident in my teammates.”

With a large number of familiar faces in the crowd, Ericson said Wednesday’s game “felt like home.”

Former Rams receiver David Mueller had a pair of receptions for 30 yards for the Dinos.

Other former local high school players who took to the field Wednesday included Tyler Ledwos for Calgary and Travis Derksen, Riess Flunder, Edward Kim, Joe McQuay, Scott Pearson, Ben Pasiuk, Tyrese Hamilton and Carter O’Donnell for U of A.

“It’s showing that Red Deer is definitely advancing in the sport,” Plamondon noted. “Over the past 10 years, a lot of the USports athletes have come from Calgary or Edmonton. Good to see a lot of athletes going to the next level from here.”