The Dinos football team met and crushed all expectations fans had this year. They were a young team boasting over 30 first- and second-year players, but they ignored their inexperience and created an extremely impressive season, winning the Hardy Cup. They made it to the national semi-final, losing to eventual Vanier Cup winners Laval Rouge et Or. The defence was the principal reason for the strong season put forth by the Dinos. They absolutely dominated opposing offences holding seven teams to less than 20 points per game in the regular season and in the two Canada West playoff games allowed only 38 points. In the national semi-final they were outperformed, allowing 59 points.
The offence performed adequately at the beginning of the season and then turned up the heat in the final three games. In the playoffs the offence scored 78 points in the three games. The Dinos had three all-Canadians this season with Andrea Bonaventura, Matt Walter and Nathan Coehoorn earning the honours.
With numerous returning players the Dinos will look to repeat as Canada West champions and get closer to winning the Vanier Cup next year. The Dinos unexpected losses to the Simon Fraser University Clan and University of Alberta Golden Bears during the regular season, along with their youth in key positions (resulting in moments of inconsistency during games) hurt them this year. Next year the team will be more experienced and may challenge Laval’s recent dominance.