Machart sets rushing record in Huskies’ victory
Win over Golden Bears sets up rematch next weekend in conference semifinal
Adam Machart’s record-smashing run was followed by a tackle, the placing of the ball, and another play.
No fanfare; no in-game celebration. It was another hour before somebody told Machart that yes — he’s the University of Saskatchewan Huskies’ all-time single-season rushing champion.
“The fourth quarter, I kind of heard some guys whispering. No one was telling me anything,” Machart said Saturday after his Huskies clinched their first home playoff game since 2014, beating the Alberta Golden Bears 22-9 in their Canada West football regular-season finale.
And Machart? He carried 29 times for 227 yards, running his single-season mark to 1,331 through eight games. The previous mark was set by Doug Rozon, who ran for 1,269 yards in 1999.
Saturday was a cold, windy day, played on a field whitened by snow and ice. Traction wasn’t too bad, Machart said, but it hurt when you fell on that ice.
When asked, Machart did the quick math — he was two years old when Rozon established the previous standard. It’s an old record, finally eclipsed by a second-year Huskie who previously played junior with the Saskatoon Hilltops.
Huskies’ head-coach Scott Flory opened holes for Rozon when they were U of S teammates, and after Saturday’s game Flory mentioned some of the great tailbacks the team has used through the years. He played with both Rozon and Morrie Norsten, for example.
Machart ran more than 130 yards each of his last seven games after opening with 93 yards on 13 carries in the season opener. Since then, he’s put up 134, 134, 180, 171, 219, 176 and 227. He just keeps getting better, in other words, and late in Saturday’s fourth quarter, Flory asked his contacts in the spotter’s booth if Klassen had broken the record. Yes, they told him, and they relayed his rushing numbers for the game.
“It’s crazy. And it’s not like people don’t know who he is,” said Flory, noting that teams have schemes aimed at trying to slow him down. “It’s just impressive.”
“I don’t even know what to say,” said Machart, who has thrust himself into the forefront of this year’s Hec Crighton discussion. “It’s a huge honour. I’m just happy I can help my team win, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do in the playoffs. Obviously, our O-line, you’ve got to thank those guys. They are warriors, and they make it happen. They’re humble guys and they like to give me credit, but you look at the holes I’m running through. I’m breaking tackles on linebackers and DBS, not on 250-pound D-linemen. That’s huge.”
Machart’s performance — the record changed hands on a 43yard scamper in the third quarter — helped the Huskies run their mark to 5-3, good for second place in Canada West. They’ll stage a rematch with third-place Alberta (4-4) this coming Saturday in the conference semifinal. First-place Calgary will host fourth-place Manitoba.
The Huskies will play without sparkplug slotback Colton Klassen, who had his leg rolled over in a pileup during the first quarter and was taken off the field in a cart. His season is finished, and from a pure football perspective, it’s a massive loss for the Huskies. Klassen is second on the team in all-purpose yards (behind Machart) and is a leader both on and off the field.
Machart called him “a sparkplug” and a “heart guy.”
“My heart breaks for the young man,” Flory said. “It’s not fair. He wants it more for this team than anybody else, and he’s a huge part of it. When he went down, it eliminated a huge chunk of the game plan, there’s no doubt about it.”
The Huskies got a one-yard touchdown catch from Sam Baker, and David Solie field goals of 17, 38, 12 and 31 yards.
Alberta’s Wesley Bookland returned a missed field goal 120 yards for a touchdown early in the opening quarter.
And now those same teams will meet this coming weekend, with a trek to the conference final on the line. Saskatchewan’s last home playoff contest was Nov. 7, 2014, when they lost a 47-39 semifinal to Manitoba.
“It’s important for us. It’s important for the university,” Flory said, then he laughed. “It’s important for us not to travel, to be home — the pre-game meal, the routine. I like wearing green, instead of wearing white. It’s important for us to be here.”
They like to give me credit but you look at the holes I’m running through. I’m breaking tackles on linebackers and DBS, not on 250-pound D-linemen.