Huskies end their long Hardy Cup drought
Saskatchewan stuns Dinos to claim Canada West football crown and advance to national semifinal
After a dozen years of frustration and hasty exits, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies finally — at long last — hoisted a trophy.
The Huskies dismantled the previously unbeaten Calgary Dinos 43-18 Saturday to win the Hardy Cup, which goes to the Canada West football champion. It’s the team’s first conference title since 2006, when they beat the Manitoba Bisons 32-15 en route to a Vanier Cup appearance.
Saskatchewan now advances to the national semifinal against the unbeaten Western Ontario Mustangs, ranked No. 1 in the nation, in the Mitchell Bowl this coming Saturday.
The winner of that game advances to the Vanier Cup on Nov. 24 in Quebec City.
“The boys just had their minds and hearts set that we weren’t going to be done today,” Huskies’ head coach Scott Flory told 600 CJWW radio at game’s end.
The Huskies, who snapped an eight-game playoff losing streak the week before against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, were definitive underdogs heading into Saturday’s game. Calgary was 9-0 through the regular season and playoffs, and had beaten Saskatchewan twice. The Huskies were a combined 6-3.
But Saskatchewan trailed just once all game — midway through the first quarter.
Huskies’ tailback Tyler Chow racked up 24 carries for 222 yards and two touchdowns, while Colton Klassen caught seven passes for 137 yards. The Huskies’ defence intercepted four passes thrown by star Dinos’ quarterback Adam Sinagra.
Chow’s touchdowns came from one and 23 yards out, and Klassen scored on a oneyard run. Carter Dahl, on a 10-yard catch, and Adam Machart, a one-yard run, also scored touchdowns for the Huskies, while Sean Stenger booted field goals of 28 and 42 yards.
MUSTANGS 63, GRYPHONS 14
At London, Ont., Chris Merchant lifted the Vanier Cup champion Western Mustangs to a Yates Cup victory on Saturday, bringing them one step closer to repeating their U Sports football title.
Merchant threw for 324 yards and a touchdown and ran in three more scores as No. 1 Western routed the Gryphons.
Cedric Joseph ran for 122 yards and three touchdowns and Mackenzie Ferguson returned an interception for a score.
Merchant completed 19-of22 pass attempts and also had one interception.
Guelph’s Theo Landers was limited to just 69 passing yards, one TD and one interception.
X-MEN 33, HUSKIES 9
At Halifax, QB Bailey Wasdal ran in two touchdowns as StFX downed Saint Mary’s to advance to the Uteck Bowl as winners of the Atlantic University Sport crown.
Running back Greg Anderson also had a touchdown for the X-Men and Dylan Bell returned an interception 46 yards for a TD.
Huskies QB Caleb Scorr was 19 for 22 with 208 yards and one touchdown.
StFX will face the Laval Rouge et Or next weekend with a chance to advance to the Vanier Cup.
ROUGE ET OR 14 CARABINS 1
At Quebec City, Adam Auclair recovered a fumble and took the ball 77 yards for a touchdown as Laval stymied Montreal en route to capturing the Dunsmore Cup.
David Cote hit a 14-yard field goal to open the scoring for Laval, who also forced two safeties and picked off Montreal quarterback Dimitri Morand three times.