Play of offensive line key to success for Huskies
Mattland Riley and his pals are throwing their considerable weight around with a confidence that’s grown week by burly week.
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies ran 1,640 pounds worth of starting offensive lineman into their Canada West football final this past weekend, and after a steamroller performance, they’re into Saturday ’s national semifinal against the Western Ontario Mustangs.
Life is interesting, said Riley, an all-star left guard, when your head coach is Canadian Football Hall of Fame O -lineman Scott Flory.
“It makes it hard in the film room sometimes, because he expects greatness out of you,” Riley said this week with a grin. “He expects greatness, and he coaches greatness. When you have a coach like that and you work hard enough at it, your O -line is going to be great.”
The Huskies built their run at a national championship — a surprising run, if you ask most observers outside the team locker-room — on their offensive and defensive lines. The latter unit tied with Calgary for the most sacks this year, 17, while helping with the league’s stingiest run defence. The former helped the team rack up 260 rushing yards during their 43-18 conference-title over those same Dinos.
All of the eight offensive linemen who dressed for the conference final are eligible to return next season. Riley, in his third season, provides a rock-steady presence at left guard after coming out of Melfort’s nine-man high school program.
“He’s steady,” said Flory. “He’s consistent. He’s physical. He’s athletic. He checks a whole bunch of boxes. He’s our leader of the group out there, and he’s done a great job with those guys. They believe in him. And a ton of credit has to go to coach (Lane) Bryksa, and what he’s done with that group. The first team meeting (after last season), it was a challenge to those guys. They have risen up, and coach Bryksa’s led the way with them.”
Saturday’s Mitchell Bowl appearance against the host Mustangs is Saskatchewan’s first foray into out-of-conference playoffs since 2006, when they lost the Vanier Cup to Laval.
The Huskies went 2-6 last season, Flory’s first as the team’s head coach, and failed to make the post-season. In a pre-2018 poll of conference coaches, the Huskies were predicted to finish dead last in the conference. They started with a 3-3 record, and have since won four straight regular season and playoff games.
“For me, personally, (the poll) wasn’t that surprising,” Riley said. “They were voting on the stuff they saw from last year. And you know what? Last year, we weren’t the greatest team. They didn’t see all the stuff in the off-season. As much as that was a bit of a kick to the butt for some of these guys and a little motivation, the message all year has been, ‘Just believe, work hard, and we’re going to see the results.’
“People that are surprised didn’t see how hard the guys worked in the off-season. They didn’t see all the hours guys put into the weight room. They didn’t see that commitment in the off-season, and that’s the benefit and payoff we’re seeing right now.
“We work really hard in practice against each other, too. We hit hard. (Wednesday) was our big day, our hitting day, and we go out there, full speed, guys are cracking each other. It’s heated out there. I’m not that surprised (to still be playing football). But I’m honoured and fortunate we get to play right now.”
Saturday’s game will be played at 3 p.m. Saskatchewan time, with the winner advancing to the Vanier Cup against either Laval or STFX.