Game Date: Saturday, November 1, 2014, 2 p.m. (3 p.m., SK Time)
Game Location: Thunderbird Stadium
Live TV Broadcast: Shaw
Live Radio Broadcast: CK 750,www.ck750.com
Live Stats/ Live Webcast: canadawest.tv
THE GAME
The No. 8 University of Saskatchewan Huskies will close out the 2014 Canada West football season with a road date against the UBC Thunderbirds Saturday in Vancouver.
BROADCAST INFO
Kickoff is 2 p.m. (3 p.m. SK time) on Saturday. It can be watched on Shaw. It is also available live on CK750 or www.ck750.com or via webcast at canadawest.tv.
THE HEADLINES
- Saskatchewan (No. 8) is one of two Canada West teams to hold a spot in the CIS Top 10. Calgary (No. 2) joins the Huskies in the national rankings.
- The Huskies have already secured a home playoff date in the Canada West postseason. The game will be played on Friday, November 7 at 7 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park.
- Saskatchewan is still waiting on its opponent in the playoff game. The opponents could be any team, other than Calgary, depending on outcomes in the final weekend of play.
- Safety Mark Ingram was named Canada West and CIS Defensive Player of the Week after recording nine tackles and two interceptions against the Alberta Golden Bears last week, while kick returner Keegan Arnyek was named Canada West Special Teams Player of the Week for his 116-yard returned missed field for a touchdown.
- Fifth-year receiver Kit Hillis broke the Huskies all-time career receptions record in last weekend’s game (see media notes page 8)
- Third-year starting quarterback Drew Burko is steadily moving up the Huskies’ all-time career lists in yards, pass completion and touchdowns (see media notes page 8).
THUNDERBIRDS/HUSKIES SERIES
Since 1998, the Huskies are 21-4 against the Thunderbirds in conference games. Saskatchewan won the earlier meeting between the teams 31-25 on October 4 in Saskatoon.
No. 8 UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (5-2)
Everything went the Saskatchewan Huskies way last weekend.
The combination of a Saskatchewan win, Alberta loss and a Manitoba loss last weekend solidified second place in the Canada West for the Huskies. Saskatchewan will host a Canada West semifinal November 7.
The Huskies used a strong second half to break away from the visiting Alberta Golden Bears en route to the 41-23 playoff-clinching win. Saskatchewan scored 24 straight second half points, outscoring Alberta 24-9 in the half.
Quarterback Drew Burko led the Huskies’ offence completing 29-of-41 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns.
Kit Hillis put his name atop the Huskies all-time receptions list - as he hauled in nine Burko passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. John Trumpy also caught two touchdown passes. Tyler Chow was the top rusher for the Huskies with 38 yards on 10 attempts. The first year running back added eight catches for 78 yards.
Safety Mark Ingram recorded nine tackles and two interceptions. For his game, he was named Canada West Defensive Player of the Week for the third time and won the title at the CIS level. Keegan Arnyek was also named Canada West Special Teams Player of the Week for his 116-yard missed field goal returned for a touchdown.
UBC THUNDERBIRDS (3-3)
Looking to forget a 67-6 loss last week to the Calgary Dinos, the UBC Thunderbirds will look to stay in the mix for a remaining playoff spot.
The Dinos scored early and often, with Johnny Mark connecting for a single on the opening kickoff sparking 16 points for Calgary in the first 5:32 of the contest. By the time the first quarter ended it was 26-0 as the Dinos capitalized with the wind. Calgary led 36-3 at the half and 43-5 after 45 minutes.
UBC's Brandon Deschamps was able to pick up just 66 yards on the ground, while the quarterbacking tandem of Carson Williams and Trevor Casey combined for just 10 completions on 29 attempts for 105 yards in the game.
Quinn Van Gylswyk accounted for all of UBC's scoring, adding a pair of singles to a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter. Otherwise, the Thunderbirds couldn't penetrate deep enough into Calgary territory to threaten.
