Game Information
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Date: Saturday, Oct. 26
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Venue: Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
Watch:
Canadawest.tv / SaskTel 49/349
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SASKATOON – After what was an insane week eight within the world of Canada West football, we're in for one more wild ride as the regular season winds down this weekend.
All three conference games are packed with playoff implications, including the University of Saskatchewan Huskies clash against the Alberta Golden Bears on Saturday afternoon at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park.
Saskatchewan had a glorious opportunity to take advantage of two upsets within the conference last weekend, as the Manitoba Bisons defeated the Calgary Dinos and the Regina Rams shocked the Alberta Golden Bears. Unfortunately for the Huskies, they were unable to squeak past the UBC Thunderbirds, after
David Solie's 49-yard field-goal missed wide-right.
But there is still a possibility the Huskies could finish atop of the Canada West. Should the Dinos fall to Thunderbirds and the Huskies pull out a win, Saskatchewan could finish as the number-one seed and earn home-field advantage throughout the entirety of the postseason. With a victory, the Huskies would ensure a top-two seed and in the process, clinch their first home playoff game since the 2014 season.
However, with a loss, Saskatchewan could finish as low as fourth and miss out on a home playoff game.
The Golden Bears, who fell to the Rams by a score of 31-17 in Edmonton on Saturday afternoon, will enter the matchup on a two-game losing skid, with their last win coming back on Sept. 28. With a win over Saskatchewan, Alberta would host their first playoff game since Nov. 5, 2005.
The Huskies and Golden Bears met in week four in Edmonton, with the home side prevailing with a 19-17 victory thanks to a Jonathan Giustini 45-yard field goal with 46 seconds remaining in the ball game to help his side escape with the win.
5 Things
1: Huskies running back
Adam Machart enters the contest with 1104 rushing yards on the season. With one game left to play, Machart, who is averaging a national-high 158 yards a game, trails only David Stevens (1229) and Doug Rozon (1267) in the Huskie single-season record books.
2: Unlike in their first meeting of the season against the Golden Bears, the Huskies will have
Mason Nyhus starting under centre, Nyhus, who missed the matchup against Alberta in week four, is 4-2 as the team's starting quarterback this season.
3: Saskatchewan has won their last seven meetings against Alberta at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park, with their last loss at home coming on Nov. 6, 2010 in a Canada West semifinal.
4: The Golden Bears will be making their second playoff appearance since the 2011 season
5: Fifth-year Huskies
Ben Whiting,
Payton Hall, Erik Thakurdeen,
Evan Machibroda,
Andrew Serke and
Tanner Secord will all be honoured before the game for their time spent with the program.
By the Numbers
7 – The Huskies moved to seventh in the U SPORTS top ten but remained as the highest-ranked team in the Canada West. The Dinos are eighth, and the Bisons slot in at number-ten, while the Golden Bears are an honourable mention.
29.8 –
Nelson Lokombo's pro passer rating allowed when targeted of 29.8 is second lowest in the Canada West.
46 –
Adam Machart leads the conference with 46 first-downs gained on the ground. Alberta quarterback Brad Launhardt's 15 first-downs gained rushing is tied for second-most in the Canada West.
1000 – Machart reached the 1000-yard club last week against the Thunderbirds, as he became just the third player in Huskies program history to rush for over 1000 yards in a single season.
Scouting the Golden Bears
Win or lose, Alberta head coach Chris Morris will lead the program to their first season with at least a .500 record or better during his seven-year tenure with the team.
Fourth-year quarterback Brad Launhardt, who spent time with the Edmonton Huskies before re-joining to the Golden Bears, has been tremendous under centre this season. The pivot's 316.1 yards-per-game leads the Canada West while throwing for nine touchdowns to go along with seven interceptions.
Meanwhile, receiver Ben Kopczynski has been Launhardt's go-to-target, with the receiver leading the conference with 108.6 yards-per-game. However, Kopczynski has yet to find the endzone yet this season.
Running back Jonathan Rosery leads the Golden Bears with 328 rushing yards but has missed the team's last two games.
Jassen Brown and Josiah Schakel each sit in the top-five of total tackles in the conference and have helped anchor the Alberta defence this season. The duo of linebackers will be tasked with slowing down Machart, who leads the nation in rushing yards.
