Game Information

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Date: Saturday, Nov. 2
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Venue: Griffiths Stadium
Watch: SaskTel Max / Canadawest.tv
Listen: CJWW 600
 
SASKATOON – For the first time since the 2014 season, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team will play a postseason game at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park.
 
The Huskies (5-3) will take on the visiting Alberta Golden Bears (4-4) for the second straight weekend, as they get set to embark on their Hardy Cup defence.
 
Saskatchewan defeated Alberta 22-9 last week in the regular-season finale but this time it will be a Canada West semifinal clash, with a berth in the 83rd Hardy Cup Final on the line.
 
The Huskies enter the postseason of winners of three of their last four, while the Golden Bears, who started 2019 with a 4-1 record, will take the field on Saturday as losers of three consecutive games.
 
The two programs split the season series, with each team taking care of business at home. With the Huskies playing without starting quarterback Mason Nyhus, Alberta defeated Saskatchewan 19-17 on Sept. 21 in Edmonton. However, with the Huskies win in week eight, the program clinched a home playoff date and equalled their 2018 regular season win total of five.
 
Meanwhile, in the other Canada West semifinal, the Calgary Dinos will play host to Manitoba Bisons. With a win, McMahon Stadium in Calgary would host the tenth-consecutive Hardy Cup. If the Bisons prevail and upset the top-ranked Dinos, the winner between the Huskies and Golden Bears would hold the 83rd Hardy Cup on their home turf.

5 Things
 
1: The Huskies offence goes as Adam Machart goes. The third-year running back's historic regular season came to an end on Saturday, with the Saskatoon native setting the program's single-season rushing yards record with 1,331 yards. The local product became just the third player in Huskies history to rush for 1,000 yards and the first since 2005. Count on a heavy dose of carries for Machart come Saturday afternoon, as he'll attempt to lead the program to their first home playoff win since 2009.
 
2: Saskatchewan was dominant at home in 2019, outscoring their opponents 135-44 with home-field advantage in their four regular-season games. The Huskies, who went 4-0 at Griffiths Stadium in the regular season, enter Saturday afternoon's affair as winners of their last six games on home turf, with their last loss at Griffiths Stadium coming back on Sept. 14, 2018.
 
3: The Huskies have defeated the Golden Bears in their last eight meetings in Saskatoon, with their most recent defeat being a 32-31 loss in the 2010 postseason. While that win is Alberta's last postseason victory, as the program is making just their second postseason appearance since the 2011 season.
 
4: In his three games since returning from injury, Sam Baker has been vital in the Huskies air-attack. Baker registered 15 receptions for 235 yards and four touchdowns in his three games played.
 
5: Saskatchewan's Nelson Lokombo, Clovis Lumeka, Nixen Voll and Ramsey Derbas each finished the regular season in the top five in pro passer rating allowed when targeted in the Canada West.

By the Numbers
 
14 – Saskatchewan's Nicholas Dheilly led the Canada West with 14 quarterback hurries this season, while fellow Huskies defensive-linemen Evan Machibroda was second in the conference with 13.
 
20 – The quest towards the 20th Hardy Cup continues this weekend, as the Huskies are just two wins away from their second consecutive conference champion.
 
66.3 – The Golden Bears averaged 66.3 rushing yards per game in their last three games, following the team losing starting running back Jonathan Rosery. In comparison, the Huskies averaged 241.6 rushing yards-per-game over the final three weeks of the regular season. 
 
204 – Machart averaged 204 rushing yards-per-game in his two games against Alberta this season.

Scouting the Golden Bears
 
Alberta head coach Chris Morris led the program to their first season a .500 record or better during his seven-year tenure with the team. Morris will coach in the second Canada West playoff game of his career, with his first being a 39-22 loss to Calgary in the 2017 Canada West semifinal.
 
Fourth-year quarterback Brad Launhardt, who spent time with the Edmonton Huskies before re-joining to the Golden Bears, led the Canada West with 2328 passing yards while recording 298 rushing yards, which was most among the conference's quarterbacks. However, Laundhart struggled to move the ball against Saskatchewan last weekend, as he threw for 115 on 15-27 passing, including one interception and zero touchdowns.
 
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 end zone again this season. Kopczynski was held in check by the Huskies defence, as he was limited to five receptions for 39 yards.
 
Running back Jonathan Rosery led the Golden Bears with 328 rushing yards but missed the team's final three games of the regular season, leaving Matthew Peterson as the bell cow in Alberta's backfield. Peterson registered 26 yards on eight carries against Saskatchewan last week.