EDMONTON – The Saskatchewan Huskies got plenty of praise Thursday, as the 2019 Canada West football major award winners were announced.
Five of the conference's seven awards are headed to Saskatoon, as the defending Hardy Cup champion Huskies prepare for their rematch with the Calgary Dinos, which is set for Saturday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m.
Running back
Adam Machart headlined the winners, as the third-year was unanimously selected as CW Player of the Year and the conference's nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy as the nation's top university football player.
Along with Machart teammate
Ramsey Derbas was the other unanimous award winner, as conference coaches selected the Huskie linebacker as Rookie of the Year.
The conference's Outstanding Lineman (DL -
Evan Machibroda), Outstanding Defensive Player (DB -
Nelson Lokombo), and Coach of the Year (
Scott Flory) awards also went to Huskies.
This is the first time in program history that the Huskies have claimed five conference awards. Their previous high was three, a feat they accomplished in 2005-06, 1994-95 and 1988-89.
Manitoba's Derek Dufault (Student-Athlete Community Service) and Regina's Greg Nesbitt (Gino Fracas nominee) stood in the way of a Saskatchewan sweep.
Led by Machart, Saskatchewan takes aim at a second consecutive Hardy Cup Saturday in Calgary. You can watch the game by tuning into SaskTel (348), TELUS (997), BellMTS (1802) or
Canada West TV Presented by Co-op.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: RB - Adam Machart
- Saskatchewan Huskies
- 3rd-year
- Saskatoon, Sask.
- Arts & Science
- STATS: 156 rushes / 1,330 yards / 8 rushing TDs / 166.3 YPG
The first Huskie since Laurence Nixon in 2010-11 to be the Canada West Hec Crighton nominee, Machart had a record-breaking season for the Huskies. Finishing the year with 1,330 rushing yards, the native of Saskatoon set a new program single-season rushing record while also leading the nation in rushing yards, yards per game (166.3) and yards per carry (8.5). Machart also compiled 204 receiving yards on the season and finished with 11 total touchdowns.
"You've heard it said with different guys before, short in stature but big in character, heart, determination, physicality and all of those superlatives that you could use to describe him." – Head Coach
Scott Flory
- Saskatchewan Huskies
- 5th-year
- Saskatoon, Sask.
- Engineering
- STATS: 5 sacks / 22 tackles / 2 forced fumbles
In his fifth and final season with the Huskies, Machibroda becomes the seventh Huskie in program history to be named Most Outstanding Lineman. Often drawing double teams in the middle of the Huskies' defensive front, the native of Saskatoon finished the season with 5 sacks, 7.5 tackles-for-loss and 22 total tackles. The 2018 draft pick of the Edmonton Eskimos anchored a defence that allowed the fewest points-per-game in the conference.
"He seems to be at the forefront of coaches' minds anytime an opposition coach talks to me. One of the biggest things from a defensive line standpoint is relentless determination, if there was one characteristic I could put in every defensive lineman is to never stop, never quit and Evan embodies that." – Head Coach
Scott Flory
OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: DB -
Nelson Lokombo
- Saskatchewan Huskies
- 3rd-year
- Abbotsford, B.C.
- Kinesiology
- STATS: 4 interceptions (2 for TDs) / 197 INT return yards / 4.5 tackles for loss / 23.5 tackles
A ball-hawking defensive back,
Nelson Lokombo is now the eighth player in program history to be named Canada West's Outstanding Defensive Player. The product of Abbotsford recorded four interceptions, running two back for touchdowns, His 197 interception return yards set a new program record. Despite opposing offences steering clear of his side of the field for much of the year, Lokombo finished with 4.5 tackles-for-loss and 23.5 total tackles.
"He was my first recruit after I got the job because I knew how good he was and how good he could be. He's a special young man and a special talent for sure." – Head Coach
Scott Flory
- Saskatchewan Huskies
- Saskatoon, Sask.
- Business
- STATS: 43 tackles / 1.5 tackles for loss / 1 interception
Leading the team in tackles in his freshman campaign,
Ramsey Derbas is the first Huskie to be named the conference rookie of the year since Jordan Arkko is 2011-12. The product of Holy Cross did everything for the Huskies, stepping up to fill holes in the run game while also dropping back in coverage for the most efficient defence in the conference.
"Recruiting is an inexact science but I knew that Ramsey had a ton of intangibles aside from the measurables. I remember after an early practice in the Spring saying to (defensive coordinator)
Warren Muzika 'You're not going to be able to keep him off the field." – Head Coach
Scott Flory
- Saskatchewan Huskies
- 3rd season
In just his third season at the helm of the Huskies,
Scott Flory has been named Canada West's coach of the year. A three-time Hardy Cup winner as a player with Saskatchewan, Flory has led the Huskies to the conference championship game in each of the past two seasons.
"In his third year with the team we are seeing the steady process that Scott is making. The fruits of his hard work both on and off the field are paying dividends in the results that the team has achieved. This is clearly his type of team, a blue-collar team with an outstanding offensive line that grinds it out on the field." Chief Athletics Officer
Dave Hardy.
STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE: DL - Derek Dufault
- Manitoba Bisons
- 5th-year
- Winnipeg, Man.
- Science
- STATS: 7 sacks / 2 forced fumbles / 23.5 tackles
GINO FRACAS AWARD NOMINEE: Greg Nesbitt
