Game Information

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Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Edmonton, AB
Venue: Foote Field
Watch: SaskTel Max / Canadawest.tv
Listen: CJWW 600
 
SASKATOON – Something is bound to give in week four with both the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and Alberta Golden Bears looking to pick up their third-consecutive win when the programs meet for the first time this season in Edmonton.
 
The clash serves as a meeting of 2-1 programs at Foote Field, with each club entering the matchup off back-to-back victories.
 
Saskatchewan took care of business handily in a week three against their provincial rivals in Regina. The Huskies dominated in all facets of the game, and after going up 7-0 at the 8:27 mark of the first quarter, they went wire-to-wire to pick up the road win over the Rams by a score of 44-9.
 
Meanwhile, Alberta is fresh off a thrilling, come-from-behind 29-26 win over the visiting Manitoba Bisons. A 30-yard Golden Bears touchdown with six seconds remaining in the ball game proved to be the difference after the Bisons took the lead on a major of their own with 48 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
Saskatchewan will be looking to start off the 2019 campaign in a similar fashion to last season, with a 3-1 record. But in doing so, the team will need to pick up a road win outside of the province, something that has eluded the Dogs over the last three seasons. The Huskies have a 2-6 record in road games taking place outside of the provincial border dating back to 2017.
 
In their lone matchup last season, Saskatchewan pitched a shutout against Alberta with a 42-0 victory in week one at Griffiths Stadium. 

5 Things
 
1: Saskatchewan has won 11 of their last 13 games against Alberta but has dropped two of their last three contests at Foote Field.
 
2: The Huskies had two players honoured on the conference level after their win over the Rams. Nelson Lokombo was named the Canada West defensive player of the week, while David Solie was named the special team's player of the week.  

3: Through just three games this season, third year-defensive back Nelson Lokombo is first in team history for most interception return yards in a single season (193). He is also third in conference history in that same category. Lokombo has seven conference interceptions, Bryce McCall and Bob Coffin (21) lead the Huskies' all-time list.

4: With a win, the Golden Bears would be off to their best start since 2005, when they began 4-0 and ultimately finished the regular season with a 7-1 record before falling in the Hardy Cup to the Huskies.

5: Ethan Watson was sharp in week three action after replacing Nyhus in the second half against the Rams. The first-year quarterback, who spent the 2018 season as a redshirt, completed four of his six passing attempts for 46 yards and a touchdown while adding on 20 rushing yards on three carries.

By the Numbers
 
8 – The Huskies moved up one spot to number eight in the U SPORTS top ten after their win in Regina, while the Golden Bears enter the weekend on the outside looking in as an honourable mention in the rankings.

16 – The Huskies have allowed 16 total points over the course past two games, which is the lowest points against in back-to-back games for the team since the 2010 season.
 
22 – First-year linebacker Ramsey Derbas leads the Huskies in solo tackles through three games with 22. Saskatchewan has not had a player in his first year removed from high school lead the team in tackles in the last 13 seasons.
 
120.0 – Adam Machart is third in the nation with 120.0 rushing yards per game through three weeks.

Scouting the Golden Bears
 
Alberta head coach Chris Morris, who is in the midst of his seventh season, has yet to guide Alberta to a .500 record or better in his seven-year tenure with the program. However, the head coach has the opportunity to match his career-high in wins as a head coach with three in just week four of the season.
 
Brad Launhardt was honoured as the Canada West player of the week after throwing for 258 yards and two touchdowns, while rumbling for 117 yards on the ground. The dual-threat pivot will be in tough in week four against a Huskies defence which has only allowed 113 total rushing yards over the past two weeks.
 
Launhardt and starting running back Jonathan Rosery each have had impactful roles in the Golden Bears early success on the offensive side of the ball, with each sitting in the top-five in rushing yards in the Canada West. Launhardt has racked up 190 yards on the ground, while Rosery has chipped in 170 yards of his own through three weeks.
 
Launhardt's go-to-target has been Ben Kopczynski, who leads the Canada West in receiving yards through three weeks with 255 on 17 receptions.
 
Kopczynski spent time as a quarterback for the Golden Bears as the team's starter in their first two Canada West games back in 2017. However, Kopczynski has not thrown a pass in a regular season game since being replaced from under centre in Alberta's 43-17 loss to Saskatchewan at Griffiths Stadium on Sept. 8. 
 
Luke Sperry, Jassen Brown and Josiah Schakel each sit in the top-five of total tackles in the conference and have helped anchor the Alberta defence to a 2-1 record. The trio of linebackers will have their hands full in stopping the Huskies potent ground game, which leads the Canada West in rushing yards through three weeks.