SASKATOON – Scott Flory moved to 3-0 in home opener's in his U SPORTS coaching career as the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team defeated the visiting UBC Thunderbirds 40-7 in front of a crowd of 6,278 on Friday, Sept. 6 on Welcome Back Night at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park.
 
"We want to get better each and every day, quarter-by-quarter, play-by-play, and I think we did that. I think we're starting to get some of that confidence back," said Huskies head coach Scott Flory. "The guys should be happy and proud of this win."
 
The Huskies, who returned home to Griffiths Stadium as defending Hardy Cup champions for the first time since 2007, took control of the game in the fourth quarter and failed to look back as they got into the win column for the first time this season.
 
"It's awesome to come out here and get a win. The crowd is amazing out here, and I wasn't surprised by any means, we have a great atmosphere anytime we play at home, and that helped a lot," said Huskies quarterback Mason Nyhus.
 
Nyhus, who was making his first career start at Griffiths Stadium, picked up his first win in the Canada West after throwing for 303 yards and one touchdown on 25-37 passing.
 
"It's going to be the first of more with him; there is no doubt about it. He's a special kid, he's a special talent, and he's only going to get better with every snap," said Flory.
 
Colton Klassen led Saskatchewan receivers with eight receptions for 135 yards, while Jesse Kuntz chipped in six receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown.
 
Adam Machart led the way in the ground game for Saskatchewan. The third-year running back racked up 136 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
 
"Adam found another gear. Then when you complement that, and put in Josh, those guys are both really special running backs," said Flory.

The Thunderbirds rotated quarterbacks, with Tommy Yanchuk throwing for 141 yards and one touchdown on 14-25 passing, while Gabe Olivares threw for 99 yards on 6-15 passing.
 
Daniel Appiah rushed for 28 yards on five carries, leading the ground game for the visitors. Jacob Patten had a monster night for the Thunderbirds, racking up seven receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown. 
 
Nick Cross was a standout defensively all-night long for UBC. The linebacker tacked on 9.5 total tackles in the loss.
 
The Thunderbirds now sit as the lone winless team in the Canada West, picking up their second consecutive loss after they fell at home against the Rams in week one.
 
The opening frame was primarily an ongoing battle of field position, but the Huskies got the offence rolling late in the quarter. Nyhus found Klassen for back-to-back first-downs, which allowed the home side to get the ground game going. From there, Machart went to work. The third-year running back took the ball from his own 47-yard line, hit the hole and shrugged off multiple Thunderbirds defenders for a 63-yard scamper to give Saskatchewan a 7-0 lead.
 
"I think it kind of helped the offence get going. We were in a bit of a standstill, but we all came together for that one, and I think it got the boys going both on offence and defence," said Machart.
 
However, the visitors were able to strike back. On second-and-10 from inside the Huskies 12-yard-line, Yanchuk was gifted with ample time in the pocket to allow Patten's crossing-route to develop. The former Edmonton Huskie pivot hit him in-stride, and from there the second-year receiver walked into the end zone to knot the game up at 7-7.
 
Saskatchewan responded after a lengthy drive of their own when David Solie's 42-yard field goal re-established the Saskatchewan lead.
 
A Thunderbirds two-and-out gave the ball back to the Huskies, and on the second play from scrimmage, Josh Ewanchyna's 52-yard carry marched the home side right back into the red zone. But after the Thunderbirds defence stood strong twice from inside their own five-yard line, the Huskies elected to go for it on third-down. The Thunderbirds initially had everything under wraps in the secondary, Nyhus escaped the pocket, scrambled and found Kuntz all alone in the endzone, to extend the Huskies lead to 10.
 
With under a minute remaining in the half, Saskatchewan was unable to convert on third-and-short from near midfield, presenting UBC with an opportunity to narrow the ten-point deficit. But with 16 seconds left in the frame, Yanchuk's deep ball intended for Patten was intercepted by Nixon Voll, allowing the Huskies to head to halftime with a 17-7 lead.
 
Neither team was able to get on the board in the third quarter but Saskatchewan wasted no time to extend their lead early in the fourth. Nyhus went right back to his go-to-target, as Klassen came down with a stellar catch with a defender draped all over him, to set the Huskies up in business near the goal line. Machart's second major of the day on an off-tackle scamper extended the Huskies lead to 17.
 
Less than two minutes later, Daniel Perry gave the crowd their money's worth, as he brought the Saskatchewan faithful to their feet with an electrifying 75-yard punt return in what was the second-year receiver's first career U SPORTS touchdown.
 
After a second Solie field goal extended the lead, matters got worse for the visitors moments later. Nelson Lokombo intercepted Olivares for a 95-yard pick-six to make the score 40-7 victory with 39.5 seconds left in the ball game, which sealed the Saskatchewan victory.
 
Saskatchewan will travel south to Regina next week in a matchup against the Rams, as they'll search for their third consecutive victory over their provincial rival. Elsewhere in week three action, the Thunderbirds will welcome the undefeated Calgary Dinos to town in a rematch of the 2017 Hardy Cup.