SASKATOON- The University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team won their 10th consecutive game on home field and closed their regular-season campaign in style with a 31-23 win over the Calgary Dinos on Saturday afternoon at Griffiths Stadium.
Seth Hundeby's blocked punt was recovered in the end zone by Clovis Lumeka giving the Huskies a 15-point lead with five minutes remaining in the ball game, which was all they needed to emerge with the win and move to 5-1 on the season.
The loss ended the Calgary Dinos playoff hopes, as the defending Vanier Cup Champions either needed a win or a UBC loss. They got neither, spelling the end to their 2-4 season.
On a day when the Huskies already had first-place in the Canada West clinched, and had nothing to play for in terms of movement in the standings, the Huskies still came to play.
"Every time we step on the field we expect to win and we did here today. I'm proud and happy for the guys," said Huskies head coach Scott Flory.
The defence was opportunistic and timely. As the afternoon wore along, the Dinos offensive line wore down. Riley Pickett and Nathan Cherry were absolute forces along the Huskies defensive line. The pair of prominent pass rushers were disruptive off the edge, combining for 2.5 sacks as they collapsed the pocket throughout the contest.
At the end of it all, it was ultimately the pressure that got home that was the difference, as Joseph was sacked eight times on the afternoon — tying a single-game Huskies program record.
"Pickett, Cherry, Carson Bell, Jonathan Leggett, they've all been monsters. We've asked a lot of them and every week it seems like they show up," said Lumeka.
But not to be lost was how dominant the Dogs were on the ground. With Adam Machart out, Josh Ewanchyna and Ryker Frank took advantage. Each topped 130 yards on the ground, which includes Frank's 58-yard scamper in the first quarter.
"When we win the line of scrimmage, it just makes life so much easier. We've got great quarterback play and Mason made the plays that we needed him to," said Flory.
98 of Mason Nyhus' 123 passing yards went to Daniel Perry, who scored twice and also made the most of an increased target share with Sam Baker and Colton Klassen missing the contest.
"It was an opportunity for guys to step up and they did. I've been challenging these guys all year and they've been rising to the occasion. I'm really proud of them," said Flory.
Calgary led 16-10 at one point late in the second quarter. But Saskatchewan responded, as Nyhus to Perry connected for a 24-yard score with 39 seconds remaining in the half to lead 17-16, before Nyhus found Perry in the end zone again in the third quarter to increase the lead eight.
But the game-breaking play was the aforementioned block punt, resulting in Lumeka's first Canada West career touchdown and extending Saskatchewan's lead to two scores.
The score was icing on the cake for Lumeka, who was one of seven Huskies fifth-years honoured pre-game, as he had an afternoon to remember, registering five total tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception to go along with the major.
On the opposite sidelines, fellow fifth-year Josiah Joseph played the final game of his Dinos career and he did nearly all he could to will his side to victory. He threw for 472 yards and two touchdowns, with 320 of those yards going to the Philpot brothers. Jalen led the way with 212 yards on 13 receptions, while Tyson caught eight passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
But next week, things get serious. Huskies will be back on home field again, as the Hardy Cup pursuit continues. Saskatchewan will play host to the UBC Thunderbirds at Griffiths Stadium in the Canada West semifinal and enter the contest not having lost on home field since Sept. 14, 2018 — 1,149 days ago.
"We get the fans here. That's the biggest part of playing here. We're comfortable here. We practice everyday here. It's our house. We love playing here," said Lumeka.
Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
