GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Oct. 15
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Opponent: Regina Rams
Location: Saskatoon, Sask.
Venue: Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
Watch: Sasktel 49, 349 / Canadawest.tv
Listen: HuskieFAN
SCHEDULE | WATCH LIVE
And so they meet again.
After a thrilling come-from-behind Week 3 win in Regina, the No. 2 Huskies (5-0) and No. 8 Rams (4-1) are set to do battle once again — this time in Saskatoon.
Saskatchewan and Regina sit one-two in the Canada West with only one win separating the pair of programs in the conference standings. The Rams lone loss this season was that aforementioned defeat at Mosaic, after David Solie split the uprights from 32 yards out with just seconds remaining to send the Huskies home with an 11-10 victory.
Fast forward a month and the provincial rivalry is set to be renewed at Griffiths. It's a rivalry that has taken on new light this season thanks to both of the programs national prominence. Their first meeting of the season was showcased as the U SPORTS Game of the Week and there certainly figures to be no shortage of eyes from coast to coast paying close attention to what unfolds on Saturday afternoon.
The matchup brings the Huskies an opportunity to extend a trio of streaks. Saskatchewan is looking for their 15th straight win at Griffiths Stadium, with their last loss on home turf coming back on Sept. 14, 2018. The rematch with the Rams also presents the Huskies with the chance to win their fifth-straight game against a Top 10 team, as five of Saskatchewan's six wins this season have come against nationally ranked teams at the time of the matchup — with the exception of Calgary in Week 1. A victory would also mark their sixth-straight victory over Regina, with the team's last loss to their provincial rivals coming back on Sept. 29, 2017.
While it's only Week 6 and both the Huskies and Rams ambitions are far more lofty than successful regular-seasons, there's already lots at stake when it comes to the impending postseason. A Saskatchewan win would clinch the season series between the two teams and lock up first-place in the Canada West, as well as lock up home field advantage throughout the entirety of the Canada West postseason — including a potential Hardy Cup in Saskatoon for the second-straight season.
Last season, finishing atop the Canada West paved the way for the Huskies to advance to the national semifinal and eventually, the Vanier Cup — they're looking to forge a similar path this year.
But perhaps more pertinent than what's to come in the months ahead, is what's to come on Saturday afternoon. In the words of quarterback Mason Nyhus, "it's about the journey, not the destination." The Rams are no slouch and are nationally ranked for a reason. This will be yet another strong test for Saskatchewan, as they attempt to continue to improve as the season wears on.
At the forefront of the matchup is the battle between the Huskies prolific offence and the Rams vaunted defence. While Nyhus leads the nation in passing yards-per-game, barring down on him all day long figures to be Rams defensive lineman Anthony Bennett, who ranks second in the nation with 6.5 sacks this season. The fifth-year is anchoring a unit allowing only 17 points-per-game — which ranks ninth in the nation. Bennett and Co. are the only defence in the Canada West to keep Saskatchewan out of the end zone — something Nyhus will be looking to change on Saturday afternoon as he looks to move the program to 6-0 for the first-time since 2005.
5 Things:
- This is the final meeting between the Huskies and Rams in the inaugural U-Prairie Challenge — an annual multi-sport competition between USask and U of R. After Saskatchewan picked up a half point earlier this season, they will look for the clean sweep on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies currently lead the U-Prairie Challenge 1.25 to 0.25.
- With a win, Saskatchewan would start the season 6-0 for only the third-time in program history. The Huskies went 8-0 in both the 2003 and 2005 seasons.
- This will be the 13th meeting of all-time between the Rams and Huskies when they are both nationally ranked.
- Only six players on the Huskies 2022 roster have been a part of a Huskies team that has lost to the Rams — Mason Nyhus, David Solie, Caleb Morin, Everett Iverson, Tom Whiting and Michael Palumbo.
- Saskatchewan has outscored the Rams 173-70 over the course of their five-game winning streak.
Head-to-head vs. Regina:
- All-time vs. Regina : Saskatchewan is 29-11
- Last 10 meetings: Saskatchewan is 8-2
- Huskies 2021 regular-season record vs. Regina: 1-0
- Last regular season meeting: 11-10 Huskies win on Sept. 17, 2022 at Mosaic Stadium
Scouting the Rams:
Following their Week 3 loss to the Huskies, the Rams were able to scrape out back-to-back one-score wins over the UBC Thunderbirds and Alberta Golden Bears to improve to 4-1. Their Week 5 win against Golden Bears clinched a return to the postseason for the first time since 2017 and will be the first playoff appearance for first-year head coach Mark McConkey.
Since the Week 2 injury to Kyle Borsa, Olivier Savard and Christian Katende have stepped up to fill the void. Savard has been the more productive of the two backs, with his standout performance so far being a 103-yard, one touchdown outing in the team's win over the Thunderbirds.
It continues to be a three-headed attack leading the way in the Rams receiving core, as Riley Boersma, Bennett Stusek and D'Sean Mimbs have all had productive seasons for Regina. Stusek leads the way with 364 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 20 receptions, while Boersma leads the team in receptions with 27 — a mark that ranks tied for fifth in U SPORTS.
Noah Pelletier has been steady for the Rams in his first season as the team's starting quarterback — a position he was elevated to after the injury to Josh Donnelly. Pelletier has thrown for at least 175 yards in all five games this season, ranking 11th in the nation with 218.8 passing yards-per-game.
The aforementioned Anthony Bennett has been one of the most disruptive defensive players in the nation thus far this season. In addition to his 6.5 sacks, Bennett has registered a fumble recovery, a pick-six and 16.5 total tackles.
Along with Bennett, 2021 Canada West All-Star Ryder Varga has once again been one of the conference's best linebackers this season. The 2022 B.C. Lions third-round draft pick leads the team with 30.5 total tackles, to go along with a sack, an interception and three forced fumbles — a mark that is tied for first in the nation.
Bennett's 6.5 sacks is a mark that ties Regina's program record — a record set by current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Akiem Hicks, and later matched by former Huskie and current Saskatchewan Roughrider Nicholas Dheilly. Bennett has been named the Canada West Defensive Player of the Week three times this season.
Elsewhere in the Canada West:
Saturday, Oct. 15: Calgary Dinos @ Alberta Golden Bears, 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 15: Manitoba Bisons @ UBC Thunderbirds, 2:00 p.m.
