GAME INFORMATION

Date: Saturday, Nov. 5
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Opponent: Manitoba Bisons
Location: Saskatoon, Sask.
Venue: Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
Watch: Sasktel 49, 349 / Canadawest.tv
Listen: HuskieFAN

SCHEDULE | WATCH LIVE 

The pursuit of the program's 21st Hardy Cup continues this weekend.

SASKATOON — The No. 4 Saskatchewan Huskies are looking to punch their ticket to the Hardy Cup for the fourth-straight season on Saturday afternoon as they welcome the Manitoba Bisons to Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park.

For the second-straight year the Huskies are set to play host to the Bisons in postseason football, after the pair of programs met at Griffiths in last-season's Hardy Cup — a game the Huskies won 45-17. The long-time conference rivals are set to meet again, only this time in the conference semifinal.

After a dominant 7-1 regular season that saw the Huskies outscore their opponents 241-119, the Huskies finished first in Canada West and earned the right to host at home throughout the Hardy Cup playoffs. But before looking ahead to what next Saturday could entail, the focus for Saskatchewan is on the matter at hand — a feisty Manitoba program looking to play spoiler.

The Bisons struggled out of the gates this season. Despite being the number-two ranked team in the pre-season Canada West coaches poll, the Bisons opened the season 0-2 after losses to both the Regina Rams and Alberta Golden Bears. However, Manitoba has shown growth throughout the season and closed the regular season with back-to-back 44-30 wins over the Alberta Golden Bears and Regina Rams — returning to the .500 mark and locking up the fourth-and-final post-season spot.

One of the Bisons four losses this season was to the Huskies back in Week 5. While the 43-22 Saskatchewan win suggests a one-sided contest, it was Manitoba who led by three at halftime. The Huskies went on to dominate the second half, outscoring the Bisons 24-0 — en route to moving to 5-0.

For Saskatchewan, it's hard to start the conversation with anyone other than with quarterback Mason Nyhus. Nyhus led the nation with 344.9 passing yards-per-game this season, while his 18 passing touchdowns was second among U SPORTS quarterbacks. Nyhus, who had never lost at Griffiths Stadium as Saskatchewan's starting quarterback, orchestrated a Huskies offence that ranked second in the nation with 479.4 total yards-per-game this season.

Nyhus and Bisons quarterback Des Catellier's first official introductions to one another was at the 2015 Canada Cup. The pair of pivots went toe-to-toe in a bronze medal game between Team Saskatchewan and Team Alberta. They each went on to make the leap to U SPORTS the next fall. Ever since, their careers have been intertwined as interconference foes. On Saturday, one of those careers will end, as the fifth-year passers square off for the right to advance to play on the conference's biggest stage — the 85th Hardy Cup.

For the Huskies, ever since their heart-breaking defeat in last season's Vanier Cup, everything for head coach Scott Flory's program has been centred around a third Hardy Cup in the last four seasons. The team is eager for a shot at redemption. A win on Saturday afternoon would serve as the next step in helping accomplish that goal. 

5 Things:

1. The Huskies enter Saturday as winners of 16-straight at Griffiths Stadium — a win streak that includes four wins over the Bisons. Manitoba's last win in Saskatoon was back on Oct. 20, 2018.
2. Scott Flory is undefeated in home playoff games as head coach of the Huskies (3-0).
3. The last time the Bisons and Huskies met in a Hardy Cup semifinal was back on November 7, 2014 in Saskatoon. Manitoba defeated Saskatchewan 47-39 in a back-and-forth thriller at Griffiths, which ultimately paved the way for the Bisons 11th Hardy Cup in program history.
4. Dating back to 2021, the Bisons have a 3-6 record away from IG Field in Winnipeg, including last year's 45-17 defeat at the hands of the Huskies in the 84th Hardy Cup.
5. Both conference semifinals are set for Saskatchewan. The UBC Thunderbirds are taking on the Regina Rams at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday afternoon in Regina, as the pair of programs fight for the second spot in next Saturday's 85th Hardy Cup.

Head-to-head vs. Manitoba:

• All-time vs. Manitoba: Saskatchewan is 48-45
• Huskies 2022 regular-season record vs. Manitoba: 1-0
• Last regular season meeting: 41-12 Huskies win on Oct. 30, 2021 in Winnipeg
• Last playoff meeting: 45-17 Huskies win in the 84th Hardy Cup on Nov. 20, 2022 in Saskatoon

Scouting the Bisons:

Led by head coach Brian Dobie, who is the winningest coach in Bisons program history, the Bisons are looking for their 12th Hardy Cup in program history and first since 2014.

If the Comeback Player of the Year was awarded in U SPORTS — the aforementioned Catellier would likely be the front runner. After suffering a season-ending injury in Week 1 of last season, the Calgary product retook his role as the team's starting quarterback this season has thrived in his return. His 14 passing touchdowns ranked fourth in the nation. Catellier is fresh off two of his best games of the season — 418 yards, four touchdowns against Alberta in Week 7 and 314 yards, two touchdowns against Regina in Week 8. After throwing five interceptions over the first three weeks, Catellier only threw one in the team's final five regular-season games.

Third-year receiver AK Gassama has soared onto the scene in recent weeks and enters Saturday's contest as the reigning U SPORTS Offensive Player of the Week. Gassama has had over 118 receiving yards in each of the last three weeks, including a five-reception, 210-yard and two touchdown performance in the team's win over Regina. Gassama's 93.6 receiving yards-per-game ranked third in the nation this season. Six of Catellier's 14 touchdown passes this season have gone to Gassama.

While Gassama has been the go-to-guy in the receiving corps, it's been the Breydon Stubbs show on the ground for Manitoba. After missing last year's Hardy Cup, Stubbs figures to play a role in the rematch this weekend. Stubbs averaged 7.5 yards-per-carry this season, racking up 489 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground, to go along with 190 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air.

All-Canadian linebacker Nick Thomas has not played since Week 2, paving the way for a pair of second-year linebackers to step up in his absence. Issac Doken and Dolan Hills led the team with 47 and 39 total tackles this season, with Hills also recording a sack and an interception.

Marcel Arruda-Welch, Sebastien Reid, and Nick Conway led the way for a Bisons secondary known as one of the conference's best. Manitoba forced eight interceptions this season — three by Reid, a former Calgary Dino and Langley Ram. 

Known to many still as a Calgary Dinos legend, thanks to his 59-yard field-goal to win the 81st Hardy Cup — Niko Difonte is fresh off a tremendous season with the Bisons. The fifth-year kicker made 11 of his 12 field goals in his frirst year with the team this season — including a long of 43.