REGINA — David Solie played hero, as the fifth-year kicker ailed a game-winning 32-yard field goal to help the Saskatchewan Huskies defeat the Regina Rams by a score of 11-10 at Mosaic Stadium.
Solie's go-ahead field goal came with just two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, allowing the number-two ranked Huskies to move to 3-0 and remain undefeated in this young Canada West season.
"It's a big day for us and a big win for Huskie football," said Solie, who nailed kicks of 16, 38 and 32 yards in the win.
In a similar fashion to the 2021 Uteck Bowl, Mason Nyhus and the Huskies offence orchestrated the two-minute drill to near perfection. After a 32-yard kickoff return by Ted Kubongo, Nyhus nickel and dimed his way up the field, connecting to Daniel Wiebe and Caleb Morin, before Ryker Frank ripped off a 15-yard scamper to position the Huskies in field goal range.
From there, it was Solie's time to shine, as head coach Scott Flory called his veteran kicker's number with the game on the line.
"I can't say I have," said Solie, when asked if he's ever kicked a bigger field goal. "I'm just glad Mason was able to get me there and get our offence down the field. He gave me a chance and that's all I ask."
In what was potentially his final game in his hometown of Regina, Nyhus threw for 279 yards in the win for Saskatchewan, with 105 of those yards going to Rhett Vavra — a career-high for the second-year pass catcher from Swift Current, Sask.
Frank had a game-high 88 rushing yards — 5.9 yards-per-carry — for the Huskies, while adding in four receptions for 15 yards in what was his second-career start.
Linebacker Nick Wiebe led the Saskatchewan defence with seven total tackles, while defensive back Katley Joseph chipped in 6.5 total tackles of his own.
The win was the fifth-straight for Saskatchewan over Regina, with their last loss to their provincial rivals coming back on Sept. 29, 2017. The Huskies next see the Rams on Oct. 15 in Saskatoon for their second and final regular-season meeting of the 2022 season.
The loss was the first of the season for Regina, who entered the night with a 2-0 record alongside their number-six rank in the latest U SPORTS Top 10.
The Huskies have been a team of strong starts thus far this season, but that certainly wasn't the case tonight. The Rams recovered the game's opening kick off and took advantage on the ensuing play, as Noah Pelletier connected with D'Sean Mimbs for a 29-yard major.
That lead would hold up until the 1:00 mark of the third-quarter. Tanner Reiber intercepted Noah Pelletier — his first-career Canada West interception — which led to a Solie 38-yard field goal to give the Huskies an 8-7 lead.
With hope appearing to be fading on the Rams, they pulled out a fake punt on third-and-seven to move the chains with a 22-yard gain. The fake continued what ended up being a 10-play, 94-yard drive for Regina that ended with a go-ahead 19-yard field goal from Aldo Galvan with 1:34 remaining in the fourth.
Unfortunately for the Rams, that lead was short lived as just 1:32 later, Solie responded with a clutch kick of his own to send the Saskatchewan sideline into eruption.
With the win, the Huskies also picked up half a point in the inaugural U-Prairie Challenge — a multi-sport competition between the University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina's athletic departments.
The game capped off what was also the inaugural Football Weekend in Saskatchewan, which also featured a Saskatchewan Roughriders game on Friday night, as well as a Saskatoon Hilltops and Regina Thunder meeting earlier this afternoon.
The Huskies are back in action next Friday night, as they travel to Edmonton for a meeting with the 2-1 Alberta Golden Bears at Foote Field. Kick off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Saskatchewan is back at home on Sept. 30, when they welcome the Manitoba Bisons back to Griffiths Stadium for a rematch of the 2021 Hardy Cup.
