EDMONTON, AB - Alberta scored 34 first half points, including 23 unanswered to end the second quarter, en route to a dominant 40-17 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies in the Hardy Cup Semifinal.
The win sends the Golden Bears to the 86th Hardy Cup, next Saturday afternoon in Vancouver. It marks the Bears first Hardy Cup appearance since 2010, as they visit the top-seeded UBC Thunderbirds.
Alberta opened scoring in the game with a 39-yard field goal from Jonathan Giustini. The Huskies would answer with a touchdown from Ryker Frank to put the Huskies up 7-3. Nearing the end of the quarter, Alberta's Kolby Hurford would nab a 9-yard touchdown. A rouge on kickoff from Guistini gave the Golden Bears an 11-7 lead after the first quarter of play.
David Solie's 18-yard field goal at 12:24 into the second quarter brought the Huskies within one at 10-11. One of the biggest plays of the game was Alberta's answer, with a 75-yard TD from Carter Kettyle on second down, giving Alberta a 18-10 lead early in the second quarter.
Alberta's Jonathan Rosery added a 69-yard in the second quarter, to go along with a receiving touchdown from Kolby Hurford. Add a safety for the Golden Bears and Alberta headed into halftime with a commanding 34-10 lead.
The third quarter held only one score and it was at the hands of Giustini, with a 31 yard field goal to increase the Alberta lead 37-10.
Ryker Frank would cap a seven play, 79 yard drive for the Huskies with a touchdown to start the fourth quarter, adding seven to Saskatchewan's score. Alberta would wrap up the game with a 32-yard field goal midway through the quarter.
Despite only holding a 401-360 advantage on offensive yards, the Bears were boosted by two sacks and three interceptions, two of which came late in the fourth quarter to seal the 23-point win. Saskatchewan also committed eight penalties in the loss.
Saskatchewan finished with more first downs (23-20) on Saturday night, but turned the ball over five total times. Anton Amundrud tossed for 320 yards on 27/43 passing, to go along with the three interceptions. Ryker Frank scored both Huskie touchdowns on Saturday, finishing with 61 yards on 13 carries.
Alberta quarterback Eli Hetlinger tossed for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the win, with 136 of those yards and one major going to Carter Kettyle, who finished with six receptions. Kettyle also added 38 yards on two punt returns, with his speed a factor throughout the semifinal.
The loss ends the Huskie season, and their two-year run as the Hardy Cup winners and back-to-back Vanier Cup Championship appearances.
