FINAL SCORE 
Saskatchewan Huskies – 34 
UBC Thunderbirds – 31 
 
Saskatchewan welcomed the UBC Thunderbirds to Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park on a chilly fall evening in Saskatoon. Fans were treated to one of the best games of the year, with the Huskies taking the 34-31 win in a matchup of the top teams in Canada West. 
 
UBC would come out hot, scoring on their first drive of the game. Quarterback Garrett Rooker would push his offence on the ground, getting UBC within field goal range. A fake on the field goal attempt saw placeholder Derek Engel run it in, giving UBC the 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.  
 
Saskatchewan answered back late in the first. Receiver Daniel Perry would have a quick hitting slant and score, grabbing a pass from quarterback Anton Amundrud and hauling in a 32-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 1:24 remaining in the first quarter.  
 
Caught in a tie after the first fifteen minutes, UBC's Shemar McBean caught a short crossing pass, speeding 38 yards down the sideline for the Thunderbirds touchdown. They would not keep the lead for long, as Amundrud threw an incredible pass to Perry, who would light up the field for the 89-yard touchdown.  
 
A career high 50-yard field goal from David Solie would end the half with the Huskies leading the Thunderbirds 17-14.  
 
"It all boils down to not doing too much," said Huskie linebacker Seth Hundeby. "Basically, you do your job and just trust that the guy beside will do his as well. When everyone is able to do that, we have connected football and you all get to see great Huskie defence."  
 
Defensive back Finn Marcotte-Cribb had a perfect read on Rooker in the third quarter, nabbing the interception on the Huskie sideline to give the ball back to the offence. They would march into field goal range, where Solie would kick a 23-yard field goal to extend the Huskies lead to six halfway through the third quarter. Solie then added a 16-yard field goal a few drives later, stretching the Huskies lead 23-14.  
 
Rooker would find receiver Sam Davenport for an 83-yard reception to put UBC in the redzone. Short yardage quarterback Engel saw some pressure from the Huskie defence but his quick feet carried him into the endzone for the touchdown, rallying the Thunderbirds back to a two point differential.  
 
UBC's kick off after their touchdown would sail right into the hands of running back Ryker Frank. Frank, with some stellar protection from his special teams unit, managed to haul it all the way back for a 105 yard kick return touchdown.  
 
To end the third quarter, UBC's McBean took the punt and drove straight through Saskatchewan, running 62 yards for his second touchdown of the evening, bringing them within two points yet again. Saskatchewan started the fourth quarter with a narrow 30-28 lead.  
 
The remainder of the game belonged to the kickers, with UBC's Kieran Flannery-Fleck hitting from 36-yards out to give the Thunderbirds the 31-30 lead. Solie added to his tally, nailing a 46-yard field goal with 4:45 left in the quarter. The quarter would end with a 46-yard field goal attempt that went wide but through the endzone for the rouge, followed by a swift interception by DB Nixon Voll to seal a 34-31 Huskies win. The win sends the Huskies into three-way tie for first place in Canada West with the UBC Thunderbirds and Alberta Golden Bears.
 
"Playing connected football means that the offence has to support the defence and vice versa. I think we did that really well tonight under this electric atmosphere," said Huskie quarterback Anton Amundrud post game. "That's a confident win right there and we're going to build on that and keep rolling into the break."
 
NEXT UP 
The Saskatchewan Huskies have a well-earned bye week before they hit road with a trip to Edmonton to take on the Alberta Golden Bears on Saturday, October 14 at 1:00 PM. Game can be streamed on CanadaWest.TV or listened to live on HuskieFan.ca.