SASKATOON, Sask. – Ryker Frank and Daniel Wiebe combined for 256 total yards while the Huskie defence held the visiting Thunderbirds to just 258, as the University of Saskatchewan Huskies defeated the UBC T-Birds 26-7 to advance to their second consecutive Hardy Cup title game.

The result provides the Huskies a chance to avenge their Hardy Cup loss a season ago, suffered to the Regina Rams in the 2024 title game, while the Thunderbird's 2025 season comes to a close.

The victory also marked Saskatchewan's fifth consecutive postseason win over UBC and 13th all-time between the two storied rivals.

The Huskies got off to a promising start in Saturday's semifinal. Second-year pivot Jake Farrell, making his fourth consecutive start, picked up two first downs with his legs before the drive stalled just past midfield and the Dogs were forced to punt.

UBC, receiving the ball in the shadow of their own endzone, would then concede the game's first points, surrendering a safety from their own 10-yard line.

A short Huskie punt would set the T-Birds up with great field position, but after just two first downs All-Star returner Daniel Kubongo would take a missed field goal 51 yards and out to the Dogs' own 35.

Early in the second, the Huskies recorded the game's first major when Farrell found Daniel Wiebe from 27-yards out, giving Saskatchewan an 11-0 advantage.

The next few possessions saw defence take over for both sides, with the Huskies forcing a third UBC safety before Scott connected on a 27-yard attempt to send the Huskies into the locker room up 16-0.

In what was a dominant first half for the Huskie defence, which saw the unit hold UBC to just 39 total yards on 22 plays through 30 minutes of action.

Saskatchewan's first drive of the second half would end with the game's first turnover after a fumbled handoff between Farrell and Wiebe was pounced on by the UBC's Aaron Parker. The Huskie defence would stand tall though, forcing the T-Birds to punt.

On the ensuring kick, a pair of penalties would set the Huskies up in plus territory, but Farrell's first interception of the game, secured by Maka Bangura, would see UBC take over inside their own 20-yard line.

Just two plays later the Dogs came up with their first turnover of the game when Ethan Laing interception a Drew Viotto pass to give the ball right back to the USask offence.

Once again though, possession changed hands as Farrell took off and had the yards to gain but was stripped from behind by Aaron Parker before Ben Sangmuah recovered the loose ball.

Neither team seemed to what the football as eight plays later a fourth consecutive turnover saw Laing record his second pick of the game before the third quarter came to a close with no scoring.

After the Laing turnover, the Farrell-Wiebe connection would strike again for 55 yards, setting up another Scott field goal from inside the redzone.

Wiebe would finish the game with six catches for 131 yards and a score, as the Canada West All-Star continues his Canada West Player of the Year bid in 2025.

A quick two-and-out would then see the Huskies find the endzone for the second time in the game, with Farrell tossing his second touchdown of the game to Dawson Lennea at the pylon.

Two possessions later the Thunderbirds finally broke the Saskatchewan shutout, needing a 13-play, 107-yard drive to so which ended with Viotto finding Shemar McBean in the corner of the endzone.

After the Dogs took 1:24 off the clock, UBC was back on offence, but Viotto's third interception of the game, this one caught by All-Star defensive back Anesu Latmore, would seal the game and advance the Dogs to the 2025 Hardy Cup. 

"Kudos to [defensive coordinator] Cody Halseth," said head coach Scott Flory after the game. "It was a good game plan, and the guys got after it." 

"I don't know if we won or lost a turnover battle, we might have lost it and still won the game, but it kind of goes against the norm. And that's what happens when your defense is just playing lights out. So, kudos to them. We have got stuff to improve on, there's some missed tackles obviously and things like that, but think I like where we're at."

The Huskies will now get ready for a rematch of the 2024 conference title game after the Regina Rams defeated the Manitoba Bisons 32-29 in overtime.

Kickoff for the 2025 BioSteel Hardy Cup is set for 2:00 PM, with tickets available at HuskieTickets.com.