SASKATOON, Sask. – For the third time in five years the University of Saskatchewan Huskies will play for the Vanier Cup.
Thanks to another impressive outing from a resilient defence and some exceptional special teams play, the Huskies punched their ticket back to the national championship with a 22-11 win over the Queen's Gaels in the 2025 Mitchell Bowl.
"There's a different edge to this group here right here, right now," said Head Coach
Scott Flory after the victory. "You can see that on the field, you can see it in the play, you can see it in the preparation from our end, and you can feel it—you can feel it in the physicality and how we're playing. There's a focus here. We're down to two teams and we're one of them, so we got another week to play football. What more could you ask for?"
The win improved the Huskies to 2-0 against the Gaels, with the program's lone meeting prior to Saturday coming in the 1989 Churchill Bowl—a 40-10 Saskatchewan win to propel the team to their first Vanier Cup appearance.
Unlike their previous meeting however, points were much harder to come by in this one, with both defences setting the tone early.
After Queen's was first on the scoreboard—thanks to an opening kickoff rouge—the two teams traded punts as both players and coaching staffs felt out their unfamiliar opponents.
Saskatchewan was the first team to find the endzone though. After a pass interference call against the Gaels sent the Huskies into plus territory,
Jake Farrell found Canada West Player of the Year and Hec Creighton nominee
Daniel Wiebe open in the second level of the Queen's defence.
Breaking for the endzone, Wiebe broke a tackle before cutting back at the five-yard line and making his way in for the 41-yard score. The fifth-year receiver playing in his final game at Griffiths Stadium was the Dogs' leading receiver on the day, recording 80 yards on three receptions.
As the contest shifted to the second frame, the two defences continued to come up with stops before a special teams play broke the pattern.
Third-year All-Star returner
Daniel Kubongo received a Gaels punt at his own 25-yard line before making an 85-yard house call to extend the Saskatchewan lead 14-1.
For the Western Mustangs transfer it was his first return touchdown as a Huskie and the longest of his green & white career.
On the ensuing Gaels possession, the game saw its first turnover as
Seth Hundeby, the Canada West Most Outstanding Defensive Player, stripped Queen's pivot Alex Vreeken of the ball before
Jacob Goldstone came up with it.
After the Gaels defence returned the favour with an interception, the Huskie defence came up with another critical play. On third-and-one from the Huskie 38-yard line, Goldstone stuffed Anthony Lio one yard short of the marker, squashing any threat of Queen's points.
Up 14-1 at the half, the Saskatchewan defence was dominating the Gaels, forcing seven punts from the visitors. Hundeby was once again leading the charge, as the future Saskatchewan Roughrider headed into the locker room with a pair of sacks and a turnover.
Opening the second half with the ball, the Queen's offence marched 85 yards down the field on seven plays. The drive was capped with a 17-yard major from Vreeken to receiver Cedric Smith, cutting the green & white lead to six.
Two possessions later, and after a surrendered safety from the Gaels, pressure from the Queen's pass rush forced a hurried throw from Farrell resulting in the quarterback's second interception of the game.
Once again though the Huskie defence came through, forcing a Queen's punt from midfield.
Early in the fourth, the Gaels would cut the lead to five after an offensive drive stalled in the redzone, forcing the visitors to settle for a Tyler Mullan field goal.
The Dogs responded with one of their own five players later however, with
Lukas Scott reestablishing the eight-point Huskie lead after splitting the uprights from 44 yards out.
With just under seven minutes to play, the Gaels punted for the 10th time and watched as Kubongo cut back to return it 21 yards to their own 44-yard line. Seven players later
Lukas Scott converted another crucial kick, putting Saskatchewan ahead by two scores at the three-minute warning.
On what proved to be their final possession, costly penalties and a missed field goal would put the ball back in the hands of the Huskie offence and
Ryker Frank. The fifth year running back rumbled for a pair of hard-fought first down, allowing the Dogs to assume victory formation and officially punch their ticket to the Vanier Cup.
"That's how you want to finish a football game," added Flory. "I'm just so proud of our guys and everything that we've done. Every opportunity that we've had, we've found a way to meet it and to be there and to meet the expectations and to meet the moment—I'm so proud of this group."
Up next for the Huskies is a trip south to Mosaic Stadium where they will take on the Montreal Carabins in their pursuit of a fourth national championship. The Carabins claimed the 2025 Uteck Bowl Saturday in Halifax with a dominant 49-19 victory over the Saint Mary's Huskies.
Kickoff for the 60th Vanier Cup is scheduled for 1:00 PM. The game will be televised on CBC, as well as streamed on CBC's digital platforms. Tickets are available at showpass.com/vaniercup.
