SASKATOON, Sask. — Thursday night (Aug. 27), Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park got its first taste of Huskie Football in over 280 days as the Dogs played host to the Alberta Golden Bears in Canada West preseason action. In what proved to be a lopsided affair in favour of the home team, the Huskies received several standout performances from players up and down the roster on their way to a 35-1 victory.

What was perhaps the loudest play of the evening happened mere seconds into the contest as the Huskie faithful in attendance produced a roaring ovation at the first sight of quarterback Anton Amundrud back in green & white. After being forced to step away from football following a Lymphoma diagnosis last season, the pivot quickly returned to form upon his return under centre, going 9-for-14 for 154 yards to finish the day as the most productive passer to see the field.

Starting the game alongside Amundrud in the Huskie backfield was second-year running back Aulain Penner who would see the bulk of the workload in the Saskatchewan run game. Carrying the ball ten times for 95 yards, the former Holy Cross Crusader added 39 yards on three receptions while finding the endzone for the game's first score as time expired in the opening quarter.

Also producing an efficient outing was quarterback Elias Flory, who recorded 94 yards on nine drop backs while finding the endzone for a pair of majors. Another former Crusader, Flory's first score came in dramatic fashion as the pivot climbed the pocket to narrowly avoid a sack before finding sophomore receiver Ethan Clazie for a 44-yard touchdown.

On the very next offensive possession, he once again connected with a young pass catcher in rookie Max Pratt. A local Saskatoon product, Pratt found himself in the right place at the right time, hauling in a tipped ball for his first score in green and white.

Pratt's older brother Sam also had a strong showing in the first action of the season, intercepting Alberta's Christian Veilleux on just the third Golden Bear possession for the games first turnover.

Pratt was one of two Huskies to come away with turnovers in the win, with rookie Nathan Casmir, a transfer from Western New Mexico University, picking off Eli Hetlinger midway through the second quarter.

Casmir and Pratt's defensive heroics were just two plays in a standout night for the Saskatchewan defence who held the Golden Bears to just a single point and 4.8 yards per play. As if their performance was not impressive enough, the squad closed out the game with a statement goal line stop, turning away the visitors twice from their own seven-yard line to secure a night in which Alberta failed to find the endzone.

On special teams, receiver Kyle Conteh produced the highlight of the night for the return unit as the speedster ran back a missed field goal 75 yards to set up Flory's first major to Clazie.

Meanwhile, the Huskies also showcased their receiving depth on their way to victory with 14 different pass catchers recording at least one reception. Despite totaling just two receptions, freshman Keaton Belsher ended the night with a game-high 54 yards, followed closely by Clazie (49 yards) and Penner (39 yards).

The Huskies will now set their sights on their 2026 season opener, set to take place Saturday, September 5th in Winnipeg. The team will then return to Saskatoon for the latest edition of USask Homecoming, scheduled to take place Friday, September 11 at Griffiths Stadium.

Season and single-game tickets for Huskie Football are available at huskietickets.com. Fans can also catch all the action live at CanadaWest.tv or listen at HuskieFAN.ca.