Huskies play coy over Hec Crighton talk for Machart

Pickett only football national player of the year for U of S

Adam Machart is having a stellar season for the Huskies.

    The Hec Crighton whispers are starting to come Adam Machart’s way.
    Machart is having a dream season at running back with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team. In helping the Huskies amass a 4-2 U Sports regular season record, Machart has already posted the third best rushing regular season in the history of the program.

    He has carried the ball 109 times for 931 yards and scored seven touchdowns. With the Huskies having two games left on their regular season schedule, there is an outside chance Machart could break the Huskies record for most rushing yards in one regular season set by Doug Rozon in 1999, when Rozon carried the ball 151 times for 1,267 yards and five touchdowns.

    When the Huskies thumped the University of Manitoba Bisons 49-21 on Oct. 4, Machart had the third best rushing game in the history of the Huskies program carrying the ball 23 times for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

    Through the air this season, Machart has caught 16 passes for 153 yards and hit the end zone twice.

Adam Machart has rushed for seven touchdowns this season.

    Thanks to those efforts, supporters of the Huskies football program have started to float talk and discuss the chances that Machart could win the Hec Crighton Trophy as the U Sports football player of the year.

    For his part, the 22-year-old isn’t concerning himself where he could be in the race as far as individual awards go.

    “I try not to think about it,” said Machart, who stands 5-foot-8 and weighs 185 pounds. “We have a couple of games here left, so we can’t start looking too far ahead.

    “We just have to keep winning games as an offence and as a team, so we’re just going to keep doing that.”

    Machart is in his second season with the Huskies after spending three campaigns from 2015 to 2017 with the venerable Saskatoon Hilltops.

Adam Machart (#20) has rushed for 931 yards in six games.

    He helped the Hilltops win CJFL national titles in each of those seasons.

    Before joining the Hilltops, Machart played high school football with Saskatoon’s Centennial Collegiate Chargers.

     While the Huskies have had many great seasons including winning the Hardy Cup as Canada West champions 19 times and the Vanier Cup as U Sports national champions three times, only one member of the football squad has ever won the Hec Crighton Trophy since it was first awarded in 1967.

    That one Hec Crighton award win came way back in 1973, when quarterback David Pickett was the U Sports national player of the year for football leading the Huskies to a 6-2 regular season record.

Adam Machart, right, has the Huskies third best rushing season.

    In 1973, Pickett completed 162-of-268 passes for 2,251 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

    At the time, Pickett’s completions, passing yards and touchdown passes were all Huskies records for one regular season and were numbers that were way beyond what anyone else put up in the Canada West Conference in that campaign.

    It took 15 years before Pickett’s regular season team records for passing yards and touchdown passes were surpassed. His mark for completions in one season stood until 2010.

    Huskies fell in a one-game playoff for the Canada West title 21-8 to the Bisons in 1973.

    Knowing how long the odds can be when it comes to winning the Hec Crighton Trophy, Huskies head coach Scott Flory said the team’s focus is on finishing the regular season strong before heading into playoffs.

    “We don’t worry about any of that stuff,” said Flory, whose Huskies are the defending Canada West champions. “We wanted to make sure we get back here and get these two games.

Adam Machart has caught 16 passes for 153 yards and two TDs this season.

    “We’ll take the back half of this season when it comes.”

    The Huskies will be guaranteed a second place finish in Canada West and will host a home playoff game, if they win their last two regular season outings.

    The Dogs return to action on Saturday, Oct. 19, when they travel to Vancouver, B.C., to face the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (1-5).

    U of S closes the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 26 by hosting the University of Alberta Golden Bears (4-2) at 2 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium.

    Huskies star left guard Mattland Riley said it would be nice if Machart could win the Hec Crighton Trophy, but added individual awards are far from the first concern of the squad.

    “That would be great, but to be honest, we’re focused right now on UBC,” said Riley. “All the awards and stuff like that, that will come when our team succeeds, but it is the team.

Adam Machart (#20) hopes to enjoy my team success with the Huskies.

    “It is all about the team. It is always about the team.”

    For now, Machart wants to help the Huskies win their last two games and become the third player in team history to reach the 1,000-yard mark in rushing.
    He believes that would be a good way to pay tribute to the offensive line that blocks for him including starters in left tackle Noah Zerr, Riley, centre Connor Berglof, right guard Tanner Secord and right tackle Nick Summach.

    “It would be a huge honour,” said Machart about the possibility of getting to 1,000 yards rushing. “Obviously, I’m just going to take it one game at a time.

    “If I were to reach that milestone, it would be a huge honour.”

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Huskies bash Bisons 49-21, Machart amasses milestones

Adam Machart (#20) piled up 219 yards rushing for the Huskies on Friday.

    Whether it was over land, sea or air, it felt like Adam Machart wouldn’t be stopped.
    Running behind the road grater of an offensive line, Machart piled up the third best rushing game in the history of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team on Friday night.
    The 22-year-old running back carried the ball 23 times for 219 yards and scored two touchdowns as the Huskies thumped the University of Manitoba Bisons 49-21 before 2,412 spectators at Griffiths Stadium.

    Thanks to that monster game, Machart has posted the third best rushing regular season in the history of the Huskies program. In the Huskies six games to date, Machart has carried the ball 109 times for 931 yards and seven touchdowns.

Adam Machart has run for 931 yards in six games.

    “I try not to worry about that kind of stuff,” said Machart, who had two catches for 16 yards to go with his rushing total. “At the end of the season, it would be cool to reflect on that and see where I am at.

    “For now, I think we have like bigger goals set for ourselves as a team.”

    The victory in the U Sports regular season clash allowed the Huskies to win the season series with the Bisons and earn the head-to-head standings tiebreaker between the two clubs.

    The Bisons thumped the Huskies 43-19 at IG Field in Winnipeg, Man., on Aug. 30, which was the regular season opener for both squads.

    The Huskies, who are rated seventh in the U Sports Top 10 rankings, claim the head-to-head series with the Bisons holding a 68-64 edge in points scored in the two encounters between the two sides.

    U of S sits third in the Canada West Conference with a 4-2 record.

The Huskies offensive line cleared the way for a successful night on Friday.

    The Huskies, who are the defending Canada West champions, secured a playoff berth with Friday’s win.

    The Bisons fell to 3-3 to sit third in Canada West.

    Going into Friday’s game, Machart said the Huskies weren’t thinking about getting the head-to-head standing tiebreaker with the Bisons.

    “You have to go into the game just hoping to get the win,” said Machart, who stands 5-foot-8 and weighs 185 pounds. “That is the first thing you have to do.

    “Towards the end of the game, then we can start thinking, ‘OK, pile on some points.’ It worked out.”

Adam Machart, centre, powers in for his first touchdown on Friday.

    While the Huskies never trailed on the scoreboard in Friday’s encounter, much of the contest was tightly contested. The host side led 14-8 after the first quarter, 28-18 at halftime and 35-21 after three quarters.

    Early in the fourth quarter, the Bisons were driving with the ball, and it appeared they were going to score to make the contest a one-possession game. U of M elected to gamble on a third-and-five situation from the Huskies 18 yard line.

    Huskies defensive back Bowan Lewis broke up a throw from Bisons star quarterback Des Catellier to force a turnover on downs.

    The Huskies earnestly started thinking about scoring enough points to get the standings tiebreaker late in the fourth.

Trysten Dyce celebrates a TD in classic Bisons style.

    With 2:50 remaining in the fourth, Machart ran home a touchdown 14 yards up the gut to extend the Huskies lead to 42-21.
    On the second play of the ensuing Bisons offensive series, Catellier was intercepted by Huskies defensive back Josh Hagerty at the U of M 41 yard line. Hagerty gained a couple of yards on the return to set the Huskies up at the Bisons 39 yard line.

    It took the Huskies three plays to get the ball down to the Bisons one yard line. From the one, Huskies reserve rookie running back Keagan White creased his way into the end zone to put the Huskies up 49-21 with 1:59 remaining in the fourth quarter.

    The Bisons drove the ball 49 yards in eight plays on their final series, but the clock expired causing the series to stall on the Huskie 28 yard line. U of M converted one third down play on that final march.

    “It was a great play by Hags (Hagerty),” said Huskies head coach Scott Flory, who doubles as the team’s offensive coordinator. “We need a play at that point.

    “The game plan it is what you saw. I think our defence executed it. We didn’t give up a lot big strikes.

Josh Hagerty secures an interception for the Huskies.

    “We’ll give up some of those chunk plays and that kind of stuff. A whole part of the game plan going in offensively was just to keep grinding and keep grinding. I got away from that in the second quarter, and then I got back to it and I think you see the results.”
    Huskies quarterback Mason Nyhus completed 16-of-28 passes for 182 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

    Nyhus threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Sam Baker, a five yard scoring toss to Joseph Trumpy and hit star utility player Colton Klassen with a 31-yard pass for a major score.

    Klassen topped the Huskies in receiving hauling in five passes for 84 yards to go with his major score.

The Huskies celebrate a touchdown from Keagan White (#34).

    Running back Josh Ewanchyna had the Huskies first major score on a one-yard run in the first quarter.

    Catellier completed 23-of-42 passes for 271 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was the Bisons leading rusher as well piling up 67 yards on eight carries.

    Trysten Dyce led the Bisons in receiving with six catches for 76 yards and one touchdown. He hauled his touchdown reception from 15 yards out with 22.9 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

    Near the end of the first quarter, Bisons receiver Colby Kyliuk blocked a Huskies punt and recovered the ball in the U of S end zone for a U of M touchdown.

    Bisons kicker Matt Riley made a 17-yard field goal and scored two singles off missed field goals both from 28 yards out.

Colton Klassen, left, ensures the ball gets into the end zone.

    The Huskies conceded a safety in the contest to contribute to the Bisons point total.

    Huskies defensive ends Riley Pickett and Nicholas Dheilly combine on one sack. Linebackers Ben Whiting, Tom Whiting and Ramsey Derbas each had nine total tackles for the host side.

    Defensive end Derek Dufault had the lone sack for the Bisons. Linebacker Julian Luis had an interception for the visitors.

    Defensive end Brock Gowanlock topped the Bisons with nine total tackles.

    The only two running backs to rush for more yards than Machart did in a game for the Huskies were Doug Rozon and Morrie Norsten.

The U of Saskatchewan Cheer Team entertains the crowd.

    Rozon piled up 292 yards in a game against the University of Alberta Golden Bears in 1999, while Norsten had 244 yards rushing in a game against the University of Calgary Dinos in 1994.

    Huskies left guard Mattland Riley, who was a second team U Sports all-Canadian all-star last season, said the team’s offensive line enjoys blocking for Machart.

    “It is absolutely awesome,” said Riley. “Machart, he is just such a good guy.

    “All the offensive line love him. We just love blocking for him. We do our job a little bit, and then he goes and gets another four or five or 10 yards.

    “It is great. We love it.”

    At the moment, only Rozon and David Stevens have rushed for more yards in one regular season for the Huskies than Machart has.

Sam Baker, left, secures a touchdown reception for the Huskies.

    Rozon piled up 1,267 yards on 151 carries and scored five touchdowns in 1999. Stevens ran for 1,229 yards on 174 carries and scored 12 touchdowns in 2005.

    Flory said Machart has meant a tonne to the current Huskies.

    “He (Machart) is, number one, a special young man, and obviously, an incredible football talent,” said Flory. “He has a good offensive line in front of him, don’t kid yourself.

    “He makes things right. People make mistakes. I make bad calls. Players make mistakes.

    “That happens, but he is the corrector. He just makes it right. You see what he does; it is a joy to watch.”

The Huskies enjoy their win on Friday night.

    Machart said the Huskies offensive line has allowed him to have the success he has had. The Huskies starting O-line of left tackle Noah Zerr, Riley, centre Connor Berglof, right guard Tanner Secord and right tackle Nick Summach were steamrolling Bisons defenders on Friday night.

    “All five of those guys, it is a lot of fun,” said Machart. “When they make holes like that, it makes being a running back quite a blast.
    “We are getting more comfortable with each other. It just starts flowing a little bit better as the season goes on, so it has been good.”

    The Huskies return to action on Oct. 19, when they travel to Vancouver, B.C., to face the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (1-5).

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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“O-line U” – Huskies tradition of greatness in trenches continues with Riley

Mattland Riley (#55) was a U Sports all-Canadian all-star last year.

    Mattland Riley knows playing on the offensive line for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team is a good different from most programs in Canada.

    The Huskies are renowned for producing great offensive linemen, who have gone on to lengthy careers in the CFL. Riley, who is in his fourth year of eligibility with the team, seems tagged to be the next one to continue the legacy of great Huskies O-linemen who have gone on to careers in Canada’s top professional level.

    Last season, Riley, who plays left guard on the Huskies offensive line, was a first team Canada West all-star and a second team U Sports all-Canadian all-star.

    The 22-year-old knows the pedigree that is set from facts like his head coach in Scott Flory had a Canadian Football Hall of Fame career with the Montreal Alouettes that included three Grey Cup victories.

Mattland Riley, middle, clears the way for Adam Machart (#20).

    When Flory played with the Huskies in the 1990s winning Vanier Cup titles as U Sports national champions in 1996 and 1998, he played alongside Kevin Lefsrud and Kelly Bates, who went on to be CFL regulars.

    In the current day, Patrick Neufeld of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Evan Johnson of the Ottawa Redblacks carry the pride of being Huskies O-line grads in the ranks of the CFL.

    “I think that there is the expectation to be great,” said Riley. “You have a head coach who was a Hall of Famer CFL offensive lineman.

    “Of course there are expectations to be great there. I think that is team wide. I don’t want to say that there is any extra pressure on us (as offensive linemen).

Mattland Riley is stellar at left guard.

    “It is team wide. Everybody wants to be the best.”

    With that said, Riley believes there are extra eyes on the Huskies offensive line, when the professional scouts come to town.

    “I’d say that there is scope on us for performing and doing well,” said Riley, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 300 pounds. “We want to be known for really good offensive linemen.

    “Obviously, everybody wants to be the best at what they do.”

    Riley and the Huskies aim to be at their best on Friday, when they host the University of Calgary Dinos at 7 p.m. at Griffiths stadium. That last time these two twos met the Huskies downed the Dinos 43-18 in the Canada West Conference final in Calgary on November 10, 2018 to capture the Hardy Cup.

    The Huskies (2-2) head into this clashed rated ninth in the U Sports Top 10 rankings, while the Dinos (4-0) are rated fourth in those very same rankings.

    Riley, who is in his fourth year of U Sports eligibility, played high school football with his hometown Melfort and Unit Comprehrensive Collegiate Comets. The engineering major’s head coach with the Comets was David Rogers and one of the assistant coaches was Jarod Koroll, and both were former Huskies offensive linemen.

Mattland Riley (#55) credits his O-line teammates for his success.

    Rogers played for the Huskies from 1992 to 1996, while Koroll was with the Dogs from 2004 to 2009. While played for Rogers and Koroll, Riley’s urge to play for the Huskies grew.

    “You have a great mentor like Scott (Flory) to learn from,” said Riley. “It is just lots of reasons.”

    Flory has enjoyed coaching Riley. The Huskies sideline boss having Riley back on a veteran offensive line is a huge benefit for the team.

    Riley is part of a starting offensive line unit that includes left tackle Noah Zerr, centre Connor Berglof, right guard Tanner Secord and right tackle Nick Summach, while Andrew Serke is a versatile sub.

Mattland Riley (#55) can withstand a blow for a D-lineman.

    “All those guys are back up front there,” said Flory. “We’ve got some really good depth in behind.

    “Expectations are high for those guys coming together last year and having a really good year. I expect our offensive line to take another step forward here this year as well.”

    Flory was pleased Riley received all-star honours last year, and he said that was a reflection on how well the whole offensive line as a unit did.

    “That individual stuff, those things will always come,” said Flory. “It is team first, and those guys all know that.

    “They sacrifice. It is all about the team. When the team has success, the individual accolades those will come.”

    It may sound like a cliché, but Riley really does buy into the team-first mentality.

    “Honestly, it is not about me,” said Riley. “It is about the whole line.

    “You’re only as good as an offensive line as the guy you play beside. I play beside some good guys. The expectation for all of us is to win games.”

Mattland Riley knows how to neutralize a D-lineman’s hands.

    Riley was elated that his Huskies were able to get wins in the post season last year and take the conference title.

    The Huskies fell in a U Sports semifinal game – the Mitchell Bowl – to the University of Western Ontario Mustangs 47-24 in London, Ont., on Nov. 17, 2018.

    Before that post-season run, U of S’s previous Hardy Cup win came in 2006 and last playoff victory was in 2009. Riley said putting an end to those droughts was a big breakthrough for the program.

    “It was a sense of relief in one aspect, because all that hard work that the guys put in the off-season had paid off,” said Riley. “We’d accomplished our goal.

    “Moving forward in the off-season, once we got there, it is like ‘Hey, let’s keep going. Let’s keep winning games.’”

Mattland Riley, right, locks up on a block.

    Looking towards the future, Riley would like to play in the CFL one day, but his focus at the moment is on his current team.

    “Those aspirations are there,” said Riley. “For me, that is going to be after the season is over.

    “I’m right here and right now for the Huskies. I’m all in for my team. I focus on what is ahead of me one day at a time.”

    In order to repeat or improve on the success of last season, Riley said everyone on the team has to stay focused on the present and work to improve every day. While that is another cliché, he said it is bound in truth.

    On top of that, Riley notes you could miss out on the day-to-day fun regarding the lighter moments with your teammates, if you are looking too far ahead.

Mattland Riley (#55) plans to soak in every moment with his teammates.

    “Exactly, that is it,” said Riley. “During (training) camp here, that is one of the best parts at camp besides playing football is just getting to be around the guys every day.

    “Like these guys are going to be some of the best friends for the rest of our lives that we have here. Just soaking that all in and enjoying every minute of it, that is the whole point of this.”

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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