Machart grinds out 121 yards on the ground
for U of S
 |
| Bowan Lewis, left, holds up the game-saving interception ball. |
On Friday night at Griffiths Stadium, the Huskies jumped out
to a comfortable 30-3 lead in the third quarter of a U Sports regular season
clash over their provincial rivals the University of Regina Rams only to see
that edge shrink to 30-20 with 11:16 to play in the fourth quarter.
The Huskies fumbled the ball away on their ensuing offensive
series after their lead dwindled to 10 points.
The Rams proceeded to drive down to the Huskies seven yard
line for a first and goal opportunity and appeared poised for another score.
Rams star quarterback Noah Picton fired a pass into the end
zone only to see the ball deflect off the intended receiver into the hands of
Lewis with 7:06 to play in the fourth quarter.
With that opportune
interception, the third-year defensive back swung the momentum back on the Huskies
side where it stayed.
 |
| Adam Machart piled up 121 yards rushing for the Huskies. |
The win allows the Huskies, who were rated ninth in the U
Sports top 10 rankings, to sit alone in second place in the Canada West
Conference with a 3-1 record. The Rams, who were rated eighth in the U Sports
top 10 rankings, fall to 2-2 to sit in a tie with the University of Manitoba
Bisons for the third and fourth positions in Canada West.
The Huskies have to be given full marks for not losing their
cool, when it seemed everything was going the Rams way.
When Rams standout running back Kyle Borsa dashed home on a
27-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to cut the U of S lead to 10
points, the Huskies appeared to tighten up a little bit.
 |
| Kyle Borsa (#22) scored two touchdowns for the Rams. |
Lewis’s interception ensured the Rams surge came to an end.
A composed Huskies offence guided by star quarterback Kyle
Siemens went to work on a clock eating drive that covered 72 yards in eight
plays resulting in Stenger’s short field goal.
U of S’s defence rose to the occasion on the Rams next
offensive series. The Rams gambled on a third-and-one at their own 48 yard line
and Picton’s quarterback sneak was stuffed by the Huskies.
Overall, the Huskies received key contributions from a
number of different players. Running back Adam Machart, who helped the
Saskatoon Hilltops win CJFL titles the past three seasons, had his best game
with the Huskies carrying the ball 16 times for 121 yards and catching four
passes for 19 yards.
 |
| Kyle Siemens threw three touchdown passes for the Huskies. |
Rookie receiver Jesse Kuntz, who previously played for the
CJFL’s Calgary Colts, hauled in seven passes for 96 yards and scored one
touchdown.
The Huskies received a pair of sacks from defensive end
Tristian Koronkiewicz and single sacks from Riley Pickett, Evan Machibroda and
Nathan Cherry.
Defensive back Josh Hagerty had an end zone interception for
the Huskies on the Rams first offensive series of the contest.
Third-year defensive back Jacob Solie intercepted a tipped
pass for the Huskies and ran it back 64 yards for a touchdown with 42.7 seconds
to play in the second quarter. Solie’s major gave the Huskies a 21-3 lead at
halftime.
Stud linebacker Ben Whiting topped the Huskies with nine
solo tackles.
 |
| Rams QB Noah Picton is chased by Huskies DE Riley Pickett. |
The first quarter ended with Siemens hitting Klassen with a
14-yard touchdown pass to start a run where the Huskies scored 30 straight
point. The surge included the Huskies causing the Rams to concede a safety
early in the third quarter.
Picton completed 21-of-34 passes for 271 yards, but his
three interceptions proved costly.
Borsa ran the ball 16 times for 96 yards and scored two touchdowns
for the Rams. U of R made some suspect play calls in the red zone and likely
could have given more touches to Borsa in that area of the field.
Rams slotback Kyle Moortgat hauled in nine passes for 136
yards on the night.
Galvan had a 17-yard field goal on the final play of the
third quarter to go with his boot in the first quarter.
The win will likely give the Huskies, who play three of
their final four regular season games on the road, a big shot in the arm. U of
S likely needs to win just one more contest to qualify for the playoffs.
The
Huskies return to action on Sept. 29, when they travel to Calgary, Alta., to
face the University of Calgary Dinos.
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| Huskies DB Jacob Solie (#6) gets set to intercept a tipped pass. |
The Rams will try to get back on track in their next game on
Sept. 29, when they travel to Winnipeg, Man., to face the Bisons in what will
be a key contest for both sides.
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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