Huskies finish in “Prime Time” style, thump Rams 44-9

Nelson Lokombo, right, returns a pick 98 yards for a Huskies touchdown.

    REGINA, Sask. – Nelson Lokombo was not going to go “Prime Time” with his celebration, but he provided a “Prime Time” finish for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team.

    With 5:50 remaining in the fourth quarter of a U Sports rivalry regular season clash with the University of Regina Rams, Lokombo, who is a third-year defensive back for the Huskies, intercepted Rams starting quarterback Josh Donnelly. Following the pick at his own 12 yard line, Lokombo raced 98 yards the other way for a Huskies touchdown.

Nelson Lokombo makes his first of two interceptions on Friday.

    His scored put the Huskies up 41-9 and ultimately provided the exclamation point on a 44-9 victory on Friday night before 3,547 spectators at Mosaic Stadium.

    Lokomko said he was not thinking of doing a high-stepping dance from 10 yards in made famous by former NFL star defensive back Deion “Prime Time” Sanders.

    “I just wanted to finish the run and get there in the end zone and make sure I secure the ball and everything,” said Lokombo smiling and chuckling. “We needed the big play on defence, a turnover.

    “It was nice we delivered.”

Adam Machart (#20) celebrates a nine-yard touchdown pass reception.

    Lokombo was playing with a little extra motivation. His older brother, Boseko Lokombo, was in attendance for Friday’s game.

    Boseko is a linebacker for the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes. The Alouettes are in Regina to face the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday in a CFL regular season encounter, which allowed Boseko to check out Friday’s U Sport contest featuring Nelson.

    Nelson was happy the Huskies were able to put together a game, where they didn’t give up a touchdown, which marked a first for the team in the current U Sports campaign.

Adam Machart, left, charges to the end zone on a touchdown run.

    “We were out there and made some plays,” said Nelson Lokombo, who had two interceptions and sack on the night. “We gave up a few plays.

    “It is always fun when we are winning. It just goes to show that our game plan and our preparation truly feels great.”

    The Huskies, who are rated ninth in the U Sports Top 10 rankings, improved to 2-1 with the win, while the Rams fell to 1-2.

    The Dogs established themselves in Friday’s clash taking the ball for the first offensive series of the game. They drove 90 yards on 11 plays eating 6:33 on the clock cumulating their march with a nine-yard touchdown reception from running back Adam Machart on a swing pass for a 7-0 lead.

Mason Nyhus threw two touchdown passes for the Huskies.

    U of S’s first drive was kept alive by a contacting the kicker penalty assessed to the Rams.

    “I think we got off to a quicker start, which was huge,” said Machart. “That just kind of set the tone for the rest of the game.”

    Rams kicker Aldo Galvan booted a 28-yard field goal before the first quarter ended to cut the Huskies lead to 7-3.

    The Rams conceded a safety early in the second quarter, and the Huskies followed that up with Nyhus hitting star receiver Jesse Kuntz for a 14-yard touchdown reception to extend the visitor’s edge to 16-3.

    Galvan hit a field goal from 19-yards out to cut the Huskies lead to 16-6, and Huskies kicker David Solie responded with a 23-yard field goal to give the Huskies a 19-9 lead.

    Before the second quarter ended, Galvan hit a 32-yard field goal to trim the Huskies lead to 19-9. That was as close as the host side got on the scoreboard.

    The Huskies rolled off 25 unanswered points in the second half in the blowout win.

    “We had good energy,” said Huskies head coach Scott Flory. “We had good physicality.

Jesse Kuntz hauls in a 14-yard touchdown reception for the Huskies.

    “There were a lot of good things. There is stuff we have to clean up. We had some more stuff that were mental busts that we have to make sure we clean up.

    “I am proud of the guys. They came into a hostile environment and the boys played really, really well. I am really proud of these guys.”

    Machart ran in a major from five yards out for the only score in the third quarter to put the Huskies up 26-9.

    The only major bad thing to hit the Huskies occurred after that score near the end of the third quarter when Nyhus was hurt on a delayed Rams blitz hitting his head on the Mosaic Stadium turf. He came back for one series.

    Flory said the team sat the signal caller as a precaution and expects Nyhus to be good to go for the Huskies next game. 

Rams RB Trey Campbell gets sent airbourne taking a hit on a kick return.

    U of S doesn’t play again until Saturday, Sept. 21, when they travel to Edmonton, Alta., to face the University of Alberta Golden Bears (2-1).

    Huskies first-year backup quarterback Ethan Watson looked good playing the rest of the way in relief.

    Early in the fourth quarter, Watson guided an eight-play, 87-yard touchdown drive that ate 4:57 off the clock. The series was capped when Watson threw his first touchdown pass of his U Sports career on a six-yard swing pass to running back Josh Ewanchyna to give the Huskies a 33-9 lead.

    “I am really high on him (Watson),” said Flory. “He can run.

Huskies LB Ramsey Derbas tackles Rams R Kyler Mosley (#85).

    “He can use his legs. He can push the ball down the field. We obviously were controlling him at that point and all the throws and that kind of stuff.

    “He is doing all the right things, and he has a really bright future.”

    Solie kicked a single on the ensuing kickoff to put the Huskies up 34-9. That set the stage for Lokombo’s pick-six.

    Solie completed the game’s scoring with a 30-yard field goal.

    Nyhus completed 15-of-26 passes for 177 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. 
    Watson connected on 4-of-6 passes for 46 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

    Machart topped the Huskies in rushing carrying the ball 17 times for 134 yards and one touchdown. He had three catches for 50 yards to go with his one major score through the air.

    The Huskies piled up 247 yards rushing as a team.

    Machart gave huge credit to the Huskies offensive line in left tackle Noah Zerr, left guard Mattland Riley, centre Connor Berglof, right guard Tanner Secord, right tackle Nick Summach and substitute Andrew Serke for the success the U of S side had.

Backup QB Ethan Watson threw well in relief work for the Huskies.

    “The O-line played unreal,” said Machart. “Holes like that, it is just so fun to be a running back.

    “When you have that type of blocking, it motivates you, because you want to make those guys proud. They give you that first initial block, so you have to go out and do the rest and make them proud.”

    Donnelly completed 16-of-30 passes for 315 yard, no touchdown and two interceptions for the Rams. The Rams were held to 55 yards rushing as a team.

    Riley Pickett, Evan Machibroda and Clovis Lumeka each had a sack for the Huskies

    Josh White and Eric Wicijowski had sacks for the Rams.

    The Rams return to action on Friday, September 20, when they travel to Calgary, Alta., to take on the University of Calgary Dinos.

    With the Huskies having won two straight, Machart is already pumped for his team’s next outing against the Golden Bears.

The Huskies meet their fans after Friday’s road victory.

    “It is going to be exciting,” said Machart. “I think we just have to carry this momentum and just keep building off of it and keep improving.”

    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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