Hardy turned into party for Huskies and their fans

U of S wins 20^th Canada West football title in program history

The Huskies celebrate winning the Hardy Cup.

A home win hadn’t felt this good for a long time for all involved with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team.

On Saturday, the Huskies romped to a 45-17 victory over the Manitoba Bisons to capture the Hardy Cup to become Canada West Conference champions for the 20^th time in program history. A vocal, raucous, engaged and supportive crowd of 2,500 turned out at the Huskies long time storied home in Griffiths Stadium to revel and soak in the conference title win.

The win allowed the Huskies to capture the Canada West title for the second time in the past three seasons.

Adam Machart, right, tears upfield for the Huskies on a run.

With U Sports electing not to host any nationals and the Canada West season getting canceled in the 2020-21 campaign due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, the Huskies previous Canada West Championship win came on November 10, 2018, when they traveled to Calgary, Alta., and thumped the host University of Calgary Dinos 43-18.

However, it has been an even longer time since the Huskies and their faithful were able to enjoy a home conference championship win. 

Before Saturday, the last time the Huskies won the Canada West title at home came way back on November 12, 2005 when the Huskies downed the University of Alberta Golden Bears 30-17.

The fans at Griffiths Stadium cheer on the Huskies.

The 2,811 in attendance at Griffiths Stadium that day likely didn’t know 16 years would pass before the Huskies won the Canada West crown at home again. Back in 2005, the Huskies were carrying expectations to win the Hardy Cup and even the Vanier Cup as U Sports champions year in and year out.

In 2005, that Canada West title win was a primer to a heavyweight battle that was to come in the Huskies next home game, when they hosted the Universite Laval Rouge et Or in the U Sports semifinal Mitchell Bowl.

QB Jackson Tachinski had a rushing TD for the Bisons.

On November 19, 2005 in one of the all-time greatest games played at Griffiths Stadium and a U Sports all-time classic, the Huskies slipped past the Rouge et Or 29-27 before 5,147 spectators.

The Huskies advanced on to face the Wilfred Laurier University Golden Hawks in the Vanier Cup that was played on November 26, 2005 at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ont., in a battle of undefeated 11-0 teams.

U of S fell in heartbreaking fashion 24-23, when Golden Hawks kicker Brian Devlin nailed a game-winning field goal from 32 yards out with 19 seconds to play in the contest.

Even with that end result in the Vanier Cup noted, the Huskies 2005 victory over the Rouge et Or in the Mitchell Bowl was the team’s biggest win at Griffiths Stadium until this season’s Huskies squad claimed the Hardy Cup on their fabled home field.

Michael Ritchott had a 53-yard TD run for the Bisons.

Add in the fact the Huskies weren’t able to take the field in 2020-21, the Dogs and their fans had every reason to feel elated and joyful over the win against the Bisons. The celebration was well deserved.

After winning the Canada West title in 2018, the Huskies fell in the Mitchell Bowl 47-24 to the host University of Western Ontario Mustangs in London, Ont.

Coming back in 2019, belief was high amongst the Huskies that they would win the Hardy Cup again and advance even further in the post-season. They faced the Dinos again in the Canada West final in Calgary, but fell this time 29-4.

The Dinos advanced on to win the Vanier Cup.

Riley Pickett celebrates making a sack for the Huskies.

Still, optimism was high surrounding the Huskies that the best was yet to come, and 2019 was a learning experience with the squad having to deal with some untimely key injuries. One of those injuries was an especially gruesome dislocated right ankle injury to star utility player Colton Klassen in the squad’s last game of the regular season.

When the 2020 football campaign was lost for the Huskies, one had to wonder who would be back in 2021 and what would the actual season look like?

Despite the questions and uncertainty, a number of key players returned to the team. All 10 Huskies players that were named Canada West all-stars for the 2021 campaign were returnees.

That included Klassen, quarterback Mason Nyhus, running back Adam Machart, receiver Sam Baker, centre Connor Berglof, right tackle Nick Summach, left tackle Noah Zerr, punter David Solie, and defensive ends Riley Pickett and Nathan Cherry.

Mason Nyhus threw two TD passes for the Huskies.

Solie handles all the Huskies place kicking duties along with the punting duties.

Credit goes to head coach Scott Flory for ensuring the strong culture that existed with legendary retired head coach Brian Towriss continued in the Huskies program in the current day to create an environment that players still wanted to comeback even with unprecedented uncertainties.

In a shortened six-game regular season, the Huskies topped the Canada West standings with a 5-1 record. They downed the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 39-17 in a Canada West semifinal on November 13 to set up Saturday’s clash with the Bisons.

The Bisons finished second in the Canada West regular season with a 4-2 record and fought through lots of adversity themselves to get to the Canada West title game.

Adam Machart scores his first TD on a 10-yard reception.

They had to deal with more strict restrictions Manitoba had in place to battle the COVID-19 pandemic that created a later start on when they could get together as a team. Receivers coach Scott Naujoks passed away from cancer in late September and star fifth-year quarterback Des Catellier was lost to a campaign ending ankle injury in the Bisons first game of the regular season.

First year quarterback Jackson Tachinski took Catellier’s place as the starter.

Under veteran head coach Brian Dobie, the Bisons have traditionally found ways to play good with emotion.

They stormed out to a 16-0 lead in the first quarter on Saturday. Tachinski scored a touchdown on a one-yard quarterback sneak, the Huskies had to concede a safety due to a bad punt snap, and Bisons running back Michael Ritchott ripped off an electrifying 53-yard touchdown run in the image of Willard Reaves, who was the star running back of the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 1980s.

Sam Baker fends off a defender after making a catch.

Defensive back Arjay Shelley made a long return after an interception to set up Tachinski’s major.

Huskies supporters had to wonder if a Bisons upset was in the cards.

With just over five minutes to play in the first quarter, Pickett sacked Tachinski down at the Bisons one-yard line to force U of M to conceded a safety. While that only cut the Bisons lead to 16-2, Pickett’s play provided the traction moment to get the Huskies going.

That safety started a run that saw the Huskies score 38 points to take a 38-16 lead at the 6:45 mark of the fourth quarter.

In the second quarter, Machart hauled in a 10-yard touchdown catch from Nyhus and Solie booted a 44-yard field goal to trim the Bisons lead to 16-12 at halftime.

Lane Novak, left, returns an interception for the Huskies.

The Huskies took the lead for good, when Machart ran home a major score from three yards out to give the hosts a 19-16 advantage at the 4:01 mark of the third quarter. Machart added a four-yard touchdown run before the third quarter ended to increase the Huskies advantage to 26-16.

U of S started the fourth quarter forcing the Bisons to concede a safety, scoring a major on a 17-yard touchdown toss from Nyhus to Klassen and Solie hitting a field goal from 26 yards out to take a 38-16 lead.

The Bisons interrupted the scoring run with a long punt single from kicker Cole Sabourin to cut the Huskies advantage to 38-17.

Huskies rookie running back Ryker Frank concluded the game’s scoring with 50-yard sprint up the middle touchdown run.

Colton Klassen, right, celebrates his 17-yard TD reception.

Machart had a huge day carrying the ball 20 times for 223 yards and two touchdowns, while catching two passes for 28 yards and a major score. Frank almost broke the 100-yard mark in rushing carrying the ball seven times for 97 yards to go with his major score.

Nyhus completed 20-of-31 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing one interception.

Cherry and linebacker Seth Hundeby had sacks for the Huskies. Linebacker Lane Novak, defensive backs Nixen Voll and Cam Skinner each had single interceptions for U of S.

The Bisons, who finished the campaign with a 5-3 overall record, were limited to 288 yards of total offence as a team for the contest.

The Griffiths Stadium faithful salutes the Huskies at game’s end.

When the Huskies were pouring on the points, the crowd at Griffiths Stadium cheered louder than it had all season. The park had quite the atmosphere, and at the final gun, all on the Huskies side were enjoying the day.

After the trophy presentation, the Huskies players celebrated with their families, who came on to the field. Many pictures were taken on camera phones as the moment was soaked in on the field for a lengthy stretch of time.

Now, the Huskies will hit the road to Montreal, Quebec, to face the Universite de Montreal Carabins (9-1 overall) in the U Sports semifinal Uteck Bowl this coming Saturday.

Clovis Lumeka, left, and Adam Machart, centre, receive the Hardy Cup.

The Carabins will be well rested as they knocked off the Rouge et Or 28-19 in Dunsmore Cup on November 14 to become champions of the Reseau du Sport Etudiant du Quebec.

With that noted, the Huskies win Saturday over the Bisons to capture the Hardy Cup at home was a big moment for the team, especially in recent history.

It might spring the Huskies, who are 7-1 overall, to bigger moments and wins over the next two weekends even with the rest and home field advantage the Carabins will have.

The Huskies raise the Hardy Cup as Canada West champs.

Still with what the Huskies have already been able to accomplish, they’ve shown the team is back on track successfully navigating the unprecedented hurdles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The celebrations and good vibes that took place at Griffiths Stadium were a fitting memory to create.

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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