By: Daniel Herrick, Sports Information Student Assistant
 
The No.7 University of Saskatchewan Huskies defence shut down a potent University of Alberta Golden Bears offence in a 39-17 win on Homecoming Friday night in Saskatoon at Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park.
 
The Huskie defence showed their strength early against a Bears offence that came into the game as the third best scoring team in the conference. Saskatchewan held Alberta to just 236 yards in the affair.  

Game Stats

The green and white pass rushers, wearing brand new homecoming jerseys replicating the 1914 Huskie rugby squad, made their presence felt in the Bears backfield all evening recording eight sacks.
 
Joel Seutter finished the game with 2.5 tackles and two sacks. Seutter also forced a fumble and broke up a pass. Ben Rush added 3.5 more tackles, 2.5 sacks and recovered Seutter’s forced fumble.
 
The Huskies offence got off to a hot start led by quarterback Drew Burko, who went 7-for-8 and a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter. He finished the game 32-for-46 with 373 yards and two touchdowns. Mitch Stevens and Kit Hillis both caught nine passes in the game for 106 and 59 yards respectively. Shane Buchanan rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries.
 
Saskatchewan scored on their first possession on a Burko pass to Dexter Janke for nine yards at 3:41. Burko would then connect with freshman Mitch Hillis for his first conference touchdown, a 20-yard reception, at 10:19.
 
The Huskies took a 19-0 lead before Alberta got on the board with a Stephen Fabian 42-yard field goal at 0:48 in the second quarter. Alberta would tally again at 10:40 in the frame with a 60-yard dash by running back Ed Ilnicki.
 
Saskatchewan kicker Denton Kolodzinski hit a field goal to give the Huskies a 22-10 halftime lead. Buchanan would rush for his first of two touchdowns for the only points of the third quarter on a five-yard dash at 13:08.

 
Ryan Schwartz who struggled passing walked into the end zone on third and goal at 4:17 of the fourth quarter giving the Golden Bears a glimpse of hope at 29-17.  But Buchanan would snuff out any chance of an Alberta comeback with a 29-yard scamper at 8:53 in the final quarter. Kolodzinski also hit another field goal for the 39-17 final.
 
Schwartz finished the game 17-of-35 for 163 yards and added 45 yards on the ground. Tylor Henry was his favourite target on the night, catching six passes for 59 yards.  Ilnick rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
 
With the win, Saskatchewan keeps pace with the top of the Canada West standings moving to 3-1, sititng in second place. The Bears drop to 0-4 with the loss.
 
Saskatchewan will travel to Vancouver to take on the UBC Thunderbirds on September 28, while Alberta returns home to host the Dinos.