SASKATOON, Sask. - For just the second time in the history of the Hardy Cup, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and the University of Regina Rams will do battle on the gridiron with a conference championship on the line. This Saturday, November 9, 2024, the 87th BioSteel Hardy Cup will be played at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park, in the third showcase this season of Saskatchewan's provincial rivalry.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Venue: Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
Opponent: Regina Rams (3-5, 1-0)
Tickets: HuskieTickets.com
Stream: CanadaWest.tv
TV: SaskTel (maxTV ch. 49/349, MaxTV stream ch. 49) & Telus
Listen: HuskieFAN.ca
2024 HUSKIE FOOTBALL ROSTER
2024 HUSKIE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE/RESULTS
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Key Stats |
Head-to-Head |
Team Stats |
Team Leaders |
Looking Ahead
Huskies Host Rams in All-Saskartchewan 87th BioSteel Hardy Cup
This is Saturday marks exactly 22 years to the day since the last, and only, Hardy Cup matchup between the Huskies and Rams. Coincidentally, that game was also the only other time since Canada West moved to a four-team playoff format, in which a No. 3 and No. 4 seed advanced to the championship game. Until this season, when both Saskatchewan and Regina pulled off dramatic upsets to advance to the 87th BioSteel Hardy Cup.
The Huskies punched their ticket to the conference championship after defeating the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver with one of the most improbable fourth quarter comebacks ever. Trailing the T-Birds by 13 entering the fourth quarter and 9 with less than three minutes to go, a Huskie interception had made a comeback seemingly impossible until rookie receiver
Ercy Avul forced a fumble that was recovered by
Ryker Frank. Despite coming away no points, the play sparked the Huskie sideline. On the ensuing Huskie drive it was Avul who was once again making a game-changing play, this time catching a 33-yard touchdown from
Anton Amundrud to cut the deficit to two. Then, in full desperation mode,
Lukas Scott sent an onside kick which found the hands of 5th-year defensive back
Katley Joseph, giving the Dogs a chance to go for the win. With the game on the line, the Saskatchewan offensive line and running back
Ryker Frank put on a showcase of power football, taking four carries 52-yards and into the endzone for the win.
On the flip side, Regina held the No. 1-seeded Manitoba Bisons to just 24 points through three quarter and 10 minutes yet still finding themselves trailing 24- 21. It was at this point that the Rams kicked off an 11-play, 101 yard drive which ended in a Noah Pelletier passing touchdown to Nicholas Sirleaf with just 19 seconds left on the clock.
Saturday's matchup of Canada West underdogs will the third meeting between the two programs, with the Huskies and Rams splitting the season series in 2024. In their first matchup back in Week 2 at Mosaic Stadium, the Rams earned a 33-28 win after holding off a late Huskie comeback attempt. In their second meeting, it was the Dogs who captured a home win, downing the Rams 22-20 at Griffiths in a defensive battle in Week 7.
Additionally, this will serve as the sixth postseason meeting all-time, with the Rams holding a narrow edge at 3-2. Their lat playoff meeting came in 2012 and saw the Rams advance to the Hardy Cup with a 31-9 semifinal win.
Key Stats
- The Rams gave up a season-high 258 rushing yards last week to the Bisons, and now will face the second best rushing attack in the conference in the Huskies which is led by 2024 All-Star Ryker Frank, Canada West's leading rusher with 952 yards.
- In last week's semifinal against UBC the Huskies gave up just 84 yards on the ground, thanks in part to a healthy defensive line.
- The Huskies are on five-game winning streak and have shown they can get it done late in games, outscoring opponents 62-31 in that stretch.
- Special teams have been a factor throughout the season for both of these teams, but especially for the Rams who have the worst field goal percentage in U SPORTS at 50% (9-for-18).
- The Rams boast the conference's best defence, allowing an average of just 22.1 points per game, however in their week 7 game in Saskatoon, that was enough for the win.
Head-to-Head
All-Time vs Regina: 34-12 Huskies
Last 10 Meetings: 9-1 Huskies
All-Time Playoff Record: 3-2 Rams
Last Playoff Meeting: Rams win 31-9 in Semifinal (11/02/2012)
Last Hardy Cup Meeting: Huskies win 44-28 (11/09/2002)
2024 Regular Season vs Regina: 1-1
33-28 Rams (09/06/2024) & 22-20 Huskies (10/19/2024) [Stats Below]
| Game 1 |
|
Game 2 |
| SSK |
REG |
|
SSK |
REG |
| 18 |
23 |
First Downs |
22 |
18 |
| 289 |
436 |
Total Offence |
336 |
347 |
| 22-33-1 |
26-31-0 |
Passing: Att-Comp-Int |
23-34-2 |
21-39-1 |
| 235-2 |
359-3 |
Passing Yards-TDs |
278-1 |
240-1 |
| 89-1 |
82-1 |
Rushing Yards-TDs |
82-1 |
111-1 |
| 9-80 |
8-55 |
Penalties-Yards |
2-24 |
6-29 |
| 2-for-5 |
0-for-1 |
3rd Down Conv. |
3-for-5 |
0-for-2 |
| 0-0 |
4-31 |
Sacks-Yards |
1-3 |
1-7 |
| 29:54 |
30:06 |
Time of Possession |
30:40 |
29:20 |
Team Stats (Reg. Season Rank)
| SSK |
|
REG |
| 29.1 (2nd) |
Points Per Game |
19.6 (6th) |
| 29.1 (6th) |
Points Against |
22.1 (1st) |
| 445.5 (3rd) |
Yards Per Game |
365.8 (5th) |
| 422.0 (3rd) |
Defensive Yards |
349.4 (1st) |
| 287.5 (1st) |
Passing Yards |
223.6 (4th) |
| 158.0 (4th) |
Rushing Yards |
142.1 (5th) |
| 12 (T-1st) |
Passing TDs |
5 (6th) |
| 13 (3rd) |
Rushing TDs |
9 (5th) |
| 23.3 (4th) |
1st Downs Per Game |
20.0 (5th) |
| 50% (4th) |
3rd Down % |
49% (5th) |
| 72.2% (2nd) |
Field Goal % |
50.0% (6th) |
| 89% (3rd) |
Red Zone % |
86% (5th) |
| 39.6 (5th) |
Punt Average |
41.3 (3rd) |
| 31:02 (2nd) |
Time of Possession |
30:57 (3rd) |
| 4 (6th) |
Interceptions |
11 (T-1st) |
| 4 (6th) |
Sacks |
11 (2nd) |
| 53 (5th) |
Penalties |
63 (3rd) |
| 521 (3rd) |
Penalty Yards |
494 (5th) |
Team Leaders
| SSK |
REG |
| Passing (COMP / YDS / TD / INT) |
| #11 Anton Amundrud |
194-282 / 2275 / 11 / 9 |
#14 Noah Pelletier |
148-244 / 1671 / 4 / 6 |
| Rushing (ATT / YDS / AVG / TD) |
| #34 Ryker Frank |
152 / 952 / 6.3 / 10 |
#35 Marshall Erichsen |
64 / 375 / 5.9 / 1 |
| Receiving (REC / YDS / AVG / TD) |
| #2 Daniel Wiebe |
52 / 807 / 15.5 / 7 |
#9 D'Sean Mimbs |
32 / 375 / 11.7 / 1 |
| #82 Dawson Lennea |
30 / 481 / 16.0 / 1 |
#1 Nicholas Sirleaf |
27 / 371 / 13.7 / 1 |
| #17 Jesse Kuntz |
32 / 379 / 11.8 / 1 |
#85 Renzel Arinaza |
29 / 287 / 9.9 / 2 |
| Defence (TKLS / SACK / TFL / BRUP / INT) |
| #4 Seth Hundeby (LB) |
41.0 / 2.0 / 4.0 / 1 / 0 |
#47 Colin McKellar (LB) |
35.0 / 1.0 / 3.5 / 1 / 0 |
| #48 Lane Novak (LB) |
31.0 / 0.0 / 2.0 / 2 / 1 |
#3 Cameron Mah (LB) |
34.0 / 2.0 / 3.5 / 2 / 2 |
| #39 John Stoll (DB) |
29.5 / 0.0 / 0.0 / 4 / 1 |
#7 Chopper Hippe (LB) |
27.5 / 0.5 / 2.0 / 2 / 0 |
Looking Ahead
The winner of the 87th BioSteel Hardy Cup will not only advance to the 2024 Mitchell Bowl, but they will also earn the opportunity to host the U SPORTS semifinal against the winner of the RESQ (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec). The winner of that conference will also be decided this Saturday, with the Laval Rouge et Or hosting the Montreal Carabins in the 2024 Dunsmore Cup.
Regardless of host, that game is set to kickoff at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
