Huskies road to Vanier goes through Regina

Game Date: Friday, November 2, 7 p.m.
Game Location: Mosaic Stadium, Regina
Live Radio Broadcast: CK 750,www.ck750.com
Live Television Broadcast: SHAW/SHAWHD 303/SHAW Direct 299
Live Stats/Live Webcast: www.canadawest.tv

BROADCAST INFO
Kickoff is 7 p.m. Friday. The game will be available live on CK750 or www.ck750.com. Or on SHAW/SHAW HD 303/SHAW Direct 299.

THE HEADLINES

• This is second straight seasons the Huskies will be on the road for the Canada Westplayoffs. Prior to a 2011 date in Vancouver, the Huskies had hosted a conference semifinal in Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park for three straight seasons.
• It is the 12th straight year Saskatchewan has secured a playoff spot.
• The Rams-Huskies have met four times in playoffs, splitting the meetings. Regina won 19-13 in 2007 and 58-31 in 2000 in semifinal games. Saskatchewan won 44-23 in 2002 in the Hardy Cup and, most recently 53-23 in the 2009 semifinal.
• Dating back to the 2006 Vanier Cup in Saskatoon, the Huskies are 1-6 in playoffs. The lone win came against the Rams in the 2009 semifinal.
• Saskatchewan is 17-6 against the Rams since 2001 including a 35-26 loss in their lone meeting during the regular season. The Rams’ win snapped their three game losing streak against the Huskies.
• The winner of the game will face either the University of Calgary or the University of Manitoba Bisons, who are battling in the other Canada West  semifinal, next week in the Hardy Cup.

CIS RECORD WATCH
Huskie safety Bryce McCall finished his CIS regular season career with 21 interceptions. McCall shares the record of 21 with Bob Coffin (Saskatchewan, 1970-74), Peter McNabb (Toronto & Queen’s) and Matt Carapella (Western). It also matches the Canada West and Huskies record in the category.

RAMS/HUSKIES SERIES
Since 2001, the Huskies are 17-6 against the Rams in conference action, including a 35-26 loss in their long meeting in the conference regular season. The provincialfoes have met four times in the Canada West playoffs each winning two of those tilts.  Regina won 19-13 in 2007 and 58-31 in 2000 in semifinal games. Saskatchewan won 44-23 in 2002 in the Hardy Cup and, most recently 53-23 in the 2009 semifinal

UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (5-3)
Saskatchewan finished the regular season winning all three games after the bye-week and found an offensive stride scoring 123 points including 54 in the final game of the season against UBC in the three matches.

Rookie quarterback Drew Burko returned to the lineup last weekend and picked up where he left off completing 20-of-29 passes for four touchdowns and 321 yards. Although Canada West leading receiver Kit Hillis wasn’t in the lineup against the Thunderbirds, Burko found a connection with Mitch Stevens on six catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Jeff Moore also added 85 yards on five catches.

Once again the Huskies’ defence forced their opposition to make mistakes. Reigning Canada West & CIS Defensive Player of the Week Mitch Stevens snared two interceptions andrecovered a fumble. As a team the Huskies’ have 11 interceptions and 18 sacks on the season.

Friesen, Bryce McCall, Richard Zacharias, Braxton Lawrence, Joel Seutter, Luke Thiel, Travoy Martinez and Corbin Eskelson all sit with 20 ormore tackles this season. Eskelson leads the group with 39, finishing the season third in the conference.

Throughout the season, Saskatchewan’s Achilles heel all season has been the second quarter. The Huskies have scored just 14 points all season in the frame and allowed opponents to score 68. Seven of those 14 points came in a major against the UBC Thunderbirds last week.

REGINA RAMS (6-2)
After a 24-17 loss to UBC in Week 6, the Rams finished the last two games with wins including blocking the Calgary Dinos perfect season with a 12-9 victory in Week 7. The Rams also shutout the Alberta Golden Bears 19-0 in Week 8.

Rams pivot Marc Mueller, who has battled injuries in 2012, is second in passing average with 282.5 yards per game.  In the season, he’s completed 145-of-214 passes with 11 touchdowns. The Rams’ offence has spread the ball around with four receivers with 200 or more yards including Kolten Solomon with 471 yards and four touchdowns and JaretJanotta with 484 yards and one touchdown.

Chris Sciog, Alex Meldrum, Steve Famulak and Ryan Wellman lead Regina in tackles with 42, 36, 35.5 and 32 each respectively.

Photo Credit: Josh Schaefer