Huskies road to Vanier through Manitoba

Game Date: Friday, November 1, 2013, 7pm
Game Location: Investors Group Field
Live Television Broadcast: Shaw Cable
Live Radio Broadcast: CK 750,www.ck750.com
Live Stats/ Live Webcast: canadawest.tv

THE GAME
For the third time in 2013, the No. 10 ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies will battle with the No. 9 University of Manitoba Bisons, this time as the beginning stop on the road to the Vanier Cup.

BROADCAST INFO
Kickoff is 7 p.m. Manitoba time on Friday. The game can be watched live on Shaw Cable. It is also available live on CK750 or www.ck750.com or via webcast at canadawest.tv.

THE HEADLINES

• This is third straight season the Huskies will be on the road for the Canada West playoffs. 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 13th straight year Saskatchewan has secured a playoff spot.
• The Bisons-Huskies have met five times in playoffs – 2006, 2002, 1999, 1991 and 1973. Saskatchewan is 4-1 in the games with the loss coming 21-8 in Winnipeg in 1973. The last playoff matchup in 2006 Saskatchewan won 32-15.
• Dating back to the 2006 Vanier Cup in Saskatoon, the Huskies are 1-7 in playoffs. The lone win came against the Regina Rams in the 2009 semifinal.
• The winner of the game will face either the University of Calgary Dinos or the UBC Thunderbirds, who are battling in the other Canada West semifinal Saturday in Calgary, next week in the Hardy Cup.
• Saskatchewan (No. 10) is one of three Canada West teams to hold a spot in the CIS Top 10. Calgary (No. 3) and Manitoba (No. 9) join the Huskies in the final national rankings. The Huskies were ranked in the CIS Top 10 in all 10 weeks of the poll.

 BISONS/HUSKIES SERIES
Including playoffs, the Huskies are 12-12 against Manitoba since 1999. The two teams split the season series in 2013 with both teams winning on the road. Saskatchewan won in Week 3 36-34 in Winnipeg, while Manitoba won in Week 7 33-26 in Saskatoon.

NO.10 UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES (5-3)
Saskatchewan finished the regular season with a 33-15 win over the Regina Rams to snap a two game losing skid heading into the post season.

Second-year quarterback Drew Burko continued on his steady pace completing 18-of-37 passes for 217 yards with two touchdowns. 2012 CIS All-Canadian Kit Hillis, 2013 Huskies touchdown leader Mitch Stevens and running back Dexter Janke all recorded majors in the win.

Once again the Huskies’ defence forced their opposition to make mistakes. The Huskies snared five interceptions including two by 2012 Canada West all-star Braxton Lawrence, recovered a fumble and tallied two sacks. As a team the Huskies’ finished 2013 with a league-leading 13 interceptions and 24 sacks.

Nine Huskies sit with 20 or more tackles this season including team-leading Lawrence with 31.5. Mark Ingram and Richard Zacharias have each added 30.

Throughout the season, Saskatchewan has jumped out of the gate strong scoring 63 points and allowing their opponents to score just 29 in the first quarter. But the Huskies have allowed opponents to score 71 points to their 58 in the fourth.

Throughout the season, Saskatchewan’s Achilles heel 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 Regina Rams last week.

No. 9 UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA BISONS (5-3)
After a 28-24 loss to UBC in Week 6, the Bisons finished the last two games with wins including a 33-26 victory over Saskatchewan to help secure second place in Week 7. The Bisons also defeated the Alberta Golden Bears 60-18 in Week 8.

Bisons pivot Jordan Yantz is second in passing average with 309.2 yards per game. In the season, he’s competed 145-of-252 passes with 25 touchdowns.

The Bisons offence has spread the ball around with six receivers with 200 or more yards including Nic Demski with 640 yards and seven touchdowns and Andrew Smith with 604 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Anthony Coombs adds another 509 receiving yards and 1015 rushing yards with 11 total touchdowns.

Bami Adewale, Thomas Miles and Tyler Fong lead Manitoba in tackles with 46, 40 and 31 respectively.

Photo credit:  Josh Schaefer

Source:  University of Saskatchewan Huskies Sports Information