University of Saskatchewan kicker Denton Kolodzinski hit a 40-yard field goal with 18 seconds left in the game to seal a 36-34 victory for the No. 8 ranked Huskies over the No. 9 University of Manitoba Bisons Saturday at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg.
The kick was one of five field goals on the night for the fourth-year kicker. Kolodzinski was also good from 32-, 44- and twice from 37-yards in the game.
With the win, the Huskies remain undefeated at 2-0 at are tied at the top of the Canada West standings with the Calgary Dinos. Manitoba drops to 1-1.
The final five minutes of the fourth quarter saw two late lead changes and a goal line stance.
After Kolodzinski kicked one of the 37-yard field goals to push the Huskies lead to 33-27 at the 9:24 mark of the fourth, the Bisons stormed down the field. A four play, 75 yard touchdown drive by the Bisons was capped by Nic Demski two yard grab from starting quarterback Jordan Yantz with just four minutes left to take a 34-33 lead.
Saskatchewan and quarterback Drew Burko drove the length of the field on the next possession but was thwarted on the goal line. Burko’s number was called on the quarterback sneak but the ball was turned over on downs. The Huskies’ defence stopped the Manitoba drive that started with 1:08 left in the frame, giving Saskatchewan back the ball on the Bisons’ 30-yard line after a punt.
Kolodzinski’s kick didn’t stop the Bisons from changing the outcome. Yantz completed an 18-yard pass to reigning Canada West Offence Player of the Week Anthony Coombs that took seven seconds. After an offside call on the offence, the Bisons had one more chance. But Saskatchewan’s defence held Andrew Smith winding the clock to zero.
Manitoba jumped out to a 7-0 first quarter lead when offensive lineman Matt Hallock caught a 1 yard pass to start the scoring. The Huskies responded with 17 unanswered points on a Shane Buchanan 46-yard run, a Garrett Burgess a 23-yard touchdown and a Kolodzinski field goal. Manitoba pulled the game within two at halftime at 17-15 on a Coombs 54-yard run to the end zone and a rouge.
In the second half, Saskatchewan pushed the lead to a 12 point advantage after a 44 yard field goal and Mitch Stevens 68-yard reception.Coombs added another major for the Bisons, followed by a Nick Boyd touchdown to set up the tug-o-war final five minutes.
Burko finished the game completing 22-of-37 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Buchanan compiled his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game with 100 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown. Stevens led the Huskies’ receiving corps with five catches for 152 yards, while 2012 CIS First Team All-Canadian Kit Hillis had seven catches for 88 yards. Burgess tallied another seven receptions on 81 yards.
Yantz finished 25-for-41 for 374 and two touchdowns for the Bisons. Coombs recorded 85 rushing yards on 10 carries and five receptions for 117 yards. Nik Demiski was the top receiver for the Bisons with 105 yards.
Dane Bishop led the Huskies on defence with six tackles and one sack, while Mark Ingram and Joel Seutter each tallied five tackles. Bami Adewale led the Bisons’ defence with 5.5 tackles and two sacks.
The Huskies remain on the road to face the No. 5 ranked Dinos in Calgary on September 14, while Manitoba travels to Vancouver to face the UBC Thunderbirds.
Photo credit: Josh Schaefer
Source: Nicole Betker, Saskatchewan Huskies Sports Information
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