Sask Huskies host Alberta in Can West semi-final

For the third straight season, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies will host a Canada West football semifinal.

This year’s opponent the familiar University of Alberta Golden Bears. The two teams will battle for a spot in the 2010 Hardy Cup Saturday in Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park.

The Huskies enter the game as the Canada West first place finisher with a 6-2 record, while the Golden Bears finished as the fourth place qualifier at 3-5. Saskatchewan finished the regular season on a five game winning streak scoring 215 combined points in the games. After opening the season with two straight wins, the Golden Bears dropped their next four finishing the last two games with a 46-21 win over the University of Manitoba Bisons and a 37-5 loss to the University of Calgary Dinos.

Since 1999, the Huskies have won 13 of their last 17 games against Alberta. Saskatchewan is 2-1 all-time in the playoffs against Alberta (since start of WIFL in 1964) including a 30-17 Hardy Cup win at home in 2005, a 21-20 Hardy Cup victory on the road in 2004 and a 10-4 semifinal loss at home in 2003. Earlier this season, the Huskies won 33-9 in Edmonton.

The majority of the Huskies offence during the last five games has come through the air with 1,727 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Huskies finished the season leading in scoring offence (287 points), total offence (3,998 yards) and pass offence (2, 618 yards).

Quarterback Laurence Nixon, who has twice been named Canada West and CIS Offensive Athlete of the Week during the five-game span, finished the regular season with career-best numbers. The fifth-year from Richmond, B.C., completed 167-of-256 passes for 2,424 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Nixon’s favourite target throughout the season was wide receiver Jade Etienne, who also had a career best season. The third-year finished averaging 103 yards per game with six touchdowns. Five other receivers also had 200 or more yards on the year Rory Kohlert (461), Garrett Bolen (284), Braeden George (270), Mitch Stevens (260) and Owen Geier (204).

Saskatchewan’s running game has also been strong with Ben Coakwell leading the way with 669 yards on 103 attempts. He has also added 105 receiving yards. Dathan Thomas returned to the lineup three weeks ago and has quickly given the run game a boost scoring three touchdowns in the final game of the year and averaging 6.4 yards per carry.

The Huskies enter the game finishing with best defence in the conference during the regular season allowing their eight opponents in 2010 to score just 12 touchdowns and nabbing 14 interceptions. The Huskies have held their opponents to average 367.5 total yards.

Defensively, linebackers Tony Michalchuk and Nico Higgs have led the Huskies. Michalchuk has a team-high 40.5 tackles and two breakups, while Higgs finished with 39.5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Golden Bears quarterback Julian Marchand finished the regular season completing 113-of-215 passes for 1,524 yards and seven touchdowns. But he threw a league-high 13 interceptions.

Marchand has connected with receivers Ryan Meraw, Jess Valleau, Porter Brown, and Laine Rogers. Ryan Meraw has scored a team-high four touchdowns on 117 yards. Valleau, Brown and Rogers all have more than 250 yards. Valleau leads Alberta with 469 yards, followed by Rogers with 263 and Brown at 254. Valleau has added two touchdowns and Rogers one.

The Golden Bears have scored eight touchdowns on the ground with three coming from starting running back Matthew Jarvis. Jarvis finished 2010 with 704 yards, followed by Olukayode Sonuga who averages 10.2 yards per carry and has scored two touchdowns. Smith Wright has scored two touchdowns and Shayne Samoil has scored add one on the ground for the Golden Bears.

Tyler Greenslade leads Alberta with 45.5 tackles, while Jason Hetherington has nabbed four interceptions and broken up four passes. Chris Muchena follows Greenslade with 41 tackles and Jean-Marc Jones with 40.

Kick off is set for 1 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium Saturday. The game can be heard live on CK750, or [url]www.ck750.com. The winner of the game will face either the University of Calgary or the University of Regina Rams, who are battling in the other Canada West semifinal. Fans are asked to donate a non-perishable food item at the gate for “Together is Amazing”

Sask Sports Info