Saskatchewan Huskies football look to stop losing skid

After losing two straight games, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies will look to stop the high-flying UBC Thunderbirds Friday night at Saskatoon’s Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park.

Saskatchewan enters Friday’s match with a 2-2 record after two straight road losses, while UBC, whose only blip came in a last minute 30-25 loss to the Calgary Dinos, sits in second place in the Canada West at 3-1. The Huskies have been caught this season with a young inexperienced offence averaging a conference second worst 339.2 yards per game. UBC, who has surprised this season, has the best in the league with 492 yards per game 1221 yards on the pass.

Since 1998, the Huskies are 16-4 against the T-Birds, including a 31-12 loss to the T-Birds last year in Griffiths Stadium. All four UBC victories over the Huskies in that time span have been in Saskatoon – 44-21 in 2000, 30-24 in 1999 and 13-11 in 1998.

Young second-year Huskie quarterbacks Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren and Trent Peterson have combined to complete 60-of-117 passes with five touchdowns, averaging 204.2 yards per game. Fifth-year receiver Rory Kohlert has been the main target tallying 202 yards on 14 receptions. Gilbert-Knorren has pulled down the ball 25 times to take off compiling 165 rushing yards. First-year running back Dexter Janke has 198 yards on 44 attempts.

Saskatchewan’s defence has been instrumental in keeping them in the games. Not only have defensive plays scored or led to six touchdowns but they have snared eight interceptions, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and one blocked punt. Fifth-year linebacker Tony Michalchuk leads his team with 26.5 tackles, followed by safety Bryce McCall with 18.5 tackles.

The Huskie loss last week also meant that head coach Brian Towriss would have to wait at least one more week to become the all-time winningest coach in CIS history, moving ahead of Western Ontario coaching legend Larry Haylor’s mark of 169. In his 28th season as head coach of the Huskies, Towriss will shoot for No. 170 Friday night.

T-Birds quarterback Billy Greene leads the Canada West with 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns. Jordan Grieve has been his main target with 444 yards on 19 catches. Michael Theil has also pulled down 16 catches for 236 yards. Greene is also a threat to run with 315 yards on 29 attempts. He can also look to Dave Boyd in the backfield, who has tallied 363 yards on 61 attempts.

Defensively, Devin Kavanagh and Levar Hayden have led the team in tackles with 24 and 23 each respectively. Connor Flyn and Serge Kaminsky have been a pain for opponent’s quarterbacks with seven sacks between them.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 306-966-1111.

Game Notes: Friday’s game is Homecoming for the University of Saskatchewan. President Peter MacKinnon, USSU President Scott Hitchings, as well as President of the Alumni Association Jason Aebig will be on hand for a ceremonial coin toss. University residence students will also participate in the annual running of the togas at halftime. The College of Kinesiology, the College of Arts & Science and the College of Engineering will compete in the annual College Relay at halftime.

Saskatchewan Sports Info

UBC to face hostile Saskatchewan crowd on Friday

VANCOUVER – The No. 8 UBC Thunderbirds return to the site of what was likely the team’s biggest achievement last season.

On September 10, 2010, UBC went into Griffiths Stadium and upset the No. 2 Saskatchewan Huskies 31-12. It was one of just two wins in 2010, head coach Shawn Olson‘s first year.

This year, the Thunderbirds return to Saskatoon looking to continue the school’s best start in 12 years. Some even consider 3-1 UBC a slight favourite over No. 9 Huskies (2-2). Kickoff is at 6:00 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.

“I think Saskatchewan is going to be fired up at the beginning of the game so if we can manage that first wave of energy and enthusiasm and not find ourselves down a few touchdowns, then I think we’ll be okay for the rest of the game,” said Olson.

Friday night’s game is Homecoming for Saskatchewan and everyone associated with the program wants to see head coach Brian Towriss become the winningest coach in CIS history on home turf. In his 28th season, Towriss has 169 wins, tied with Larry Haylor (Western Ontario).

UBC has won two straight games, powered by quarterback Billy Greene (Surrey, BC). Last week, he won Canada West Offensive Player of the Week honours by throwing for 306 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-23 win over Manitoba. On the year, he has 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air with no interceptions.

Jordan Grieve (Salmon Arm, BC) has been Greene’s main target with 444 yards on 19 catches. Micha Theil (West Vancouver) has also pulled down 16 catches for 236 yards. Greene is also a threat to run with 315 yards on 29 attempts, which is good enough to be the conference’s fifth leading rusher. He can also look to Dave Boyd (Duncan, BC) in the backfield, who has tallied 363 yards on 61 attempts.

Defensively, Devin Kavanagh (Montreal, QC) and Levar Hayden (Calgary, AB) have led the team in tackles with 24 and 23 each respectively. Connor Flynn (Vancouver, BC) and Serge Kaminsky (Richmond, BC) have been a pain for opponent’s quarterbacks with seven sacks between them.

“We’re trying to make sure, on special teams, specifically, that we stop hurting ourselves, with whether it be no yards penalties or blocks in the back and things like that,” said Olson, commenting on areas where he would like to see improvement. “That seems to be one of the main areas where we are incurring a lot of penalties so that’s continued focus and tackling is again a continued focus. This week with our offence, it’s just being more efficient.”

Saskatchewan enters Friday’s match with a 2-2 record after two straight road losses. The Huskies have been caught this season with a young inexperienced offence averaging a conference second worst 339.2 yards per game. UBC has the best in the league with 492 yards per game 1221 yards on the pass.

Young second-year Huskie quarterbacks Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren and Trent Peterson have combined to complete 60-of-117 passes with five touchdowns, averaging 204.2 yards per game. Fifth-year receiver Rory Kohlert has been the main target tallying 202 yards on 14 receptions. Gilbert-Knorren has pulled down the ball 25 times to take off compiling 165 rushing yards. First-year running back Dexter Janke has 198 yards on 44 attempts.

Saskatchewan’s defence has been instrumental in keeping them in the games. Not only have defensive plays scored or led to six touchdowns, but they have snared eight interceptions, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and one blocked punt. Fifth-year linebacker Tony Michalchuk leads his team with 26.5 tackles, followed by safety Bryce McCall with 18.5 tackles.

Since 1998, the Huskies are 16-4 against the T-Birds. All four UBC victories over the Huskies in that time span have been in Saskatoon – 31-12 last season, 44-21 in 2000, 30-24 in 1999 and 13-11 in 1998.

UBC sports info

– with files from Nicole Betker (Saskatchewan Sports Information Director)