Around U Sports: Saskatchewan Huskies complete 16-point comeback to beat Alberta Golden Bears

By
John Hodge
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Photo courtesy: Electric Umbrella/Derek Elvin

This weekend featured several stellar games across U Sports, including a barnburner at McMahon Stadium, utter defensive dominance in Windsor, an impressive homecoming crowd in Guelph, an incredible comeback in Saskatoon, and five teams that kept their undefeated records intact.

Around U Sports is a weekly feature on 3DownNation that takes readers across the country to summarize collegiate football action, highlighting standout performances and tracking possible playoff matchups. It will run for the full season through the Vanier Cup in Kingston, Ont. on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Alberta Golden Bears, 30 — Saskatchewan Huskies, 33

The Golden Bears carried a 30-14 lead into the fourth quarter on the strength of three touchdown passes from Eli Hetlinger but the Huskies battled back, getting touchdowns from Ryker Frank and Ercy Avul and two field goals from Lukas Scott. Johnny Giustini, a sixth-round pick of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2024 CFL Draft, had a chance to send the game to overtime for Alberta but missed a 51-yard field goal with 13 seconds left, sending 3,161 fans at Griffiths Stadium home happy. The Canada West rivals are now tied with the Regina Rams for third in the conference standings.

Mount Allison Mounties, 17 — Acadia Axemen, 31

Riley Naujoks had his best outing of the year for the Axemen, throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns, while Acadia’s two-headed rushing attack of Niklas Platis and Maximus Ramirez combined for 216 yards and two scores along the ground. Spencer Joudry accounted for both of Mount Allison’s touchdowns — he threw one to Jonathan Desrochers and ran one in himself — but also threw two interceptions, the latter of which led to in a 17-yard field goal from Nick Swain.

No. 7 Queen’s Gaels, 14 — No. 4 Western Mustangs, 39

Western’s defence clamped down hard in this one, limiting the Gaels to a measly 172 yards and total offence as Max Nixon and Connor Franzisi got home for sacks. Anthony Lio threw two touchdown passes despite the loss, while the Mustangs got rushing scores from Keanu Yazbeck, Keon Edwards, and Jerome Rancourt. Evan Hillock hit Seth Robertson for a four-yard touchdown pass but was also picked off twice. This was one of Western’s largest crowds in recent years as 13,822 fans packed Alumni Stadium for homecoming.

Ottawa Gee-Gees, 20 — No. 1 Laurier Golden Hawks, 32

The country’s top team kept its perfect record intact despite the Gee-Gees holding the lead well into the second quarter and drawing within one score late when Souleymane Camara ran for a four-yard touchdown. Tayshaun Jackson iced the win moments later when he broke a 64-yard run for a score, though Tanner Nelmes was Laurier’s leading rusher on the day, carrying the ball 20 times for 132 yards and one touchdown. Hec Crighton Trophy hopeful Taylor Elgersma threw two touchdown passes to Ethan Jordan but was also intercepted twice in the win.

Waterloo Warriors, 25 — Guelph Gryphons, 42

Guelph quarterbacks Tristan Aboud and Marshall McCray combined for four touchdown passes, sending 8,500 fans home happy from homecoming at Alumni Stadium. Now 4-2, the Gryphons have a good chance to host a postseason game this season after missing the OUA playoffs in both of the last two years. Meanwhile, Waterloo remained winless on the year despite generating 28 first downs and getting touchdowns from Anthony Miller, Logan Heroux, and Evan Basalyga.

No. 2 Montreal Carabins, 26 — Sherbrooke Vert et Or, 6

Montreal quarterback Jonathan Sénécal hasn’t given up hope on repeating as the Hec Crighton Trophy winner, throwing for 336 yards and one touchdown to keep his team within a game of first place in the RSEQ standings. Sherbrooke had a miserable day moving the ball against a stout Carabins defence, managing only 181 net yards as Jeremy Fyfe threw two interceptions, both of which were picked off by Elijah Cramaix.

York Lions, 10 — Carleton Ravens, 24

This game was tied at halftime before Elijah Barnes put it away in the second half, throwing touchdown passes to Frederik Hachey and Kaseem Ferdinand. The win kept Carleton’s playoff hopes alive ahead of next week’s much-anticipated Panda Game. Former Westshore Rebels linebacker Peter Primeau had a brilliant game defensively for York, recording 5.5 tackles, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery as part of a chippy game that featured 24 penalties for 305 yards.

Saint Mary’s Huskies, 14 — No. 6 Bishop’s Gaiters, 19

The Gaiters took a 19-point lead early in the fourth quarter when O’Shae Ho-Sang caught a touchdown pass from Justin Quirion before Saint Mary’s came storming back. The Huskies got two late touchdowns, including a 78-yard catch-and-run from Joshua Jack, but it wasn’t enough for first-year quarterback Allan Young to get the win in his first career start. Bishop’s is now three wins away from the program’s first undefeated regular season since the turn of the century.

UBC Thunderbirds, 32 — Calgary Dinos, 30

The Dinos lost a second consecutive heart-breaker as Kieran Flannery-Fleck made a 22-yard field goal with 59 seconds left to give UBC a lead it would not relinquish. Isaiah Knight had a career day for the Thunderbirds, rushing 24 times for 235 yards and one touchdown and catching two passes for 33 yards, while Calgary running back Matthieu Clarke ran 26 times for 187 yards. The win gave UBC sole possession of second in the Canada West standings, while the Dinos now stand alone in last place at 1-4.

Regina Rams, 13 — No. 8 Manitoba Bisons, 22

The Rams were unable to capitalize on early offensive opportunities, which cost them dearly after Manitoba’s offence came alive late in the first half. Breydon Stubbs was a workhorse for the Bisons, rushing 27 times for 121 yards and one touchdown, while Jackson Tachinski hit Mula Yitna for a highlight-reel 25-yard catch-and-run score. Regina appeared primed to make a comeback following a fourth-quarter Marshall Erichsen touchdown run but it was snuffed out by a tip-drill interception from veteran Manitoba safety Stephen Adamopoulos.

Concordia Stingers, 10 — No. 3 Laval Rouge et Or, 34

Laval’s defence had a dominant day, which was led by six-foot-five, 310-pound defensive tackle Yoann Miangué, who recorded 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss in front of 17,143 fans at Stade Telus. Olivier Cool, the third-leading receiver in the nation, failed to record a receiving touchdown for the first time in a game this season, though he still made seven catches for 111 yards for the Rouge et Or. Laval will have a chance to (essentially) clinch first place in the RSEQ in their next game when they visit the archrival Montreal Carabins.

Toronto Varsity Blues, 5 — No. 5 Windsor Lancers, 52

Windsor is a defensive-oriented team and the unit was truly dominant on Saturday afternoon, recording 10 tackles for loss, seven sacks, six safeties, three takeaways, and allowing a measly 49 offensive yards. Joey Zorn had a nice day on the ground for the Lancers, carrying the ball 12 times for 121 yards, while Christopher John, Liam Talbot, Colby Ginn, and Brett Bjorgan all reached the end zone.

The St. FX X-Men (AUS), McMaster Marauders (OUA), and McGill Redbirds (RSEQ) were on bye this past week.

Atlantic University Sports (AUS)

Bishop’s Gaiters 5-0
St. FX X-Men 2-2
Acadia Axemen 2-3
Saint Mary’s Huskies 2-3
Mount Allison Mounties 1-4

Ontario University Athletics (OUA)

Laurier Golden Hawks 5-0
Windsor Lancers 5-0
Western Mustangs 4-1
Guelph Gryphons 4-2
Queen’s Gaels 4-2
McMaster Marauders 2-3
Carleton Ravens 2-4
Ottawa Gee-Gees 2-4
York Lions 1-4
Toronto Varsity Blues 1-5
Waterloo Warriors 0-5

Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec (RSEQ)

Laval Rouge et Or 5-0
Montreal Carabins 4-1
McGill Redbirds 2-2
Concordia Stingers 1-4
Sherbrooke Vert et Or 0-5

Canada West

Manitoba Bisons 5-0
UBC Thunderbirds 3-2
Alberta Golden Bears 2-3
Regina Rams 2-3
Saskatchewan Huskies 2-3
Calgary Dinos 1-4

John Hodge
John Hodge
John Hodge is a Canadian football reporter based in Winnipeg.

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