Saskatchewan Huskies tumble in U Sports football rankings

Photo: Zachary Peters/Manitoba Athletics

The Saskatchewan Huskies have dropped five spots on the U Sports national rankings after losing their season-opener to the Manitoba Bisons by a score of 40-22.

The prairie rivals met at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on Saturday. The Huskies entered the game as the No. 1 team in the Canada West coaches preseason poll and the No. 3 team in the country, while the Bisons were unranked.

Manitoba blew the game open in the second quarter, as Cole Anseeuw threw touchdown passes to Brendt Adams and Nathan Udoh, and Gavin Perkins scored on a three-yard run.

Saskatchewan outgained the Bisons but struggled to finish drives, missing two field goals and committing two turnovers. Anton Amundrud threw for 268 yards and one interception in his first game since recovering from cancer, though he was replaced by Jake Farrell for a stint in the second half.

The win saw Manitoba join the national rankings at No. 9.

The biggest jump in the rankings came from the Western Mustangs, who moved up three spots to No. 3. The team smacked the York Lions by a score of 78-7, kicking off the Michael Faulds era in dominant fashion.

The Mustangs outgained York by 652 yards of offence, as Jérôme Rancourt threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed five times for 49 yards and three scores.

Braydon Thompson made two sacks for the home side on defence, while Nathan Summers, Thomson Silcox, and Owen Jackson each intercepted Lions quarterback Maurice Sodja.

The Queen’s Gaels, Regina Rams, and Saint Mary’s Huskies each moved up one spot in the rankings, while the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks and Windsor Lancers both fell one spot.

Queen’s was on bye this past week, while the Rams dominated the Alberta Golden Bears, and Saint Mary’s beat the St. Francis Xavier X-Men. Laurier and Windsor both fell despite playing one another, with the Lancers winning 48-37.

After ranking No. 10 during the preseason, St. FX is no longer nationally ranked.

For a complete breakdown of U Sports action from this past weekend, click here.

1. Montreal Carabins — 140 points (70 media/70 ELO)

2. Laval Rouge et Or — 116 points (53 media/63 ELO)

3. Western Mustangs — 96 points (47 media/49 ELO)

4. Queen’s Gaels — 80 points (45 media/35 ELO)

5. Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks — 66 points (10 media/56 ELO)

6. Regina Rams — 62 points (34 media/28 ELO)

7. Saint Mary’s Huskies — 59 points (17 media/42 ELO)

8. Saskatchewan Huskies — 45 points (31 media/14 ELO)

9. Manitoba Bisons — 35 points (28 media/7 ELO)

10. Windsor Lancers — 34 points (13 media/21 ELO)

Also receiving votes: McMaster Marauders (17), Calgary Dinos (9), Ottawa Gee-Gees (6), McGill Redbirds (5)