Aidan Jaager
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
In a season that saw the University of Saskatchewan Huskies win all games but one, they now prepare for a provincial rivalry rematch of last year’s Hardy Cup final that saw the Regina Rams come out on top.
The Rams, who went in as decided underdogs, won last year’s tilt 19-14. The two teams will do it all over again Saturday, 2 p.m., at Saskatoon’s Griffiths Stadium.
The Hardy Cup winner advances to the Mitchell Bowl, and will host the Ontario champion the following Saturday — either the Laurier Golden Hawks or Queen’s Gaels.
Saskatchewan went 7-1 during the regular season, and Regina 6-2. The Huskies won 22-20 in their only head-to-head matchup, thanks to a 60-yard Daniel Wiebe touchdown catch with 3:18 to play.
For Huskies running back Ryker Frank, the provincial rivalry hits close to home.
“I used to live in Regina,” he says, “so it’s fun to play against guys that I grew up playing against.”
Last year’s loss is fueling Frank and his teammates.
“A lot of guys that were there for that on this team are going to play with a little bit more of a chip on their shoulder,” says Frank, who is in his final year of U Sports eligibility. “I feel like we’ve got to get our ‘get’ back, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
Coach Scott Flory says he is not letting the rivalry distract him from winning.
“It’s one of those natural things that you see in all sports and in provincial battles,” Flory says. “We have a lot of respect for them. We know a lot of their athletes, and they know a lot of ours. There’s similarities in the programs, but we’re different and we just got to be our best for three hours.”
Backup quarterback Jake Farrell — who took on the starting role in the team’s sixth game of the season after Anton Amundrud stepped back for personal reasons — is embracing the rematch.
“An in-province rivalry is obviously going to be big,” Farrell says. “And I think, in Canada West, us versus Regina is the biggest rivalry. After last year, we want to change the narrative of what happened.”
While Farrell never expected to be the starting quarterback, he says he is grateful for the opportunity to play in the Hardy Cup.
“It’s a big deal to me. I think it’s been a group effort, to be honest, getting the ball to play-makers and letting them do the plays. The O-line has given me time to just play my game.”
Farrell is quick to add that quarterback coach Mason Nyhus — a former Huskies pivot who returns to the team as a coach this season after spending the last few years at UBC — has helped him develop.
“With him being a quarterback here a few years ago, he’s been unbelievable with the knowledge he gives me,” Farrell says.
Flory says that Farrell has stepped in and filled the void.
“He’s a competitor. I’ve said this before … he’s got moxie. There’s an internal compete and drive there, and he’s scrappy. He can use his legs, he can throw the ball and he sees the field well.”
Veteran leadership, Flory adds, has steered the team in the right direction after numerous season-ending injuries.
“They don’t worry about anything,” Flory says. “They just love playing the game. Whoever’s in there, we got complete trust and faith in them.
“The game will come down to limiting mistakes. Both teams deserve to be playing.”
