FB: Semifinal Saturday preview
November 12, 2021
A new champion will be crowned this fall in Canada West football, and teams from across the conference have their eyes on the prize as the 2021 Hardy Cup playoffs kick off this weekend.
The Saskatchewan Huskies host the UBC Thunderbirds, while the Alberta Golden Bears visit the Manitoba Bisons on semifinal Saturday, looking to punch tickets to the 84th Hardy Cup on November 20.
With the 2019 champion Calgary Dinos not qualifying for the postseason, the field is as wide open as ever. But that doesn't mean the road to glory will be any less rough, starting with two intriguing matchups that fans can watch live on the Canada West Football Showcase on SaskTel and TELUS or on Canada West TV presented by Co-op.
Saskatchewan is the conference's highest-scoring team, scorching the opposition for 36.2 points per game during the regular season. It was, then, no surprise this week, to see six Huskies selected as Canada West offensive All-Stars, including fourth-year quarterback Mason Nyhus, who passed for 16 touchdowns against just two interceptions, and his favourite target Colton Klassen, who hauled in six of those TD tosses in only five games.
Given they allow 36.8 points per game, The Thunderbirds' best bet for limiting Saskatchewan's prolific offence might be to control the clock via their robust ground game. UBC led Canada West in time of possession (32:26) and ranked first in rushing yards (1,187) and touchdowns (8), with All-Star running back Isaiah Knight carrying the ball 102 times for 626 yards.
In their lone regular season meeting, on October 1 in Vancouver, Saskatchewan took down the Thunderbirds 43-15. The Huskies racked up 626 yards on offense, with Nyhus and Klassen hooking up for a pair of touchdowns. Knight was kept out of the end zone while rushing for 83 yards on a season-low 11 carries, as the Thunderbirds attack more by air after quickly falling behind 14-0 and trailing by as much as 27 points early in the third quarter.
Much has changed since then, and now both teams are playing their finest football of 2021. Saskatchewan is riding high off five straight wins after dropping the season-opener in Calgary seven weeks ago, while the Thunderbirds finished the season winning three of their last four to earn a playoff berth.
Even in ideal conditions, this was going to be a challenging game for both teams on the offensive side of the ball, given a combined seven Defensive All-Stars between Manitoba (4) and the Golden Bears (3), with cornerback Marcel Arruda-Welch and defensive end Brock Gowanlock of the Bisons as well as Alberta fourth-year SAM linebacker Josiah Schakel all earning unanimous selection.
The numbers bear it out: Manitoba both allowed the fewest points (20.2 per game) and least yards (an average of 370) in Canada West during the regular season, while Alberta tied for first in the conference with 10 turnovers on defence, including 6 forced fumble recoveries and four interceptions.
Manitoba defeated Alberta 31-17 at Foote Field in Week 2 of the regular season, in which the teams combined for just 728 yards on offence, well below the 800-plus in an average Canada West game. Heading into the final week of the regular season, these teams were going in opposite directions, with Alberta having won two straight and Manitoba on a two-game losing streak, before the Bisons clinched second place and a home playoff date by defeating the Regina Rams 22-3, while the Bears lost 30-27 at UBC.
A victory would be huge for either program; Alberta has gone 11 years without a playoff win, and Manitoba hasn't been back to the championship game since last hoisting the Hardy Cup in 2014.
The Saskatchewan Huskies host the UBC Thunderbirds, while the Alberta Golden Bears visit the Manitoba Bisons on semifinal Saturday, looking to punch tickets to the 84th Hardy Cup on November 20.
With the 2019 champion Calgary Dinos not qualifying for the postseason, the field is as wide open as ever. But that doesn't mean the road to glory will be any less rough, starting with two intriguing matchups that fans can watch live on the Canada West Football Showcase on SaskTel and TELUS or on Canada West TV presented by Co-op.
Saskatchewan (5-1) vs. UBC (3-3) - 1 p.m. CST at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
In the 2018 Hardy Cup semifinals, UBC hosted Saskatchewan for what turned out to be a classic, with the Huskies prevailing 31-28 in overtime and riding that momentum all the way to a record 19th Canada West football championship. Three years later, UBC is looking to return the favour on the Huskies' turf.Saskatchewan is the conference's highest-scoring team, scorching the opposition for 36.2 points per game during the regular season. It was, then, no surprise this week, to see six Huskies selected as Canada West offensive All-Stars, including fourth-year quarterback Mason Nyhus, who passed for 16 touchdowns against just two interceptions, and his favourite target Colton Klassen, who hauled in six of those TD tosses in only five games.
Given they allow 36.8 points per game, The Thunderbirds' best bet for limiting Saskatchewan's prolific offence might be to control the clock via their robust ground game. UBC led Canada West in time of possession (32:26) and ranked first in rushing yards (1,187) and touchdowns (8), with All-Star running back Isaiah Knight carrying the ball 102 times for 626 yards.
In their lone regular season meeting, on October 1 in Vancouver, Saskatchewan took down the Thunderbirds 43-15. The Huskies racked up 626 yards on offense, with Nyhus and Klassen hooking up for a pair of touchdowns. Knight was kept out of the end zone while rushing for 83 yards on a season-low 11 carries, as the Thunderbirds attack more by air after quickly falling behind 14-0 and trailing by as much as 27 points early in the third quarter.
Much has changed since then, and now both teams are playing their finest football of 2021. Saskatchewan is riding high off five straight wins after dropping the season-opener in Calgary seven weeks ago, while the Thunderbirds finished the season winning three of their last four to earn a playoff berth.
Manitoba (4-2) vs. Alberta (3-3) - 4 p.m. CST at IG Field
The forecast calls for snow - and plenty of it - on Saturday in Winnipeg, where the Bisons are hosting a playoff game for the first time since 2013. It's been even longer since Manitoba's one and only postseason meeting with the Golden Bears, a 33-24 home victory for Alberta in 2005.Even in ideal conditions, this was going to be a challenging game for both teams on the offensive side of the ball, given a combined seven Defensive All-Stars between Manitoba (4) and the Golden Bears (3), with cornerback Marcel Arruda-Welch and defensive end Brock Gowanlock of the Bisons as well as Alberta fourth-year SAM linebacker Josiah Schakel all earning unanimous selection.
The numbers bear it out: Manitoba both allowed the fewest points (20.2 per game) and least yards (an average of 370) in Canada West during the regular season, while Alberta tied for first in the conference with 10 turnovers on defence, including 6 forced fumble recoveries and four interceptions.
Manitoba defeated Alberta 31-17 at Foote Field in Week 2 of the regular season, in which the teams combined for just 728 yards on offence, well below the 800-plus in an average Canada West game. Heading into the final week of the regular season, these teams were going in opposite directions, with Alberta having won two straight and Manitoba on a two-game losing streak, before the Bisons clinched second place and a home playoff date by defeating the Regina Rams 22-3, while the Bears lost 30-27 at UBC.
A victory would be huge for either program; Alberta has gone 11 years without a playoff win, and Manitoba hasn't been back to the championship game since last hoisting the Hardy Cup in 2014.