Regina Rams beat Saskatchewan Huskies in Mosaic thriller

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There may have been some alumni joining the University of Regina Rams for their raucous celebrations after Friday’s long-awaited Canada West football victory against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies at Mosaic Stadium.

“It’s my fifth year, there’s a few of us, and we have never beaten the Huskies,” said Rams linebacker Cameron Mah, whose fourth-quarter sack helped seal the 33-28 victory for Regina’s first victory over Saskatchewan since 2017.

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“It feels unbelievable to finally get it done.”

Led by a 359-yard passing performance from backup quarterback Noah Pelletier, plus defensive stops by Mah, linebacker Chopper Hippe and gigantic tackle Tarick Polius, Regina improved to 2-0. Saskatchewan dropped to 0-2.

“We’ve had guys like Ryder Varga who played here — he was outstanding and he never beat the Huskies,” said Rams fourth-year head coach Mark McConkey. “We’re playing for those guys. Jaxon Ford, all those guys. When I played, we beat them, but it’s been a while.

“(Defensive back) Jackson Sombach has been here for six years and he literally gave the team a speech saying, ‘I’ve never beaten the Huskies and I’m not ending my career without a Huskies win.’ I’m so happy for him, the players and the staff and everyone involved because we had a great offseason. I told them the tide is turning.”

Pelletier, a one-time starter who resumed that role after Owen Seiben was injured in the season opener, tossed touchdown passes of 45 yards to D’Sean Mimbs and 43 yards to Nicholas Sirleaf before running for a short major that gave the hosts a 22-7 lead early in the second quarter.

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“We love to beat them,” said Pelletier, who completed 26 of 31 passes for 359 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

“We know they’re a really good team. We’re gonna see them again and they’re gonna be better, but hopefully we’ll be better. So we’re excited for that.”

A blocked punt that Saskatchewan’s Kayden Miller returned for a touchdown, two scoring strikes from Anton Amundrud to Daniel Wiebe and a one-yard run by Ryker Frank put the Huskies ahead 28-22 at halftime. Lukas Scott converted all four of Saskatchewan’s touchdowns. Amundrud was 22-for-33 for 235 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Regina’s go-ahead points came with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, when Pelletier overhand-tossed to Renzel Arinaza for a seven-yard touchdown, capped by Kenton Appel catching the two-point convert. Regina also got three converts and two singles from kicker Isaac Wegner.

“We had some miscues in the fourth and couldn’t get any momentum,” said Huskies head coach Scott Flory.  “Too little too late and it’s hard to go backwards when you’re trying to work you’re hurry-up (offence). Those guys played hard and our kids did, too.

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“After that second quarter, we didn’t build on it in the second half.”

Flory was asked if the Saskatchewan-versus-Regina games were the most important of the season.

“We can’t do that, right?” said Flory. “We know it’s a provincial rivalry, we know their roster, they know us and we know that.

“Let’s not make it anymore than Week Two. We’ve got lots of season left and we’ve got work to do. We gotta get better.”

Clinging to a three-point lead, the Rams tried killing the final five minutes with a lengthy drive before losing their third fumble of the game. Via sacks and penalties, Regina’s defence moved the Huskies deep into their own end before conceding a safety on third-and-42 from their four-yard line.

“I trust my defence so much when they’re out there,” said Pelletier. “I know they’re gonna do a good job. I trust everyone on offence when I’m out there. That’s the biggest thing, we have so much trust on the team and it obviously worked out.”

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