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This could have been worse for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team.
They head into a Friday-night game in Vancouver against the UBC Thunderbirds with a 1-2 record, though it could have been 0-3 if they hadn’t executed a stellar overtime session last weekend against Calgary.
Here’s some things to know as the Huskies prepare for Game No. 4 in their eight-contest schedule.
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A BIG WAY TO WIN
The Huskies, who started their season with two losses on the road, eked out a 44-40 double-overtime win over the Dinos in their home opener Friday night.
Calgary kicked field goals on both their extra-time possessions, while Saskatchewan got a field goal and then a winning three-yard touchdown run from freshman Javin Boynton.
“I think this year is going to be more competitive than ever,” Huskies’ linebacker Seth Hundeby said at game’s end. “Every win, every point you can get, is going to be crucial at the end of the season.”
This week’s opponent, UBC, is also 1-2 thanks to a 14-12 weekend win over the Regina Rams.
FRANKLY, A NOTABLE PERFORMANCE
Huskies’ running back Ryker Frank is the Canada West offensive player of the week after a huge game against Calgary. Frank ran 34 times for 223 yards and three touchdowns, which also got him some lines in the team record book.
The 34 carries is fourth on the Huskies’ single-game list — Jim Manz, who carried the ball 38 times in a 1978 game against Alberta, holds the mark.
Frank’s 223 ground yards is tied for fourth all time, behind Doug Rozon (292 in 1999), Morrie Norsten (244 in 1994) and Adam Machart (226 in 2019).
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Machart also picked up 223 yards in the 2021 Hardy Cup.
The three rushing touchdowns tie Frank and Machart for second on the single-game list; the record is four, set by Dathan Thomas against the Regina Rams in 2008.
VANIER CUP FRUSTRATIONS
Friday’s opponents have combined to represent Canada West in each of the last three Vanier Cups, all of them losses.
The Huskies lost 27-21 to Western in 2021, and 30-24 to Laval in 2022. UBC emerged from Canada West last season, and beat StFX in the Mitchell Bowl before losing 16-9 to Montreal in the Vanier.
A TANGLED WEB
Just one team remains unbeaten heading into Week 4, and that’s the 3-0 Manitoba Bisons, who have already equalled their win total from last season.
Regina — coming off a 1-7 record and last-place finish — is in sole possession of second place with a 2-1 mark.
And then comes a four-way tie, all at 1-2 — Saskatchewan, Calgary, Alberta and UBC.
UP NEXT
The Huskies, who play three of their first four games on the road, are back home next Friday against the Alberta Golden Bears. They’ll host Manitoba the following weekend, and then the league will take a Thanksgiving bye week.
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