Mosaic Stadium

By Wray Morrison

Huskies fall to 0-2

Rams win ‘Homecoming Game’ over provincial rival

Sep 6, 2024 | 10:08 PM

The Huskie football team is hoping a home game will aid in a victory after falling to 0 and 2 after a second straight road loss on Friday night at Mosaic Stadium. The Regina Rams jumped out to a 22-7 lead enroute to a 33-28 victory over Saskatchewan a storied Canada West rivalry. The Rams struck early when D’Sean Mimbs caught a 45-yard pass from quarterback Noah Pelletier 2:30 into the football game. In the second quarter the Rams struck for scores in two and a half minutes. Nicholas Sirleaf was wide open on a 43- yard throw from Pelletier, then Pelletier scored on a one-yard run.

Huskie head coach Scott Flory was asked about the early deficit. “It was a carbon copy of last week. We got punched in the mouth and it took a minute to respond.” The Huskies fell behind 22-0 and lost to the Manitoba Bisons 37-24 in Winnipeg in the team’s season opener.

Saskatchewan did respond with 21 straight points before the end of the half on Friday. After Daniel Wiebe scored on a 60-yard pass and run play, Kayden Miller scored on a blocked punt with 2:32 remaining in the half. cutting the Ram lead to 22-21. The next possession was capped off with a one yard score from Ryker Frank and the visitors led 28-22 at the break. Wiebe was Saskatchewan’s top receiver with 103 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The momentum from the offensive outburst did not carry over to the second half. Flory said his team did move the ball a little bit in the third quarter against an, at times, heavy wind but could not find the end zone. The Rams reclaimed the lead three minutes into the fourth quarter when Pelletier hit Renzel Arianza on a 7-yard strike to help the home side regain the lead, 31-28. “They went down, scored and we couldn’t recover”, Flory said. “We couldn’t get any traction in the fourth quarter at all with the wind. Give Regina credit. They played well.”

Regina’s defence made big plays throughout the ball game. Michael Jourdan’s first half interception helped set up a touchdown. Tarick Polius had one and a half sacks as Ram defenders stiffened in the final 30 minutes, holding the Huskies to no points. Saskatchewan’s defence turned in some big plays as well. Five different Huskies had forced fumbles. Jayden Engel, Katley Joseph and Taz Smith-Windsor had recoveries. Discipline was also an issue as the Huskies were flagged 9 times for 80 yards. “Penalty after penalty”, Flory exclaimed. “That’s the level of an immature team right now.”

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Rams quarterback Noah Pelletier completed 26 of 31 passes for 359 yards. Anton Amundrud of the Huskies was 22 of 33 for 235 yards with a pair of touchdown tosses and one intercpetion.

The Rams join Manitoba at 2 and 0 to start the season. The Bisons defeated UBC 33-10 on Friday night. Calgary and Alberta are both 1 and 1. The Dinos rode three first half pick-sixes to a 36-22 win over the Bears on Friday. The Thunderbirds and Huskies are both 0 and 2.

Saskatchewan hosts Calgary on Friday, September 13^th at 7pm at Griffiths Stadium. The game can be heard on the free HuskieFAN app with the Saskatoon Minor Football Huskie Pre-Game Show starting at 6:45. The Advantage Collision Huskie football broadcast starts at 7:00 on the HuskieFAN app powered by Holiday Inn Express, University.

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wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

X: @wraymorrison