Huskies host UBC Thunderbirds on October 3 at Griffiths Stadium (Image Credit: Liam Richards/Electric Umbrella)

By Wray Morrison

Dogs beat T-Birds 34-24

Huskies all alone in top spot

Oct 3, 2026 | 10:24 PM

The battle for top spot in the Canada West football standings lived up to expectation on Saturday night. The USask Huskies pulled out a 34-24 win over the UBC Thunderbirds at Griffiths Stadium to bring a successful end to Football Day in Saskatoon.

The Thunderbirds, who had the number one ranked offense in the conference entering week five, jumped out to a 14-3 second quarter lead. Quarterback Drew Viotto connected with Ben Gutek on a 36-yard touchdown strike to help the visitors to a 7-3 advantage. Early in the second quarter running back Marvyn Larozar scored on a three-yard run to lift UBC to an 11-point lead. Larozar, who is the leading rusher in the conference, had 137 yards on the ground.

Momentum started to shift in the Huskies’ favour late in the second quarter thanks in part to special teams. With two and a half minutes to go in the first half, the Huskies executed a quick kick after showing field goal. James Keane’s punt went off a UBC returner and Saskatchewan recovered gaining a fresh set of downs inside the T-Bird 30-yard line. The drive ended with a Javin Boynton 3-yard run to cut the visitors’ lead to four with less than two minutes to go in the first half.

The Huskies displayed more big play capability before the end of the half when corner back Nathan Casimir intercepted a Viotto pass at the UBC 45-yard line with a minute to go. Thanks in part to a UBC interference penalty and a first down run by Huskie quarterback Anton Amunrud, the home side was able to take the lead on a nine-yard Kayden Miller TD catch. Saskatchewan led 17-14 at the break.

The teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, before UBC regained the lead mid-way through the fourth. The Thunderbird defense sacked Amundrud on a third down gamble and took possession at mid-field. UBC made good on the opportunity as Trey Montour hauled in a 12-yard TD toss from Viotto to lift the visitors to a 24-20 lead.

Dogs beat T-Birds 34-24

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Rookie sensation Keaton Belsher, who is averaging over 100 yards/game in receiving in his Canada West rookie season as starter, played a huge role in Saskatchewan’s response. His second catch of the drive was a 48-yard grab from Amundrud that put the Huskies inside the UBC 15-yard line. The drive ended with an Aulain Penner 4-yard run and Saskatchewan took a three-point lead with four minutes remaining.

Saskatchewan’s defense played a role in securing the win as linebacker Connor Tyson sacked Viotto on a second down play, forcing UBC to punt the ball away with less than three minutes to go. The Huskies capped off a late scoring with another Penner touchdown, this time from 14-yards out in the final two minutes of the game. Penner finished the night with 66 rushing yards and two scores.

Amundrud, who had 295 yards through the air, is now third on the Huskies’ all-time passing list moving ahead of Laurence Nixon. Amundrud is also tied with Mason Nyhus for third on the school’s all-time touchdown pass list at 52.

The Huskies, now 4-1, host the Manitoba Bisons on Friday, October 16th at 7:00 PM at Griffiths Stadium. The 3-2 UBC Thunderbirds fall into a second-place tie with the Bisons. Elsewhere, the Calgary Dinos pulled out a 14-13 win over the Regina Rams on Saturday. Both the Dinos and Rams are 2-3.

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wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

X: @wraymorrison

by Wray Morrison

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Huskies all alone in top spot

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