Courtesy: Wray Morrison

By Wray Morrison

Huskies defeat UBC in Vancouver

Early start and strong finish for the Huskies

Oct 2, 2021 | 1:39 AM

The U of S Huskies football team returned to form on Friday night at Thunderbird Stadium, defeating the T-Birds 43-15. After losing in Calgary in week one, the Huskies looked more like a team that had some of the most dominant weapons in Canada West Football. The visitors stormed out to a 14-0 first quarter lead thanks to a 5 yard touchdown catch from Sam Baker, and a 43 yard touchdown run by Adam Machart. Thunderbirds quarterback Garrett Rooker cut Saskatchewan’s lead to 14-7 with a second quarter touchdown run, but that’s as close as UBC would come to challenging their opponents. Josh Ewanchyna scored on a 27 yard run in the second quarter to make the score 21-7. In the second half the dangerous Colton Klassen made his presence felt with a one yard catch from Huskies quarterback Mason Nyhus in the third quarter. That made it 34-15. The Nyhus to Klassen combination struck on an 18 yard score in the dying minute of the fourth quarter to make it 43-15.

Huskies receiver Daniel Perry was a continuos threat offensively, making 6 catches for 123 yards. Ewanchyna had a big night on the ground with 114 yards and one touchdown. Machart had 92 yards in rushing and one touchdown.

The U of S defense did was solid in keeping the T-Birds athletic quarterback, Garrett Rooker, in check. Rooker did score two touchdowns and had a 283 yard night through the air, but was forced out of the pocket on several occasions. Huskies linebacker Nathan Jule had one sack in the game. Defensive back Charlie Ringland provided occasional pressure on Rooker, forcing him to throw the ball away on occasion. In the third quarter, Saskatchewan’s defense made a huge goal line stand. Then the Huskies capped off a 109 yard drive with Klassen’s first touchdown of the game. The drive included a 49 yard run from punter David Solie.

Huskies head coach Scott Flory, who also serves as offensive co-ordinator, said after the game “I just look back on that week one, (a 34-20 loss to the Dinos) and that just wasn’t us. The whole mode this week was just be us. That opening drive was just more of what we do.”

The Huskies now have a favourable schedule with 3 of the next four games in Saskatoon, however Flory is not going to rely on home field advantage for a strong finish. “We’re not going to take the simple math approach on that. Just because we are at home doesn’t guarantee us anything. If we think we are at home, and it means an automatic W…that’s not the way it works”.

Season wrap up

HuskieFAN partners hosts USask women's hockey team

Mar 31, 2026

St. Mary's pulls out OT win over USask

Huskies eliminated at University Cup

Mar 20, 2026

University Cup preparations continue

Roulette named U SPORTS men's hockey rookie of the year

Mar 18, 2026

The Huskies next game is on October 16th at 2:00pm when the Alberta Golden Bears visit Griffiths Stadium. That game can be heard on the HuskieFAN app.