November 11 - In a cold but hearty day, the #4 Saskatchewan Huskies came into Canad Inns Stadium and defeated the #1 Manitoba Bisons by a 32-15 score.

The Huskies captured the Hardy Cup for the third consecutive year (fourth in five years) and advanced to play the #3 Ottawa Gee Gees in the Mitchell Bowl next Saturday, November 18.

In front of a loud 4700 crowd, the visitors scored first on a 71 yard run by RB Tyler O’Gorman when he stopped direction and ran against the grain for the TD. The Bisons answered with an eight play drive and RB Karim Lowen scored on a one yard run. The Huskies responded with a 29 yard FG by Braden Suchan and after one, Saskatchewan led 10-7.

In the second, after a rouge by Bisons’ Andrew Patzer then the Huskies exploded for another big play as Cory Jones hauled in a pass from QB Bret Thompson and ran in for a 72 yard TD. The convert was unsuccessful and then Manitoba went on a 11 play, 85 yard drive culminated by a QB John Makie dive in from the one yard line. This was the last time the Bisons scored during the match at the 12:30 mark of the second. Saskatchewan answered right back with a five play, 77 yard drive which Stevens ended with a 1 yard run. At the half, the Huskies were up 23-15.

In the third the only scoring was a single point of a missed Huskies’ FG but the possible turning point occurred when with four minutes left, the Bisons gamble on third down at the Huskies’ 19 on a third and two and get stopped by the Saskatchewan defense with the score at the time 24-15.

In the final quarter, Suchan had a punt single and then with time running down in the Hardy Cup, the Huskies found the end zone again with a 17 yard TD run by RB O’Gorman for his second TD after he ran all 37 yards on the short drive. Saskatchewan ran out the clock and wins the Canada West Final over the Bisons for the second time in both program’s history.

The Huskies were led by QB Bret Thompson who went 9-15 for 246 yards and 1 TD and RB Tyler O'Gorman had 140 yards on 10 carries while Bret Thompson had 97 yards on 10 carries. Cory Jones had two grabs for 126 receiving and 1 TD. Gabe Mackesey led the way with 11 tackles and Dylan Barker with 10 tackles.

For the Bisons, QB John Makie went 21-32 for 269 yards and 1 INT. RB Karim Lowen went for 129 rushing yards on 28 carries and Randy Simmons had seven catches for 82 receiving yards. DB Mike Howard had eight tackles in the loss with fifth year Cory Huclack adding six tackles. Saskatchewan had 527 yards on offense and the Herd had 407. Saskatchewan led 23-15 at half and the Huskies did not allow the Bisons score in the last 33:30 of the game while they piled up 16 unanswered points.

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