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Huskies win over Rams; clinches first place in Canada West
REGINA, Sask. – Jeff Hassler had three rushing touchdowns
to help the Saskatchewan Huskies clinch first place in Canada West
with a 42-17 victory over the Regina Rams on Friday night at Mosaic
Stadium.
Hassler, a first-year running back out of Holy Trinity Academy in
Okotoks, Alta., came into the game with just 143 rushing yards on
the season but exploded for 224 yards in the win. Hassler opened up
the scoring with a two-yard touchdown five minutes into the first
quarter, added a five-yard major early in the second, and
essentially put the game away with a six-yard score midway through
the fourth quarter.
The victory gives Saskatchewan home field advantage through the
Hardy Cup. The Huskies will host Alberta next weekend, while
Calgary will host Manitoba in the other Canada West semifinal
contest.
Saskatchewan’s Laurence Nixon completed 20 of his 26 passes
for a 76.9% completion rate. The fourth-year quarterback threw for
243 yards, including a four-yard touchdown pass to Cory Jones early
in the third quarter. Nixon also scored on a one-yard plunge midway
through the second. Alex Balogun also scored for the Huskies, as
the big back rumbled in from nine yards out in the waning minutes
of the contest.
Jon Krahenbil led the Huskies’ defence with two interceptions
and added a pass breakup. Peter Thiel had a game-high 8.5 tackles
and added one of Saskatchewan’s five sacks on the night.
Bryce McCall had eight total tackles and a pick, while Mitchell
Frisen had 5.5 tackles and a pair of key pass breakups.
Regina quarterback Marc Mueller had career highs in both
completions (27) and attempts (46). He threw for 348 yards,
including a 17-yard touchdown pass to Brenden Owens in the third
quarter as the Rams tried to cut into the Huskie lead. Jordan Sisco
was Mueller’s top target, ending up with eight receptions for
89 yards. Graham Mosiondz had 71 yards on 11 carries for the
Rams.
Bruce Anderson led the Rams’ defence with seven total
tackles.
Fifth-year kicker Perri Scarcelli accounted for the Rams’
other nine points, hitting field goals from 41, 46, and 50 yards
out. The three field goals give him 20 for the year as Scarcelli
becomes the only Canada West kicker besides Jamie Boreham to hit
the milestone in a single season.
Saskatchewan ends the regular season with a 7-1 record and its
second consecutive first-place finish, while the Rams (3-5) finish
out of the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
Alberta and Saskatchewan will meet next Saturday at Griffiths
Stadium in Saskatoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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Braden Konschuh
Sports Information Director
University of Regina
