Game preview: UBC vs. Saskatchewan

Friday, October 26, 7:00 p.m.
Griffiths Stadium
Broadcasts available: Radio – www.ck750.com (pregame show at 6:30 p.m.)
TV – Shaw (channel 10 in Saskatoon, channel 303 in HD) and Shaw Direct (channels 299 and 407).

** Don’t forget to catch OutsiderTV at 5:45! Complete news and interviews prior to the game. **

Records coming in: Huskies: 4-3, third in Canada West, won 27-10 Alberta last week; UBC: 2-5, fifth in the Canada West, lost 37-31 in Winnipeg last week.

Head to head history: Saskatchewan has 12 regular season wins to UBC’s one since 2002. The Huskies are officially 3-0 in the playoffs against UBC since 2002 since UBC’s victory over the Huskies in the Canada West semi-final was vacated due to UBC’s use of an ineligible player.

What’s on the line: Third place and a much easier path through the first round of the Canada West playoffs for the Huskies if they win. A win would assure them third place and would book them a date in Regina with the Rams.

For the Thunderbirds, they are playing for pride. That, and getting quarterback Billy Greene one more win in his CIS career.

Key players:

Saskatchewan

• Receiver Mitch Stevens – Stevens is a touchdown machine, scoring three in the last three games. He is always a threat to break the game open and will be one of the key weapons for quarterbacks Chase Bradshaw and Drew Burko as the Huskies mount a playoff drive.
• Linebacker Corbin Eskelson – Eskelson is tied for the team lead with 32.5 tackles, plus he has a sack, an interception and a two fumble recoveries. He and fellow linebackers Richard Zacharias and Seamus Neary have played well over the last few weeks and should give opposing offences plenty of problems over the next few weeks.

UBC

• Running Back Brandon Deschamps – This big, bruising second-year running back leads the Canada West with 675 yards rushing. He put up 122 yards on the Huskies in week three and will be a concern once again.
• Linebacker Vivie Bojilov – Bojilov has been one of the best players on the UBC defence, sitting third on the team with 30 tackles but is leading the team with three sacks to go along with an interception. He is a quick pass rusher who the Huskie offensive line and running back will have to be aware of.

Key matchup: The key matchup this week is in the trenches between the UBC offensive line and the Huskies defensive line. The Huskies have been solid in spite of Zach Hart being absent with injury. The UBC o-line has been one of the best in the Canada West this year, giving Brandon Deschamps and Billy Greene large running lanes.

Given the cold conditions and snow we’ve received this week, we will likely see both teams rely on the run in this game. The Huskies defensive line and entire front seven will face a good test and it will be good to see them shut down a potent running game and offence.

Roster moves: The Huskies come in relatively healthy. Dexter Janke and Zach Hart are out for the season. Quarterback Drew Burko will be dressed and may see some time on the field.

UBC may be missing veteran quarterback Billy Greene, who sustained a shoulder injury late in the Manitoba game last week.
What to expect: Expect a great, late-season match up. Even though the playoff teams were settled last week, both teams are motivated to put up one last win.

Should the Huskies win, it will be the tenth straight year the Huskies have finished at 5-3 or better. The last time they finished the season at .500 was 2002, when they went on a tear in the playoffs, all the way to the Vanier Cup.

Finishing third means a more favourable match in the first round of the playoffs, but it also means the Huskies have an outside chance of hosting the Hardy Cup final. It would require the Huskies and Bisons both winning their Canada West semi-final games, which is unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

One thing that will help the Huskies secure a victory is a big, loud crowd behind them. I know it’s colder than average and there’s some snow on the ground, but this is Saskatchewan! It’s time to be prairie tough and support our Huskies! This may be the last time we get to see them this year, so make sure you are there to cheer on the boys and salute Bryce McCall, David Rybinski, and Braeden George, three true fifth-year Huskies who have each battled hard for five years and left if all on the field.

Go, Dogs, go!