SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan Huskies and Manitoba Bisons renewed pleasantries on August 25 at Griffiths Stadium, facing off in pre-season action nine months after the former's Hardy Cup win. The game came down to the final 20 seconds, with the Huskies holding on for a 10-9 win.
Trailing 10-3 with 1:18 to play, Bisons pivot
Jordan Hanslip calmly drove his side down the field, earning first down yardage on a quarterback keeper as well as a long gain to Zacahary Wynne where Hanslip bought time with his feet. After two straight passes went incomplete from the Huskies six, Hanslip found big-body wideout
Kaiden Bannon on an out route to narrow Sask's lead to one.
Instead of going for the tie, the Herd opted for the win, but couldn't cash. On the ensuing kickoff, veteran
Niko DiFonte, holder of the longest field goal kick on U SPORTS history as a member of the Calgary Dinos, placed an onside kick perfectly, chasing after the ball and tipping it to teammate
Breydon Stubbs, who jumped on the pigskin at the Huskies 50.
A long pass from Hanslip to Bannon on the near sideline was called incomplete and two plays later Saskatchewan iced the game with an interception.
Hanslip, one of three Bisons pivots to make the trip, started in the fourth quarter and threw for 75 yards, 45 of which were to Wynne on the touchdown drive. It's the second pre-season game in a row where the Vincent Massey alum stood out, after going five-for-six for 92 yards and a major against the Huskies a year prior.
"He exudes poise," said head coach
Brian Dobie. "It's as good as anybodies. It showed on the drive, and we saw the same thing in the same game a year ago. It's not a fluke."
Hanslip was one of three Bisons pivots to make the trip in what is arguably the most complete quarterback room in Canada. Fifth-year veteran
Des Catellier made his first start since a season-ending lower body injury the prior year, and went 9-for-12 for 125 yards in two quarters of action, while
Jackson Tachinski – who started a year ago along with
Sawyer Thiessen – threw for 18 yards and also rushed for 14.
"[Catellier] grew as the game grew. I thought he threw the ball really well. I can't believe there's an athlete in the world that comes off a major surgery and their first time out after a year isn't thinking about it going in a little bit. I have no idea what he thought, but I think that's laid to rest in this exhibition game," said Dobie.
"I think he's grown so much, he realizes the process he went through [as a young starter], and he see these guys going through the same process, and he shares and he gives and he accepts. I think those guys all take ownership. They're not shy in the huddle, they're confident and they've got their own little club that works."
Turner makes history
Defensively, All-Canadian
Nick Thomas and the hard-hitting
Nic Pereira led the way with four tackles each, and rookie
Sean Cullen recorded his first-career U SPORTS interception. The story of this one came on special teams though, as rookie
Maya Turner became the first female to ever score points in a U SPORTS football game, cashing in on a 25-yard field goal with 8:01 left in the third quarter.
The former soccer player for Loyola College in Chicago has been excellent throughout training camp, exuding professionalism throughout the entire process.
"It's not a question of gender, it's a question of technique and the process and everything that goes with it. She's talented, she works hard. She proved it. She's proved it all through training camp. She got our first points on the board today," said Dobie.
"I'm very excited for her, because if you compound all the other pressures that go with it: when can I come into the locker room? When do I have to stay out? Just fitting in with the culture of the team, she came from a Division 1 women's soccer team at Loyola and here she is on a men's soccer team in the country of Canada. Night and day, two completely different cultures. Every day is a learning experience for her. It's unique for her and she handles it so professionally."
With the pre-season over, Manitoba gets set to host Regina in their home and season opener this Friday at 7 pm. Click here for tickets.
