A matchup between Saskatchewan and Regina is always one that means a lot to both cities schools, but this week's match will mean just a bit more.
Not only is it the only meeting between these two provincial rivals, it is also the rematch between the defending Hardy Cup champion Regina Rams and the team they defeated last November to win the trophy at Griffiths Stadium, the Saskatchewan Huskies.
The Rams (3-0) cruise into Saskatoon at the top of the Canada West standings and will look for a chance to cement that spot even further with a win in the "U-Prairie Challenge." The Huskies (2-1) will be looking to prevent that and get some payback against the Rams.
Here's everything you need to know as these two rivals battle for the top spot in Canada West in the heart of the Prairies.
Saskatchewan Huskies Team Overview
It is a much different feeling around the Huskies now compared to just a week ago. Heading into their matchup with the Bisons, the Huskies seemed to be the team to beat in Canada West.
That is no longer the case this week.
But there is a chance to reclaim that title. The Rams are the new leaders of the conference, and a win this week would go a long way in pushing the Huskies into the top spot.
Saskatchewan will need to have a much better performance compared to what they displayed in Manitoba, though. The Huskies led 17-0 at halftime and ended up scoring just three points compared to the Bisons' 21 in the second half.
Quarterback Anton Amundrud's production cratered last week, posting 187 passing yards and one passing touchdown on 21 of 34 completed throws — A sharp decrease from his 385 passing yards and four passing touchdowns the week prior against UBC.
And he wasn't alone in experiencing a dip in production against Manitoba.
Outside of running back Ryker Frank and wide receivers Daniel Wiebe and Dawson Lennea, only four passes were completed to other receivers.
The good news? The Huskies have all the weapons on offence and defence to make last week seem like a fluke. Saskatchewan's offence is still averaging 441 yards per game and is seventh in the country for points scored per game with 33.3
A good outing from the dogs starts and ends with Amundrud. As much as having Ryker Frank in the backfield is a significant asset to the Huskies' offence, the team seems intent on conserving his usage — perhaps in an effort to save his energy for the playoffs.
And when Amundrud is lighting up defences, it also means that Wiebe is having a good night.
The two are the bread and butter of the Huskies' offence. If Wiebe struggles, it means the passing game is struggling. It will be important for Amundrud to solidify that connection early in the game against a tough Regina defence. Otherwise, it might be another disappointing night for Saskatchewan.
The other key to stopping a disappointing night for fans in Saskatoon will be the Huskies' defence. Losing a 17-0 lead and allowing 21 points in a half won't win you a lot of football games.
But this group on paper is full of talented players and should rebound with a strong performance on Friday.
Saskatchewan allowed only 17 points after trailing 17-15 at halftime in Edmonton in Week 1, up until halftime in Winnipeg last week. And that is no fluke. Led by linebackers Seth Hundeby and Jacob Goldstone, the Huskies' defence is allowing an average of 18.3 points per game, the fifth-least in Canada.
One area the dogs can improve on is the yards allowed per game. They sit seventh across U SPORTS with 453 yards allowed per game.
The only team above them with a winning record is Laurier, who is averaging 458 yards allowed per game. It will be tough to lower that number against a very good Regina team, but it is something that will need to be addressed sooner rather than later.
Regina Rams Team Overview
Last week's 37-20 dismantling of UBC proved that not only was Regina the best team in the conference, their offence might just be one of the best in the nation.
Although it's hard to judge teams across conferences, it's pretty easy to pick out a good offence from a bad one.
And the Rams certainly are one of those good offences. They are averaging the second-most points per game with 42.3 and the third-most yards per game in the country with 501, in large part due to running back Marshall Erichsen.
The third-year back is averaging 160 yards per game on the ground, the second most yards in U SPORTS, trailing only Western's Ethan Dolby's 164 rushing yards per game.
That isn't to say the Regina passing game isn't dangerous, though. Rams quarterback Noah Pelletier is averaging 295.3 passing yards per game and has tossed for five touchdowns through three games this season.
Regina's passing game ranks 11th in the nation, but it is just as dangerous as their run game at times — and that was on full display last week against the Thunderbirds.
Pelletier threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns in the win over UBC and racked up 11 completions and 158 yards to receiver Nicholas Sirleaf. There is no clear weakness in the Rams' offence.
It will be interesting to watch and see how the Huskies' defence tries to slow down the Rams. However, will they figure out what the Dinos, Golden Bears or Thunderbirds couldn't?
The one possible weakness this team has might be its defence. The Rams have yet to hold a team to less than 20 points. It's a small issue that does not matter when you are scoring over an average of 40 points per game.
But if one team can figure out the Regina offence and hold them to under 30 points, it could be the recipe that hands the Rams their first loss of the season. The question remains of whether that will happen, though.
The Regina defence is proving to be solid. Led by sophomore linebackers Owen Zimmer and Liam LaBelle, the Rams are around the middle of the pack in everything from points allowed per game, yards allowed per game, and sacks.
They have yet to meet a juggernaut like the Huskies, and maybe that changes after this week, but right now it's been an all-around for the Rams.
Previous Matchups and Players to Watch
The last time these two met at Griffiths Stadium, it was the Rams who walked out of the stadium with the Hardy Cup after a 19-14 win over Saskatchewan. However, going back to last year when these teams met in the regular season in Saskatoon, it was the Huskies who squeaked out a 22-20 win.
Here are some players to keep an eye out for in this week's matchup.
Saskatchewan Huskies
- QB Anton Amundrud
- RB Ryker Frank
- WR Daniel Wiebe
- DL Charlie Parks
- LB Jacob Goldstone
- LB Seth Hundeby
Regina Rams
- QB Noah Pelletier
- RB Marshall Erichsen
- WR Nicholas Sirleaf
- WR Renzel Arinaza
- LB Owen Zimmer
- DB Brandon Wong
Prediction
The Rams seem almost unbeatable right now. If the offence keeps humming as it has through the first three weeks, it's hard to see how Saskatchewan can beat them. That isn't to say that the Huskies don't have a chance, though.
The dogs will be the Rams' best opponent yet. And as such, Saskatchewan has all the weapons at its disposal to be the ones to hand Regina their first loss of the season.
Don't forget about the revenge factor either. The Huskies unquestionably have a chip on their shoulder from the Hardy Cup loss. They will be hungry to get back at Regina, and that means fans are in for a great game.
Canada West football is extremely unpredictable, and it's naive to assume any team has a game in the bag until the clock hits zero — let alone think a game is decided before kickoff.
With this in mind, either team may come away with the win and betting against either team feels risky. But there is no fun in picking neither side to win. This feels like a game Regina should win, and a game that Saskatchewan will need to play their best football of the season to win.
Final Score Prediction: Regina wins 37-30