Colton Klassen prepares for final game in a Huskies uniform

It’s quite fitting that the last game in Colton Klassen’s university career also happens to be the biggest one.

The fifth-year Saskatoon product out of Holy Cross High School has been through all of the trials and tribulations you can imagine with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team.

In the 2019 season, Klassen dislocated his ankle in a game against the Alberta Golden Bears. After a full year of recovery, the 2020 season was stripped from Klassen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After waiting for almost two years, Klassen finally got to suit up again and wear the green-and-white jersey with pride.

And now, the full circle has come around as Klassen and the Huskies are prepping for the Vanier Cup on Saturday.

“It’s just a great feeling, just looking back at the last five years and how the team has grown so much,” said Klassen, who played junior football with the Regina Thunder.

“My second year, we didn’t even make the playoffs. I feel like from that 2017 season, we kind of just kept growing and growing and growing. It’s just amazing to see all the guys that have been here throughout the journey. It’s just a good finale for sure.”

The Dogs extended their season after one of the biggest wins in program history. On the final drive of their game Saturday, the Huskies scored in the dying seconds to beat the Montreal Carabins 14-10 to claim the Uteck Bowl.

Klassen credited his teammates for pulling off the insane comeback and said quarterback Mason Nyhus shared some powerful words before the drive began.

“Mason did a good job of bringing the guys together,” Klassen said. “He literally said, ‘This is the drive you’re going to be able to tell your kids about,’ so it’s actually pretty amazing how it turned out.  “One of the things we say is, ‘Be your best when your best is needed,’ and on that last drive, I think that was just the perfect example. (It’s) definitely something we’ll all remember for the rest of our lives.”

With the victory over the Carabins in Montreal, the Huskies are staying out east to play the Western Mustangs for the Vanier Cup in Quebec City.

Klassen said while there was a ton of excitement from the Uteck Bowl, the team is still very focused on finishing the job.

“It was an emotionally draining game, but guys are starting to come back to being level. I think we’re in a good mindset. Everyone knows the job’s not done,” Klassen said.

“We’ve got one game left, and we’re not satisfied until we come home with the Vanier.”

Kick-off is 12:00 p.m. CST in Quebec City, Que.