Huskies win big in return to Griffiths Stadium

University of Saskatchewan Huskies running back Adam Machart wasted no time welcoming fans back to Griffiths Stadium Saturday.

On the first play from scrimmage, Machart took a handoff from quarterback Mason Nyhus and bulldozed his way through multiple Alberta Golden Bears defenders for a 68-yard touchdown.

“Momentum-wise it’s huge to get a start like that. We just honestly executed,” Machart said, thanking his offensive lineman and receivers for the blocking on the play. “You can’t really ask for much more than that, so it was a really good way to start the game.

The play generated the first roaring applause from the 3,157-person crowd in 714 days, and it certainly caught head coach Scott Flory off guard.

“I had a second and short (play) on my thumb ready to go and I didn’t need it,” he said. “That’s just what he does. He makes people miss and he finishes in the end zone.”

Saskatchewan continued to run up and down the field the rest of the afternoon for a 54-27 win.

After waiting nearly two years between home games, which involved installing a new playing surface and other renovations at field level, Machart was happy to have the fans back on the Huskies side.

“It’s electric. We’ve been juiced up all week to get out here and play for these guys,” Machart said.

Saskatchewan continued its hot play in the first quarter and pinned the Golden Bears with two safeties when not driving the ball downfield and a seven-yard touchdown pass from Nyhus to Sam Baker for an 18-3 lead after the first quarter.

A minute later, Machart scored his second touchdown on a delayed screen pass from Nyhus for a wide open 39-yard jaunt to the end zone. Machart finished the game with 221 yards from scrimmage — 132 yards rushing on 11 carries and an additional 89 yards on three catches.

A David Solie field goal would send the teams to halftime with Saskatchewan leading 29-13.

The second half started similar to the first, but this time it was Nyhus airing it out and gaining huge chunk yards.

“We had a chance to reset,” Flory said of his halftime adjustments. “Take a look at the iPads and look at what’s going on. He was locked in (during) his third quarter.”

Nyhus completed touchdown passes of 24 yards and 20 yards to Brett Vavra and Baker, respectively, to put the game out of reach for Alberta.

A Huskies field goal, a fumble recovery in the end zone and a couple late touchdowns ended the game with a 54-27 final score.

Now the Huskies prepare for a rivalry game at home against the Regina Rams — pivotal game in the shortened 2021 six-game schedule.

“It’s like playoff mode from week one. We’re not stressed about it, but we understand the level of importance of each and every game,” Flory said.

“At the end of it, we have to protect our house.”

After racking up 626 total yards of offence last week against UBC and an additional 543 on Saturday, Oregon Ducks transfer Nick Wiebe thinks the team is playing its best football, but the defence is also making it difficult on their opponents.

“We got back to basics on defence,” the linebacker said. “Getting in (the) quarterback’s face and making running backs feel it when they run the ball. That’s what we did the past two games and I think it’s been huge for us.”

Nyhus finished the game with 385 yards and four touchdowns, completing 20 of his 33 passes.

Baker finished with seven catches, two touchdowns and 54 yards receiving, while Wiebe finished with six tackles and a forced fumble on the defensive side of the ball.

Across the conference

There were some shocking finishes in other games across the Canada West.

After trailing 20-5 after three quarters, the Manitoba Bisons put up 23 unanswered points in the final frame, winning 28-20 over the no.4 Calgary Dinos to sit atop the standings with a 3-0 for the first time since their Vanier Cup season in 2007.

It wasn’t the only comeback game, either.

In Regina, the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds also used a 23-point comeback in the final quarter to send its game against the Regina Rams to overtime thanks to a dramatic Aldo Galvan missed field goal attempt from the 49 yard line on the final play of regulation.

The two teams traded touchdowns in overtime, but T-birds head coach Blake Nill opted to attempt a two-point conversion rather than send the game to a second overtime.

Quarterback Garrett Rooker completed a pass to Trey Kellogg for the 31-30 win, UBC’s first of the year.

Those dramatic finishes vaulted the Huskies to second place in the standings with a 2-1 record. Alberta, Calgary, Regina and UBC are tied for third with 1-2 records.