Huskies’ Riley Pickett has sights set on Vanier Cup

The Saskatchewan Huskies will play their biggest game of the season Saturday, in search of the program’s fourth Vanier Cup in program history.

It’s been a rollercoaster season for the Dogs, who bring in an eight-game win streak to Saturday’s contest.

Standing in their way is the Western Mustangs. The two teams matched up in the 2018 Mitchell Bowl that saw the Mustangs pull away in the second half in a 47-24 win.

It’s safe to say the Huskies took something away from that season, as defensive lineman Riley Pickett says he noticed a change in the level of dedication the players have in the program.

“It all starts in the off-season with the dedication and the training program,” Pickett said.

“For the past two years, we’ve always said, ‘come here, grind, sweat it out, believe in practice.’ I just think that determination and that motivation for the past two years has really helped us get here.”

All of that hard work and dedication has been shown this season. After dropping the season opener to the Calgary Dinos, Saskatchewan has won eight straight games heading into the Vanier Cup.

The latest win came against the Montreal Carabins in the Uteck Bowl. Adam Machart’s late heroics gave the Huskies one of the biggest wins in program history. Pickett says once the defence got the stop they needed, he knew the offence would take care of business.

“At the end of the day, you just gotta believe in your brothers. Me and (Machart) have been really close friends since Grade 9, we’ve played on the same football team.”

“He’s delivered in lots of big moments for me and I really believed our offence would deliver again.”

While it was an emotional victory for all of the players, coaches, and fans watching from all over the country, Pickett stresses that the job isn’t finished yet.

“To win, you’re obviously on cloud nine. There’s nothing honestly like it out there, in that type of fashion,” Pickett said after defeating the Carabins.

“To get yourself back on track, just keep watching film, just stay bought in and limit all of the distractions. Just know that the job’s not finished, you need to have that Kobe (Bryant) mentality.”

After the Huskies win in Montreal, the team stayed out east to prepare for the Vanier Cup in Quebec City. Pickett says it’s been very rewarding to stay connected on the road with his teammates and other family members that made the trip.

“Seeing your family, and seeing all the green in the stands. It definitely gives you that sense of home. It also makes you want to not only win the game, but you want to perform for the people that travelled all this way for you.”

The Huskies will look to bring home the Vanier Cup for the first time since 1998.