A strong performance by an unproven defence powered the University of Saskatchewan Huskies to a 28-5 win Friday night over the visiting UBC Thunderbirds in a non-conference game at Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park.
The Huskie defence, that lost six starters from a season ago, rallied throughout the night to hold the Thunderbirds out of the end zone.
“We were really physical, especially in the second half,” said Huskie head coach Brian Towriss, who enters his 30th season at the helm. “Other than two or three undisciplined penalties, I thought we played really well.”
Rookie linebacker turned defensive lineman Michael Desjarlais shone in the game recording 5.5 tackles for the green and white. Third-year defensive back Corey Edington added another 4.5 for the Huskies, while Dane Bishop tallied 3.5 tackles and two sacks.
Saskatchewan opened the scoring with a rouge by kicker Denton Kolodzinski on the opening kickoff. Kolodzinski added a field goal on the Huskies opening drive. The starting unit continued to move the ball in the first quarter finding the end zone on a 59-yard run by Shane Buchanan at 10:34 to close the frame ahead 11-0.
The T-Birds offence marched the field midway through the second quarter but could not break the plane of the goal line on third down from the Huskie one-yard line. UBC did record a safety on the ensuing punt to cut the lead to 11-2 at halftime.
Saskatchewan’s offence found its rhythm in the second half recording a 20-yard field goal on the leg of Sean Stenger in the third quarter and two touchdowns in the fourth frame.
Second-year running back Drew Bexson found the end zone on a one-yard plunge at 4:12 after rookie receiver Mitch Hillis snagged a 41-yard gain. Hillis, younger brother to Huskies’ 2012 CIS First Team All-Canadian Kit Hillis, caught a 48-yard screen pass to score the second touchdown in the quarter at 8:16.
UBC kicker Quinn Van Gylswyk hit a late fourth quarter field goal to bring the final score to 28-5.
Saskatchewan starting quarterback Drew Burko completed 9-of-14 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown playing in the first and fourth quarters of the non-conference affair. Matthew Bonaca completed 8-of-11 passes for 71 yards in the second at pivot for the Huskies, while Jordan Tarasoff went 9-for-11 for 68 yards in the third frame.
Carson Williams started the game for the T-Birds completing 8-of-15 passes for 84 yards. Greg Bowcott replaced Williams behind center in the second quarter finishing 4-for-13 for 91 yards.
Pierre Lacerte recorded 6.5 tackles to lead the way defensively for the Thunderbirds. Nik Termansen and Kevin Wiens both picked off Huskie quarterbacks on the night.
UBC will open their conference schedule at home against the Calgary Dinos next week, while Saskatchewan will host the Regina Rams next Friday night at Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park. Tickets are on sale now for the regular season opener at huskies.usask.ca.
Photo Credit: Josh Schaefer
Scoring Summary (Final)
UBC (0-1) vs. Saskatchewan (1-0)
Date: Aug 23, 2013 • Site: Saskatoon, SK • Stadium: Griffith • Attendance: 3417
| Score by Quarters | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Score |
| UBC | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Saskatchewan | 11 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 28 |
| SCORING SUMMARY | UBC -SASK | |||
| 1st | 03:35 | SASK | D.Kolodzinski 53 rouge (kickoff) | |
| 0 – 1 | ||||
| 06:30 | SASK | D.Kolodzinski 43 yd field goal | ||
| 8 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:55 | 0 – 4 | |||
| 10:34 | SASK | Shane Buchanan 59 yd run (D.Kolodzinski kick) | ||
| 1 play, 59 yards, TOP 0:18 | 0 – 11 | |||
| 2nd | 05:36 | UBC | TEAM safety | |
| 2 – 11 | ||||
| 3rd | 02:03 | SASK | Sean Stenger 20 yd field goal | |
| 5 plays, 36 yards, TOP 2:03 | 2 – 14 | |||
| 4th | 04:12 | SASK | Drew Bexson 1 yd run (Sean Stenger kick) | |
| 4 plays, 57 yards, TOP 1:54 | 2 – 21 | |||
| 08:16 | SASK | Mitch Hillis 48 yd pass from Drew Burko (Sean Stenger kick) | ||
| 4 plays, 69 yards, TOP 1:47 | 2 – 28 | |||
| 13:28 | UBC | Q. Van Gylswyk 31 yd field goal | ||
| 11 plays, 0 yards, TOP 0:00 | 5 – 28 | |||
| Kickoff time: 7:10 • End of Game: 9:50 • Total elapsed time: 2:40 Referee: Ryan Elder • Umpire: Todd Joyes • Linesman: Perry Karakochu • Line judge: Troy Semenchuk • Back judge: Mike Ciona • Field judge: Steve Chisholm • Side judge: Kent Gauthier • Alternate: Adam Lerch • Temperature: 26C • Wind: 25km/h • Weather: Overcast |
Team Statistics |
Team Statistics (Final)
| Team Totals | UBC | SASK |
| FIRST DOWNS | 16 | 21 |
| Rushing | 6 | 9 |
| Passing | 7 | 10 |
| Penalty | 3 | 2 |
| NET YARDS RUSHING | 95 | 157 |
| Rushing Attempts | 26 | 25 |
| Average Per Rush | 3.7 | 6.3 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 0 | 2 |
| Yards Gained Rushing | 120 | 168 |
| Yards Lost Rushing | 25 | 11 |
| NET YARDS PASSING | 175 | 306 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int | 12-28-0 | 26-36-2 |
| Average Per Attempt | 6.2 | 8.5 |
| Average Per Completion | 14.6 | 11.8 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 0 | 1 |
| TEAM LOSSES | -27 | -10 |
| TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS | 243 | 453 |
| Total offense plays | 57 | 62 |
| Average Gain Per Play | 4.3 | 7.3 |
| Fumbles: Number-Lost | 3-0 | 1-1 |
| Penalties: Number-Yards | 11-76 | 12-124 |
| PUNTS-YARDS | 14-593 | 8-331 |
| Average Yards Per Punt | 42.4 | 41.4 |
| Net Yards Per Punt | 35.0 | 35.2 |
| Inside 20 | 1 | 2 |
| 50+ Yards | 2 | 1 |
| Touchbacks | 0 | 0 |
| Fair catch | 0 | 0 |
| KICKOFFS-YARDS | 1-62 | 7-388 |
| Average Yards Per Kickoff | 62.0 | 55.4 |
| Net Yards Per Kickoff | 4.0 | 34.1 |
| Touchbacks | 0 | 1 |
| Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD | 8-49-0 | 12-103-0 |
| Average Per Return | 6.1 | 8.6 |
| Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD | 6-114-0 | 1-58-0 |
| Average Per Return | 19.0 | 58.0 |
| Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD | 2-23-0 | 0-0-0 |
| Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
| Possession Time | 28:20 | 29:11 |
| 1st Quarter | 9:05 | 5:55 |
| 2nd Quarter | 5:35 | 9:25 |
| 3rd Quarter | 6:06 | 8:54 |
| 4th Quarter | 7:34 | 4:57 |
| Third-Down Conversions | 1 of 2 | 1 of 2 |
| Red-Zone Scores-Chances | 0-2 | 2-2 |
| Touchdowns | 0-2 | 1-2 |
| Field goals | 0-2 | 1-2 |
| Sacks By: Number-Yards | 1-10 | 3-27 |
| PAT Kicks | 0-0 | 3-3 |
| Field Goals | 1-2 | 2-2 |
Individual Statistics |
Individual Statistics (Final)
| UBC | Saskatchewan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| FUMBLES: UBC-Carson Williams 1-0; Patrick Bull 1-0; Alex Morrison 1-0. Saskatchewan-Matthew |
UBC Sports Information:
VANCOUVER – The UBC offence produced just three points as the Thunderbirds fell 28-5 to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in a non-conference game on Friday night in Saskatoon.
New kicker Quinn VanGylswyk Victoria, BC) made a 31-yard field goal with 1:32 left in the fourth quarter to round out the game’s scoring. The kick gave UBC its first offensive points of the night.
The Thunderbirds’ only other points came on a safety with 9:24 to go in the second period, cutting the Huskies’ lead at the time to 11-2, which was the halftime score.
UBC’s best opportunity for a touchdown came on the possession prior to the safety. The Thunderbirds picked up a fumble at the Huskies’ 10-yard line to start a drive in the red zone. Three plays later, on third-and-goal, Saskatchewan stuffed UBC running back Jeff Effah (Calgary, AB) on the goal line for a turnover.
Playing time at the quarterback position was split between Carson Williams (Abbotsford, BC) and Greg Bowcott (Abbotsford, BC). Williams completed eight of 15 passes for 84 yards, while Bowcott was 4-of-13 for 91 yards.
Effah gained 58 yards on the ground on nine carries to lead UBC. David Scott (El Paso, TX) was the leading receiver with 51 yards on two catches.
On the defensive side, Pierre Lacerte (El Paso, TX) had 6.5 tackles while Nik Termansen (North Vancouver, BC) and Kevin Wiens (Mission, BC) both had interceptions.
Saskatchewan receiver Mitch Hillis caught seven passes for 131 yards and one touchdown. The winning score came early for Saskatchewan as Shane Buchanan recorded a 59-yard touchdown reception with less than four and a half minutes left in the opening quarter to put the home team up 11-0.
Huskies’ pivot Drew Burko went 9-of-14 for 167 passing yards and a touchdown.
UBC will open the Canada West regular season on Saturday, Aug. 31 against the five-time defending conference champion University of Calgary Dinos at Thunderbird Stadium. Kick off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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