The University of Saskatchewan Huskies can’t go up, and they can’t go down.
The Huskies sit third in the Canada West football standings with a 4-3 record, and that’s where they’ll stay no matter how they fare against the host Calgary Dinos on Saturday.
It means they’re guaranteed a playoff spot, but it also means they’ll open the post-season on the road against either the Manitoba Bisons or British Columbia Thunderbirds.
They’re the only team with an assured fate heading into the weekend. The other five squads continue to fight for positioning.
Here’s some things to know as the Huskies get ready for Game No. 8.
A TANGLED WEB
While the Huskies wait it out in third, Manitoba and UBC play Saturday in a game that will determine which team places first and which ends up second. The Huskies will play No. 2.
Manitoba is 6-1 and UBC 5-2. Based on the tie-breaking formula, the Thunderbirds will have to beat the Bisons by 23 points or more to claim first.
Meanwhile, Calgary, Regina and Alberta are all 2-5, and each has a shot at the fourth and final playoff berth. Regina will clinch if they beat Alberta on Friday night; Alberta clinches if they beat Regina and Saskatchewan beats Calgary; Calgary qualifies if they beat Saskatchewan and Alberta beats Regina.
So, a lot happening.
LET’S BE FRANK
Huskies tailback Ryker Frank set the team’s career rushing-touchdown record during Saturday’s 22-20 win over the Regina Rams. His one-yard run in the first half gave him 21 for his career, breaking Terry Eisler’s old mark of 20 set between 1985 to 1989.
Frank has 24 career touchdowns overall, which leaves him tied for fourth with Mitch Hillis. Eisler and Colton Klassen lead with 30 each.
Frank is also third on the team’s career rushing list with 2,678 yards, trailing just Doug Rozon (4,0865 between 1995 and 1999) and Adam Machart (2,902 between 2018 and 2021).
Frank has one year of eligibility remaining.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Huskies and Dinos met once this season, and it was one of the most entertaining games of the year, anywhere.
Saskatchewan won 44-40 in double-overtime, turning a successful third-and-one gamble in the second OT into the game-winning touchdown four plays later.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a game that close, at the end, coming down to inches,” Frank said after the game, which was Saskatchewan’s first win of the season after back-to-back losses.
LEADING THE PACK
Huskies’ quarterback Anton Amundrud leads the conference in attempts (242), completions (168), yards (2,002) and touchdown passes (10). His primary target is Daniel Wiebe, who leads the conference with 47 catches, 720 yards and six TD receptions.
Meanwhile, first-year kicker Lukas Scott has hit 13 of 16 field-goal attempts, and his 81 per cent rate is tops in Canada West.
UP NEXT
Canada West playoffs are next on the schedule, and the Huskies will open next weekend as the road underdogs in either Winnipeg or Vancouver.
The combatants in the other matchup remain unclear, for now.
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