Before the hitting and tackling, the Regina Rams and University of Saskatchewan Huskies had to do some sitting and talking.
It was press-conference day at the Huskies’ clubhouse Friday — a little break, a lot of questions — before the provincial rivals square off in Saturday’s Canada West final.
“It’s the trilogy,” said Rams’ defensive back Jackson Sombach, whose team is preparing to play the Huskies for the third time this season. “U of R vs. U of S, one-and-one (head-to-head record). You can’t draw it up any better for the Hardy Cup. It’s going to be awesome.”
It’s the first championship meeting between the two teams since 2002, and their first playoff game together since 2012. Neither squad took an orthodox route to this year’s final.
The Rams went 3-5 during the regular season, just enough to net them the fourth and final playoff spot. Then they upset the No. 1 Manitoba Bisons in last weekend’s semifinal, getting a game-winning 16-yard touchdown catch from Nicholas Sirleaf with 19 seconds on the clock in a 28-25 victory.
The Huskies lost three of their first four games, but have won five straight since then — four of them last-minute affairs, including last weekend’s playoff win over British Columbia. Saskatchewan scored two touchdowns in the final minute to beat the Thunderbirds 38-33.
“It’s a testament to our team’s grit and desire, and honestly, it’s the same with Regina,” Huskies’ linebacker Seth Hundeby told reporters. “We were the third and fourth (place) teams, and we decided no, we want to go to the Hardy Cup. It may have been in the last couple of minutes, but we decided we wanted to go there.
“Nothing really beats playing a Hardy Cup in Saskatchewan.”
The Hardy Cup itself is named after former U of S professor and football player Evan Hardy, so even the trophy has a direct Saskatchewan lineage in this provincial title tilt.
“I know (Huskies’ head coach Scott Flory) would agree — hopefully it’s a predictor of future Hardy Cups between the Rams and the Huskies,” said Regina coach Mark McConkey.
“It’s going to be a 10-round boxing match,” he added. “It’s going to go right down to, probably, the final whistle; the final play. We’ve played each other tough.”
Regina beat Saskatchewan 33-28 in their first meeting this season, and the Huskies rebounded at Griffiths Stadium a month and a half later, squeezing out a 22-20 victory.
Regina’s defence was the stingiest in the conference this year. They allowed just 177 points in eight games, the only team to give up less than 200. On the other hand, their 157 points scored was the league-low.
The Huskies surrendered 233 points, which was the highest in Canada West, while their 233 points scored was second overall. So the teams offer contrasting statistical comparisons on both sides of the football.
Each has also shown an ability to win games in the last few minutes, especially the Huskies, who have clinched five of their six victories in the last 60 seconds.
“I learned this a long time ago, as a player,” said Flory. “When you take a look at Canadian football, the first 57 minutes can sometimes fly by, and those last three minutes, you can easily have three or four possessions on each side.
“There’s never a sense that we can’t win any football game. It’s the same message I tell the guys — when you cross the stripe, just give us your best football.”
For the record, the Huskies/Rams Canada West title clash in 2002 ended with a 44-28 victory. The Huskies went 4-4 during the regular season and placed fourth; Regina was third with a 5-3 mark.
This time around, they’ve flipped the standings spot, and McConkey hopes to see that first little trend repeat itself.
“I hope the same thing happens,” he said. “The Huskies were the fourth seed and the Rams were the three seed (in 2002), and the four-seed won. That’s the game plan for tomorrow.”
The winner of Saturday’s game will host the Quebec champion on Nov. 16 in the Mitchell Bowl, followed by the Vanier Cup Nov. 23 in Kingston, Ont. The Quebec final is also Saturday — it pits the nation’s No. 1-ranked team, the Montreal Carabins, against the No. 3 Laval Rouge et Or. Montreal is the defending Vanier Cup champion.
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