SECOND HALF TOUCHDOWNS LEAD HUSKIES TO VICTORY

SECOND HALF TOUCHDOWNS LEAD HUSKIES TO VICTORY

Capitalizing on four second half turnovers, the No. 10 University of Saskatchewan Huskies rallied past the visiting No. 6 University of Manitoba Bisons 44-24 Friday night at Saskatoon's Griffiths Stadium.

Mark Ingram accounted for two interceptions in the turnover count, while Keegan Arnyek added another. Andrew Abbs got the Huskies first turnover of the half with a fumble recovery on a punt cover.

Saskatchewan quarterback Drew Burko finished the night 25-for-41 with 232 yards and four touchdowns. Mitch Hillis was Burko's top target with 54 yards on eight catches. Shane Buchanan racked up 88 yards on the ground.

Jordan Yantz completed 20-of-38 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns for the Bisons. Alex Vitt led the Bisons receiving core with six receptions. Kienan LaFrance gained 70 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts.

The crowd of 8121, 3,683 of them students, on hand for the homecoming game was the second highest attendance for the Huskies in a Canada West conference game and third most in the conference. The Huskies continue their streak of strong Canada West starts, having not lost an opener since 2002.

 

Saskatchewan will travel to face the Alberta Golden Bears (0-1) next Saturday, while Manitoba hosts the Regina Rams (1-0).

 

BY QUARTER GAME RECAP

1st Quarter

Manitoba opened the scoring on its first possession of the game with a 40-yard Ryan Jones field goal at 5:38.

Saskatchewan got on the board on its next drive at 7:24, taking a 7-3 lead after Drew Burko connected with Andre Lalonde for a 7-yard touchdown. The major score was Lalonde's first in the CIS.

Manitoba answered back with a touchdown of their own on a 1-yard touchdown plunge by running back at 10:45

Manitoba 10 – Saskatchewan 7

 

2nd Quarter

LaFrance recorded his second score of the game at 3:38, this time with an 8-yard reception from Bisons quarterback Jordan Yantz.

Burko would get back to within three with an 8-yard pass to John Trumpy at 7:35– his first CIS receiving touchdown.

After a Bison interception, Yantz would hit Alex Smith in the end zone from nine yards out at 13:15.

Saskatchewan rallied to close the gap before halftime aided by an unsuccessful Manitoba onside kick attempt that set the Huskies up inside Bison territory. Burko found Kit Hillis with an 11-yard pass with 0:18 to go before halftime. 

Manitoba 24 – Saskatchewan 21

3rd Quarter

 Denton Kolodzinski knotted the game up at 24 with a 34-yard field goal at 2:25 on the Huskies opening possession of the third.

Andrew Abbs recovered a fumbled punt return at the Manitoba six leading to a Jarvis James 6-yard touchdown run at 10:52.

Mark Ingram and Keegan Arnyek intercepted Yantz on back-to-back drives, the latter setting up a 32-yard Kolodzinski field goal at 14:45.

Manitoba 24 – Saskatchewan 34

4th Quarter

After Ingram intercepted Yantz for the second time in the game, Burko sent a 16-yard pass into the hands of Brydon Ozmun for the score at 5:16. Ozmun became the third Huskie to record his first CIS touchdown on the night.

Kolodzinski hit his third field goal of the game at 9:55, a 23 yard kick that sealed the victory.