The No. 10 ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies used a strong second half to break away from the visiting University of Alberta Golden Bears en route to a 41-23 playoff-clinching win Saturday at Saskatoon's Griffiths Stadium in PotashCorp Park.
The Huskies scored 24 straight second half points, outscoring Alberta 24-9 in the half to improve to 5-2. Alberta drops to 3-4 with the loss.
The combination of a Saskatchewan win, Alberta loss and a Manitoba loss solidifies second place in the Canada West for the Huskies. Saskatchewan will host a Canada West semi-final November 7.
Quarterback Drew Burko led the Huskie offence on Saturday completing 29-of-41 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns.
Kit Hillis put his name atop the Huskies all-time receptions list on Saturday _ as he hauled in nine Burko passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. John Trumpy also caught two touchdown passes. Tyler Chow was the top rusher for the Huskies with 38 yards on 10 attempts. The first year running back added eight catches for 78 yards.
Mark Ingram moved into first place in the CIS with two interceptions, giving him a six in 2014.
Alberta quarterback Curtis Dell completed 21-of-29 attempts for 292 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Audrey Webster was Dell's favourite target with eight receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. Jimmy Ralph racked up 102 yards on seven catches. Ed Ilnicki rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown on 114 carries to lead the Golden Bears on the ground.
GAME RECAP BY QUARTER
1st Quarter
Alberta took the ball 88 yards on the game's opening possession to jump out to an early lead. Curtis Dell found Adam Zajdel for a 12-yard major.
2nd Quarter
The Huskies would get on the board at 6:57 of the second quarter. Quarterback Drew Burko rolled to his right and connected with Kit Hillis on a six-yard touchdown pass. Hillis hauled in four passes on the scoring drive.
Alberta would respond on their very next drive. Marching down the field to take a 14-7 lead on a one-yard Ed Ilnicki plunge at 8:43. Dell found receiver Tylor Henry for a 35-yard completion to spark the drive.
After Tyler Chow returned the ensuing Alberta kickoff to the Golden Bear side of half, it took just two plays to even the game again. John Trumpy made a leaping catch in the end zone on a 40-yard play-action pass from Burko at 9:42.
Denton Kolodzinski put the Huskies ahead at the half with a 34-yard field goal as the second quarter expired.
3rd Quarter
Stephen Fabian was good on a 30-yard field goal at 4:08 on the Golden Bears opening drive of the second half to square the game at 17.
Burko would find the end zone with a pass for the third time in the game at 13:52 of the third quarter. Julan Lynch capped off the nine play, 84-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown catch.
4th Quarter
Saskatchewan would add to the lead with a 12-yard Kolodzinski field goal on the first drive of the fourth quarter at 2:11.
Alberta looked to cut the deficit to seven midway through the fourth lining up for a 38-yard field goal, but the kick was wide left. Keegan Arnyek was deep to return and took off for a 115-yard return touchdown, aided by two big blocks on his way.
Burko would throw his fourth touchdown of the game and the second to Trumpy. The 19-yard completion at 9:06 gave the Huskies a 41-17 lead.
Back-up quarterback Ryan Schwartz hit Aundrey Webster with an eight-yard touchdown pass at 11:57.