The University of Saskatchewan Huskies avenged an opening week loss with a 40-7 win over the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in front of a packed house at Griffiths Stadium on Friday.
After a rocky 43-19 loss in Winnipeg a week ago, the defending Hardy Cup champions wouldn’t be denied victory in front of a raucous home crowd.
The Huskies home opener got off to a rumbling start as Saskatchewan’s defence was able to keep UBC at bay until second-year running back Adam Machart ran his way through a series of attempted tackles for a 63-yard touchdown in the opening quarter to set the 6,278 fans into a frenzy.
The T-Bids answered back with a 12-yard pass from Tyler Yanchuk to Jacob Patten. A Jacob Solie field goal and a two-yard touchdown pass from new Huskies starter Mason Nyhus to Jesse Kuntz on a third down gamble opened a 17-7 Huskies lead at the half.
A dormant opening to the third quarter allowed the Huskies to steadily firm its grip on the scoreline. Machart would add to the lead with a one-yard touchdown run on another third-down gamble near the goal line at the start of the fourth quarter.
Less than two minutes later Tyler Perry would return a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. Another field goal would all but seal the victory before Nelson Lokombo’s 95 yard interception return for a touchdown with 39 seconds left would cruise the Huskies to victory.
Machart ended the game with 134 yards on 15 carries for two touchdowns. Nyhus won his first game as a starter with 306 yards passing, completing 25 of 37 passes with one touchdown and one interception.
Patten was UBC’s top performer with six receptions for 75 yards for one touchdown.
The Huskies will travel to the University of Regina next week to face the 1-1 Rams after Regina lost 18-17 to the University of Alberta Golden Bears Friday.