The University of Regina Rams are going to the Hardy Cup after beating the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 39-27 in a Canada West semifinal showdown. It was a full team effort carried on the backs of a defence that forced six turnovers, quarterback Owen Sieben, who threw three touchdowns, and a 139-yard rushing day from running back Carter Ashman. The Huskies were first to score with a 34-yard field goal from James Keane. The Rams responded with two field goals of their own later in the first quarter. Rams kicker Ty Gorniak hit a 30-yard field goal set up from a 54-yard interception return by Tyleon Ocaya, and then 41-yarder following a fumble forced by Bennett Anderson and recovered by Brad Robin. This gave Regina a 6-3 lead after the first quarter. The Rams cranked it up in the second quarter with three touchdowns. Max Polischuk picked off Huskies quarterback Anton Amundrud, setting Regina up for a 70-yard drive that ended with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Sieben to Nicholas Sirleaf. However, a bad snap on the attempted conversion kept the score at 12-3. The next touchdown was when Ashman broke loose on a 63-yard run, making the game 19-3. Regina was able to score again three minutes later when Sieben found Adley Mayala for a 21-yard touchdown, making it 26-3. Saskatchewan was able to respond with a six-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the half, putting the game at 26-10. In the third quarter, Rams defensive back Chase Murray picked off Amundrund and returned it 41 yards to Saskatchewan’s 14-yard line, setting up a touchdown pass from Sieben to Michael Eagle Bear which gave Regina a 33-10 lead. Saskatchewan cut into that lead with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Rhett Vavea later in the third followed by a five-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Jule early in the fourth. Then, with another field goal from Keane, the Huskies eventually cut the lead to 33-27. Regina had a crucial eight-play drive that took over four minutes off the clock and ended with a 41-yard field goal from Gorniak. When back on defence, Regina managed another takeaway—intercepting Saskatchewan for the fourth time in the game and setting up a final scoring drive at midfield. The Rams offence capitalized with another Gorniak field goal, putting the Rams up 39-27 with 2:26 left in the game. The defence managed to hold up against Saskatchewan for the rest of the game. The Rams are set to travel to Vancouver to face the UBC Thunderbirds in the 89th BioSteel Hardy Cup next Saturday. The winner of that matchup will advance to the Uteck Bowl hosted by either Laval or Montreal.
