U of S Huskies heading to Vanier Cup after defeating Queens

WATCH: The University of Saskatchewan Huskies are heading to the Vanier Cup, after a hard-fought win in the Mitchell Bowl on Saturday afternoon.

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies are heading to the Vanier Cup, after a hard-fought win in the Mitchell Bowl on Saturday afternoon.

In a final score of 22-11, the Huskies defeated the Queens Golden Gaels in front of a packed crowd.

The game highlighted the many key players who have had strong seasons with the team. After Queens scored the first point with a single, Daniel Wiebe scored the first touchdown of the game. The 41-yard touchdown provided the Huskies with a lead that they would keep throughout the remainder of the game.

“Anytime you are in a big game like this, you try to go to your best players. And obviously Daniel Wiebe, the best receiver in the country, you want to get [him] the ball early. So, I mean that’s the side of him getting the ball and doing what he does,” quarterback Jake Farrell said.

The momentum truly took shape for the Huskies when Daniel Kubongo ran for 85 yards with a touchdown return, which also earned the returner the title of offensive player of the game.

“I just got the ball, I know my guys were working hard, they’re blocking hard. So, I just went through the seam, saw John Stoll have a great block on his guy and just took it to the sideline and scored the ball,” Kubongo said.

Linebacker Seth Hundeby was named defensive player of the game, thanks to his six tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble.

“It’s one of those moments when the opportunity presents itself, we’re like, ‘Holy cow, it worked’ ... We do those types of plays all the time [in practice] where it’s like, if you ever get in that situation, what are you going to do? It’s punch the ball out and whatnot. So, I got to thank my coaches. They really set me up for that one,” he said.

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The game marked the first time in 36 years that this particular matchup has been hosted at Griffiths Stadium. In previous years, the Huskies have proven the importance of home field advantage in the Mitchell Bowl. The team continued their perfect record of home wins in the game, winning all five Mitchell Bowls hosted at Griffiths Stadium.

“We just loved Griffiths. I don’t know what the stats are, but I know we love playing here in front of these fans, how loud it gets. I mean, it’s a huge wind in your sails. Saskatoon’s a phenomenal football community and we’re just too proud to be out here and everybody comes out to score us because these young men, they deserve the support,” Huskies’ head coach Scott Flory said.

A frequent sight on the field was Huskies players holding up one finger on each hand, signifying the number 11. It was announced earlier in the week that the team’s starting quarterback, Anton Amundrud recently received a cancer diagnosis. The quarterback played five games with his team this season before having to step away due to his health. However, his presence is still incredibly prevalent among his teammates.

• Huskies rally around Amundrud after lymphoma diagnosis

“I was able to speak to Anton yesterday, and he told me to get him a big one. And... before I even crossed the goal line, I knew what [hand signals] I was going to throw up, I knew I was going to go to the camera and just tell him we love him because we really do,” Kubongo said.

Many of those on the field emphasized that they are playing for Amundrud and shared that the quarterback has an entire community full of support.

“It’s been a heavy week. No doubt about it. I mean, that was the hardest team meeting ... news I had to give. But man, what a week to be together and to be able to do what we love, do it for a guy we love and just be together. And that’s really what this team is about,” Flory said.

The Huskies will now be heading to Regina on Saturday, Nov. 22 to face off against the Montreal Carabins at Mosaic Stadium. The Huskies have made appearances in the Vanier cup in both 2021 and 2022. In both games, the team fell short. A handful of those on the current roster are certainly using those memories as fuel heading into the 2025 Vanier cup.

“The core of these guys have been around for ‘21 and ‘22, and they felt that disappointment, but there’s a different edge to this, to this group here, right here, right now. And you can see that on the field. You can see it in the play, you can see in the preparation from our end and you can feel it, you can feel in the physicality,” Flory said.