HUSKIES TOP RAMS 28-17 IN WINDY WHEAT BOWL

The University of Regina Rams dropped a 28-17 decision to Saskatchewan on Saturday afternoon in a blustery Canada West game at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.

The game was tied at 17-17 midway through the fourth quarter, but the Huskies were able to take advantage of a short field on consecutive possessions following punts into the wind. Sam Baker’s touchdown catch put the Huskies up 24-17, and a David Solie 42-yard field goal made it a two-score game with just four minutes remaining.

The win improves Saskatchewan’s record to 3-1 on the season and sets up a showdown against Manitoba (3-1) next weekend in a game that might well decide first place in the Canada West standings.

Mason Nyhus was 22-for-32 for Saskatchewan, finishing with 301 passing yards including a pair of touchdowns to Colton Klassen along with the one to Baker. Klassen finished as the game’s top receiver with eight catches for 135 yards, while Adam Machart led the Huskies on the ground with 19 carries for 98 yards.

Sawyer Buettner got the start for the Rams at quarterback with Josh Donnelly out due to an injury sustained last week in the UBC game, but the Moose Jaw product was knocked out of Saturday’s game in the second half. Bryden O’Flahertycame in and completed seven passes in relief, including a four-yard strike to D’Sean Mimbs for a game-tying touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Anthony Bennett was Regina’s top defensive player with eight tackles including three tackles for loss. He also had a fumble recovery on his own strip sack late in the third quarter, a play which led directly to the Mimbs touchdown.

The Rams’ other touchdown came on a blocked punt in the third quarter. The visitors brought the house and after Chopper Hippe got his mitt on the David Solie punt, Jackson Sombach scooped up the ball and strolled into the end zone for the major.

The Rams, now 1-3 after the loss, will match up with Canada West’s other one-win team next weekend in Edmonton as they’ll take on the Alberta Golden Bears on Saturday afternoon.