CALGARY – This Saturday, the job for the University of Calgary football team (2-3) is simple - win, and they're in.
Headed into the final week of the regular season of Canada West football action, the Dinos control their own destiny when they head to Saskatoon for a date with the first-place Saskatchewan Huskies.
Calgary currently sits fourth in the standings – the final playoff spot – and a win would secure their chance to battle for a Hardy Cup.
Kick off from Griffiths Stadium is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, with coverage on CanadaWest.tv, presented by Co-op.
HEADLINES:
- The Dinos can finish no higher than No. 4 in the Canada West standings. A win or a UBC loss guarantees them a spot in the postseason.
- If Calgary loses and the Thunderbirds beat Alberta, the Dinos' season will come to an end and their chance to defend their Vanier Cup championship will officially be over.
- Saskatchewan has already locked up the No. 1 seed, and with it, home-field advantage through the Canada West playoffs.
- If Calgary does end up making it in, their opening game will be against these very same Huskies back at Griffiths Stadium next Saturday.
- This contest is the second matchup between the two squads this season. The Dinos took the season opener, 34-20, back on Sept. 25, handing the Huskies their only loss of the season.
- With their victories, last weekend, both the Dinos and Huskies moved up in the U SPORTS Top-10. The Dinos now find themselves at No. 8, while the Huskies are currently No. 4.
- Saturday's matchup features the two top scoring offences in Canada West. The Huskies lead the league, averaging 37.2 points per game, while the Dinos are just behind in second, putting up 31.6.
No. 8 CALGARY DINOS (2-3)
Last week: beat UBC, 53-14
Next week: TBD
- Calgary snapped out of their three-game losing skid in a big way this past Saturday, dominating the UBC Thunderbirds for a 53-14 win.
- Despite being below .500, the Dinos lead Canada West in both offensive and defensive yardage totals. They are putting up the most yards per game when they have the ball (525.8), while also giving up the least (368.2). Their 525.8 yards per game is also good for No. 1 in the entire country.
- Helping the Dinos to the number one offensive spot has been the dynamic duo of Tyson and Jalen Philpot, who still sit No. 1 and No. 2 in receiving yards per game throughout U SPORTS football.
- The man throwing the Philpot brothers the ball also ranks in the top spot, as Josiah Joseph leads the nation in passing yards per game, averaging 314.6.
- Calgary will be hoping the Philpot brothers can replicate their performance against the Huskies from the opening week, as they terrorized Saskatchewan's defence, putting up a combined 401 yards and three touchdowns.
- Defensively, the Dinos will look to build on last week's execution against the Thunderbirds as they intercepted the ball twice, while also racking up five sacks.
No. 4 Saskatchewan Huskies
Last week: beat Manitoba, 41-12
Next week: Host No. 4 seed
- After losing their opener to the Dinos on the road, the Huskies have rattled off four-straight victories over the remainder of the Canada West teams, securing themselves the No. 1 seed in the process.
- Huskies receiver Colton Klassen sits second in the conference in touchdowns scored, with six on the season, just one behind Tyson Philpot.
- Mason Nyhus is right on Joseph's heels in terms of passing statistics, putting up 304.2 yards per game, good for the third-best mark in U SPORTS.
- Saskatchewan leads a well-balanced attack, as 2019 Hec Creighton runner-up Adam Machart sits second in the conference with 419 rushing yards through five games.
- The Huskies are the only team that knows exactly where they will be playing next weekend, as every other team vying for a playoff spot has at least two possible outcomes.
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