SASKATOON – One of the most remarkable runs in Canada West football history came to an end Saturday afternoon at Griffiths Stadium as the Saskatchewan Huskies handed the University of Calgary Dinos a 31-23 defeat on the final day of the 2021 regular season.

The loss drops the Dinos to 2-4 on the abbreviated campaign and, coupled with Alberta's loss at UBC, eliminates the defending Vanier Cup champions from the playoffs for the first time since 2006. During those 13 straight playoff appearances, the Dinos hosted the Hardy Cup 11 times, captured nine Canada West titles, played in five national championship games, and captured the 2019 Vanier Cup.

Saturday's game was a microcosm of the season for the Dinos, who showed flashes of brilliance coupled with inconsistent play from the opening kickoff.

The Dinos scored on their opening possession of the contest, an efficient five-play drive that ended with Tyson Philpot scoring his eighth touchdown of the year. But the Huskies answered right back, rendering the Dinos' lead short-lived.

Calgary lead 16-10 late in the second quarter. The Huskies responded with a pair of touchdown passes from Mason Nyhus to Daniel Perry, and early in the third it was a 24-16 lead for Saskatchewan. The score stayed that way until the Huskies blocked a Calgary punt and pounced on the loose ball in the end zone with just five minutes to play, extending their lead to 31-16.

The Dinos got one back when Josiah Joseph found Tyson Philpot for his nation-leading ninth receiving touchdown of the year, but Calgary's last ditch effort fell short.

Joseph, in the final game of his Dinos career, did all he could to will his side to victory. He threw for 472 yards and two touchdowns, setting a school single-game record with 36 completions on the day. A total of 320 of those yards went to the Philpot brothers: Jalen led the way with 212 yards on 13 receptions, while Tyson caught eight passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. The twins finish the season as the top two receivers in U SPORTS football, while Joseph and the Dinos boasted the most potent offence in the nation with 532 yards per game.

The Huskies now host the UBC Thunderbirds in a Canada West semifinal next Saturday afternoon, with the Hardy Cup to follow a week later.

-UC-