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Saskatchewan’s two university football programs typically reserve their biggest games for teams from across the border.

It’s a short drive from Saskatoon to Regina, but a long wait for what happens Saturday: a 1 p.m. Canada West championship matchup between the Regina Rams and the Toronto Huskies. University of Saskatchewan.

The provincial rivals haven’t met in the playoffs since 2012, nor in the Canada West final since 2002. But this season, they put things together: the Rams beat the Huskies 33-28 on September 6, and the Huskies won. 22-20 on October 19.

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“There was some exchange of blows between them,” Huskies linebacker Lane Novak said. “Both games were close. They’re a physical team, we’re a physical team. And there is always a little bit of this provincial rivalry in our minds.

“They try very hard to beat us, and vice versa. We really want to beat them. So yes, there is always a little more on the table. And especially at the Hardy Cup, there will be a lot of fans, a lot on the table, a lot of provincial rivalry. »

It hasn’t been an easy journey for either team. The Rams sneaked into the fourth and final playoff spot with a 3-5 record, then beat Manitoba 28-25 last weekend.

The Huskies, after a 1-3 start, have won five games in a row, including this past weekend come from behind 38-33 playoff win over British Columbia. Saskatchewan scored two touchdowns in the final minute, the last being assisted by recovering an onside kick. The Huskies have tried three this season and found the ball each time.

Overall, five of Saskatchewan’s six victories were decided in the last minute.

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“There’s something really cool about this team,” Novak says. “Everybody can say it, but on this team we feel it – and that’s that we’re never out of the game. And in the last five minutes of the game (of Saturday’s playoffs), things don’t still didn’t quite go our way, but there was a belief.

“No one on the sidelines lowered their heads. Everyone understood that we’re going to have to score, we’re going to have to get an onside kick, and that’s how we’re going to win the game. And in the end, we were ready.

“It’s not always what we want,” adds Huskies offensive tackle Jack Warrack, “but it’s our modus operandi. We do it when it counts. We will try to settle our affairs against Regina a little sooner, without waiting until the last minute. »

Saturday’s game is a statistical oddity and an interesting anecdote. This is the first time since 2002 that the No. 3 and No. 4 teams have met in the Canada West final, and that year, Saskatchewan and Regina were the two teams involved.

Saskatchewan — 4-4 in the regular season — beat Regina 5-3 44-28 on a snowy day at what was then Taylor Field.

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“Sometimes you’ll see one or two teams split, but I would say this conference has been wide open from the start,” Huskies head coach Scott Flory said. “Six really good teams, and you could make an argument for two of those six in this game. It happened to be us and Regina, because we did enough last week to win, to give ourselves that opportunity.

“You always say with the provincial stuff you can throw the records out the window, because the regular season doesn’t matter right now. We have to worry about being at our best for three hours on Saturday.

Last year, the Huskies were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round after reaching the previous two Vanier Cups. Now they have an unexpected playoff game at home, against an unexpected rival.

“The battle for green. That motivates me,” said Warrack, who was named a conference all-star this weekend alongside fellow Huskies Daniel Wiebe (receiver), Ryker Frank (running back), Kody Gutek (back/tight end) and Seth Hundeby (linebacker).

“It’s going to be a great match. I hope everyone’s family comes out and supports the team they’re on. It’s going to be great.

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