It was an impressive start to the year for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team as they knocked off their non-conference opponent, the Wilfred Laurier University Golden Hawks, by a score of 33–10 to kick off the 2015 season.

In a game that won’t actually count in the standings, the Huskies sent their fans home happy with a very solid effort on both sides of the ball. In the first quarter, the first string offence moved the ball efficiently and scored two touchdowns — one courtesy of running back Tyler Chow and the other from Mitch Hillis, who looks poised for a huge season in 2015. Hillis ended the night with nine receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns.

The second quarter saw Parker Siemens under center, as the offence still worked effectively, moving the ball well on numerous drives to set up a pair of field goals. Hillis added his second major score of the night in the third quarter as the Huskies blew open a 27–0 lead. A Golden Hawk touchdown midway through the third frame didn’t prove costly, as kicker Sean Stenger added his third field goal of the night to close out the scoring, 33–10 as the final.

Not only was the offence on fire in the win against Laurier, but the defence also put up some extremely impressive numbers as well. Defensive linemen Evan Machibroda and Lance Bashutsky both recorded five tackles and dominated the line of scrimmage. Veteran defensive back Chris Friesen had a solid game, intercepting the Laurier quarterback on two separate occasions during the game.

The Canadian Interuniversity Sport’s top running back from last season, Dillon Campbell, was held in check in his limited action and the Golden Hawks only mustered up a measly 10 points against a very stingy Dogs defence.

Not only was this the first opportunity for the squad to work on their playbook in a game setting, it was also the first opportunity for fans to see the new edition of the team. One of those new additions is rookie defensive back Jacob Solie, a Saskatoon native and former Holy Cross Crusader who will be fighting for a spot in the secondary.

Solie, who also played for Team Saskatchewan, was one of many rookies to get their first taste of CIS football.

“It was nothing like I had ever experienced before. It was nerve racking but also exciting at the same time, I had an adrenaline rush from when I left the dog until the very end of the game,” Solie said. “My goal is to learn what it takes to have a starting role on the team and get to that point as soon as possible. Knowing the tradition on the Huskie football team really makes you want to work that much harder on the field to keep that tradition going.”

It was the first meeting between these teams since 2005, where the Golden Hawks snatched the Vanier Cup title from the Huskies’ clutches with a heart-stopping 24–23 victory. The circumstances were a little different this time around, but the Huskies were pleased with the result nonetheless.

Fourth year quarterback Drew Burko will be a crucial part of the Huskies success on offence this year, but with the new offensive weapons that have been recruited, the pressure won’t be on Burko’s arm as much as it will be on the offensive unit as a whole. Burko finished the night 13–20 for 214 yards and two touchdowns.

With a talented group of receivers and a much-needed upgrade at the running back position over the last few years, combined with a solid group of offensive lineman, the Huskies offence should be more than ready to go in 2015.

The new campaign will officially kick off on Sept. 4, with the annual homecoming game taking place as the Dogs play host to the University of Manitoba Bisons in a rematch of last year’s semi-final playoff game. Last year saw the Bisons erase a big second-half deficit and stun the Huskies at home, ultimately ending their season, but the Huskies are hoping for a different outcome this time around.