The fireworks in Griffiths Stadium provided more of a spark than the University of Saskatchewan Huskies offence Oct. 14 in the Dogs 20-8 loss to the University of Calgary Dinos.

“I think we dropped five or six passes. We didn’t run hard, we didn’t block anybody, and it was pretty much a total offensive collapse,” said Huskies coach Brian Towriss.

The Huskies lost to the Dinos 20-8 on Oct. 14 at Griffiths Stadium.

He acknowledged that it’s not a matter of completely fixing the problem that has plagued the team’s ability to put points on the board, but just trying to eliminate some mistakes and to get a little better each week.

Trent Peterson started the game at quarterback for the Dogs, but was replaced by Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren midway through the second quarter — this is a routine that the Huskies have practiced all year in order to give both young quarterbacks valuable playing experience.

Peterson totalled four completions for 46 yards through the air, was also sacked once and threw one interception.

Gilbert-Knorren finished with an awful completion percentage of just 28 percent on 25 attempts, and collected a lousy 58 passing yards on those completions.

On the last play of the third quarter, from under the shadow of his own goal post, he was picked off by Calgary’s defensive halfback Mike Edem, who ran it back 15 yards for Calgary’s only touchdown of the game.

“It was a long day for us. We didn’t come very prepared. We didn’t have that bounce we had last week at home, [but] we have to find it,” said a frustrated Gilbert-Knorren, adding that the team would “need to watch film, focus on Regina and focus on closing out the season with two wins.”

Dinos kicker Johnny Mark was responsible for scoring the other 13 points in the team’s winning effort. He was good on 4 of 5 field goal attempts, scoring one in each quarter. He also counted a single point off a punt that went through the end zone early in the game.

It took Saskatchewan more than 29 minutes just to get on the scoreboard. With less than a minute remaining in the second quarter, on one of his 15 punts of the night, Stephen McDonald booted it through the end zone to put a single point on the board for the Dogs going into half time.

The Huskies’ only touchdown came on a special teams play with five minutes remaining in the game. Nico Higgs snuck through to block a Calgary punt and the ball bounced all the way back into the Dinos end zone before being scooped up by Shane Dueck for a major score.

The only other bright spot in the game for the Dogs was the always consistent play of the defence. They spent almost 38 minutes of the game on the field defending and didn’t allow a single offensive touchdown. They forced five fumbles and recovered two of them. They also held Calgary, a team that averages 39 points per game, to only 20 points — seven of which they weren’t even on the field for.

For all the time spent on the field, Saskatchewan linebacker Tom Lynch still struck an optimistic note.

“As a defensive player you just love to be out there to jump at every opportunity,” said Lynch, who finished with 11 tackles on the night.

He also warned that the Huskies are a young team.

“You get a good young team like this and it takes a little longer to fit all the pieces in, but once we hit our stride, watch out.”

Amid all the frustrations, the team still has confidence it will get into a rhythm, but it’s a question of time now. With only two games remaining in the season, the Huskies are in a three-team race for the final three playoff spots.

They currently sit in third in the Canada West conference with a 3-3 record alongside the Manitoba Bisons, who are also 3-3.

Calgary is the only undefeated team in the conference.

The Huskies travel to Regina this week for their second game against the Rams this season — Saskatchewan won the first meeting between the teams 33-10 at home on Sept. 9.

Regina, 2-4, could potentially steal the final playoff spot if they win their next two games.

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Photo: Pete Yee