No. 10 Travoy Martinez celebrating after a big defensive play.

Travoy Martinez was all over the map.

The first-year University of Saskatchewan Huskies cornerback wreaked havoc on the visiting Alberta Golden Bears’ offence, kick team and return team in the Huskies 32-0 season-opening victory Aug. 31 at Griffiths Stadium.

The 5-9, 180-pound product out of Dallas, Texas, recorded five tackles, two interceptions and a 48-yard punt return in his first official game of Canadian football.

While the Huskies’ victory was by no means a one-man show, Martinez’s animated celebrations after big plays were key in elevating the Dogs’ energy following last week’s non-conference loss to the Guelph Gryphons.

“It was a team effort. I just followed the coaches, ran, picked the ball off and made plays like I was supposed to do,” Martinez said following the win. “I didn’t come this far to not make plays. I’m an emotional guy and I try to… do what I have to do for the team.”

Martinez set the tone early on the game’s opening kickoff when he and teammate Corey Edington crushed Alberta kick returner Dillon Prince.

Huskies kicker Cole Samson put the Dogs on the board midway through the first quarter with a 24-yard field goal. Running back Jeremy Andrew added to that score with an eight-yard touchdown run a few minutes later.

The Dogs finished the quarter with a 12-0 lead after the Huskies defence forced Bears kicker Stephen Fabian to give up a safety.

Samson added a second field goal early in the second quarter while Huskies receiver Braeden George extended Saskatchewan’s lead midway through the frame with a 47-yard touchdown reception from rookie quarterback Drew Burko.

Burko added another Huskies’ touchdown on a one-yard quarterback keeper with just ten seconds left in the first half.

Samson finalized the Dogs’ 32 points with a 29-yard field goal midway through the fourth.

“We came out, we hit hard and look at the result: nobody put up any points on us,” Huskies defensive tackle Zach Hart, who recorded 5.5 tackles and one sack, said after the game.

The Huskies defence gave up 178 yards passing and only 57 yards rushing in the game, holding the young Bears team to its own half for a majority of the competition.

“Alberta doesn’t have much of an offensive line at this point in time,” Huskies head coach Brian Towriss said about Alberta’s inexperienced team. “I’m sure they’re going to get better but they’ve got some young kids in there that kind of got thrown to the wolves tonight.”

The Bears came close to scoring a touchdown early in the fourth quarter after Alberta cornerback Brent Krawchuk intercepted Burko’s pass to give his squad possession of the ball on the Huskies’ 21-yard line.

After Martinez knocked down Alberta quarterback Curtis Dell’s first pass attempt of the drive, the Bears elected to throw for the end zone on second down. This time Martinez intercepted the pass, jumping high in the corner of the end zone to beat his receiver to the ball.

Martinez’s second interception came just a few minutes later when he picked off Dell at midfield.

Dell completed 16 of 33 pass attempts in the game, threw two interceptions and was sacked three times by the Huskies defence. Burko passed for 187 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and completed 13 of 24 pass attempts in three quarters of play.

The Huskies’ Kit Hillis led all receivers with six catches for 85 yards while Andrew led all rushers with 72 yards on 14 carries.

The win was the Huskies’ 10th-straight season opening victory. 5,081 fans were in attendance.

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Photo: Raisa Pezderic/Photo Editor