After an absolute romping of the Alberta Golden Bears, the Huskies landed in third place in the Canada West standings and will travel to Vancouver this weekend to take on the second-place University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in a conference semifinal match.

The Dogs beat up the Golden Bears 67-3 last week in what was the final regular season game for both squads. While Saskatchewan will continue on, Alberta will pack up their football equipment for another year after suffering their first ever win-less season.

Saskatchewan faces the 6-2 Thunderbirds on Nov. 5.

The Huskies won the only meeting between the two teams 36 -33 at home on Sept. 30. Running back Ben Coakwell played a vital role in that game, racking up over 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

“We have to keep their passing game in check. We can help that by staying on the field on offence and maintaining ball control,” said Huskies coach Brian Towriss.

He added that “Coakwell and [Dexter] Janke both have to have good days, and that comes down to our offensive line as well.”

The Dogs’ offensive line put up perhaps their best effort of the season against UBC in the team’s last meeting. They will have to recreate that performance if the Huskies want to defeat the T-Birds again.

Towriss has good reason to be concerned about the Thunderbirds’ passing game.

UBC quarterback Billy Greene threw for 421 yards and four touchdowns last week as the T-Birds handed the undefeated Calgary Dinos their first loss of the season. Greene has the most passing yards among all quarterbacks in Canadian Interuniversity Sport and is also a threat to run. He seems to easily scramble outside the pocket when he feels pressure and can find an open receiver downfield or pull down the ball and pick up the needed yards with his legs.

Keeping Greene contained will be the primary focus for the Huskies defence this week, said linebacker Tony Michalchuck.

“Billy Greene is an outstanding player and [our] defence is going to have to play lights out” to defend him, said Michalchuck.

Zach Hart, a defensive tackle for the Huskies, was quick to remember that they have to defend the whole offence and not just the T-Birds star quarterback.

“Billy Greene is a really good football player, but they have a pretty good running game too,” said Hart. “It’s tough [to know when] to stop Billy Greene or [when] to stop the run. Hopefully our whole team is up to the task this week.”

It’s the end of the season and the question that has been asked before every game this season still remains for the Huskies: Who is their number one quarterback?

“Trent [Peterson] has been the more consistent guy in the last three weeks. Both will be ready, but based on last week’s performance Trent will get the ball to start the game,” said Towriss.

Peterson led the charge last week in Alberta, completing 19 of 25 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns.

Coakwell tallied three touchdowns on his 97 yards rushing.

Janke ran for two majors of his own and receiver Rory Kolhert added two touchdown catches in the one-sided game.

Despite losing to UBC this last weekend, Calgary remained first place in the conference and will host Regina in the other semifinal match-up. Earlier this season, Calgary beat Regina 51-1 in the only meeting between the teams.

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Photo: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf