KAROL KUDYBA
Sports Writer

The Huskies cannot afford any more mistakes if they want to clinch the Canada West in victorious fashion and they kept that hope alive by flattening the University of Calgary Dinos 36-17 on Oct. 15.

Laurence Nixon threw two touchdown passes and the Green and White defence helped the cause by returning an interception for a score to beat the team that knocked them out of the Hardy Cup last season.

How did it feel for Nixon to get some revenge?

“It was great to beat Calgary again. They’re a team that is always a challenge to game-plan for and we always expect a hard physical game,” said Nixon.

“I think having the bye-week [last week] and the extra couple days to prepare helped and we came into the game feeling ready,” added the gunslinger Nixon.

The Huskies started strong with an opening drive touchdown and ended the first half with a 13-5 edge. The Dinos came within a score with a Saskatchewan safety early in the third quarter but that was as close as they were going to get as a punt return by Luke Thiel and the pick-six by linebacker Nico Higgs put the game well out of reach.

Nixon started the fourth quarter the same way he started the game, with a quick touchdown. “I like to spread the ball around and I’m glad I managed to get the ball into a number of guys hands,” commented Nixon as to who his favourite target was against the Dinos.

“But I think Mitch Stevens had some great catches that kept a few of our drives alive and the one for a touchdown was clutch. He’s come a long way and continues to improve each week and I’m glad he’s back there as threat,” added Nixon.

It was the second win this season over the Dinos and games against the former powerhouse don’t seem as hard as they used to be.

“I think Calgary is a very good team. I think we are a very good team, but as our record shows, any team in this league can come out and have the upper hand. The real challenge is being consistent in the Canada West and playing to your potential every game.”

The game also marked the return of Huskies running back Dathan Thomas, who ran for 73 yards on 11 carries in his first game back after missing the entirety of 2009 with a knee injury.

In truth the Dinos never really challenged the home side all night, as the Huskies defence held their opponents to just a couple of field goals. While the Dinos did find the end-zone, it came off of a 98-yard punt return by Nathan Coehoorn.

The win over the Dinos moves the Huskies into second place in the Canada West standings with a respectable 4-2 record. Although tied with the Dinos, the Huskies own the tie-break and sit one game back of the 5-1 Regina Rams. Stupid Rams.

The Huskies will try to extend their winning streak to four in a row against the lowly 2-4 University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in Vancouver on Oct. 22. The Thunderbirds managed to trump the Huskies 31-12 earlier in the season so expect the Huskies to hit hard in the rematch.

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image: Robby Davis