SASKATOON, Sask. - Under the Friday night lights of Griffiths Stadium, the Huskies handed the University of Manitoba Bisons their first loss of the season by a final score of 42-24. The win helps the Huskies stay perfect at home this season and improves their record to 3-3, ascending the Dogs into sole possession of third place in the Canada West. For Manitoba, the loss moves their record to 5-1.
 
The Dogs dominated on both sides of the football over the course of the evening, generating 505 yards of total offense and 6 total turnovers.
 
For the Huskies offense, quarterback Anton Amundrud stood out by completing 23 of 28 pass attempts for 293 yards, 2 passing touchdowns and only 1 interception. Amundrud's most efficient performance of the season increases his overall completion percentage to 69.7%, vaulting the QB to top in the Canada West.
 
Defensively, the Dogs were led by 4th year linebacker Seth Hundeby. The engineering major flexed his muscle all night, collecting 11 total tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 sack. Additionally, Ethan Laing and Kately Joseph contributed with a pair of interceptions on the evening.
 
In the opening quarter, both teams struggled to produce much offense, as both teams traded early interceptions. But it was the Huskies defense who managed to get the Dogs on the board first as they forced Manitoba to concede a pair of safeties and take an early 4-0 lead.
 
However, it did not take long for the Dogs offense to be let off the leash. Amundrud led a masterful 1st major scoring drive, leading his team 75 yards down the field while going 6 for 6 on pass attempts. The drive was eventually capped off by a 1-yard touchdown rush from Ryker Frank, putting the Dogs up 11-0.
 
As the clock ticked through the second quarter, Amundrud and the Huskies continued to attack the Bisons through the air. With just over five minutes remaining in the half, Amundrud dropped back and fired a ball over the middle of the field intended for Jesse Kuntz. Two Bisons defenders converged quickly, but the ball was deflected up in the air and into the waiting hands of Dawson Lennea. The 2nd year Kinesiology major was then off to the races, converting the fortunate bounce into an 86-yard touchdown, good for the longest play of the game and putting the Huskies up 18-0.
 
Lennea finished the night with a season-high in both receptions and receiving yards, totaling 7 catches for 162.
 
After a field goal from Bison's kicker Maya Turner chipped the Huskies lead to 18-3, the Dogs were still hungry for points late in the 1st half.
 
On a seemingly innocent 3rd and 1, quarterback Jake Farrell slipped through a seam in the Bisons defensive front and rumbled 56 yards down the sideline, setting up the Dogs near the Manitoba goal line. On the ensuing 2nd down play, Amundrud fired his second TD pass of the night to 3rd year receiver Branson Pipko for his first touchdown catch of the season.
 
But the Dogs were insatiable near the end of the 1st half as defensive back Katley Joseph picked off Manitoba quarterback Jackson Tachinski inside Bisons' territory, marking the Huskies second interception of the half.
 
The preceding turnover led to a 43-yard Lukas Scott field goal, extending the Huskies lead to 28-3 at the break.
 
During the opening drive of the 2nd half, Manitoba was looking to find their footing offensively, but the Dogs defense continued their relentless pursuit of the football. On the Bisons' first play from scrimmage, Breydon Stubbs looked to have picked up a nice 18-yard gain, but Huskies Seth Hundeby had other ideas. The 6 foot 3, 245-pound linebacker stripped the football from Stubbs, allowing Katley Joseph to recover the fumble.
 
The Bisons turnover led to another 3 points for Lukas Scott, pushing the Huskies advantage to 31-3.
 
On the ensuing possession, the Manitoba offense eventually found their footing, executing on a 6-play, 75-yard scoring drive to narrow the Huskies lead 31-10.
 
A third Huskies field goal would increase the Dogs' lead by 3 as the game transitioned to the final frame.
 
Early in the 4th, the Bisons looked to mount a comeback and galloped down the field twice in two consecutive possessions. Rushing touchdowns from Jackson Tachinski and Breydon Stubbs cut into the Huskie lead by 14, making the score 34-24.
 
But it was all for not as Huskies star running back Ryker Frank saved his best rush for last. The Regina product found a hole on the left side of the Manitoba defense and went 55-yards untouched to the endzone, ultimately sealing the victory for the Dogs.
 
After starting the season 0-2, the Huskies have seemingly found their rhythm as the victory marks their third in four games. The Huskies will get a well-earned bye next week, but will look to carry their moment into Week 8 for their final home game of the season.
 
UP NEXT:
The Huskies square-off against the University of Regina Rams on Saturday October 19th at Griffiths Stadium. Get your tickets at https://huskies.usask.ca/ or catch all the action live on CanadaWest.tv.