By Dashawn Stephens
As if getting to this season wasn’t enough of a roller coaster, the 2021 U SPORTS football campaign was one for the books.
Sherbrooke defeating Laval?
Regina dethroning the then-No. 1 Dinos?
How about those Windsor Lancers?
2021 had no shortage of moments - and even controversies - that kept us more glued to this game than ever before. It many ways, it was the season we needed. But, the season that featured more upsets and drama than any other season in history will all come to an end this Saturday when the Western Mustangs take on the Saskatchewan Huskies in the 56th Vanier Cup at Telus Stadium on the Laval University campus in Quebec City, and unlike the overarching theme of this season, there is nothing crazy or unexpected about this matchup.
2 Historic Powerhouse Programs
The 56th Vanier Cup is a game that will be covered in tradition, featuring two historic Canadian university football powerhouses in the Mustangs and Huskies.
The Mustangs have become the model of consistency in the OUA. Led by head coach Greg Marshall, Western is coming off their 33rd Yates Cup victory, the most in conference history. Despite their unmatchable Yates Cup success, they have only won seven Vanier Cups in program history, with the most recent coming in 2017. Saturday will be their 16th Vanier Cup appearance.
If you’ve become a fan of U SPORTS football throughout the last decade, then chances are you’ve fallen under the impression that the Calgary Dinos have always been the team to beat in the Canada West conference, and it’s easy to see why. The Dinos have appeared in nine of the last ten Hardy Cups, winning six. But don’t get it twisted, the Saskatchewan Huskies are the original monarchy of west. Having just claimed their 21st Hardy Cup, the Huskies have the most Hardy Cup victories in conference history. Saturday will be the program’s tenth appearance in the Vanier Cup, as head coach Scott Flory will have his squad looking to win the fourth national championship in team history, and their first in 23 years.
The Ground Game Duel We Never Knew We Needed
It often seems as though the Vanier Cup is headlined by prolific passing attacks. Not this year. This year, the pass game on both teams will be taking a back seat to a group of ball carriers who have shattered record books, and left their mark on the Canadian Gridiron.
The Western Mustangs are no strangers to dominant backfield tandems. It feels like just yesterday we were all witnesses to Alex Taylor and Cedric Joseph combining for over 30 touchdowns in a single season. Now, Keon Edwards and Tre Humes weren’t able to replicate the carnage that Taylor and Joseph did a few years ago, but they do play a punishing, contact-heavy style of football that tends to be taxing on linebackers and secondaries. Having rushed for a nation-leading 838 yards and 9 touchdowns, Second Team All-Canadian Keon Edwards is a shifty back who will make defenders pay in space. Humes, on the other hand, is a violent runner who will seek contact, break tackles, and wear you down.
Western’s depth at running back doesn’t stop there.
When it’s deep into the third, and your entire defence is tired, Greg Marshall can easily find fresh legs in first-year back Eduard Wanadi, who rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns in Western’s 61-6 win over StFX in the Mitchell Bowl. At 6’2, 205Ib, Wanadi is a downhill runner who is struggle to tackle.
But, if there’s one team in the nation that has been able to match Western’s ground game dominance over the last few years, it’s the Saskatchewan Huskies.
Fourth-year running back and 2021 First-Team All-Canadian Adam Machart is the life and soul of Saskatchewan’s offence. The Saskatoon native broke out in 2019 when he rushed for 1,610 yards and nine touchdowns en route to being named Canada West Player of the Year. Since then, Machart has grown into one the countries premier feature backs, excelling in not only carrying the ball, but being a reliable passing option out of the backfield for Huskies quarterback Mason Nyhus. Machart is coming off a legendary performance in the Uteck Bowl that saw him touch the ball on 52% of Saskatchewan’s offensive plays, finishing with 182 yards from scrimmage and both of the Huskies touchdowns.
Adam Machart put together an all-time great performance in Saturday’s Uteck Bowl ✨#ForTheNorth | #USPORTS pic.twitter.com/lRzqc2VaEb
— PRSVRE (@PRSVRE_) November 29, 2021
Saskatchewan’s depth at the backfield continues with third-year back Josh Ewanchyna, who split reps with Machart this season, carrying the ball 47 time for 404 yards.
This Game Will Make You a Fan of The Trenches
A ground game duel doesn’t exist without a battle in the trenches.
A trench battle that will feature 11 conference All-Stars, eight All-Canadians, Two CFL Draft picks, and the 2021 J.P. Metras Trophy (U SPORTS Lineman of the Year) Winner, the 56th Vanier Cup will pit the nation’s top offensive and defensive lines against each other.
Unlike most offensive lines, Western’s offensive line has risen to superstardom in 2021. Comprised of OUA All-Stars Elliot Beamer (First Team All-Canadian), Zack Fry (Second Team All-Canadian), Phil Grohovac (Second Team All-Canadian), and Erik Anderson, this line has become notorious for bullying defences, creating large holes, and ultimately allowing the run-game to thrive.
Across from them will be a Saskatchewan defence that typically aligns in a 3-4 with Canada West All-Star defensive ends Nathan Cherry (First Team All-Canadian) and Riley Picket up front along with fourth-year Jonathan Leggett at nose tackle. Cherry and Pickett have combined for 8.5 sacks in 2021.
One of the largest lines in the nation, Saskatchewan’s offensive line weighs a total of 1,535Ib. In fact, the Huskies offensive line currently weighs more than the starting offensive line for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Featuring Canada West All-Stars Noah Zerr (First Team All-Canadian), Connor Bergloff (Second Team All-Canadian, and Nick Summach.
Western’s defensive line is led by the J.P, Metras Trophy winner Deionte Knight along with Second Team All-Canadian Malcolm Hinds.
Veteran Presence On Both Teams
The Saskatchewan Huskies boast one of the most decorated veteran units in country. All veteran starters on this team were pivotal pieces of the Huskies last two runs at a potential national title, including their 2018 Hardy Cup victory. It’s only fitting that these players be the ones who look to finish the job, and potentially avenge a 2018 Mitchell Bowl loss to the Western Mustangs.
Mason Nyhus, QB (Fourth Year)
Adam Machart, RB (Fourth Year)
Sam Baker, REC (Fourth Year)
Colton Klassen, REC (Fifth Year)
Nick Summach, OL (Fifth Year)
Noah Zerr, OL (Fourth Year)
Connor Bergloff, OL (Fourth Year)
Clovis Lumeka, DB (Fifth Year)
Johnathan Legget, DL (Fifth Year)
Nathan Cherry, DL (Fourth Year)
Western’s veteran class is unique. In contrast to Saskatchewan, not all of Western’s veterans were pivotal pieces of the Mustang’s recent national championship wins and bids. However, they do still retain the experience and leadership that has been important in getting this predominately young team to the biggest stage.
Trey Humes, RB (Fifth Year)
Griffin Campbell, REC (Fourth Year)
Justin Nickson, REC (Fourth Year)
Brett Ellerman, REC (Fifth Year)
Antonio Valvano, H (Fifth Year)
Spencer Hood, OL (Fourth Year)
Austin Fordham Millier, DL (Fourth Year)
Daniel Valente Jr, S (Fourth Year)
56th Vanier Cup
When: Saturday, Dec. 4, 1 p.m. ET and 10 a.m. PT
Where: TELUS-UL Stadium, Quebec City
Teams Western Mustangs (9-1), Saskatchewan Huskies (8-1)
TV: CBC (English) TVA Sports (French)
Digital (English): CBCSports.ca, CBC Gem, CBC Sports App for iOS and Android devices
Digital (French): TVASports.ca
Serving Canadian sports fans from coast-to-coast, PRSVRE is an athlete-empowerment brand and sports media platform that seeks to deliver athlete-driven storytelling while showcasing Canadian university sports. Creating multimedia content that captures the imagination of sports fans while shedding light on the journeys of Canadian athletes, PRSVRE is also Canada’s only athlete-empowerment platform that is primarily dedicated to covering and supporting Canadian university athletes. To view more PRSVRE content, follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
