FB: Hardy Cup Semifinal Preview

Article by Brian Swane, special to CW 

On the heels of one of the most exciting seasons of Canada West football, the 2023 playoffs are as wide open as they’ve ever been.

The quest for the Hardy Trophy begins Saturday. Nov. 4, with the Alberta Golden Bears hosting the Saskatchewan Huskies and the Manitoba Bisons visiting the UBC Thunderbirds in semi-final action. The winning teams will meet in the 86^th Hardy Cup on Nov. 11.

Anything can happen in a one-game win-or-go-home scenario, but that holds especially true in 2023, with the top three teams in the standings, UBC, Alberta and Saskatchewan, separated by just one game. Anybody can beat anybody on any given Saturday. To wit: UBC was unbeaten this season against the Golden Bears who were unbeaten against the Huskies who were unbeaten against UBC.

Then there’s the Bisons, who are most responsible for this season’s wild unpredictability, thanks to their miracle finish in Calgary last weekend to clinch the final playoff spot.

The Huskies are aiming to win their third straight title and 22^nd all-time, most among all teams. Saskatchewan beat UBC in the Hardy Cup last year and knocked off Manitoba to win the championship two years ago. The Bisons and T-Birds last won the Hardy Cup in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Alberta has the longest championship drought, having not hoisted the Hardy since 1981, but this has been a breakthrough season for the Bears, who are hosting a playoff game for the first time since 2005 after winning their most games in 17 seasons.

All games will be broadcast live on Canada West TV. Here’s a look at who to watch in Saturday’s semi-finals:

UBC (6-2, first place) vs. Manitoba (3-5, fourth place) – Saturday 1 p.m. PT at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver 

Regular Season Head-to-Head

• Sept. 16: Manitoba 10 at UBC 56

Who to Watch

• Isaiah Knight (UBC, third year, running back) rushed for 787 yards and five touchdowns, both second most in Canada West this season. One of his best games of 2023 came in UBC’s victory over the Bisons at Thunderbird Stadium, where he ran for 135 yards and equalled his career high with two touchdowns.
• Jackson Tachinski (Manitoba, third year, quarterback) ranked second among Canada West quarterbacks with a pass efficiency rating of 146.9 while leading all players with six rushing touchdowns. He gets his first crack at the T-Birds in 2023 after missing their regular season meeting with an upper-body injury.

Alberta (6-2, second place) vs. Saskatchewan (5-3, third place) – Saturday 5:00 pm MT at Foote Field in Edmonton

Regular Season Head-to-Head

• Sept. 15: Alberta 26 at Saskatchewan 22
• Oct. 14: Saskatchewan 20 at Alberta 23

Who to Watch:

• Matthew Peterson (Alberta, fourth year, running back) led Canada West with 1,128 rushing yards this season. He racked up 359 yards on the ground in Alberta’s two victories over Saskatchewan and set a career high with 105 receiving yards against the Huskies at Griffiths Stadium in September.
• Nathan Jule (Saskatchewan, third year, defensive lineman) registered a conference-best four sacks, doubling his total from the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Last week saw the Saskatoon product get his first career interception, returning it for 27 yards, in Saskatchewan’s 43-11 victory over Regina.