2011 CIS Football Team Preview: Saskatchewan Huskies

Source: Nicole Betker, Saskatchewan Sports Info

2010 regular season record: 6-2
2010 regular season standings: 1st in Canada West
2010 playoff record: 0-1
2010 playoff finish: Lost 31-30 to the Alberta Golden Bears in semifinal

After a disappointing and heartbreaking loss in the Canada West semifinal in 2010, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies enter the new season looking to again be in contention for the Vanier Cup.

The Huskies, who finished 6-2 and first in the Canada West standings for the second straight season in 2010, look to be strong on both sides of the ball. In 2010, the Huskies led in scoring offence (287 points), defensive points allowed (148 points), total offence (499.8 yards per game), total yards allowed (367.5 yards per game), rushing defence (115 yards per game), pass offence (326.9 yards per game), pass efficiency (155), kickoff returns (20.3 average), punt return average (12.1 average) and interceptions (14).

Trent Peterson takes over at quarterback after studying under veteran and Hec Creighton nominee Laurence Nixon. Peterson looks to connect with receivers Rory Kohlert, Braeden George and running back Ben Coakwell. Although Peterson made just 32 pass attempts in 2010, Kohlert, George and Coakwell bring impact offence. Coakwell led the Huskies with 669 rushing yards and six touchdowns last year, while Kohlert and George combined for 731 yards on 63 receptions for three touchdowns. Ben Heenan and Darren Hinds will lead the offensive line. Heenan was an All-Canadian in 2010, while Hinds returns after a season-ending injury suffered in the first game of 2010.

Defensively, the Huskies return 11 starters. The team is led by linebackers Peter Thiel, Nico Higgs and Tony Michalchuk and a very strong secondary. Thiel, Higgs and Michalchuk combined for 111 tackles, three sacks and four fumble recoveries. Defensive back Bryce McCall, who is six interceptions away from setting the CIS record, looks to add to his tally. Zach Hart and Joel Seutter will continue to be a pain in opposing quarterback’s sides after combining for 5.5 sacks last season.

Quote from head coach:

The 2011 Huskies will contend for the Hardy Cup again in 2011. With 10 starters and a good depth returning we are counting on our defence to carry us early in the year. Offensively, we face the challenge of playing without a veteran quarterback for the first time in four years. However, our quarterbacks will be surrounded by a solid group of skilled players at running back and receiver. We will be fast, tough and athletic and are looking forward to the challenge of the 2011 season.
-Brian Towriss, 28th Year

Head Coach Brian Towriss:

- Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2011): 28
- Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2011): 28
- Career regular season record with team: 138-77-1
- Career regular season record in CIS: 29-16
- Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 167-93-1
- Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 167-93-1

OFFENCE

Number of returning starters: 9

Key returning players:

Trent Peterson takes over as the starting quarterback in 2011. At backup in 2010, Peterson completed 17-of-32 pass attempts for one touchdown and 187 yards.

Conference all-star and CIS All-Canadian on the offensive line Ben Heenan becomes the leader to protect the quarterback. Heenan is looked to be one of the top CFL draft picks in 2012.

Running back Ben Coakwell led the Huskies with 669 yards on 103 carries for six touchdowns. He also added 105 receiving yards on 13 receptions for one touchdown in 2010.

Rory Kohlert leads the receiving corps and look to replicate his success in 2010. In eight games, Kohlert caught 37 passes for 461 yards.

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

Slotback Jerit Lambert joins the Huskies after playing junior football with the Edmonton Wildcats. The 6-0 Edmonton native was named the Prairie Junior Football League’s Rookie of the Year in 2009, as well as an offensive all-star. In 2010, he tallied 388 receiving yards on 27 catches. He scored six touchdowns in the season. Lambert also represented Canada on Team World in 2009.

Receiver Kit Hillis won the Canadian Junior Football Championship with the Saskatoon Hilltops in 2010. In the championship season he recorded 581 receiving yards on 38 receptions, scoring four touchdowns for the Hilltops. He also added 132 combined yards on kickoff and punt returns.

Jordan Arrko is regarded as one of the top offensive lineman prospects. He helped the Harry Ainley Titans in Edmonton to 10 straight wins in high school in 2010. He played for Team North in Alberta’s Senior Bowl and for Alberta in the 2010 Football Canada Cup.

Key losses:

2010 Canada West Football Player of the Year Laurence Nixon finished his fifth year of eligibility last season. The quarterback finished his CIS career with his best season, tallying a Canada West-best 16 touchdowns and a 160.7 pass efficiency. He was also named a conference all-star and a CIS All-Canadian in 2010.

Offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld left the Huskies after finding himself on the roster of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. Neufeld was a conference all-star and a CIS All-Canadian in 2010.

After a breakout season in 2010, receiver Jade Etienne was drafted fourth overall in the 2011 CFL Canadian draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Sticking with the Bombers in 2011, the Huskies will miss Etienne’s threat for the long pass ashe hauled in touchdown catches from 87-, 76-, 53- and 41-yards in 2010. He was named a conference all-star and CIS All-Canadian in 2011.

DEFENCE

Number of returning starters: 10

Key returning players:

The Huskies’ leader on defence Bryce McCall continues to attract attention at safety. McCall, who was named a conference all-star and a CIS All-Canadian in 2010, sits six interceptions away from breaking the CIS record of 21. McCall is also the Huskies’ long snapper.
 
Conference all-star middle linebacker Peter Thiel again look to fill any holes in the middle the opposition tries to break through. After missing two games with an injury in 2010, Thiel still tallied 31 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery.

Defensive end Zach Hart was named a conference all-star in 2010. He finished the season with 29.5 tackles and two sacks.

Competing for Canada at the world senior football championship this summer, defensive tackle David Rybinski earned valuable experience to bring back to the Huskies. He finished 2010 with 16 tackles and two sacks.

Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):

Linebacker Tom Lynch transfers from St. Francis Xavier in Antigonish, N.S., to study in health sciences. In 2009, he was named the AUS Most Outstanding Defensive Player after tallying 41 tackles and four sacks in the season.

After being recruited in 2009, Jon DeWitt officially joins the Huskies. He played junior football with the Saskatoon Hilltops and in five games in 2009 before knee surgery, DeWitt tallied 24 tackles and three sacks.

Defensive lineman Dylan Wright joins the Huskies after playing Prairie Junior Football with the Edmonton Huskies. He adds depth and experience to the defensive line.

Key losses:

Defensive end Vaughn Rice departs after five seasons with the Huskies. In his career he tallied 34.5 tackles, one force fumble, 6.5 sacks and one interception.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Key returning players:

Punt returner/defensive back Luke Thiel was named a conference all-star at returner after averaging 14 yards per return and scoring one touchdown.

Kickers Stephan McDonald & Denton Kolodzinski shared kicking duties in 2010. Together the two hit 14-of-19 field goals, had 1,886 kickoff yards and 2,404 punt yards.

Key losses:

Receiver and returner Travis Gorski leaves the Huskies after five seasons. He was named the Huskies Special Teams Player of the Year in 2007 and the team’s co-MVP in 2008.