Photo: Saskatchewan Huskies
Story: U Sports

Huskies’ defence, special teams stifle Gaels to claim Mitchell Bowl crown

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies are heading down Highway 11 to the Vanier Cup, punching their ticket with a hard-fought 22-11 victory over the Queen’s Gaels in the 2025 Mitchell Bowl on a chilly November afternoon in Saskatoon.

Despite a golden run through the OUA playoffs, the Queen’s Gaels saw their Vanier quest come to an end against a relentless and opportunistic Huskies squad that made crucial plays in all three phases of the game.

Queen’s got started on the right foot, with Tyler Mullan putting the opening kickoff into the end zone for a single point and a quick 1-0 lead. However, that would be the high point for the Gaels’ offense for much of the first half.

Saskatchewan quickly responded, with quarterback Jake Farrell connecting with Daniel Wiebe on a 41-yard touchdown strike to take a lead they never relinquished. The Huskies then delivered a massive blow in the second quarter when Daniel Kubongo fielded a punt and weaved his way 85 yards for a spectacular touchdown, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and giving Saskatchewan a 14-1 halftime advantage.

The Gaels emerged from the break with renewed purpose, engineering a sharp seven-play, 87-yard drive capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Alex Vreeken to Cedric Smith. The momentum was short-lived, however, as the Huskies’ defence pinned Queen’s deep in their own end and forced a safety just minutes later, restoring the eight-point lead at 16-8.

Queen’s continued to battle, moving the ball effectively through the air as Vreeken amassed 388 passing yards. A 13-yard field goal from Mullan early in the fourth quarter brought the Gaels to within five points at 16-11. But the Huskies’ defence, led by a game-high nine solo tackles from Lucas Scheck, consistently bent but didn’t break in critical moments.

Saskatchewan kicker Lukas Scott iced the game with a pair of clutch field goals in the final frame, from 44 and 24 yards out, to seal the 22-11 victory.

While Queen’s won the statistical battle in several categories, including first downs (25 to 15) and total offense (440 yards to 287), it was Saskatchewan’s big plays—the punt return TD, the long passing score, and timely sacks—that proved to be the difference.

Saskatchewan’s Kubongo and Seth Hundeby were named the offensive and defensive players of the game.

With the win, the Canada West champion Saskatchewan Huskies (10-1, 7-1 CW) advance to the 60th Vanier Cup, set for next Saturday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. They will face the Uteck Bowl champion Montréal Carabins (9-2, 6-2 RSEQ), with kickoff set for 1 p.m. local time.

Tickets for the Vanier Cup are available at www.usportstickets.ca.

Carabins punch Vanier Cup ticket with 49-19 win over Saint Mary’s at the Uteck Bowl
Photo: Montreal Carabins

The Montréal Carabins delivered a dominant performance, defeating the Saint Mary’s Huskies 49-19 in the 2025 Uteck Bowl in front of a crowd of 2,133 fans at Huskies Stadium in Halifax, N.S.

With the victory, the RSEQ champion Carabins advance to the 60th Vanier Cup, which will be played Saturday, November 22nd at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, SK.

The Carabins defence was outstanding from the start, forcing a two-and-out on the opening Huskies possession. Montréal’s quarterback Pepe Gonzalez Garza (Vaidreuil-Doiron, QC) quickly got to work, completing back-to-back passes to receiver Enrique Jaimes-Leclair (Varennes, QC). But the Saint Mary’s defence was able to force a field goal attempt, and Philippe Boyer (Laval, QC) missed the 21-yard kick but scored a single point, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead 9:13 into the first quarter.

After another Huskies two-and-out, Gonzalez Garza and running back Remi Lambert (Otterburn Park, QC) led the Carabins on an 11 play, 75 yard drive, with running back Mathieu Barsalou (Chambly, QC) finishing it off with a one yard touchdown plunge, with Boyer’s extra point putting them ahead 8-0 with 2:32 remaining in the first quarter.

The Carabins defence again forced a Huskies punt, and on the first play of the second quarter, Barsalou ran in his second touchdown of the year, this one from three yards out, extending the Montréal lead to 15-0.

Saint Mary’s got some offensive momentum going, including a 39-yard run by Liam Legge (Stewiacke, NS) to move the ball into Montréal territory. After the drive was extended by a Carabins offside, quarterback Justin Shibley (Ottawa, ON) took a shot to the end zone, but this pass was intercepted by Montreal defensive back Louis-Philippe Gauthier (Montréal, QC).

The Huskies top ranked defence quickly got the ball back when defensive back Onochie Amuta (Scarborough, ON) picked off Gonzalez in Carabins territory. After Shibley completed a pass to receiver Chandler Zinck-Marier (Pleasantville, NS) to bring Saint Mary’s to the three-yard line, the Carabins defence stood tall, stopping the Huskies on three straight plays to take over on downs.

Pinned deep in their own end, the Carabins conceded a safety, with the Huskies first score of the afternoon bringing the score to 15-2, with 6:23 remaining in the first half.

Montréal’s offence continued to produce explosive plays, with Lambert ripping off a 39-yard run into Saint Mary’s territory, leading to Barsalou’s third touchdown of the day, with Boyer’s extra point extending the Carabins lead to 22-2.

With less than two minutes remaining, Montréal looked to be in scoring position again, but after a Huskies defensive stand, Mikhail Biggs (Edmonton, AB) blocked a 33-yard Boyer field goal attempt, giving Saint Mary’s possession.

Shibley completed a trio of passes to Zinck-Marier, Cherokee Robinson (Halifax, NS) and Kade Smith (Halifax, NS), moving deep into Carabins territory late in the half. But the Montréal defence again made a big play, with Samuel Lapierre (Beloeil, QC) picking off Shibley in the end zone, and the visitors took a 22-2 lead into halftime.

On the first series of the third quarter, Huskies defensive back Jahzonte Smith (Oshawa, ON) got to Gonzalez Garza for a strip sack, with defensive end Jahmari Brown (Oshawa, ON) scooping up the football and running 48 yards into Carabins territory, setting up a 24-yard field goal for Adam Johnston (Rothesay, NB), bringing the score to 22-5, with 10:08 remaining in the third quarter.

After forcing a Montréal turnover on downs, the Huskies offence got to work, with Shibley finding Cherokee Robinson for a 35-yard catch and run, setting up a four-yard touchdown rush for Malik Williams (Ajax, ON), with Johnston’s point after bringing the score to 22-12, with 7:39 remaining in the third quarter.

Montréal quickly answered with a seven play, 70-yard drive, leading to a Gonzalez Garza touchdown pass to Enrique Jaimes Leclair, with Boyer’s extra point extending the lead to 29-12 with 3:09 remaining in the third.

After defensive back Mathis Bérubé (Sherbrooke, QC) picked off Shibley for the Carabins third interception of the afternoon, running back Grégory Mulenda-St-Pierre punched in a five-yard rushing touchdown to make the score 36-12, with 1:23 remaining in the third.

On the last play of the third quarter, Carabins received another big play from their defence as Benjamin McDougall (Montréal, QC) sacked Shibley on third down, forcing the turnover on downs.

Montréal was able to add to their lead as running back Grégory Mulenda-St-Pierre scored his second – and the Carabins fifth – rushing touchdown of the game, extending the lead to 43-12.

Midway through the quarter, Boyer nailed a pair of field goals from 24 and 36 yards, extending the Montréal lead to 49-12.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Huskies got a score back as quarterback Allan Young (Halifax, NS) connected with Cherokee Robinson for a 23-yard receiving touchdown, with Johnston’s PAT bringing the final score to 49-19.

Carabins running back Mathieu Barsalou was named Nike Offensive Player of the Game, running for three touchdowns on 11 carries for 33 yards. Defensive back Mathis Bérubé was named Nike Defensive Player of the Game, recording a tackle, an interception, and a pass break-up.

The Carabins now advance to the 60th Vanier Cup, which will be played Saturday, November 22nd at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, SK. Head to USPORTSTickets.ca to get your Vanier Cup tickets.