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Before the punches and tackles, the Regina Rams and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies had to sit down and talk a little.

Friday was press conference day at the Huskies clubhouse (a short break, a lot of questions) before the provincial rivals meet in Saturday’s Canada West final.

“It’s the trilogy,” said Rams defensive back Jackson Sombach, whose team is preparing to play the Huskies for the third time this season. “U of R vs. U of S, one on one (head-to-head record). You couldn’t write better for the Hardy Cup. “It’s going to be incredible.”

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It is the first championship meeting between the two teams since 2002, and their first playoff game together since 2012. Neither team took an orthodox route to this year’s finals.

The Rams went 3-5 during the regular season, enough to secure them the fourth and final playoff spot. They then defeated the No. 1 Manitoba Bisons in last weekend’s semifinal, getting a 16-yard touchdown reception from Nicholas Sirleaf to win the game with 19 seconds left in a 28-25 victory.

The Huskies lost three of their first four games, but have won five in a row since then, four of them last-minute, including last weekend’s playoff win over British Columbia. Saskatchewan scored two touchdowns in the final minute to beat the Thunderbirds 38-33.

“It’s a testament to the grit and desire of our team and, honestly, it’s the same with Regina,” Huskies linebacker Seth Hundeby told reporters. “We were the third and fourth (place) team, and we decided no, we want to go to the Hardy Cup. It may have been in the last few minutes, but we decided we wanted to go there.

“There’s nothing better than playing a Hardy Cup in Saskatchewan.”

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The Hardy Cup is named after former U of S professor and football player Evan Hardy, so even the trophy has a direct Saskatchewan lineage in this provincial title race.

“I know (Huskies head coach Scott Flory) would agree; hopefully he’ll be a predictor of future Hardy Cups between the Rams and Huskies,” Regina coach Mark McConkey said.

“It’s going to be a 10-round boxing match,” he added. “It will probably come down to the final whistle; the final play. “We’ve played hard on each other.”

Regina beat Saskatchewan 33-28 in their first meeting this season, and the Huskies bounced back at Griffiths Stadium a month and a half later, posting a 22-20 victory.

Regina’s defense was the stingiest in the conference this year. They allowed only 177 points in eight games, the only team to give up less than 200. On the other hand, their 157 points scored were the lowest in the league.

The Huskies gave up 233 points, which was the most in Western Canada, while their 233 points scored were second overall. That’s why teams offer contrasting statistical comparisons on both sides of the game.

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Each has also demonstrated an ability to win games in the final minutes, especially the Huskies, who have achieved five of their six wins in the final 60 seconds.

“I learned this a long time ago, as a player,” Flory said. “When you watch Canadian football, the first 57 minutes sometimes fly by, and in the last three minutes you can easily have three or four possessions on each side.

“We never have the feeling that we can’t win any football game. It’s the same message I tell the boys: when you cross the line, give us your best football.”

For the record, the Huskies/Rams Canada West title clash in 2002 ended in a 44-28 victory. The Huskies finished 4-4 during the regular season and placed fourth; Regina placed third with a 5-3 record.

This time, they changed places in the standings and McConkey expects that first small trend to repeat itself.

“I hope the same thing happens,” he said. “The Huskies were the fourth seed and the Rams were the third seed (in 2002), and the fourth seed won. That’s the game plan for tomorrow.”

The winner of Saturday’s game will host the Quebec champion on Nov. 16 at the Mitchell Bowl, followed by the Vanier Cup on Nov. 23 in Kingston, Ont. The Quebec final is also on Saturday: it pits the nationally ranked No. 1 team, the Montreal Carabins, against No. 3 Laval Rouge et Or. Montreal is the defending Vanier Cup champion.

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