Huskies’ Flory coaching against ex-teammate Calvillo in Uteck Bowl

To say bragging rights are on the line this weekend would be an understatement.

When the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team takes on the top-ranked Université de Montreal Carabins on Saturday in the Uteck Bowl, Huskies head coach Scott Flory will be coaching against his former Montreal Alouettes teammate, Anthony Calvillo.

Calvillo is now the Carabins’ offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“We’ve been texting back and forth a little bit,” Flory said with a smile.

Flory (who was a guard) and Calvillo (a quarterback) spent 15 CFL seasons together on the Alouettes and enjoyed tons of success over the years. Each won three Grey Cups with the Als.

“I’m really just excited for Scott, him being a head coach and really making that team his own,” Calvillo said.

“Both our teams are very good, but the fact that he’s the head coach and he has put his stamp on that team, it’s actually very exciting to watch.”

Both former Als have been inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

It’s safe to say their friendship will have to be put on hold, though, at least for several hours come Saturday.

“(Calvillo is a) good friend (and) former teammate, but make no bones about it, we’re going there to win a football game,” Flory said.

“It will be nice to see him pre-game, maybe chat a little bit and catch up, but at the end of it, he’s going to put his team and his offence in the best position to win the football game.”

Now, the Dogs are preparing for the challenge of going to Montreal to face a solid Carabins team.

“They’re a very good football team (and) they are going to be well-coached,” Flory said.

“We’re going into their house and it’ll be a hostile environment but, trust me, we’re up for the challenge.”

Calvillo made similar comments, acknowledging just how talented the Huskies are.

“Their defence is solid and everything starts with their four defensive line and their linebackers,” he said.  “We have a huge challenge for us up front, but I think overall our guys will be ready for them.”

The biggest factor for the teams now becomes finding out as much as possible about one another before Saturday’s game.

Calvillo said it’s much different than playing a team within your own conference.

“When you play a certain team out of conference, you don’t know much about them,” Calvillo said. “You’ve got to study and really look at things to see how you’re going to attack.

“When you play the teams in your conference, you know exactly what they do. It’s a bit easier to prepare for them.”

The Huskies won the Canada West title last weekend, defeating the Manitoba Bisons 45-17 in the Hardy Cup.

Running back Adam Machart put up video game numbers in that win, rushing for 223 yards with three touchdowns.

Machart said the Huskies have the end goal of the Vanier Cup in the back of their minds, but they’re putting all of their attention on the Carabins.

“Our goal is to go all the way so we’re going into this game with that goal in mind,” Machart said.

“But you definitely have to focus on these guys. We have to stay laser focused and make sure we give these guys the respect they deserve.”

The Huskies have won seven straight games heading into the Uteck Bowl. With a win, the Dogs will head back to the Vanier Cup for the first time since 2006.