Three Huskies, two Rams earn Canada West football awards

Regina was well-represented Thursday when Canada West football announced its award winners.

Regina-born University of Saskatchewan Huskies quarterback Mason Nyhus led the way, earning the award as the conference’s outstanding player. He’s Canada West’s nominee for the Hec Crighton Award as the top player in Canadian university football.

Two members of the University of Regina Rams program — linebacker Ryder Varga (outstanding defensive player) and head coach Mark McConkey (coach of the year) — also were honoured by the conference.

Huskies tailback Ryker Frank, another Regina product, won the conference’s Community Service Award.

Another Huskie, offensive lineman Jack Warrack, was named the conference’s rookie of the year.

Nyhus, a product of Michael A. Riffel Catholic High School, had a stellar fifth season with the Huskies.

In the regular season, Nyhus completed 198 of 299 pass attempts for 2,773 yards, with 18 touchdowns and three interceptions. He led all U Sports quarterbacks in pass attempts, completions and yards, and was second in the country in touchdown passes.

Nyhus has helped the Huskies reach the Hardy Cup final Saturday against the UBC Thunderbirds. Game time at Griffiths Stadium is 1 p.m.

Varga led the Rams with 38.5 tackles during the regular season and tied a single-season school record by forcing three fumbles. The fourth-year linebacker also had 6.5 tackles for losses, two sacks, an interception, a pass breakup, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick.

The product of Dr. Martin LeBoldus High School was selected by the B.C. Lions in the 2022 CFL draft.

McConkey became the Rams’ full-time head coach in February after serving as their interim bench boss for two years.

In 2022, Regina — which was ranked last in the pre-season coaches’ poll — went 5-3-0 in the regular season to finish second behind the 7-1-0 Huskies.

McConkey joined the Rams program in 2007 as a receiver and played five seasons before becoming an assistant coach in 2015.

In addition to his work on the football field, Frank — another product of LeBoldus — has an average over 90 per cent in mechanical engineering, he volunteers at football camps for youths and at Special Olympics events, and he gives his time to a youth basketball team and an organization that feeds the hungry.

Warrack, who hails from Strathmore, Alta., dressed for all eight regular-season games along the Huskies’ offensive line.

The conference’s other award, for outstanding lineman, went to UBC offensive lineman Theo Benedet.