Even at 5-foot-7 and 174 pounds, Ethan Laing was impossible to miss at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday.
Laing registered two sacks, three tackles for a loss, one interception, five solo tackles and one interception to help the University of Saskatchewan Huskies register a 43-11 Canada West victory over the host University of Regina Rams.
“It’s a lot of fun, especially in the snow,” Laing said when asked about his sensational all-around performance.
“I’m a big cold-weather guy. It’s good to be out here having fun with the boys.”
A shivering scribe followed up by inquiring: How does someone actually enjoy cold weather?
“Born and raised in Saskatchewan, man,” Laing replied with a smile.
Birthright dictated that he take up football.
“I started at a very young age,” Laing said. “I was born and raised in a football family. My dad played football. My grandpa played football. As soon as I could walk, I was playing football.”
Ethan’s grandfather, Gord, played in the Saskatoon high school ranks with the Walter Murray Marauders.
Gord Jr., Ethan’s dad, starred in high school with the E.D. Feehan Trojans before joining the Huskies.
Now a third-generation Laing is generating big plays.
“It’s amazing,” said the second-year Huskies defensive back, a graduate of the Holy Cross Crusaders.
“I love wearing the last name on the back. It means a lot to me. Every single game, I don’t take it for granted.”
Instead, he takes it to the opposition, with an impact that belies his size.
“It’s just a tenacious attitude,” Laing said. “You’ve got to believe in yourself and believe that you can make plays, no matter how big or how small you are. You’ve got to fly around and give 100 per cent at all times.
“Sometimes it takes a toll on the body, but it’s worth it.”
Laing helped the Huskies conclude their 2023 regular season on a victorious note after they had suffered back-to-back losses by a combined margin of four points.
“It’s good to get a bounce-back win,” he said. “The offence was firing. The defence was firing. The special teams were good. We were firing on all cylinders.
“It’s good to get momentum going into playoffs.”
The Huskies are to travel to Edmonton to meet the second-place University of Alberta Golden Bears (6-2) in a conference semi-final on Nov. 4.
Ryker Frank led the Huskies’ offence on Saturday, rushing 16 times for 172 yards and two touchdowns. He added four receptions for 27 yards.
U of S quarterback Anton Amundrud threw for 280 yards while connecting with Caleb Morin and Kody Gutek for majors. Amundrud also rushed three times for 27 yards and one TD.
Daniel Wiebe paced the Huskies’ receiving corps, with seven catches for 64 yards.
Lane Novak had seven solo tackles and three assisted stops for the Huskies, who got an interception and a tackle for a loss from Nathan Jule.
Olivier Savard paced the Rams’ offence with 16 carries for 118 yards.
Bennett Stusek and Rylan Sokul each caught four passes for 56 yards for the Rams. Sokul scored the Rams’ lone TD, a seven-yarder, after making a one-handed catch of a short pass from Owen Sieben.
Chopper Hippe had the Rams’ biggest defensive play — a 23-yard interception return.
Regina (1-7) finished last in the six-team conference after going 5-3 and placing second a year ago.
