After capturing their first Yates Cup title in 16 years, Queen's Football's ultimate road trip continues, this time across provincial lines. Queen's will head to Saskatoon to face the Saskatchewan Huskies in the 2025 Mitchell Bowl, with a spot in the Vanier Cup on the line.

The matchup marks the first meeting between the two programs in 36 years and just the second all-time. The Gaels and Huskies last clashed in the 1989 Churchill Bowl at Griffiths Stadium, where Saskatchewan earned a 40–10 victory on their way to their first Vanier Cup appearance.

Saturday's game will also be Queen's sixth appearance in a national semifinal and first since 2009. The Gaels hold a 4–1 all-time record in those contests, with four appearances in the Mitchell (formerly Churchill) Bowl and one in the Atlantic Bowl.

Queen's Football also brings their undefeated road record into the contest. After topping the Laurier Golden Hawks in the Yates Cup last weekend in Waterloo, Ont. Queen's is now 6-0 on the road this season. The sole remaining undefeated road team left in the U SPORTS Football playoffs, Queen's will look for their seventh road win on Saturday to secure a spot in the national championship.

STAYING STEADY AND STAYING HUNGRY

Quarterback Alex Vreeken and linebacker Justin Pace emphasized that despite Queen's undefeated record on the road this season, the team's focus remains on the present challenge.

"Super happy to be here. I think we have a pretty special group this year," said Vreeken. "We've been to three Yates Cups in the last five years, and I really wanted to get it done for Queen's this year.

We had some losses earlier in the season, but our veteran group stayed steady and kept a 1-0 approach each week. We have a ton of respect for Saskatchewan, another blue blood program, and we're very excited for what should be a great game."
Pace echoed that sentiment.

"We had a great season with a lot of ups and downs, but we stayed steady the whole year. I think we kept our best football for late in the season," Pace said. "They're a very good program, playing great football. We're just excited to prepare and have another great weekend."
OUA CONFERENCE SUCCESS

The Gaels earned their trip west by defeating the previously undefeated Laurier Golden Hawks 30–27 in the 117th Yates Cup. The defence forced five first-half turnovers and held off a late comeback to secure the victory, the program's first conference championship since 2009.

Queen's defence has been one of the nation's most consistent units all season. The Gaels led the OUA in total defence (351.3 yards per game) and ranked third in scoring defence (21.6 points per game).

The team had five defensive players named OUA All-Stars for 2025, with defensive backs John Corscadden and Ashton Miller-Melancon named First Team All-Stars, and defensive end Oliver Jackson, linebacker Justin Pace, and defensive back Jared Siewe named Second Team All-Stars.

The unit proved its mettle in the Yates Cup by forcing OUA First-Team quarterback Cal Withers into five turnovers.

Queen's offence has been equally potent, ranking third in the OUA in both scoring (30.8 points per game) and total offence (499.0 yards per game).

Queen's Football's offensive attack is led by OUA All-Stars Vreeken at quarterback, Jared Chisari at running back, and Nathan Falconi at receiver.

Vreeken finished the regular season as the conference's fifth-leading passer, averaging 289.4 passing yards per game while accumulating 18 touchdowns to just six interceptions.

Chisari was second in the OUA in rushing this season, finishing with 954 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 119.3 yards per game.

And Falconi finished fifth in the conference in receiving yards, ending the season with 720 – an average of 102.9 per game through seven games played - and nine touchdowns, which was second in the conference.

Joining the three as OUA All-Stars on offence for Queen's Football were offensive lineman Niklas Henning and H-Back Mateo Tuioti.
A HISTORIC CHALLENGE OUT WEST

Head Coach Steve Snyder said the team is excited for the historic matchup.

"On behalf of Queen's University, our athletic program, and Kingston, we're really excited about the opportunity to compete against another historic and well-accomplished program in Saskatchewan," Snyder said.

"It's been a tremendous journey so far. We have a veteran team with extraordinary leadership, and I couldn't be more proud of what our guys have accomplished. Now we're resetting, staying steady, and getting ready for what will be the ultimate challenge — going to Saskatchewan and playing the Huskies."

The last OUA team to win a national semifinal out west was Queen's in 1968 - a 29–6 win over Manitoba in Winnipeg. That victory propelled the Gaels to the national championship, where they defeated Waterloo Lutheran (now Laurier) 42–14 at Varsity Stadium.

That 1968 win remains the only time an Ontario school has defeated a Western opponent on their home turf in a semifinal since the format began.