EDMONTON - Alberta scored 34 first half points, including 23 unanswered to end the second quarter, en route to a dominant 40-17 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies in the Hardy Cup Semifinal. 

The win sends the Golden Bears to the 86th Hardy Cup, next Saturday afternoon in Vancouver. It marks the Bears first Hardy Cup appearance since 2010, as they visit the top-seeded UBC Thunderbirds. 

UBC punched their ticket to the Hardy Cup with a 29-21 home win over Manitoba earlier on Saturday. 

"I'm incredibly proud of the guys in our locker room, they've worked so hard. They haven't always received the reward for the hard work they have put in over the last couple years, but it's gratifying to see it pay off now," said Bears head coach Chris Morris, who picked up his first career playoff win on Saturday. 

"That might have been the most complete game we played all year, and we picked the right time to play it. Hopefully we continue building for next week." 

Eli Hetlinger tossed for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the win, with 136 of those yards and one major going to Carter Kettyle, who finished with six receptions. Kettyle also added 38 yards on two punt returns, with his speed a factor throughout the semifinal.

Among the biggest plays of the Bears win was a 75-yard TD from Kettyle on second down, giving Alberta a 18-10 lead early in the second quarter. 

Jonathan Rosery added a 69-yard TD himself in the second quarter, to go along with two receiving touchdowns from Kolby Hurford. CW leading rusher Matthew Peterson added 73 yards on 17 carries, with Hetlinger also adding 25 ground yards on two scampers. 

Despite only holding a 401-360 advantage on offensive yards, the Bears were boosted by two sacks and three interceptions, two of which came late in the fourth quarter to seal the 23-point win. Saskatchewan also committed eight penalties in the loss. 

Saskatchewan finished with more first downs (23-20) on Saturday night, but turned the ball over five total times. Anton Amundrud tossed for 320 yards on 27/43 passing, to go along with the three interceptions. Ryker Frank scored both Huskie touchdowns on Saturday, finishing with 61 yards on 13 carries. 

Alberta held a slim 11-7 lead after the first quarter, before exploding for 23 consecutive points after the Huskies had trimmed the lead to one. A safety and Hurford TD combined with the Kettyle and Rosery explosive passing plays in the second quarter gave Alberta a 34-10 halftime lead. 

The 86th Hardy Cup will get underway at 1:00 p.m. PST on November 11th, with the Bears seeking a first CW title since 1981, and UBC looking for their first conference banner since 2015.