Hilltops, Thunder set to meet in PFC final rematch

The Regina Thunder and Saskatoon Hilltops will once again battle it out for the Prairie Football Conference title.

Both the Thunder and Hilltops won their respective semifinal games to set up a third showdown this season between the two rivals. Saskatoon won both earlier contests — the first 29-15 in Regina on Sept. 7 and then a 36-11 win in Saskatoon on Sept. 28. The final is scheduled for Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. in Saskatoon.

This is a rematch of the 2023 PFC final, which the Hilltops won 21-13. Saskatoon went on to win the CJFL national championship.

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The Hilltops held off a scare from the Edmonton Huskies and won 33-18 on Sunday at SMF Field.

It was a slow start in Saskatoon, as the Hilltops got nothing going in the first quarter. Luckily for Saskatoon, the Edmonton Huskies also started slow, ending the first quarter tied at 0-0.

Edmonton started the second quarter with a 46-yard field goal then, after a failed drive by the Hilltops, punted the ball to the Huskies who then fumbled. Hilltops linebacker Noah Gedir recovered the ball, giving quarterback Trey Reider a second chance.

Reider took full advantage of that by finding Hayden Day for a touchdown pass, making it 7-3.

Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said that fumble recovery was a big-time play.

“That’s your fifth-year player making plays,” said Sargent. “Noah’s been a great leader for us .. he steps up and does what he needs to do in the big moments.”

The Hilltops went into the half up 16-3, after Reider found Datiel Fountaine in the end zone for a touchdown, and a safety added two more points.

Edmonton came out firing in the second half and eventually found the end zone in the third quarter, which ended with an 18-10 Hilltops lead.

Another touchdown drive from Edmonton early in the fourth quarter and two-point convert made it 18-18, but a missed Huskies field goal attempt saw Hilltop Charles Sawi run the ball back 110 yards, breaking the tie to make the score 25-18.

A late touchdown from Corbin Ebben then saw the Hilltops cruise to the 33-18 win.

Sargeant said the return by Sawi swung all the momentum in the Hilltops’ favour.

“Charles has got that dynamic ability, that’s who he is,” said Sargeant. “It was needed, it was timely, and it got all the energy (and) momentum back in our team.”

That touchdown meant a lot to Sawi, as well.

“It was a very special return, I haven’t scored a touchdown in seven or eight games,” he said. “For me to score this one, it’s very magical.”

“We just gotta come back next week (and) focus on that and just make sure we’re prepared.”

Thunder always in control

Meanwhile in Regina, the Thunder were in control throughout their game against the Calgary Colts at Leibel Field, winning 64-7.

Thunder running back Ryland Leichert and wide receiver Benjamin Walz both had three touchdowns in the game.

“It’s exciting. We have worked really hard for this for a long time,” Leichert said.

The Thunder and Colts met just the week before, with Regina winning that contest 40-21.

“I thought they would have a little bit more presence there to start the game,” said head coach Scott MacAulay.

“Our guys are pretty fired up, and the playoffs are a different beast … We’ve been here quite a bit, and that’s one of the things we have been leaning on — just making sure our guys are the right mindset going into this, and just let them go.”

Leichert, who is the Thunder’s all-time leading rusher, is excited to get another chance at the Hilltops this season.

“We know the type of team we are and we know we can compete, so we know having that (third) opportunity is going to be huge,” Leichert said.

MacAulay said the biggest thing for them is the mental side of the game heading into Saskatoon.

“For some reason our guys are either too hyped or too low and we kind of beat ourselves,” MacAulay said.

“I think the whole thing is about making sure that our guys understand that if they are jumping around and bringing that energy, good things happen.”

— With files from 980CJME’s Britton Gray and 650CKOM’s Will Mandzuk

Read more

• Hilltops remember legendary figure ahead of matchup against Thunder
• Saskatchewan clinches home playoff by dismantling Lions