Winds Of Change Blow In PFC

Football Hilltops Top Stories

PHOTOS COURTESY: Steve Hiscock

For the first time in team history the Regina Thunder are the Prarie Football Conference Champions thanks to a 21-16 win over the defending champion Saskatoon Hilltops, Sunday atfternoon at Griffiths Stadium.

Both teams came into the contest nicked up, however, injury would see the Hilltops without a pair of 5th year starting offensive lineman in Kyle Gordon and Tanner Cooke. Meanwhile, Regina was once again without receiver Mitch Thompson who was shaken up in a Saskatchewan Roughrider practice three weeks ago.

The first turning point in the game may have come prior to the opening kick-off that was when the Regina Thunder would win the opening kick-off and defer their selection to the start of the second half. With wind gusts over 50 km/hr on the afternoon the Hilltops decided to start the game with the wind at their back while the Thunder opted to receive the kick-off.

That boot off the foot of Brett Thorarinson would take off and sail into the endzone giving the Hilltops a 1-0 nothing lead.

After a pair of two and outs by the Hilltop offence the Regina offence would begin to march the ball deep into Saskatoon territory and aided by a questionable pass interference call the Thunder would get on the board thanks to a 5 yard Nick Brown Touchdown run to make it 7-1 late in the first quarter.

Before the opening period was out the Toppers would drive the ball into the Regina end only to have their drive falter and force a 21 yard field goal attempt off the foot of Thorarinson. That attempt would sail wide to the left giving the Hilltops a single point to make the score 7-2 after the opening quarter.

With the wind at their back in the second quarter the Thunder offence continued to move the ball well but all the could show for it was a pair of Willliam McGee Field goals and a punt single. At the half it was Regina 14 Saskatoon 2.

The story of the half, however, may come in the later stages when Saskatoon Quarterback Matt Karpinka was belted up high with a questionable hit by a Thunder defender. The high hit, which was not penalized, forced Karpinka out of the game and back-up Jared Andreychuk into the contest.

PFC Final 3

The third quarter started with the Thunder getting the wind at their back and the ball to start the second half. While their opening drive would stall the defence continued to dominant not allowing the PFC”s top Offesive Player Andre LaLonde to carry the load on the ground. At the 9:29 mark of the quarter the league’s co-MVP Asher Hastings would find Will Heward at the front of the end zone from 43 yards for a major which would give the Thunder a commanding 21-2 lead.

PFC Final 4

Flip ahead to the fourth quarter and the Saskatoon Hilltops would start to find their legs. At 7:33 Andre Lalonde would cap a drive scampering in from 2 yards out to cut into the lead and make it a 21-9 game. Then with the Rifles milking every second of the clock the Hilltops would battle on defence and get the ball back for the offence. Starting at their own 11 yard line the Toppers wold march the field and score on a 5 yard Andre LaLonde touchdown run to futher cut into the lead, 21-16 with 1:07 to go. The Hilltops on-side kick, howver, would sail to far the Thunder would recover and collect their first ever Prairie Football Conference title.

PFC Final 2The Thunder will now host the Canadian Bowl in two weeks in Regina when they will play host to the Jostens Cup Champion Vancouver Island Raiders.

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