The Saskatoon Hilltops and provincial rival Regina Thunder were both ungracious hosts this past weekend in Prairie Football Conference action.
Saskatoon Hilltops 57 - Winnipeg Rifles 14
The defending national champion Hilltops hosted the Winnipeg Rifles on Sunday afternoon. This one was close until the opening kick off at SMF Field.
Datiel Fountaine took the opening kick-off 95 yards for a touchdown and the route was on from there as Saskatoon won 57-14.
Veteran quarterback Trey Reider, whose father Shane is a coach on the team and a former player, completed 16-of-21 passes for 168 yards with one touchdown in the victory. Running back Corbin Ebben averaged nearly eight yards per carry, rushing for 132 yards on 17 attempts. Drake Douglas was the top receiver for the Hilltops hauling in eight balls for 111 yards.
Saskatoon remains undefeated at 5-0 to sit atop the standings in the Prairie Football Conference.
The next game for the Hilltops is once again at home, this Sunday when Saskatoon hosts the Edmonton Wildcats at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.
Regina Thunder 51 - Edmonton Wildcats 16
The Thunder hosted the Edmonton Wildcats in the Queen City and thanks in part to a trick play featuring a linebacker the Thunder blasted the Edmonton Wildcats 51-16.
Lined up in the backfield in a punting situation, linebacker Mitchell Tanchak, took the direct snap, followed a few blockers in front of him and rumbled 48 yards for the touchdown.
“I haven’t played running back in the PFC or scored two touchdowns since high school,” said Tanchak, who is from Hafford. “It feels great.”
Thunder quarterback Carter Moberg completed 13-of-19 passes for 183 yards with two touchdowns in the victory at Leibel Field. Running back Sadik Sadik ran the ball 13 times for 86 yards as the top rusher for Regina. Receiver Lucas Di Iorio was the top pass catcher with three receptions for 80 yards.
The Thunder, who are playing their 25th season, improved to 4-1 this season. Regina are on the road next weekend when to take on the Huskies in Edmonton at 1 p.m.