Hilltops score on game-winning drive to advance to PFC final

It wasn’t easy, but the Saskatoon Hilltops are moving on to the Prairie Football Conference (PFC) final to face the Regina Thunder after a huge comeback win against the Edmonton Huskies.

With the season on the line, the Hilltops didn’t get the start they were hoping and went into halftime down 24-14.

After halftime, the Hilltops looked like a completely different team. After cutting into the lead with a field goal, running back Carter McLean managed to score his second touchdown of the day to tie the game at 24-24 heading into the fourth quarter.

With the momentum on their side, the defence came up with several big plays to stagger the Huskies’ potent offence. Brant Morrow found himself in the right place at the right time twice in the final quarter, snagging two key interceptions.

“I think we just kind of have something different here,” Morrow said about the team after the win. “People around this organization really care and I think there’s actual characteristics of a Hilltops player.”

The score stayed tied until the 2:58 mark in the fourth quarter when Teijon Abel-Douglas drilled the go-ahead field goal to reclaim the Hilltops’ lead at 27-24.

However, the Huskies wouldn’t go down easy. After converting on a gutsy third-down passing play, Edmonton scored a touchdown to retake the lead 31-27 with 1:17 left to play in the fourth quarter.

Staying calm and composed, the Hilltops charged all the way back down the field while battling both the Huskies and the clock at the same time.

With 21 seconds left, quarterback Damon Dutton found wide receiver Dillon Heintz in the end zone to take the lead right back.

Hilltops fans went ballistic, cheering loudly for their home team after a comeback win.

“That’s just who this team is,” Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said after the game. “We just live another week, and that’s all we care about.”

Heintz credited the clutch game-winning touchdown to practicing the same two-minute drill in practice.

“We work that two-minute drill every day in practice and it pays off,” Heintz said. “It was pretty exciting and nerve-racking and it’s just good to come out with a win.”

The Hilltops will get a third crack at the Thunder for the title, a team they have yet to beat after two nail-biting games. Regina advanced to the final with a 45-26 victory over the Winnipeg Rifles in the other semifinal.

After the win against the Huskies, there’s a different level of confidence with this team heading into the biggest game of the year.

“It just shows we have fight,” Heintz said. “We just gotta come out hot, and then past that, it’s just about doing the work and making the plays.”

The Hilltops will take on the Thunder on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.