Hilltops, Thunder win to set up first-place showdown

The Saskatoon Hilltops and Regina Thunder are once again on a collision course.

The Prairie Football Conference teams each won Sunday, setting up a clash of the first-place Hilltops and second-place Thunder next Saturday in Saskatoon. Game time at SMF Field is set for 7 p.m.

In Edmonton, the Hilltops (6-0-0) downed the host Huskies 40-7. In Regina, the Thunder (5-1-0) had 391 yards rushing in a 50-14 victory over the Calgary Colts.

Saskatoon and Regina have met before this season; the Hilltops beat the Thunder 36-6 on Sept. 9. Regina would have to win the rematch by 31 points to have a shot at first place through a tiebreaker.

The official statistics from the Hilltops’ game Sunday weren’t available at the time of publication.

According to social media posts, Drake Douglas and Bosten Davidsen each scored two touchdowns for Saskatoon, which got a TD from Charles Sawi as well as five converts and a field goal from Teijon Abel-Douglas. The Hilltops also recorded a safety.

At Leibel Field in Regina, Thunder tailback Ryland Leichert rushed 22 times for 199 yards and two touchdowns and Justin Reiger added 10 carries for 146 yards and a TD. Jakeb Cortus added 46 yards on eight carries for the winners.

The Thunder had just 11 pass completions for 141 yards in the game, but four of those completions produced touchdowns by Carson Derksen, Jaden Litzenberger, Isaiah Woodley and Austin Wood.

Starting quarterback Carter Moberg was 8-for-14 passing for 107 yards with two majors for the Thunder. Backup Ethan Hugg completed three of nine pass attempts for 34 yards with two TDs during his stint.

Shawn Green booted seven converts and a single for the Thunder.