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 semi-final 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.

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

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.

After a failed drive by the Hilltops, they punted the ball to the Huskies who fumbled the ball.

Hilltops Linebacker Noah Gedir recovered the ball, giving Quarterback Trey Reider a second chance on the drive.

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

Hilltops head coach Tom Sargent 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.

Edmonton would come out of the half firing as they laid the body, and eventually found the end zone.

A Huskies safety made it 18-10 Hilltops but a Huskies touchdown and two point conversion tied things up at 18.

As the clock continued to trickle down Hilltops running back Charles Sawi ran a 110 yard punt return for a touchdown giving Saskatoon the lead late.

Sargent said that swung all the momentum in their favour.

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

As for Sawi, that touchdown meant a lot to him.

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

The Hilltops would cruise to victory after that finishing with a final score of 33-18, with all eyes on the Regina Thunder for next week’s PFC final.

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

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

Both running back Ryland Leichert and wide receiver Benjamin Walz 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 prior 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 and stuff. We’ve been here quite a bit and that’s one of the things we have been leaning on is 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