2012 PFC Championship Game Preview

For the 2nd time in 3 seasons, the provincial rivals will butt heads in the 36th edition of the PFC Championship Game. The winner will host the Ontario Football Conference champions London Beefeaters, who claimed their 1st title in come-from-behind fashion as they rallied from a 14-3 deficit to edge the defending champion Hamilton Hurricanes 19-16 last Saturday night in the Jostens Cup Game on October 28th.
The last time the two teams met in the final, they served up a classic as the teams traded leads all day long and the Toppers took advantage of a muffed punt return to get the go-ahead touchdown in a 32-24 win. The Hilltops and Thunder have clashed 4 times previously in the playoffs, with the Toppers taking all 4 clashes; 22-17 in 2002, 37-28 in 2007, 30-24 in 2009 and 32-24 in the 2010 final. Sunday’s final will be Saskatoon’s 31st appearance in the PFC version of “The Big Game”, while the Thunder make their 2nd trip to the title contest.
Let’s have a look at the teams.
REGINA THUNDER: Regular Season Record: 4-4, 4th, 208 PF, 230 PA Head Coach: Erwin Klempner How They Got Here: Upset Calgary Colts 24-21 in conference semi-final
Who to Keep an Eye on: QB Asher Hastings Hastings missed 3 games through injury, but still passed for 836 yards, placing 6th in that department. He had the game of a lifetime in the win at Calgary as he passed for 327 yards and 3 touchdowns.
WR Will Heward: Heward snagged the game-winning touchdown in the semi-final victory with 17 seconds to go. He tied for 2nd in receiving touchdowns with 6 (1 behind teammate Clay Cooke) and was runner-up in receiving yards (627) to Winnipeg’s Brett Carter.
DB Yianni Cabylis: Cabylis led the PFC in overall tackles with 62 (37 Solo, 12 Assists, 9 Special Teams. 4 ST Assists) but was narrowly edged out by Edmonton Huskie Chance Hanson in the defensive points standings by a 117-114 count. Cabylis had 9 solo tackles and 2 assists as he had a season-best 28-point night on September 8th versus the Toppers, but was held to 3 solo tackles and an assist 2 weeks later in the rematch.
The Wildcard: QB Kyle Siemens has been an effective relief pitcher for the Thunder and threw for 405 yards and 4 scores in his first start of the year. An additional factor could be the running game. Yes, the Thunder are a pass first bunch, however should Nick Brown, who finished up with 493 yards on the year come up big when called upon, that could play a big role in a potential upset.
The Skinny: The Thunder were dealt a pair of losses at the hands of the Hilltops, but with the playoffs as demonstrated last Sunday, you can toss the past performance chart out with the rest of the recycling. Should Hastings continue the momentum started last week with the upset of the Colts, Regina’s wild playoff ride will continue on.
SASKATOON HILLTOPS: Regular Season Record: 6-2 2nd, 257 PF, 142 PA, Head Coach: Tom Sargeant How They Got Here: Downed Edmonton Wildcats 42-11 in conference semi-final
Who to Keep an Eye On: REC Kyle McGinnis: The 4th-year pass catcher was Mr. Clutch for the Hilltops in 2012 as whenever they needed a big catch, McGinnis would get his mitts on the ball. He had the 3rd longest reception this season, a 65-yarder on his way to placing 3rd in receiving with 622 yards.
RB Andre Lalonde: As has been written this year, Lalonde is only one of 3 legitimate number 1 tailbacks in the firm of Lalonde, Brendon Gryba & Wayndel Lewis. Lalonde was 3rd in conference rushing with 741 yards and in the semi-final win, bulldozed his way to 128 yards on 18 carries.
DB Mike Waldron: The 4th-year defensive back spearheaded one of the best overall defensive efforts in PFC playoff history as he intercepted a pair of passes and registered 20 points in the semi-final romp. He rounded out the Top 10 in defensive points with 79.5.
The Wildcard: Who will be at quarterback for the Hilltops? It may depend on what time of day one asks Tom Sargeant. In the semi-final, he displayed an extraordinarily quick hook as he briefly yanked starter Matt Karpinka after the first series in favor of Jared Andreychuk who hadn’t suited up in a number of weeks. Whoever starts behind center on Sunday had best come out with guns a-blazin’ or the quickest hook this side of Mike Keenan could be used again.
The Skinny:The Hilltops defense forced 11, count ‘em, 11 turnovers in the semi-final win over Edmonton with Mike Waldron grabbing 2 of 6 interceptions Saskatoon snatched on the day. If the defense has a day even remotely close to last Sunday with Waldron himself saying earlier this week that the team goal is forcing 5 turnovers per game, look for the Hilltops to take their 3rd straight conference crown and set their sights on a 3rd straight Canadian Bowl title.