Photo courtesy of Darren Steinke
As they say, what’s old is new again as the Saskatoon Hilltops will host the Calgary Colts in the 2015 PFC Final next weekend for the second consecutive season.
HILLTOPS 49 – RIFLES 21
Sunday afternoon the Hilltops won the first PFC semi-final 49-21 on the strength of 502 yards of total offence, a very balanced attack and a 21 point third quarter.
Hilltops quarterback Jared Andreychuk finished 15 of 21 for 276 yards and threw three touchdown strikes. Evan Kopchynski made two receptions, both for touchdowns while Evan Turkington hauled in the other. Andreychuk also scored a major with his legs.
Speaking of the ground game Andreychuk’s touchdown was just one of the four scored. Logan Fischer carried a game high 19 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns, while Des Vessey scored the other ground major.
Defensively the Toppers allowed 14 points in the first half and only seven in the second half. James Vause led the club with six tackles and two interceptions. Cameron Schnitzler also had five tackles, while Tom Schnitzler had the lone sack and Matt Kozun blocked a kick.
The Hilltops are back in the PFC title game and will host it for the eighth straight year. They will welcome the Colts on Sunday at 12 noon.
The Winnipeg Rifles season comes to a close despite outgaining the Hilltops with 586 yards of total offence.
Quarterback Jamie Ybarra Jr. kept the game close in the first half and finished 24 of 41 for 350 yards and three touchdowns, but threw a pair of interceptions as well. His top target was Alexander Tachinski who caught a game high seven passes for 107 yards and a score. Julian Banares and Brendan Naujoks also caught touchdown passes.
On the ground, Michael Ritchott led the club with 18 carries for 119 yards and Odun Ogidan carried 10 times for 86 yards.
The Rifles defence gave up 21 points in the third quarter and never really recovered. Chris Brown-Fillion led the team with five tackles and Stefan Conway picked off a pass.
It’s the second consecutive year the Rifles season ends in Saskatoon.
COLTS 17 – THUNDER 3
In a much lower scoring affair, the Calgary Colts upset the Regina Thunder for the second straight year with a 17-3 victory, as the PFC’s top scoring offence didn’t score a touchdown.
The Colts defence was terrific forcing nine turnovers. Including five interceptions and four turnover on downs. Defensive back Owen Redlick intercepted two passes, Alex Ogbongbemiga, Cole Meyer and Dalton Winkworth each had one. Seven different Colt defenders had multi-tackle games. Ryland Couture and Akida Lewis each had a sack and Ryan McNeily and Christopher Peet-Schwarz shared one.
The Colts primarily used the ground game, collecting 161 yards, compared to just 98 through the air. Dylan Minshull carried a game high23 times for 128 yards and a score.
Quarterback John Kiesman finished 10 of 17 for 98 yards and a touchdown pass to Kyle Brick who made a team high four receptions.
Kicker Kyle Byrne connected on a 16 yard field goal.
For the second straight year the Colts are off to the PFC final, when they face the Hilltops on Sunday at 12 noon.
The Regina Thunder season comes to a close after not scoring a touchdown. During the regular season the Thunder scored a Conference high 340 yards, but could muster only three points on Sunday on a single and a safety.
Quarterback Jaeden Marwick was forced to leave the game after a blow to the head and finished 4 of 10 for 55 yards and threw two interceptions. Back-up Sawyer Buettner finished game 16 of 34 for 187 yards, but threw three interceptions. Levi Paul caught a game high seven passes for 78 yards and Preston Bews collected five passes for 80 yards.
The PFC’s rushing champ Colton Klassen carried 19 times for 75 yards, averaging just three yards a carry.
Linebacker Paul Toth intercepted a pass, had two tackles and seven assists to lead the Thunder. Dustin Erbach had a good game in the loss, with the lone sack, a tackle, four assists and forced a fumble.
For the second straight season the Thunder will be watching the PFC final, rather than playing in it.
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