The Regina Thunder are PFC champs for the first time in 14 years after upsetting the three-time Canadian Bowl champion Saskatoon Hilltops 21-16 on Sunday afternoon at Griffiths Stadium. The Thunder will now host the Canadian Bowl on November 9th.
After the Hilltops took the lead on two singles, the Thunder dominated the champs until the fourth quarter. The Thunder scored their first touchdown with 11 minutes left in the first as Nick Brown pounded the ball into the endzone.
In the second quarter the Thunder piled on another seven points on two field goals and a single off the foot of rookie kicker William McGee. 14-2 Thunder at halftime.
The only scoring in the third was a touchdown pass to Will Heward from quarterback Asher Hastings.
In the fourth, the Hilltops started to mount their comeback. The PFC’s Offensive Player of the Year Andre Lalonde scored a pair of touchdowns six minutes apart to get the Toppers close, but ultimately it wasn’t enough.
The Thunder defense was solid allowing the powerful Hilltops run game to just 109 yards, Lalonde colleting just 39 on 12 carries.
Defensive back Tanner Hope set a new PFC and CJFL record with five knockdowns in a Conference championship game. Linebacker Brett Selinger tallied four solo tackles to lead the club while Michael Bittman recorded the only sack.
Quarterback Hastings set a new PFC record with 25 completions in a Conference championship game, which is also tied for second all time in the CJFL. He compiled 316 yards, finding Heward 10 times for 167 of those yards. Daniel Jacob Carr caught six balls for 72 yards, while Brown hauled in five passes for 42 yards.
Brown also had a huge game on the ground carrying 22 times for 108 yards and the first quarter touchdown.
The Thunder will host the Vancouver Island Raiders in the 2013 Canadian Bowl on Saturday November 9th. It’s the first appearance for Regina since they were the Rams in 1998. The Raiders return to the Canadian for the first time since 2010 when they lost in Saskatoon.
The Hilltops lose a championship game for the first time since 2009.
The used two quarterbacks, Jared Andreychuck finished 10 of 24 for 151 yards, while Matt Karpinka was three of eight for 62 yards. They would find Lalonde four times for a team high 86 yards and Evan Kopchynski four times for 62 yards.
The Hilltops “D” was led by defensive back Reed Hnidy who collected five solo tackles, three assists and a knockdown. Linebacker Quinn Pierce tallied four solo tackles.
Photo courtesy of Louis Christ
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