Hilltops rally in one of greatest comebacks in PFC playoff history

The Winnipeg Rifles had the defending national champions on the run for 3 quarters in the PFC semi-final, but in the end, it was the Hilltops that emerged with the win in what will likely go into the books as one of the greatest comebacks in PFC playoff history as the Hilltops edged the Rifles 36-34.

The visitors got off to a great start as Ryan Marsch connected with Alex Vitt for his first of two majors on the afternoon. Vitt would reel in his 2nd touchdown of the day to double the Rifle advantage to 14-0 with a 25-yard reception 10 minutes into the period. A Zack Schmidt punt single would make it a 14-1 game after 15 minutes.

Brad Mikoluff made it a 16-point Rifle lead as he was good on an 18-yard field goal. The champions would find the end zone as Chase Bradshaw barely got into the end zone on a 3rd-and-2 gamble from the 2 to make it 17-8. But as they had throughout the entire first half, Winnipeg marched down the field & Choe Sesay would run it in from 3 yards out to make it a 24-8 game for Winnipeg after 30 minutes.

Saskatoon took the ball to start the third quarter and they would get back into the contest as Chase Bradshaw put the capper on the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. That would be the only score of the frame as it was 24-15 Rifles heading to the 4th.

The home side shaved the deficit down to 2 as Kyle McGinnis took in a 25-yard touchdown strike from Bradshaw just 16 seconds into the quarter. Matt Lariviere would get a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-22. Linebacker Donovan Gregoire had a pair of huge interceptions late in the final frame; however the Rifles could only muster a Mikoluff field goal and led by 12 with 3 minutes remaining.

Then it was cue the comeback as Bradshaw found the end-zone on a 2-yard scamper after connecting on a pair of deep balls that had the Hilltops knocking on the door to slice the deficit to 5 with 2:02 to go. The game would take a turn on the next Rifle possession as a 3rd-and-short gamble was stuffed with 93 seconds left on the clock. Regan Schuler would run for 13 yards, and then put the Hilltops in front for the first time all day with 36 seconds to go, as he scored on a 4-yard run to make it 36-34.

Ryan Marsch & company had one last drive from their 12-yard-line, but Braxton Lawrence would seal the win as he intercepted the first down pass to cap off the miraculous comeback.

The Hilltops advance to the conference final against the Calgary Colts next Sunday. The Colts earned their trip to the final with a 55-6 rout of the Regina Thunder in the other semi-final.

Marsch would go 25 of 39 for 289 yards, throwing for 3 touchdowns & 2 interceptions. Martin Hovi for the second straight year had a sensational semi-final as he ran for 159 yards. Alex Vitt recorded 7 catches for 104 yards. While on defense, Donovan Gregoire had 3 tackles and an assisted stop to go along with his pair of interceptions. Ryan Messner had 18 defensive points courtesy of 4 tackles, a blocked punt, an interception and a pass knockdown.

Saskatoon had 510 yards of net offense to 459 for the Rifles.