Hilltops win PFC Championship: Host Canadian Bowl

The 34[SUP]th[/SUP] PFC championship game and inaugural title tilt between the provincial rivals played out on a clear Sunday afternoon at Gordie Howe Bowl.

The title tilt took a turn in the Hilltops favour on the game’s opening kickoff as Thunder returner Brandon Sieber fumbled as Sam Anderson forced the fumble and Brad Chaisson recovered. Saskatoon took all of one play to score as Ian Miller reeled in a 35-yard pass from Chase Bradshaw to give the home side a 7-0 lead after only 40 seconds.

A Zach Schmidt punt single made it an 8-0 game, then the Regina offense got going as they utilized PFC rushing champion Mark Coons and he helped move his mates deep into Saskatoon territory. Coons would run 20 times for 144 yards. Inside the 20 yard-line, Thunder pivot Reid Quest’s pass would be picked off in the end zone by Graig Newman who would take it 20 yards, quashing the Thunder drive.

The Thunder would get on the scoreboard 2:03 into the second quarter as Quest would score on a 3-yard run. Regina carried the play in the second stanza as the offense moved the ball well downfield, but couldn’t score. But toward the end of the half, Saskatoon went on an 11-play, 90-yard touchdown march that culminated with a Regan Schuler 1-yard TD run on a 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] and goal gamble. Schuler ran 22 times for 78 yards.

Regina replied on the final play of the half as Ben Koot connected on a 25-yard field goal attempt to make it 15-10 Hilltops at the half.

Saskatoon had the ball to begin the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] half and scored again in short order on a 4-play drive which began with a 28-yard Ian Miller grab & finished as Kit Hillis scored on a 38-yard pass and run play to give the home side a 22-10 lead 2:20 into the quarter. That was the lone score of the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] quarter. Miller would snare 6 for 135 yards, while Hillis had 3 receptions for 74 yards.

The Regina offense would make a dramatic push early in the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] quarter as Mark Coons would draw the Thunder to within 5 as he took a 10-yard scoring strike from Quest at the 2:06 mark. Head coach Erwin Klempner would call for an onside kick which the Thunder would recover. 2 plays later, Regina would grab the lead as Brady Keller, in for an injured Kolten Solomon who did not dress, made a great touchdown grab as the ball deflected off a Hilltops defender and Keller would get his mitts on it to give Regina a 24-22 lead 3:03 into the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] quarter. Keller had 4 catches for 90 yards.

Ben Koot’s ensuing kickoff would be a short kick which was fielded by Brendon Gryba, who would take it to the Regina 52. Five plays later, Gryba would put the home side in front to stay as he scored on a 12-yard run to make it 29-24, 5:11 into the frame.
Saskatoon started a late quarter possession deep in their territory, but could only move it to their 9 yard-line. Instead of perhaps conceding a safety, punter Zach Schmidt would step into a 66-yard punt that was fumbled and the Hilltops pounced on it at the Regina 35. After 2 runs, Schmidt would make good on a 38-yard field goal to make it 32-24.

On the next Regina drive which was highlighted by a Clay Cooke 25-yard catch, the Thunder moved deep in Saskatoon territory before Corbin Eskelson came up with an interception, snuffing out what appeared to be their last hope. After a Hilltop two-and-out, Quest and company had one last shot with 4 seconds left, but the deep ball would go incomplete and the Saskatoon Hilltops captured their 13[SUP]th[/SUP] Prairie Football Conference championship.

The Hilltops will host the defending Canadian Bowl champions Vancouver Island Raiders on Saturday November 13[SUP]th[/SUP] in the 2010 edition of the national final. The Raiders downed the OFC champions Hamilton Hurricanes 38-13 in the Intergold Cup Game on Saturday.
The PFC’s 2 best passers, Reid Quest and Chase Bradshaw duelled all day long as Quest completed 17 of 33 for 259 yards with 2 TD’s and 3 INTS, while Bradshaw was 12 of 19 for 266 yards with 2 TD’s.

Defensively, Graig Newman of Saskatoon followed up his 27-point effort of a week ago with a 25-point day, thanks to 4 tackles, 5 assisted stops, 2 special teams tackles, 2 special teams assists, fumble recovery and an interception. For Regina, Tyler Hogan had 5 tackles and 5 assists along with a sack for an 18-point afternoon.