PFC PREVIEW WEEK #7

EDMONTON HUSKIES (0-5) AT EDMONTON WILDCATS (1-4)
SATURDAY OCT. 2 7PM MDT

The champions shook their 4-game losing streak in a huge way with last Saturday’s 49-3 romp over their neighbours.

The Wildcats running attack basically ran wild in the first half of the “Battle of Edmonton” double-dip as they piled up 455 yards and 6 touchdowns along the ground against a struggling Huskie defense that was missing an injured Korey Johnson. Running back Jerit Lambert returned to the form that won him 2009 Rookie of the Year honors, running for 125 yards and scoring a touchdown on only 8 carries.

The Huskies did have one highlight from the contest. Linebacker Chance Hanson had himself a 30-point evening by recording 13 tackles and a pair of quarterback sacks, which earned him Defensive Player of the Week. But it was a rough night indeed as they surrendered over 500 yards of net offense.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the Huskies offense needs to find the form they exhibited against the Winnipeg Rifles…and fast. The Huskies were held to 209 yards in net offense as quarterbacks Ben Gorniak & Trevor Erdmann couldn’t seem to generate an attack.

CALGARY COLTS (4-1) AT SASKATOON HILLTOPS (4-1)
SUNDAY OCTOBER 3[SUP]RD[/SUP] NOON LOCAL
The Hilltops christen their temporary home on the University of Saskatchewan campus by hosting a first place showdown against the Colts at Griffiths Stadium. Sunday’s tilt will be the one and only meeting of the clubs in 2010. The Toppers swept last season’s series with the second win clinching the regular season title.
Saskatoon cruised to a 42-9 rout of Winnipeg last Sunday by taking full advantage of a gale force south wind in the first quarter and putting up 30 points before the Green Gunners knew what hit them. Regan Schuler returned to the Saskatoon lineup and scored 2 touchdowns and ran for 112 yards. The Toppers tailback picked up Offensive Player of the Week.

The Colts exorcised a 59-10 road loss in Week 2 to Regina by fending off a 21-point 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] quarter comeback to win 31-21 against the Thunder. After a shaky first few weeks, it looks like the Calgary quarterbacks have settled in with Clayton Masikewich guiding the Colts offense. Masikewich outdid conference passing leader Reid Quest, throwing for 209 yards last week to Quest’s 207.
Jake Harty added to the Colts ground game by running for 110 yards on 10 carries.
On defense, Alex Saretsky & Garry Wilson had 13 & 12 point afternoons respectively against the Thunder.

WINNIPEG RIFLES (3-2) AT REGINA THUNDER (3-2)
SUNDAY OCT.3 NOON

The weekend’s final contest finds the host Thunder on a 2-game slide after dropping a 31-21 decision to the Calgary Colts, while Winnipeg had a 3-game winning string snapped by Saskatoon.
Sunday’s game features a great head-to-head matchup between two of the PFC’s top rushers as current leader Kienan LaFrance of the Rifles & Regina’s Mark Coons square off. LaFrance was held to only 55 yards in the loss to the Hilltops, while Coons ran for 109 in the loss to the Colts.
Both offenses will want to step it up on Sunday. Quest has been held to 307 yards passing in the last 2 contests. Winnipeg’s Ryan Marsch was held to 98 yards last week.
Another area to watch on Sunday will be on defense as this game features the top 4 defensive point leaders as Winnipeg’s Eric Vincent holds down top spot with 73. Nipping at his heels, thanks to a 21-point game last week is Regina’s Mark Ingram with 72. Teammate Philmon Bairu sits third at 67.5. Mike Hauptkorn of the Rifles is fourth with 64 after a 20-point effort on 10 tackles against the Hilltops.

By Tom Hallick, PFC Media Coordinator