PFC Week 4: Undefeated no more

Week 4 in the PFC saw the two remaining undefeated teams lose their first games of the year as the Regina Thunder, Edmonton Wildcats and Winnipeg Rifles all recorded victories.

The most thrilling game on the Prairies this past weekend was in Saskatoon as the visiting Regina Thunder handed the Hilltops their first loss of the year, 29-28.

With 38 seconds to go and the Hilltops up 28-22, the Thunder would stop the Hilltops on third and short from the Toppers 26 yard line.  Second later the Thunder’s Will Heward would score the game winning touchdown.

Thunder quarterback Asher Hastings finished 33 of 50 for 327 yards and two touchdowns.  22 of his completions were caught by two receivers.   Mitchell Thompson caught a game high 12 balls for 157 yards and a score, while Heward made 10 receptions for 81 yards and the game winning touchdown.

The Thunder would rely on their aerial attack with just 60 yards on the ground.  Matt Frass carried five times for 31 yards, while Justin Banin tallied 29 yards and score a touchdown.

Kicker William McGee was a perfect three for three in field goals.

Defensively the Thunder forced three turnovers as Brandon Whitehouse and Chris Tunnicliffe intercepted passes and Landon Walter picked up a fumble.  Tunnicliffe would also lead the club with five solo tackles.

The Thunder (2-1) will host the Edmonton Huskies (3-1) on Sunday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium.

The Saskatoon Hilltops fall for the first time this season despite 257 yards on the ground from Andre Lalonde on 31 carries.

The Hilltops would use two quarterbacks as Matt Karpinka would complete 12 of 20 for 111 yards and three touchdowns, while Jared Andreychuck was two of five for seven yards and threw two picks.

John Trumpy caught four passes for 55 yards and a score to lead the club.  Graham Unruh and Coleman Young also caught touchdown passes.

Chris Friesen would lead the Hilltops with seven solo tackles and Cole Benkic recorded the lone sack.  The Toppers “D” would force two turnovers as Derek Sadownick picked off a pass and Benkic jumped on a fumble.  Quinn Pierce was impressive with seven assisted stops, three solo tackles and one special teams tackle.

The Hilltops (2-1) will visit the Winnipeg Rifles (1-2) on Sunday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Derek Mortensen – Star Phoenix

In Round 2 of the Battle of Edmonton, the Wildcats completely dominated the Huskies handing them their first loss of the campaign with a 50-18 victory.

The Wildcats offense exploded for 690 total yards led by running back Levon Hawreliak who rushed for 363 yards on 29 yards and scored three touchdowns. His total is two yards short of a PFC record, set by teammate Jordan Samoil last year.   Just for comparison the Huskies team rushed for 169 yards.

Quarterback Jordan Olson finished 12 of 19 for 284 yards and threw two touchdowns.  Both majors were caught by Brad Quartel who caught five balls for 175 yards.    Ryan Smith made three catches for 33 yards while Levin Williams hauled in one pass for 58 yards.

Chase Nahrebeski would also score a major with a one yard touchdown plunge.

The Cats “D” played their best game of the year, forcing four turnovers.   Riley Aitken and Aiden Panchyshyn both had interceptions while Ryan Doram and Keaton Hoddinott picked up fumbles.  Ryan Migadel would lead the Wildcats with six solo tackles and Brett Morrow recorded the lone sack.

The Wildcats (2-1) will travel to Calgary to take on the Colts (0-4) on Sunday afternoon.

The Edmonton Huskies were shell-shocked by the Wildcats, compiling just 302 yards of total offense in their first loss of the season.

Quarterback Trevor Erdmann finished seven of 20 for 97 yards and threw two picks.  Colton Balicki would haul in three passes for 37 yards to lead the club.

On the ground the Huskies would use seven different ball carriers led by Stas Bessmertniy who rumbled seven times for 83 yards.

It would be the Huskies defense who would get on the board first as Andre Leduc pick up a fumble and returned it 40 yards for a major.  Adam Kuntz led the club with nine solo tackles, while Stephan Paleniuk chipped with eight stops.  Both Jordan Baron and Brandt Kolybaba each recorded a sack.

Kicker Jonathan Heidebrecht would get the other Huskies touchdown, coming with 20 seconds left in the game.

The Huskies (3-1) will travel to Regina to take on the Thunder (2-1) on Sunday afternoon.

 

The Winnipeg Rifles recorded their first win of the season, doing something no other team has been able to do yet this season, stop Calgary Colts running back Cameron Fox.  The Rifles would beat the Colts 33-17 holding Fox to -13 yards.

The Rifles offense tallied 474 yards as quarterback Ryan Marsch was 13 of 30 for 373 yards and threw three touchdowns.  He would spread the ball to six different receivers as Matt Lariviere caught four of those passes for 124 yards and a score.  Kurt Goodrich and Nic Bemenek also caught touchdown passes.

On the ground Blair Mattes carried the bulk of the load with 13 carries for 65 yards and a major.

The Rifles defense was solid recording four quarterback sacks. Donovan Gregoire, Andrew Gregoire, Tariq Lachance and Spencer Riche got to the QB. Riche would also lead the “D” with four solo tackles while Brooks Falloon chipped in with three stops and a knockdown.

The Rifles (1-2) will host the Saskatoon Hilltops (2-1) on Sunday afternoon, part of Minor Football Week.

The Calgary Colts continue to be frustrated this season losing their fourth straight.  The Colts offense would gather just 217 yards, 36 of which on the ground.  Fox finished with minus 13 yards on the ground, while backup quarterback Kiefer Olson rushed four times for 31 yards.

The Colts used two quarterbacks as Jeremy Long was eight of 10 for 150 yards and a touchdown, while Olson finished seven of 20 for 91 yards.

Marcus Gordon caught the lone touchdown pass, compiling three catches for 79 yards.  Nik Petros hauled in four passes for 65 yards.

Kicker Andrew Fabian did the bulk of the Colts scoring as a perfect three for three in field goals.

One bright spot for the Colts defensively was the fact they created three turnovers.   Dan Miazga intercepted a pass while Zach McEachern had an interception and a fumble recovery.  Austin Donaldson recorded the lone quarterback sack.

The Colts (0-4) will host the Edmonton Wildcats (2-1) on Sunday afternoon.

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