Prairie Football Conference: PFC Week One Preview

Saskatoon Hilltops @ Regina Thunder – August 13th @ Mosaic Stadium – 7:00 pm

The last time these two Saskatchewan sides faced each other, it was last November as the 2 clubs staged an epic PFC title game with the Hilltops capturing the title by a 32-24 count.

The Thunder will have a new starting pivot in 2011 as Wyatt Catley steps in for PFC Offensive Player of the Year Reid Quest. Quest joined the Concordia Stingers of the CIS. Even with Quest gone, the Thunder still have a veteran-laden team as receivers Jon Probe, Kolten Solomon, Camille Lagimodiere comprise one of the best receiving corps in the conference.

The champions will have 5th-year pivot Chase Bradshaw guiding the offense, in addition to having fellow 5th-year running back Regan Schuler & 3rd-year back Brendon Gryba lugging the leather.

On defense, 5th-year defensive back Graig Newman will anchor the secondary. Brett Pisio & Donovan Dale will lead a strong defensive line. The clubs split their regular season series with the Thunder winning 48-23 at Mosaic in August & the Hilltops routing Regina 55-7.

Edmonton Wildcats @ Calgary Colts – August 14th @ Clarke Park – 1:00 pm

The 2010 conference champions embark on the road back to the playoffs as they welcome the Colts.

The Wildcats are now guided by Darcy Park, who has Anthony Johnson who tossed for 727 yards after starting the year as a pass catcher, back at pivot, along with Taylor Souster who ran for 553 yards & 3 majors last season.

Receiver Mitch Richter is poised to have a breakout season. Defensive stalwarts in DB Miguel Barker had a pair of picks returns for his 5th and final season and 4-year veteran Kael Schryver anchors the defensive line.

The Colts have a most interesting first half schedule as they get very familiar with both the Wildcats & Huskies at McMahon as well as Clarke Park.

Coming into the campaign, the defense is drawing rave reviews, shutting out both the Wildcats & Huskies during preseason play. All 4 defensive line starters from 2010 return as do 3 defensive backs. The Colts have impressive depth in the backfield with 3-year veteran Coung Thai Lieu leading the way. Chucks Okafor & newcomer D.J. Whetton showed well in the preseason against both Edmonton clubs.

As far as the receiving corps is concerned, Calgary is as deep at the position as anyone else in the PFC. Three-year veterans Ben Hnatiuk, Tom Shaw & Doug Long offset the loss of Ryan McDermit who’s graduated. But the trouble spot at the moment is quarterback as neither incumbent Clayton Masikewich nor Jeremy Long was overly impressive last weekend. Derek Cooper, who sent 2010 with the Vancouver Island Raiders, is poised to challenge.

Andrew Fabian, who played in preseason with the Calgary Stampeders, is arguably the best kicker in the conference. The teams split their 2010 season series with the Colts winning 40-30 in Week 4, while the Wildcats ended their season on a winning note with a 27-24 win in Week 9.

Edmonton Huskies @ Winnipeg Rifles – August 14th @ Canad Inns Stadium – 12:00 pm

Rick Walters begins his tenure as Huskies bench boss on Sunday against a Rifles club who believe that big things are in the offing in 2011.

The Huskies are on a slide that has reached the downright nasty stage and 5th-year pivot Ben Gorniak & company would like nothing more than to get their new head coach a streak-snapping win for his first PFC victory.

The Huskies boast an improved defense with newcomers like DB Brandt Kolybaba, along with defensive linemen Haiden Heap and Steve Wuori. Winnipeg swept the season set in 2010, winning a 49-36 decision on August 14 at home, and then gutting out a 21-15 road win in September.

The Rifles are led at quarterback by 3rd-year man Ryan Marsch who was 3rd in passing yards in the conference in 2010. Marsch has a talented group of receivers led by Matt Lariviere, Steven Hadaller, along with newcomer Everad Jackson who joins the club from the BCFC’s Langley (Formerly South Surrey) Rams. For those teams who thought they could breathe a sigh of relief with Kienan LaFrance now plying his trade with the Manitoba Bisons, the Rifles are ready to roll out a “Four-Headed Monster” of a backfield with Martin Hovi, Choe Sesay,
ex-Ram Kyle Willis and former Bison Sean Clark.

The defense had a stellar afternoon in the preseason tie versus Regina and will need that kind of effort all season long to ease the loss of LB Eric Vincent.