Rifles open 10th season with a bang

The Winnipeg Rifles opened their 10th anniversary season on the right note as they scored a 41-34 victory over the Edmonton Huskies in front of 633 fans at Canad Inns Stadium.

The Huskies opened up the scoring on a Ben Gorniak 1-yard sneak 7 minutes into the game, accounting for the lone score of the frame.

Edmonton would up its lead to 8 as Jonathan Heidebrecht was wide on a 44-yard attempt early in the second stanza. The Rifle offense found their footing after a shaky first period as Ryan Marsch, who went 13 of 19 for 243 yards with 3 touchdown strikes, would connect with rookie Julian Banares on a 9-yard pass play. For the Sturgeon Heights product, his 1st PFC TD reception.

The visitors would regain their 8-point-edge as Ben Gorniak sneaked in from a yard out to make it 15-7 Huskies at the half.

The home side would charge back in short order in the 3rd frame. Two plays after a Jamie Mcpherson 14-yard shank set the Rifles up at the 27, Martin Hovi would go the distance to get Winnipeg back in the ball game. After the Brad Mikoluff convert, it was 15-14. On the next Rifle drive, Ryan Marsch would dial long distance and connect with slotback Derek Dean to vault the Green Gunners into the lead for the first time at 21-15.

It would get even better for Winnipeg as newcomer Kyle Willis would take a McPherson punt back 58 yards to expand the lead to 27-15. The convert try was blocked.

The Huskies would fight back late in the third as Anthony Barrett would score on a 5-yard catch to pull Edmonton to within 5 at 27-22.

The Rifles would start to pull away early in the 4th as Martin Hovi scored on a 7-yard dash to up the lead to 34-22. Hovi would run the rock 16 times for 122 yards on the day. And then Matt Lariviere’s 25-yard touchdown grab gave Winnipeg a 41-22 edge. Lariviere reeled in 6 balls for 99 yards.

The Huskies would rebound on a Jonathan Heidebrecht field goal. Edmonton was at the Rifles 5 when receiver Anthony Barrett was ejected after firing a forearm smash at a Rifle defender, moving the ball back to the Winnipeg 30. The Huskies drew to within 8 as Yannick L’Abbe made a circus catch as the ball went off of two sets of hands before L’Abbe hauled it in. Sam Schwab would get the two-point convert. Heidebrecht would notch a single on the ensuing kickoff to make the final 41-34.

The Rifles hit the road next week for a Sunday date in Saskatoon versus the national champion Hilltops.