SILENCED IN SASKATOON: COLTS TRUMPED BY TOPPERS IN DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE

Turned back in ’Toon Town. It’s a common refrain for Prairie Football Conference opponents at the best of times, and the Calgary Colts were singing the same hurtin’ tune Sunday afternoon.

In a defensive slugfest that featured just three touchdowns in total, the Colts were upended 25-9 by the homestanding Saskatoon Hilltops at Griffiths Stadium in a battle for bragging rights atop PFC standings. Saskatoon, of course, was the site of the Colts’ biggest game in the last 20 years — the 2008 PFC junior gridiron final, which the ’Toppers won by a 31-14 count.

“It’s tough to play in Saskatoon. I can think of a lot of times when we came in here and led at the half, and they’d just wear us down,” said Colts offensive co-ordinator Rob McNab. “I thought our kids did admirably, but we made some mistakes and they cost us the game, there’s no question.”

The Hilltops (5-1) assume sole possession of first place in the PFC, while the Colts (4-2) see a three-game winning streak scissored, and fall back into a second-place tie with the Regina Thunder (4-2). With serious playoff-position jockeying now about to commence, the Colts have two games left in the regular season. They’ll host the Winnipeg Rifles (3-3) on Sunday, Oct. 10 at McMahon Stadium, starting at 12 p.m., and then head to Edmonton on Saturday, Oct. 16 to face the defending PFC champion Edmonton Wildcats (2-4).

Sunday in Saskatoon, the Colts were held to a single point until the final minutes, when Cuong Thai Lieu (2nd year, Nanaimo, B.C., John Barsby HS) barged over for a two-yard touchdown. The major score was set up by a 43-yard grab by receiver Ryan McDermit (5th year, Calgary, Cochrane HS).

On the other side of the ball, the Colts’ defence presented a stiff test to the Hilltop offence, led by quarterback Chase Bradshaw, but had little chance on three of those drives as turnovers led directly to 17 Hilltop points.

In the first quarter, Colts punter Andrew Fabian (2nd year, Tilley, Alta., Brooks Composite HS) was victimized by a bad snap and was tackled at his own 16-yard line. Three plays later, all-Canadian running back Regan Schuler rumbled for an eight-yard touchdown and a 10-0 Saskatoon lead. To begin the second quarter, Calgary quarterback Clayton Masikewich (2nd year, Calgary, John G. Diefenbaker HS) lost the ball while being sacked; the Hilltops took over at the Calgary 51 and soon got a 32-yard field goal from Zach Schmidt for a 13-0 lead.

And late in the fourth, the hosts put the game away when Corbin Eskelson picked off Masikewich and rambled all the way to the Calgary 14. An additional rough play call put the ball at the one-yard line, and Tom Shockey punched it in on the next play for a 25-1 advantage.

“Our defence still prides itself on being able to react to whatever situation we’re given, whether it’s the one-yard line or not,” said Colts defensive consultant John Stevens. “We understand we were put in a difficult spot, but we would still like to see our guys respond a little bit better in those situations.

“Still, I thought our defensive players competed well. It was by no means a perfect game on our behalf, but we’re going up a very good offence.”

McDermit was the Colts’ leading receiver, with three grabs for 77 yards. Calgary’s running game was almost completely shut down, as Masikewich was the top rusher with 28 yards on six carries and Lieu got just 24 yards on eight carries. Masikewich completed 20 of 32 passing attempts for 245 yards and that one pick.

“There were times when we moved the ball quite effectively, and then we just gave it up. We also missed three field goals, which didn’t help,” said McNab. “I thought we moved the ball OK. What encouraged me today was that our kids kept playing until the final whistle. I didn’t feel that in Regina (on Aug. 29, during the club’s other loss of the season).”

Zach McNeill (5th year, Calgary, Lord Beaverbrook HS) had 15 defensive points on four solo tackles, three assisted tackles, one knockdown, and one special-teams tackle.

Todd Kimberley – Media Consultant – Jace Communications – 10/3/2010