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Prairie Conference Summary

By Ryan Watters (@ryan2tswatters), 09/20/21, 7:45PM PDT

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The Thunder, Huskies and Wildcats for the win

Photo courtesy of Wanda Harron Photography

Regina Thunder 30
Saskatoon Hilltops 27

For the second straight week the Thunder and Hilltops battled to the final seconds in another instant classic as the best game in the CJFL.  The Thunder held on for the victory as Justin McKerracher intercepted a pass in the end zone in the dying seconds with the Hilltops marching down the field.   The victory also snapped the Hilltops 31-game road winning streak and hands the six-time champs their first multi-loss season since 2014.  It’s the first time the Hilltops have lost back-to-back games in more than 20 years.

As for the game it was back and forth with both teams answering the others score.  The Thunder’s winning drive was capped off by a 36-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Woodley from back-up quarterback Zenon Orobko with just over two minutes to play in the fourth quarter.  Woodley hauled in four passes for 106 yards while Rylan Sokul caught a game high eight passes for 167 yards and a 32-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

The Thunder ground game featured Brayden Long and his 19 carries chewing up a game high 103 yards and a score.
Starting quarterback Carter Shewchuck was 12 of 19 for 242 yards and found Sokul for his touchdown.  Orobko finished four of 12 for 103 yards and the game winning touchdown toss.

Over on the defence Ryan Mills and Stephen Smith each made six solo tackles and Mills added a sack. McKerracher’s pick was the lone Hilltop turnover.

The Hilltops actually outgained the Thunder offence compiling 486 total yards.  Quarterback Damon Dutton was simply outstanding completing 28 passes for 332 yards and found Ethan Godson for a 38-yard touchdown. In all Godson caught three balls for a team high 113 yards.  Dutton led the Hilltops all the way down the field in the dying seconds and almost completed a miracle comeback.

On the ground both Carter McLean and Jordan Tabin each scored touchdowns.

Defensively Connor Johnson had a strong game with four tackles and a sack and veteran Jared Giddings had a team high six tackles and a knockdown.   In all, the Hilltops tallied four sacks.

This weekend the Thunder (4-0) will visit the Edmonton Wildcats (2-2) while the Hilltops (2-2) welcome the Winnipeg Rifles (1-3).

Edmonton Huskies 41
Winnipeg Rifles 15

The visiting Huskies dominated the Rifles scoring 26 points in the second quarter on route to their third win of the season.   Quarterback Declan O’Flaherty had a career game completing 25 passes for 442 yards and four touchdowns.  His favourite target was Christopher Smith who caught five passes for 116 yards and a score.  A total of eight different receivers caught passes and De Shawn Le Jour, Jemanie Watkis and Epharh Oyama each caught touchdowns.

Running back Alex Gayle added another touchdown on one of his 13 carries for 51 yards.

Meanwhile the Rifles offence struggled moving the ball against the Huskies defence.  They used a pair of quarterbacks; Thomas Hubbard and Bryson McNeil who each threw touchdown passes and combined for 272 yards.  Both Ronin Francis and Jake Roger caught touchdown passes.

This coming weekend the Huskies (3-1) go on the road to face the Calgary Colts (0-4) and the Rifles (1-3) visit the Saskatoon Hilltops (2-2).

Edmonton Wildcats 42
Calgary Colts 22

This game was back and forth for the first three quarters and was tied at 22 heading into the final frame.  The Wildcats exploded for 20 points in the fourth on route to their second win of the season behind running back Nathan Zacharias and his 23 carries, 168 yards and three touchdowns.

Through air quarterback Devin Desormeau threw for 126 yards and hit Tanner Holt for a 16 yard touchdown.

During the fourth quarter onslaught defensive lineman Brett Phillips intercepted a pass and rumbled 45 yards for a touchdown.  Justin Rutherford tallied the Wildcats first sack of the season to complement his three solo tackles.

The brightest light for the Colts was running back Ike Okafor who rushed an incredible 31 times for 151 yards and had a touchdown.  Quarterback Justin Verloop threw a touchdown pass to Brandon MacIsaac.

This coming weekend the Wildcats (2-2) host the Regina Thunder (4-0) and the Colts (0-4) are home to the Edmonton Huskies (3-1).