Photo courtesy of Wanda Harron Photography

It was a tough day for the Alberta teams this past weekend with three losses on Sunday.

Saskatoon Hilltops 45
Edmonton Wildcats 19

The Hilltops scored 21 of their 45 points in the second quarter and cruised to their sixth win of the season.  Quarterback Trey Reider was awesome completing 15 of 22 passes for 278 yards and four touchdowns.  His favourite target was Drake Douglas who caught three of those majors and 109 yards in total.  Corbin Edden caught the other touchdown leaking out of the backfield.  He also rushed for two touchdowns on 16 carries and had 108 yards.

Their defence stopped the run, but uncharacteristically coughed up 374 yards through the air. 

Wildcats quarterback Marcos Soltero completed 27 passes for 374 yards and threw touchdown passes to Mekhi Tyrell and Gabe Hiebert. Kicker Nik Dokken knocked through a pair of field goals in the loss.

Next weekend the Hilltops (6-0) host the Regina Thunder (5-1) with a chance to clinch the Conference title.  The Wildcats (0-6) visit the Edmonton Huskies (3-3).

Regina Thunder 32
Edmonton Huskies 11

The Thunder scored 21 second half points and gave up just one point in winning their fifth of the season.  

Quarterback Carter Moberg threw for 239 yards on 19 completions and two touchdowns to Ben Walz and Zak Woidyla.  On the ground they were nine yards short of having two rushers reach the 100-yard plateau.  Sadik Sadik carried the ball 100 yards and scored a touchdown while Ryland Leichert rushed 11 times for 91 yards and a score. 

Their defence tightened in the second half led by Stephen Smith who had seven tackles, one tackle for a loss and a knockdown. Lorrin Leblanc had the lone interception.

The Huskies scored 10 of their 11 points in the first half and were held to just one touchdown. That score came in the first quarter when pivot Wyatt Matson found William Campbell for a 21-yard strike.

Next weekend the Thunder (5-1) visit the Saskatoon Hilltops (6-0) and the Huskies (3-3) welcome the Edmonton Wildcats (0-6).

Winnipeg Rifles 23
Calgary Colts 9

The Rifles used a heavy dose of running back Kaiden Banfield on Sunday to collect their first win of the season.  He carried the rock 43 times for 233 yards while teammate Jacob Kuzik rushed three times and scored a touchdown. 

The biggest play defensively came in the third quarter when linebacker Cohen McCluskey picked off a pass and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown.  He would end the day with three interceptions and eight solo tackles. 

The Colts had a difficult time moving the football against the Rifles defence, scoring eight of their nine points in the fourth quarter.  Their lone touchdown was a Caine Harrison completion to Casey Albert of 20 yards.

Next weekend the scene shifts to Calgary when the Colts (3-3) host the Rifles (1-5).