Photo courtesy of Matthew Hamilton

The Prairie Conference announced their Most Outstanding Players and Coach of the Year for the 2025 season as a build up to the Prairie Conference final on Sunday.

Prairie Conference Outstanding Players:

Coach of the Year – Scott MacAulay – Regina Thunder – he led his team to their second straight Prairie Conference championship banner with the Conference’s best record.  They clinched homefield advantage through the CJFL Canadian Bowl playoffs and will host the Conference championship game this Sunday 

Outstanding Offensive Lineman – Caleb Barajas – Regina Thunder   
Outstanding Running Back – David Collins – Saskatoon Hilltops - he carried the rock 126 times for 1028 yards and a Conference high 13 touchdowns, averaging 8.2 yards per carry

Outstanding Receiver – Jarome Penner – Winnipeg Rifles - he led the Conference with 794 receiving yards on 40 receptions and tallied three touchdowns.  He averaged 19.9 yards a catch

Outstanding Quarterback – Riley Element – Winnipeg Rifles – he led the Conference in completions (159), yards (2394), attempts (260) and was tied with 11 touchdowns.  He completed 61.2% of his passes and had a passer efficiency rating of 79.9

Outstanding Defensive Lineman – Johnathon Stevens – Saskatoon Hilltops - he led the Conference with three sacks, had 11 tackles, 18 assisted stops, had a knockdown, forced and recovered a fumble

Outstanding Linebacker – Kyler Banfield (pictured) – Winnipeg Rifles – he led the Conference with 37 tackles and 26 assisted stops.  He added two sacks, four knockdowns, forced two fumbles, and recovered a pair

Outstanding Defensive Back – Cooper Filazek – Regina Thunder - he had three interceptions, six tackles, and two knockdowns

Outstanding Special Teams Player – Charles Sawi – Saskatoon Hilltops – he was busy on Specials, returning 64 kicks this season and gobbled up 811 yards

Offensive Rookie of the Year – QB Wesley Neitz – Edmonton Huskies – he started the majority of the games for the Huskies this season and finished with a completion percentage of 56.4% after 115 completions and 1407 yards along with six touchdowns

Defensive Rookie of the Year – LB Chris Mattiello – Edmonton Huskies – in his rookie campaign he tallied 26 tackles, assisted on nine others, had a sack, a forced fumble, recovered three other fumbles and returned his lone interception 28 yards for a touchdown

Most Valuable Player – RB Peter Boersch – Regina Thunder - he won the Conference rushing title with 1327 yards on 174 carries and four touchdowns averaging 7.4 yards a carry

Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year – Kyler Banfield – Winnipeg Rifles – he led the Conference with 37 tackles and 26 assisted stops.  He added two sacks, four knockdowns, forced two fumbles, and recovered a pair

Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year – David Collins – Saskatoon Hilltops - he carried the rock 126 times for 1028 yards and a Conference high 13 touchdowns, averaging 8.2 yards per carry

Sunday afternoon the Regina Thunder will host the Saskatoon Hilltops, with the winner hosting the CJFL Canadian Bowl national championship on Sunday November 9, 2025.