Photo courtesy of @photoliam

Saskatoon Hilltops 30
Regina Thunder 27

The Saskatoon Hilltops are Prairie Conference champs in 2025 after a thrilling 30-27 overtime victory in Regina on Sunday afternoon.

With time winding down in the fourth quarter and trailing by eight points the Hilltops backup quarterback Griffin Sander found Isaiah Vallerruten with a short touchdown pass to close the gap to two points.   On the two-point conversion try Sander hit David Boyd Jr who stretched across the goal line to tie the score with 31 seconds remaining.

The Thunder did move the ball following the ensuing kickoff and Shawn Green attempted a 52-yard field goal which hit the crossbar and bounced out however the Hilltops were called on a 15-yard penalty on the play.  Green then had an opportunity to try again, this time from 37 yards out and pushed it right with time expired forcing the game into overtime.

In the extra session the Thunder had first possession and drove it into the red zone but the Hilltops defence held.  Green made a 22-yard field goal meaning the Hilltops had a chance to tie with a field goal or win with a touchdown.

Sander worked the ball down the field before finding Vallerruten on a crossing patten just in between two defenders for the game winning touchdown pass.  

The Hilltops will now host the Okanagan Sun in the 2025 Canadian Bowl on Sunday November 9th.  It will be the fourth meeting in the national championship between these two storied franchises and first time in 10 years.