Photo courtesy of Matt Hamilton

The Prairie Football Conference (PFC) finally kicked off the season over the weekend with a full slate of games.  The Regina Thunder, Edmonton Wildcats and Edmonton Huskies each tasted victories in Week 1.

The Game of the Week was in Regina as the Thunder hosted the Saskatoon Hilltops in a rematch of last year’s PFC final and the game was as advertised.  The Thunder winning in overtime 19-16.

With quarterback Asher Hastings moving to McMaster University, it left a big hole on the offensive side.  Insert Regina native and form Vancouver Island Raider QB Jaeden Marwick.  The pivot completed 29 of 42 for 363 yards and two touchdowns, spreading ball to six different receivers.

Preston Bews hauled in six passes for a game high 84 yards and a score, while Matt Frass caught the game winning touchdown pass in overtime.  Kasim Ocaya made a game high seven receptions for 80 yards.

The ground game was frustrated against a very good Hilltops defense, compiling just 44 yards.  Justin Banin carried eight times for 23 yards.

Defensively the Thunder were led by Mason Dick and Brett Selinger who each had four tackles.  Chris Tunnicliffe had a pair of knock downs and Michael Desjarlais assisted on five stops.

The Thunder (1-0) will stay and home on Sunday and host the Edmonton Wildcats (1-0) at 1:00pm.

The Saskatoon Hilltops showed their run game will be dominating once again this year despite the graduation of Andre Lalonde.  On Sunday afternoon they rushed for 254 yards on 32 carries.  Wayndel Lewis led the charge with 18 rushes for 116 yards and a score.

Quarterback Jared Andreychuk finished the game six of 20 for 115 yards in his first game as the #1 starter following the graduation of Matt Karpinka.   Evan Kopchynski caught one ball for 58 yards, while Davis Mitchell hauled in two passes for 26 yards.

Linebacker Justin Filteau forced the game’s lone turnover, intercepting a pass to add to his four solo tackles.  Blake Hermann recorded two sacks and Cole Benkic and Dillon Buckle shared one.

The Hilltops (0-1) will host the Edmonton Huskies (1-0) on Sunday at 1:00pm in their home opener.

The PFC season officially kicked off on Saturday evening when the Calgary Colts hosted and fell to the Edmonton Wildcats 36-16.

Wildcats quarterback Jordon Olson completed 15 of 36 for 214 yards and threw two touchdowns.    His favourite target was veteran Brad Quartel who caught eight passes for a game high 118 yards.   Rocky Borrelli and Chase Nahrebeski collected the Olson touchdown passes.

After sitting out last season due to an injury the 2012 CJFL Rookie of the Year Jordan Samoil returned with eight carries for a game high 48 yards.  Anthony Myroon ran seven times for 28 yards and Nahrebeski rumbled three yards on two carries and scored a major.

The Cats Special Teams also got on the board in the third quarter as Jahlani Knorren scampered 80 yards for a touchdown in his first PFC game.  Knorren was the Langley Rams quarterback of the BCFC last season.

Defensively the Wildcats held the Colts to 46 yards on the ground and forced two turnovers as Luc Catellier and Knorren picked off a pass.  Catellier also led the club with five tackles, while Mike Hansen chipped in with three.

The Wildcats (1-0) will stay on the road and play in Regina on Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm against the Thunder (1-0) in the PFC Game of the Week.

Following their loss on Saturday the Calgary Colts are still looking for their first win since 2012, after a winless 2013.

Although the run game collected just 46 yards, the Colts did score twice on the ground.  Both Cam Fox and Cole Meyer found pay dirt.

Through the air, two different quarterbacks found six different receivers.  Brett Hunchuk completed nine of 21 for 126 yards, while Meyer was seven of 17 for 102 yards.  Their favourite target was Fox who hauled in eight catches for 90 yards.  Cole Bazinet made two catches for 50 yards.

On the defensive side Jakub Jakoubek had a game high six tackles.  Keiko King, Colton Burr and Chris Friesen had a solid game with four stops each and Dylan Niedermaier intercepted a pass.

The Colts (0-1) hit the road and play in Winnipeg on Sunday afternoon against the Rifles (0-1).

The Edmonton Huskies used six field goals on Sunday afternoon to win their first of the season, 25-15 in Winnipeg.

Jonathan Heidebrecht was a perfect 6-6 and connected on a convert to account for 19 of the Huskies 25 points.

Offensively the Huskies tallied 452 yards as quarterback Trevor Edrmann was 15 of 32 for 263 yards and threw a touchdown.    Yannick L’Abbe was his target of choice hauling in five balls for a game high 126 yards and the only touchdown.  Colton Balicki also caught five passes for 80 yards.

On the ground Brandon Stewart was the main man.  He carried a game high 20 times for 117 yards.

Defensively Daniel Loggale intercepted two passes and made a pair of tackles and Chase Paylor and Brandt Kolybaba each had six tackles.

The Huskies (1-0) stay on the road and travel to Saskatoon to take on the Hilltops (0-1) on Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm.

Sunday afternoon started a new era with a new uniforms and a new quarterback in Winnipeg but it wasn’t the result the Rifles were hoping for.

Tyler Vieira takes over the #1 pivot spot after a graduating Ryan Marsch and finished nine of 17 for 124 yards, but threw two interceptions.  He did show off some terrific scrambling skills by rushing six times for 28 yards and scored a touchdown.

The veteran Kurt Goodrich made two catches for 27 yards and he rushed three times for 91 yards and had a touchdown.  Julian Banares had three receptions for 26 yards.

On the defensive side, the Rifles were led by Braedy Will and his Conference high seven tackles.  Jason Kelly had three tackles and a pick, while Brooks Falloon also had an interception.  Joshua Onyebuchi chipped in with five tackles.

The Rifles (0-1) will now host the Calgary Colts (0-1) on Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm.