It’s Week 7 in the Prairie Football Conference (PFC) and the Game of the Week will feature great match-up between the Saskatoon Hilltops (3-2) hosting the Winnipeg Rifles (3-2) in the first of a home and home.

This game will feature two different offenses, as Hilltops will try and pound the ball on the ground and wear down the Rifles defensive line, while the Rifles will use the aerial attack against an extremely stingy defense.

The Hilltops are coming off a blowout road win over the Calgary Colts last weekend and are 1-1 at home, but 0-1 on the newly renovated Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

They will once again pound the ball on the ground with the PFC’s leading rusher Wayndel Lewis.  He has 68 carries for a Conference best 683 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 10 yards a carry.  Quarterback Jared Andreychuck is very mobile and has collected 283 yards on 29 carries this season.

Through the air Andreychuck is the second highest rated QB with a passer efficiency rating of 85.4%.  He is 58 of 127 for 919 yards, as has thrown seven touchdowns compared to just one interception. His favourite target has been Chad Braun who has 18 catches for 259 yards and a score.

The Rifles offense on the other hand is a pass first offense.  Quarterback Tyler Vieira has the PFC’s best passer efficiency of 90.2% completing 67 of 111 for 947 yards and thrown seven touchdowns, but five interceptions.  His main weapon has been veteran Kurt Goodrich who has 27 catches for a PFC high 451 yards and four TDs.  Niclas Bemenek has been a nice compliment for Goodrich, hauling in 14 balls for 284 yards and two scores.

Defensively, the Hilltops how allowed 95 points (second fewest) and share the Conference lead with 11 interceptions.  Justin Filteau has been simply awesome for the Hilltops and will try and make life miserable for the Rifles pass first offense.  He has a Conference high 42 tackles and two interceptions.

The big question will be, can the Rifles offense make plays down the field against the Hilltops secondary? 

On the other side of the field the Rifles defense, who has been solid, will need to contain Lewis and the run game and make the Hilltops beat them through the air.  They have given up 131 points and will need to clamp down on Sunday.

Brady Carter leads the Rifles “D” with 23 tackles, while Jason Kelly shares the Conference high of four interceptions.  Brooks Falloon has three picks.

These two teams will play a home and home, starting Sunday afternoon in Saskatoon at 1:00pm.  Catch the Hilltops broadcast HERE