Photo courtesy of Jody Bailey

The PFC Week 8 is in the books as the Saskatoon Hilltops, Regina Thunder and Winnipeg Rifles each won.

THUNDER 30 - COLTS 20

The Game of the Week was in Calgary as the Colts hosted the Regina Thunder in a second place showdown.

It was the Thunder that wore down the Colts defence with the run game capturing a 30-20 victory to move into sole possession of second place heading into the final weekend of the year.

Colton Klassen carried 29 times for 175 yards and dominated.  Victor St. Pierre rushed six times and scored a touchdown.
Through the air Jaeden Marwick finished 17 of 22 for 139 yards and threw a pair of touchdown passes.  Preston Bews caught four passes for a team high 45 yards and a major.  Ashton Vien’s only catch was a four yard touchdown strike.
Thunder kicker Kristopher Calcutt connected on three field goals including one from 38 yards.

The Thunder defence was terrific in the fourth quarter, shutting out the Colts offence.  Marcus Hall led the club with four tackles, Dustin Erbach picked off a pass and Vien blocked a kick.  Matthew Williams and Ryan Filyk recovered fumbles.
Heading into the final weekend the Thunder (5-2) will host the Edmonton Huskies (1-6) on Sunday afternoon.

The Calgary Colts were frustrated by the Thunder defence gaining just 88 yards on the ground.  The ineffective running attack forced the Colts to throw.

Quarterback John Kiesman was 18 of 33 for 330 yards and a major.  He found eight different receivers as Jesse Kutz led the way with three catches and 120 yards and the lone major.

The Colts did manage a rushing touchdown as Dylan Minshull scored on one of his nine carries.

On the defensive side of the ball Dylan Niedermaier had a terrific game, making a game high eight tackles, five assists and forced a fumble.  Conner Robinson picked off a pass and J-Min Pelley collected a pair of sacks.  Chris Schwarz and Alex Ogbongbemigo also had a sack while Colton Burr and Fabian Ross recovered fumbles.

On Sunday the Colts (4-3) will head to Saskatoon to face the top seeded Hilltops (7-0) looking for payback after a Week 1 loss.

HILLTOPS 41 - WILDCATS 17

Speaking of the Hilltops they played their final road game of the season blasting the Edmonton Wildcats 41-17 behind 537 yards of total offence and 26 first downs.

The offence was extremely balanced with 276 yards through the air and 263 on the ground.  Quarterback Jared Andreychuk was 10 of 25 for 254 yards and threw three touchdowns.  His top target was Evan Kopchynski who made five receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns.  Ryan Turple lone reception was a nine yard touchdown strike.

On the ground Logan Fischer and the offensive line was simply great.  Fischer ran 18 times for 153 yards and a score, while Des Vessey also scored on nine carries.

Defensively the Toppers allowed all 17 points in the second quarter.   Quinn Pierce made seven tackles, Cole Benkic intercepted a pass and Matt Kozun and Blake Adams had a sack each.

The Hilltops (7-0) will play for their first undefeated season since 2008 on Sunday when they host the Colts (4-3).

The Edmonton Wildcats only managed 62 yards on the ground against the Hilltops defence and did all of their scoring the second quarter.

Quarterback Jordan Olson finished 25 of 42 for 278 yards and a touchdown to Landyn Vick.  Ryan Smith caught nine passes for 92 yards and Tristan Schutlenkamper hauled in six passes for 91 yards.

Olson did rush four times and did score a major with his legs.

The Cats defence was on the field for the majority of the game.  James Ens collected a Conference high nine tackles and recovered a fumble.  Cameron Maschmeyer tallied five tackles and Tony Savchuk intercepted a pass.

The Wildcats (1-6) will host the Winnipeg Rifles (3-4) on Sunday in the regular season finale.

RIFLES 60 - HUSKIES 8

The Rifles won their third game of the season by blowing out the Edmonton Huskies 60-8 collecting 551 yards of total offence.

Quarterback Jamie Ybarra Jr had his best game as a Rifles finishing 17 of 24 for 347 yards and threw four touchdowns.  Former Okanagan Sun Zach Regert caught six balls for 113 yards, Julian Barnares caught a pair of Ybarra’s touchdowns, while Ian Lee and Michael Ritchott had the others.

In the run game Odun Ogidan rushed 11 times for 96 yards and score.  Ritchott had a second touchdown on the ground and Timothy Demidiuk also scored a major.

The Rifles special teams also got on the scoreboard as Kai Madsen returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown.

Defensively Bready Will was outstanding with six tackles, three special teams tackles, had a knockdown and two interceptions.  Michael Penner had eight tackles, Tyrone Hastings had the lone sack and Joshua Onyebuchi and Evan Vitt recovered fumbles.

The Rifles (3-4) have clinched the final playoff spot and will try to finish 500 when they go back to Edmonton to face the Wildcats (1-6) on Sunday.

The Edmonton Huskies dropped their third straight despite collected 424 yards of total offence and a very balanced attack.  They tallied 230 yards on the ground and 232 through the air.

Quarterback Bradley Launhardt finished 10 of 19 for 145 yards and a touchdown to Dylan Stanton for the lone score.  Eight different receivers hauled in a pass.

Tyler Lewis led the charge on the ground with 15 carries and 119 yards.

On the defensive side Chase Paylor, Jassen Brown and Branden Modin each made five tackles.  Paylor also had a sack and Braden Jackson intercepted a pass.

The Huskies (1-6) will close out the 2015 season with a trip to Regina (5-2) to face the Thunder on Sunday afternoon.