Recent Prairie Conference News
The Hilltops, Thunder and Wildcats win
Photo courtesy of the Winnipeg Rifles
The Prairie Conference regular season came to a close on Sunday and oddly enough two of the games featured a playoff preview.
Saskatoon Hilltops 21
Edmonton Huskies 14
Sunday afternoon the top ranked Hilltops had an uncharacteristically off game scoring just one touchdown against the Huskies in Edmonton.
Special teams turned into a big factor as kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas connected on four of his five field goal attempts and accounted for 13 of their 21 points.
Their lone touchdown came in the second quarter when quarterback Trey Reider hit Datiel Fountaine on a five-yard TD strike. In all, Reider finished with only 155 yards through the air, well off his season average. Running back Corbin Edden rushed for 190 yards on 32 carries.
Defensively the Hilltops pitched a first half shutout and picked off two passes.
The Huskies scored all 14 points in the second half and made the game close. In the third quarter Wyatt Matson found Cameron Coyne for a five-yard touchdown then connected with William Campbell in the fourth quarter from eight yards out for a major.
This coming Sunday the Hilltops host the Huskies in a Conference semi-final game in Saskatoon with kick-off set for 1:00pm.
Regina Thunder 40
Calgary Colts 21
In another playoff preview the Thunder smacked the Colts by 19-points collecting 441 yards of total offence., 326 of it on the ground.
The two-headed monster of Sadik Sadik and Ryland Leichert were virtually unstoppable with 41 carries for 282 yards with Sadik scoring three touchdowns and Leichert adding another.
In all, the Thunder scored 20 of their 40 points in the second quarter holding down the Colts the rest of the way.
On the defensive side they forced four Colts interceptions by four different players and kept them off the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.
The Colts scored 14 of their 21 points in the third quarter including an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown courtesy of Antoine Barrett. Quarterback Isaiah Klein also found Quinn Fedoroff for a major in the quarter with a 39-yard touchdown strike. Their first score however was an impressive 51-yard TD run by Zion Dogbe-Brown in the second quarter.
These two teams will meet again on Sunday afternoon back in Regina for a semi-final with kick-off scheduled for 1:00pm.
Edmonton Wildcats 32
Winnipeg Rifles 21
The Wildcats claimed their second straight win to end the season outscoring the Rifles 12-2 in the final quarter capped off by a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown from Treyc Davies with under a minute to play.
Their offence was led by quarterback Marcos Soltero who finished with 23 of 30 passes for 236 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Gabe Hiebert and Mekhi Tyrell.
Defensively they forced six turnovers, none bigger than the Davies pick-six.
The Rifles offence outgained the Wildcats and finished with a pair of rushing touchdowns from Kaiden Banfield. He rushed 36 times for 216 yards and had the majors.
Their defence combined for four sacks but it wasn’t enough as they fall in the regular season finale.
The regular season will come to a close this weekend
Photo courtesy of Paul M. Williams Photography
The CJFL regular season concludes this weekend with all three conferences in action as teams prepare for a postseason run.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 5
BC Conference
Westshore Rebels @ Langley Rams – Saturday October 5, 4:00pm – McLeod Stadium | WATCH HERE
This is the most intriguing match up of the weekend and a possible playoff preview as they meet for the second time this season. If the Rams win they clinch second place and a home playoff date. In order for the Rebels to leapfrog the Rams and clinched a home playoff date is to beat them by more than 13-points. Three weeks ago, the Rams beat the Rebels 23-10 at Westshore.
Head-to-Head
Records: Rebels 5-4 – Rams 6-3
Avg Points For: Rebels 32 – Rams 28.4
Avg Points Allowed: Rebels 23.6 – Rams 16
Valley Huskers @ VI Raiders – Saturday October 5, 4:00pm – NDSS Field | WATCH HERE
For the one and only time this season the Huskers and Raiders will meet with kick-off moved up to 4:00pm due to the ever-changing ferry schedules. With a win and a Westshore Rebels loss the Huskers would clinch third place in the BC Conference standings. They have won three of their last four games, but that loss was last weekend at Okanagan. Meanwhile the Raiders have won two straight and are looking to end their season on a winning note.
Head-to-Head
Records: Huskers 5-4 – Raiders 3-6
Avg Points For: Huskers 29.1 – Raiders 22.6
Avg Points Allowed: Huskers 26.8 – Raiders 30.2
Prince George Kodiaks @ Kamloops Broncos - Saturday October 5, 6:00pm – Hillside Stadium | WATCH HERE
It’s the second half of a home-and-home as both teams want to end their season on the winning side. Last weekend in Prince George the Kodiaks hung on for a two-point win which also handed the Broncos their fourth straight setback. This game will be the seasonal series rubber match.
Head-to-Head
Records: Kodiaks 2-7 – Broncos 1-8
Avg Points For: Kodiaks 18.4 – Broncos 18.4
Avg Points Allowed: Kodiaks 41.3 – Broncos 39.3
Ontario Conference
Ottawa Sooners @ London Beefeaters – Saturday October 5, 3:00pm – City Wide Park | WATCH HERE
This is an important game for both teams as they wrap up the regular season and meet for the second time. If the Beefeaters win they will clinch second place and a home playoff date. In order for the Sooners to take over the Beefeaters and capture second place, they would need to beat them by more than nine points. The Beefeaters beat the Sooners 28-19 in Ottawa earlier this season. If Sooners lose and the Quinte Skyhawks win their game, the Sooners will drop to fourth place.
Head-to-Head
Records: Sooners 4-3 – Beefeaters 5-2
Avg Points For: Sooners 32.1 – Beefeaters 34.7
Avg Points Allowed: Sooners 22.7 – Beefeaters 21.1
SUNDAY OCTOBER 6
Prairie Conference
Calgary Colts @ Regina Thunder – Sunday October 6, 1:00pm – Leibel Field | WATCH HERE
It’s a playoff preview as the Thunder and Colts meet for the only time during the regular season and a home playoff date is on the line. Whoever wins this game will host the other next weekend in a Prairie Conference semi-final. Neither team will hide any cards and will lay it all out on the field on Sunday afternoon.
Head-to-Head
Records: Colts 4-3 – Thunder 5-2
Avg Points For: Colts 26.7 – Thunder 33.7
Avg Points Allowed: Colts 24.2 – Thunder 15.1
Saskatoon Hilltops @ Edmonton Huskies – Sunday October 6, 1:00pm – JP Bowl | WATCH HERE
The Huskies are the only thing standing in the way of a perfect regular season for the Hilltops as they meet for the second time. On August 11th the Hilltops beat the Huskies 38-13. Regardless of the outcome these two will also face each other next weekend in a Conference semi-final in Saskatoon. It’s a tall task for the Huskies but they are trying to snap a three-game losing streak.
Head-to-Head
Records: Hilltops 7-0 – Huskies 3-4
Avg Points For: Hilltops 43.4 – Huskies 20.7
Avg Points Allowed: Hilltops 13.1 – Huskies 23.2
Winnipeg Rifles @ Edmonton Wildcats – Sunday October 6, 1:00pm – Emerald Hills | WATCH HERE
Pride is on the line for these two teams with the winner finishing in fifth place in the Conference standings. This is the one and only time they will meet this year. They have both won just once this season, the Wildcats recording the upset win last week, while the Rifles captured their lone win two weeks ago.
Head-to-Head
Records: Rifles 1-6 – Wildcats 1-6
Avg Points For: Rifles 10.2 – Wildcats 16.4
Avg Points Allowed: Rifles 39.5 – Wildcats 35.8
Ontario Conference
GTA Grizzlies @ Quinte Skyhawks – Sunday October 6, 2:00pm – Loyalist College | WATCH HERE
It’s the fourth time this season these two teams will meet with the Skyhawks winning each of the three previous games, two courtesy of a shutout. If the Skyhawks win and the Ottawa Sooners lose, the Skyhawks will finish in third place, so plenty on the line this Sunday.
Head-to-Head
Records: Grizzlies 0-7 – Skyhawks 4-3
Avg Points For: Grizzlies 5.5 – Skyhawks 19.2
Avg Points Allowed: Grizzlies 48.2 – Skyhawks 29.2
St. Clair Saints @ Hamilton Hurricanes – Sunday October 6, 4:00pm – Tim Hortons Field | WATCH HERE
It’s the second time these two rivals will face each other this season. The Saints shutout the Hurricanes earlier this season in a lopsided score. The Saints have clinched homefield advantage throughout the Canadian Bowl playoffs so its possible some of the starters won’t play this weekend giving them a chance to rest and avoid injury. The young Hurricanes season will come to close after this game and they are hoping to build some momentum heading into the offseason.
Head-to-Head
Records: Saints 7-0 – Hurricanes 1-6
Avg Points For: Saints 59.4 – Hurricanes 15.8
Avg Points Allowed: Saints 3.4 – Hurricanes 45
The top performers from Week 11
The CJFL is pleased to announce the Week 11 Players of the Week following this past weekend of games.
Polls are open now to make one of them the Fans Choice Player of the Week. The polls will close at 5:00pm PST on Wednesday.
Offensive Players of the Week
Ontario Conference
RB LJ Dyer – London Beefeaters
Showing flashes of what made him a preseason CJFL Player to Watch this year, LJ Dyer might just be saving his best for a playoff push. The lightning fast Dyer was more than the Skyhawks could handle on the weekend as he slashed and dashed his way to 197 yards on 19 carries, the longest of which he took 52 yards to the house for the Beefeater’ first touchdown of the day.
Prairie Conference
QB Marcos Soltero – Edmonton Wildcats
He led his Wildcats club to their first win of the season with an upset over their crosstown rivals, the Edmonton Huskies. Marcos Soltero completed 21 of 30 passes for 332 yards and threw a pair of touchdowns in the victory.
BC Conference
RB Elelyon Noa – Okanagan Sun
It was a record setting day for Sun running back Elelyon Noa. Once again, the focal point of the offence, he rushed 33 times for 207 yards and in the process set a new BC Conference single season rushing record finishing with 1612 yards on the ground. He scored four more touchdowns on the ground and collected 23 on the campaign also setting a new BC Conference single season record. He was just two shy of the CJFL all-time record of 25 set in 2006.
Defensive Players of the Week
Ontario Conference
DB Jacoby Dillon – Quinte Skyhawks
Despite their weekend loss, Jacoby Dillon did his best to turn his side of the defensive secondary into a no fly zone as he completely shut down the London passing attack. He intercepted two passes returning one for 30 yards and the other for eight yards and also contributed to the run defence with five solo tackles for a very effective 18 defensive points.
Prairie Conference
LB Zaden Taylor – Saskatoon Hilltops
The Hilltops clinched first place in the Prairie Conference on Saturday night and their defence was a major reason why. Linebacker Zaden Taylor intercepted a pass and had eight solo tackles, shutting down the Regina Thunder offensive side of the ball.
BC Conference
DB Peyton Briere – Prince George Kodiaks
The Kodiaks collected their second win of the season on Saturday, giving their hometown crowd something to cheer about. Peyton Briere was a man on a mission in the secondary intercepting three passes and collected 33 return yards. He also assisted on a tackle.
Special Teams Players of the Week
Ontario Conference
KR Evan Siderius – Hamilton Hurricanes
Needing someone to kick the team into gear, the Hurricanes got just what they needed on special teams when Evan Siderius returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown breaking open the flood gates in what was a very close game in the third quarter. On the day Siderius returned six kicks, averaging 32.1 yards a return. For good measure Siderius also hauled in the two-point conversion on his punt return touchdown.
Prairie Conference
Long Snapper – Colton Zimmer - Saskatoon Hilltops
Rarely does a long snapper get credit for what they do but in this case Colton Zimmer of the Hilltops stood out and helped get points on the board so his club to clinch first place in the Conference. By all accounts, Zimmer was perfect on all 14 long snaps which assisted on five field goals, three converts, along with six punts. He added one special teams tackle as well to “snap” out of the crowd to be recognized.
BC Conference
KR Gage Parker – Okanagan Sun
What a performance by Gage Parker on Saturday at the Apple Bowl on special teams. He returned two punts for touchdowns getting the hometown crowd on their feet with these electrifying plays. In all he returned three punts averaging 39 yards.
Polls are open now to make one of these players the CJFL Fans Choice Player of the Week. Vote now!
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