HILLTOPS 25 THUNDER 24
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| SaskatoonHilltops.com |
The Regina Thunder 2016 season came to an end with a PFC semi-final loss to the Saskatoon Hilltops, 25-24 on Sunday afternoon at SMF Field in Saskatoon.
With the win, the Hilltops advance to take on the Calgary Colts for a second straight year in the PFC Championship game.
In the first quarter the Hilltops jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on their first drive. It was capped by a Ryan Turple touchdown catch at 2:20. Then at 14:15 Saskatoon went up 14-0 on a rushing touchdown from Logan Fischer and that was the score through 15 minutes.
In the second The Thunder kicked two field goals at 6:06 and 10:42 thanks to James Reid and it was a 14-6 game. Saskatoon got three back from James Vause at 12:17 but Reid kicked his third field goal of the quarter with two seconds left on the clock and the Hilltops lead was 18-9 at the half.
In the third quarter the Hilltops got a defensive touchdown from Adam Benkic who returned a fumble to the endzone at 7:49 and it was 25-9 Saskatoon. The Thunder responded on a Sawyer Buettner touchdown run at 12:53 to cut the lead to 25-16 after three.
In the fourth Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette got Regina to within two with a touchdown run at 6:49. It was 25-23 at that point. It stayed that way until late and the Thunder drove deep into Saskatoon territory with less than two minutes left. Facing third and one under the shadow of the goalposts. They elected to take a delay of game penalty to move the ball back and try the go ahead field goal but it was missed and went for a single at 13:14. That made it 25-24 and that was the final on Sunday afternoon.
QB Sawyer Buettner threw for 316 yards in the loss while Levi Paul led the receiving corps with 81 yards. Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette ran for 53 in the contest and scored a touchdown.
(Courtesy Phil Andrews)
The Thunder from top to bottom need to be rebuilt including coaches etc. The Rams did it with some success and now the Thunder need to. Since winning the Jr Championship they have been in a state of continued regression. It's about time that significant changes are made.
Yea Toppers ! Finally we can shut the Thunder Yappers up on here because we are still the best and always will be.
Where does jones get off telling a fan off – the first 10 losses of the year are completely his fault and no one elses. I will not go into all the reason why – it would take to long. But Jones is completely at fault for those loses and this last one as well. The riders were not ready to play and its jones job to get them ready, no one else. If he is not like the heat then he should quit before he gets fired .
JUST ANOTHER BS MOVE BY JONES
You mad bro?
Next time keep your mouth shut……
How wa the reffing?
The Thunder coaches and players are to be complimented once again for a great season. Ever since coach MacAulay took over they have always been near the top. If not for a missed field goal, which happens, they would have likely gone all the way once again. Rider fans would have loved such an exciting season. I have to wonder whether the negative poster was an early cut or his father.