The last time the Saskatoon Hilltops played a home game was the season opener all the way back on August 11, over a month ago. The Toppers made their mark with a blowout 57-14 victory over the visiting Winnipeg Rifles to remain a perfect 5-and-0 and holding down the top spot in the P-F-C.
FULL RECAP BELOW
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The Toppers made their presence felt immediately after the opening kickoff when Datiel Fountaine returned the ball 95 yards for a touchdown putting Saskatoon on the board first 7-0. Those would be the only points Saskatoon put up in the first quarter as Winnipeg responded with back-to-back field goals, the ladder coming off a blocked punt pulling themselves within one point at the end of the first quarter.
Just over a minute into the second quarter, Dalton Urban would get his first interception of the game bringing the Hilltops offence back onto the field where they eventually capitalized thanks to Ryan Adamko finding the end zone for a 14-6 Toppers lead. Saskatoon started finding their legs after that letting the flood gates open as they found the end zone yet again, this time lineman Jeremy Funk catching the ball and putting up another seven on the board. The Hilltops defense was locked in from that point on, not giving Winnipeg’s offence any room on the field. Corbin Ebben punched in the Hilltops third major of the second quarter in the dying seconds of the first half to give them a 28-6 lead going into halftime.
A little over five minutes into the third quarter, Saskatoon snagged another interception, this time by Isaac Rivalin, bringing their offence back onto the field. The Hilltops capitalized on the interception once again, this time quarterback Tre Reider tricking everyone on the field as he took it in himself for a 35-6 Saskatoon lead. Moments later, Jace Mowles picked Winnipeg off yet again for the third interception of the game. Saskatoon wouldn’t put up any points off that turnover but would get another shot on the field as Datiel Fountaine found the end zone late in the third for his second touchdown of the afternoon and a 42-6 Hilltops lead. The third quarter wouldn’t be completed without another turnover, this time a fumble recovery by Dalton Urban to the house for a 49-7 Hilltops lead to end the third.
With a heavy lead, Saskatoon gave some youngsters a chance on the field to finish off the game with the first points scored not until nine minutes into the quarter as Winnipeg put together a solid drive down field resulting in a touchdown and two-point convert making it a 50-14 lead for the Hilltops. Preston Van Damme picked up the fourth interception of the game shortly after Winnipeg’s offence made their way back onto the field. Late in the quarter, Saskatoon would add to their lead as fourth-string quarterback Charlie Molder made his way into the end zone adding onto the Hilltops lead and eventual final score, 57-14.
With the win, Saskatoon now improves to 5-and-0 on the season holding sole possession of first place in the P-F-C and will look to continue their strong play into next Sunday when they host the Edmonton Wildcats, with opening kickoff at S-M-F Field set for 1:00 p.m.
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Media Scrum with Head Coach Tom Sargeant:
NEXT GAME: vs. Edmonton Wildcats (0-4) on Sunday, September 22nd at 1:00 p.m.
