The Saskatoon Hilltops will look to remain undefeated this season when they host the Edmonton Wildcats on Sunday.
Game-time is 1 p.m. at SMF Field in the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.
Here are five things to know about the Toppers as they head into Sunday’s game:
1. LONE UNDEFEATED TEAM IN PFC
At 5-and-0, the Hilltops remain the lone undefeated team in the Canadian Junior Football League’s Prairie Football Conference.
The reigning Canadian Bowl champions will face a winless 0-and-5 Wildcats squad.
Edmonton shares last place in the PFC with the winless Winnipeg Rifles, also 0-and-5.
After the Wildcats, the Hilltops are back on home turf the following weekend when they’ll host the provincial rival Regina Thunder (4-1) on Saturday, Sept. 28 at SMF Field.
2. TOPPERS TOP LEAGUE IN SCORING
Team-wise, the Hilltops lead the PFC in most points scored and most touchdowns scored both rushing and passing, while averaging a league-leading 44.5 points per game.
Defensively, Saskatoon ranks second in rushing yards and fourth in passing yards. The Toppers are fourth in first downs and third in net offence.
The Hilltops rank first with 10 quarterback sacks and first with fewest rushing touchdowns allowed. They are second in both rushing yards allowed against and passing yards against.
Saskatoon leads the PFC with a plus-16 in the takeaway-giveaway turnover department.
The Wildcats are fifth among the six PFC teams in scoring, last in yards rushing and third in passing yards. Defensively, Edmonton is last against both the run and the pass.
3. DOUGLAS LEADS THE WAY ON OFFENCE
Receiver Drake Douglas leads all PFC receivers with 35 receptions for 615 yards and five TDs.
Douglas also leads the conference with 311 yards on 29 punt returns. He’s tied for fifth in PFC scoring with 30 points.
Hilltops running back Corbin Ebben — CJFL player of the week on offence — ranks No. 2 in PFC rushing with 470 yards on 80 carries. He’s third in conference scoring with six TD majors and 36 points.
Quarterback Trey Reider is the top passer in the PFC with a 121.7 efficiency rating. He’s completed 71 of 108 passing attemps for 980 yards and a league-leading 10 TDs.
4. MICHAYLUK, KUKURUDZA TOP DEFENSIVE STATS
Linebacker Isaac Michayluk and D-lineman Kai Kukurudza lead Saskatoon on defence, statistically.
Michayluk has 16 solo tackles and 20 assists to go along with seven special teams stops, an interception and pass knockdown.
Kukurudza leads the PFC with four quarterback sacks to go with 11 solo tackles, five assists, seven special team stops, two pass knockdowns and a forced fumble.
5. END-ZONE SCHOLARSHIP DINNER
Coming up for the Hilltops, prior to their game against the Thunder, is the annual scholarship dinner that same day.
Special guest is former Saskatchewan Roughrider offensive lineman Dan Clark.
Dinner starts at 5 p.m. at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.
The Saskatoon Star Phoenix has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.
With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark thestarphoenix.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.