As far as junior football rivalries go, there’s nothing better.
With first place on the line, the Saskatoon Hilltops host the provincial rival Regina Thunder on Saturday night.
Game-time is 7 p.m. at SMF Field in the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.
Here are five things to know about Saturday’s Prairie Football Conference clash:
1. BATTLE FOR FIRST
The undefeated Toppers can clinch first place in the Canadian Junior Football League’s PFC with a win Saturday.
The Thunder would have defeat the Hilltops by 15 points to take the season series and have any hope of overtaking Saskatoon in the standings.
The Hilltops defeated the Thunder 29-14 during the first meeting of the season between these two teams.
Saskatoon is a perfect 6-and-0 this season with two games left to play in the regular season. Regina is 5-and-1.
2. SASKATOON RANKED NO. 1
The reigning Canadian Bowl champion Hilltops are No. 1 in the CJFL rankings ahead of British Columbia’s Okanagan Sun (9-0) and Ontario’s St. Clair Saints (6-0).
Regina finds itself in the No. 4 spot ahead of the London Beefeaters (4-2), Valley Huskers (4-3), Langley Rams (6-3), Ottawa Sooners (4-2), Westshore Rebels (5-3) and Calgary Colts (3-3).
3. REIDER NAMED CJFL PLAYER OF WEEK
Hilltops veteran quarterback Trey Reider is the CJFL offensive player of the week for the second time this season.
Reider threw four touchdown passes, completing 15 of 22 attempts for 278 yards, in Saskatoon’s 45-19 win over the Edmonton Wildcats.
4. THUNDER ROLL OVER HUSKIES
Regina is coming off a 32-11 win over the Edmonton Huskies as QB Carter Moberg threw for 239 yards on 19 completions and touchdown passes to Ben Walz and Zak Woidyla.
Sadik Sadik rushed for 100 yards and Ryland Leichert carried the ball 11 times for 91 yards and a major.
Defensively, Stephen Smith recorded seven tackles, one tackle for a loss and a pass knockdown.
5. END-ZONE SCHOLARSHIP DINNER
Prior to Saturday’s game against the Thunder is the annual Hilltops scholarship dinner.
Special guest is former Saskatchewan Roughrider offensive lineman Dan Clark.
Dinner starts at 5 p.m. at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex.
The Hilltops will wrap up the regular season on Sunday, Oct. 6 in Edmonton against the Huskies (3-3). That’s a potential semifinal matchup when the Hilltops bring the PFC playoffs home at SMF Field on Sunday, Oct. 13.
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