Two weeks are in the books in the Prairie Football Conference, and the Regina Thunder are off to a perfect start. The Thunder improved to 2-0 on Sunday with a convincing 27-9 road win over the Calgary Colts.
The Regina offence was powered by running back Peter Boersch, who carried the ball 33 times for 240 yards. Boersch credited the Thunder offensive line for creating opportunities throughout the afternoon.
“I think that the O-line had a ton of push up front,” he said. “We were just able to execute. I think that our (special) teams worked really hard.”
The Thunder have been particularly effective because of their balance and versatility.
“We're extremely balanced and we've got the ability to attack in lots of different ways,” Boersch said. “We can run the ball to different points of the field as well as gap and zone. We're just clicking as a team.”
Boersch has also been getting an opportunity to learn from practicing daily with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, experience he says has helped him develop as a player.
“It's been incredible,” he said. “I've got access to some of the best coaching in the world and I get to learn from some of the best football players around.”
That experience has also helped Boersch become more comfortable around the professional game.
“I am settling in more and I am kind of treating it more like it's my day to day, which is really exciting for me,” he said.
With the Thunder preparing for their home opener at Leibel Field on Sunday against the Winnipeg Rifles, Boersch isn't shy about the team's ultimate goal.
“National Championship,” he said. “That's how the season starts every year. And that's where we expect to end every year.”
Meanwhile in the Bridge City, the defending Canadian champion Saskatoon Hilltops suffered the biggest upset of Week 2, falling 28-22 to the Edmonton Wildcats in their home opener.
The Hilltops led for much of the game before Edmonton scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull off the upset.
Quarterback Griffin Sander had an impressive statistical afternoon, completing 26 of 40 passes for 359 yards and a touchdown. However, three interceptions proved costly, including one on the final play of the game. Sander says the lesson from the loss is simple.
“We've got to play a full four quarters,” he said. “Edmonton's a really good team and we've got to play a full four quarters against them.”
The Hilltops will get another crack at the Wildcats in two weeks. Despite the pressure that comes with being the defending national champions, Sander says the Hilltops aren't dwelling on last year's success.
“Everybody knows that we won last year,” Sander said. “But one thing I tell the guys and something that we kind of preach is just one day at a time.”
Sander is also encouraged by the chemistry he's been able to build with the Hilltops offence after having a full training camp and offseason with the team. Last season, he joined the Hilltops after the start of the year. This time around, he's had the opportunity to develop alongside his teammates from the beginning.
“It is really nice to be more connected with the guys,” he said.
That connection was evident against Edmonton, with Sander completing passes to eight different receivers.
“I had a coach once tell me that playing quarterback is just being a glorified point guard,” Sander said. “You just got to get your playmakers the ball.”
The Hilltops are now 1-1 and will try to get back in the win column Sunday when they host the 0-2 Calgary Colts at SMF Field.
The Edmonton Huskies are also 2-0 after defeating the Winnipeg Rifles 38-28 to open the weekend. The Rifles drop to 0-2 on the season.
That sets up a battle of Edmonton on Saturday night, with the 2-0 Huskies taking on the 1-1 Wildcats in Week 3 PFC action.
Meanwhile, the Thunder will host Winnipeg Sunday at 1 p.m., while the Hilltops welcome Calgary to Saskatoon for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
