The Prairie Football Conference season kicked off with three games last weekend, and the Regina Thunder made the biggest statement of the opening weekend.
The Thunder opened their season with a dominant 56-1 victory over the Edmonton Huskies on Sunday, giving first-year starting quarterback Jayden Zelionka a memorable debut as the team’s No. 1 pivot.
Zelionka completed 18 of 25 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, adding 23 rushing yards and another major on four carries.
“I’m super stoked,” Zelionka said. “It was a super good showing for game one and can’t wait to keep going.”
The Regina quarterback credited the Thunder’s work during training camp, as well as the players around him, for helping him settle into his new role.
“Our training camp was super good. We put in a lot of work in our pass game,” Zelionka said. “I’ve got to give it up to the five guys catching for me. I’m only playing pass with them and they’re getting all those extra yards. And I don’t have time if it’s not for the five (offensive linemen) up front.”
The opportunity to become Regina’s starting quarterback was something Zelionka had been looking forward to since the spring. Thunder head coach Scott MacAulay previously joked that the secret was out regarding his young quarterback, but Zelionka said he learned he would have the job shortly after spring camp.
“I just wished the season started the next day,” he said.
There were plenty of emotions for Zelionka when he finally took the field Sunday.
His last full football game had come during his Grade 11 season. An injury in Grade 12 prevented him from playing a complete season, meaning it had been three years since he had experienced a full game at quarterback.
“I was super, super excited to get going,” Zelionka said.
The mental challenge of missing his Grade 12 season was arguably more difficult than the physical recovery, but Zelionka found another way to contribute to his team.
“Even though I got hurt and that’s a big physical struggle, the mental struggle was even worse,” he said. “But I had really good coaches and I was really close to a lot of the guys on the team, so I was still able to help out and I pretty much just became the quarterback coach for our team that year.”
Zelionka’s athletic ability extends beyond the football field. The Regina quarterback was also a standout basketball player at the high school level, playing senior basketball from Grade 10 through Grade 12. During his final season, Zelionka helped his team reach Hoopla, the provincial championship tournament, where they finished second. He was also named the tournament’s MVP.
Despite his success on the basketball court, Zelionka said football was always his priority.
“Basketball is just something in the winter to keep my feet active and keep me good,” he said. “But it’s always been football for me.”
Having veteran running back Peter Boersch in the backfield has also provided the young quarterback with plenty of confidence.
“It’s awesome,” Zelionka said. “Especially knowing that if maybe I’m off to a slow start, we have Peter and even Owen (Istace). We have both of them that we’re able to rely on and kind of help me find my grounds.”
Zelionka also praised Boersch for the leadership he has provided early in his quarterback career.
“Peter’s been such a captain in the way that he’s always talked to me,” Zelionka said. “If I’m feeling down or if I’m feeling anything, he’s always the first to talk to me and kind of bring my spirits back up.”
The Thunder now head back to Alberta for their second game of the season, taking on the Calgary Colts on Sunday afternoon.
Despite Calgary opening the season with a loss, Zelionka expects a physical challenge.
“They’re a hard, physical team. They always have been,” he said. “Can’t take anything lightly. Even with their loss last week, it’s only Week 1 and you can expect anything out of the ordinary from them. They’re going to be a good team.”
For Zelionka, the key to continuing the Thunder’s strong start is simply getting everyone on the same page offensively.
“There’s a couple plays and a couple drives in last week’s game where we just weren’t all on the same page,” he said. “And if we can just fix those minor tweaks, that’ll be Thunder football.”
That Thunder football will continue to feature a physical ground game, but Zelionka believes the offence has the ability to make plays through the air as well.
“Just ground and pound, really, but also throw it and put it up in the air and let our receivers go make a play,” he said.
Zelionka wasn’t the only member of the Thunder recognized for his Week 1 performance.
Kicker Harry Case was named the PFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week after making his CJFL debut following his arrival in Regina from the United Kingdom.
Case connected on six field goals, tied for the second-most in a CJFL game, while also making five converts and recording a single. He accounted for 24 of Regina’s 56 points.
The defending Canadian champion Saskatoon Hilltops also opened their season with a victory, defeating the Winnipeg Rifles 38-13 on Sunday.
Running back Corbin Ebben led the way offensively for Saskatoon with 215 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, earning PFC Offensive Player of the Week honours.
Winnipeg linebacker Cohen McCluskey was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Week after recording seven solo tackles and two assists.
All three PFC games in Week 2 will be played Sunday.
The Rifles travel to Edmonton to face the Huskies, while the Hilltops will celebrate their 24th national championship in front of their home fans when they host the Wildcats.
The Thunder will continue their early-season Alberta road trip with a matchup against the Colts in Calgary.
