The Regina Thunder have been a pleasant surprise to start the Canadian Junior Football League season, and their coach perhaps feels that as much as anyone.
“If you would have asked me what I thought our record would be heading into the bye week, I’m not sure I would have said 4-0,” Thunder coach Scott MacAulay said on the SportsCage. “I’m definitely pleased with the record, definitely pleased with the way the guys are playing right now.
“Right now, it’s all about staying focused and continuing to grow because we are young and inexperienced. There are a lot of hurdles that we have to keep on trying to climb over.”
The young and inexperienced part was why MacAulay figured there would be some early challenges.
Instead, the Thunder are atop the Prairie Football Conference standings and the only undefeated team in the loop. There are several reasons for their early success.
It starts with quarterback Jayden Zelionka. He’s in his second year as a Thunder but first year as a starter and hasn’t looked out of place. Actually, he’s excelled.
His nine touchdown passes and 113.2 efficiency rating leads the conference. Not bad for a 19-year-old.
The nephew of former Saskatchewan Roughrider Dan Clark, Zelionka is a well-rounded quarterback. MacAulay said his football IQ, mobility, and vision make him an excellent field general.
“During practice last year, he definitely looked like a guy that could take over the reins and lead the team,” the coach said. “That became very apparent after spring camp.
“He’s done a great job growing quickly and getting guys to fall behind him.”
Zelionka isn’t a one-man show on offence. Far from it. He’s got a cadre of receiver at his disposal, plus running back Peter Boersch. He leads the PFC with 749 yards on the ground. Saskatoon Hilltops’ Brody Komarnicki is second with 320 yards rushing.
“We have a lot of weapons,” MacAulay said.
The Thunder are plus-138 in point differential through four games. Clearly, offence isn’t doing it alone.
Regina has 18 interceptions, five fumble recoveries, seven turnovers on downs.
“If you bring that into the mix, you definitely give your offence short field to play with,” MacAulay said. “That goes a long way to gaining points.”
The entire PFC is on a bye week. Next on the schedule for the Thunder might be their biggest test of the season. Next Saturday, they host the hated Hilltops (3-1) – a perennial contender and the team that beat them in the PFC Final a year ago.
The two game season series, which concludes Sept. 26 in Saskatoon, could determine home-field advantage for the playoffs. These games just mean a little bit more regardless of the standings.
“There’s a lot on the line, bragging rights,” MacAulay said “They’re our archrivals. We’re always looking forward to playing them. Also, from an organizational standpoint, there’s a lot of pressure to win those games. It goes a long way to helping us do what we do of the field with the players as well.
“We feel like we’re going to be the best we can be by the end of Week 6. This is Week 5. We’re not fully, exactly where we want to be, but we’re going to have a solid two weeks of practice in preparation for Sept. 12.”
