The Saskatoon Hilltops improved to 2-0 with a 49-0 road win against the Winnipeg Rifles on Sunday, August 20.
The 10 hour bus ride home from Winnipeg to Saskatoon was a very satisfying one, as they had continued their strong play and at the same time avenged a 19-16 loss to the Rifles in their 2022 road trip to Winnipeg.
The game started out as a highly-contested match with Saskatoon kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas’ field goal being the only points in the first quarter.
Rookie Datiel Fountaine hauled in a touchdown pass from Trey Reifer early in the second quarter. Abel-Douglas split the uprights for two more field goals and the Rifles conceded a safety to make the score 18-0 at half time.
With 8:15 left in the third quarter receiver Noah Flaman made a highlight reel touchdown catch to increase the Toppers’ lead to 25-0.
An interception by Dalton Urban set up another Abel-Douglas field goal, who later in the quarter made it five for five in field goal attempts. The third quarter ended with Urban jumping coverage and pulling in his second interception, this time taking it to the house, giving Saskatoon a 38-0 lead.
The Hilltops’ defence came up big early in the fourth quarter as middle linebacker Matt Wist stripped the ball from the Rifles quarterback and fellow fifth-year player Carter Wingert scooped the ball up and ran for a touchdown.
The Rifles conceded two more single-point safetys to round out the scoring. Rookie linebacker Denym Mantyka intercepted the ball with 32 seconds left to put the exclamation mark on another defensive shutout.
The Hilltops will look to continue their winning ways when they host the Calgary Colts at SMF Field on Sunday, August 27 with a 1 p.m. start.