The Winnipeg Rifles squared off with the defending national champions Saskatoon Hilltops on a special day at Gordie Howe Bowl as the hometown Hilltops commemorate their 65th anniversary season as part of their home opener.
Saskatoon broke out of the gate very early as they had short fields to travel on each of their first three drives and capitalized with major scores each time. Receiver Kyle McGinnis would score the opening touchdown on a 3-play, 56-yard drive at the 2:41 mark. Brendon Gryba ran 2 yards to make it 14-0. The Hilltops would make it a perfect 3-for-3 as Regan Schuler would scamper 2 yards to put the Toppers up by 21, nearly 9 minutes into the period.
The Green Gunners would get on the board early in the second quarter as Brad Mikoluff’s 24-yard field goal attempt went wide. But the Hilltops would make it 28-1 as John Trumpy reeled in a 34-yard grab at 6:50. But the Rifles would mount a charge as Matt Lariviere would take a 3-yard touchdown pass which would come one play after Chad Okumura returned a Bradshaw interception 65 yards to the Saskatoon 3. Okumura would have 6 solo stops on the day. Lariviere had 5 grabs for 52 yards.
After a Hilltops two-and-out, Winnipeg quickly put up another major as Scott Naujoks hauled in a 25-yard pass. For the St. Paul’s product, it was his 1st PFC touchdown. Add a Brad Mikoluff kickoff single and the Hilltop lead was 9 at 28-19, after 30 minutes.
The Hilltops would up their lead to 38-19, thanks to a Zack Schmidt 39-yard field goal and Jace Muggli’s 14-yard touchdown grab. The Rifles cut the deficit to 12 as rookie pass-catcher Kurt Goodrich got his first of two touchdown catches from 6 yards out.
Saskatoon would salt it away early in the final quarter as Trumpy picked up his 2nd major of the day with three-and-a-half minutes to go. The Rifles would put one more score on the board as Kurt Goodrich hung on to a 16-yard touchdown grab after absorbing two hard hits in the end zone for his second touchdown of the day. Goodrich had 4 catches for 46 yards. The Hilltops take it 45-33.
Quarterback Ryan Marsch had a sensational day as he completed 27 of 44 for 426 yards, throwing for 4 majors and 1 interception. Alex Vitt led all receivers with 6 catches for 127 yards. PFC rushing leader Martin Hovi was held to 51 yards on 12 carries.
The clubs combined for over 1100 yards in net offense as Saskatoon had 621 to the Green Gunners 496.
The Rifles return home to Canad Inns Stadium next Sunday for a noon kickoff against the Regina Thunder. The Thunder come in at 1-1 after a 44-10 rout of the Edmonton Wildcats.
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