Regina Thunder hopes to make noise in Saskatoon on Saturday

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The Prairie Football Conference’s most-heated rivalry resumes Saturday when the Regina Thunder visits Saskatoon to play the Hilltops.

Regina Thunder quarterback Carter Shewchuk, shown Nov. 14 during the PFC final against the Saskatoon Hilltops at Mosaic Stadium, looks forward to Saturday’s road game against the provincial arch-rivals. Photo by Brandon Harder /Regina Leader-Post

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Play-calls and catcalls are part of the routine when the Regina Thunder visits Saskatoon.

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Carter Shewchuk wouldn’t have it any other way.

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“Playing there is awesome,” said the Thunder’s quarterback, looking ahead to Saturday’s Prairie Football Conference showdown with the arch-rival Saskatoon Hilltops at SMF Field.

“It’s like playing at Leibel Field, in a sense. It’s so loud, and the teams’ fans sit on opposite sides. When you’re close to their sideline, you can hear their fans yelling at you and chirping at you.

“It’s one of my favourite games of the year and I’m excited about it.”

Some of the excitement stems from the fact that the Thunder has a 3-0 record and occupies top spot in the conference. Saskatoon, which has won the last seven PFC championships, is 2-1 after losing 19-16 to the host Winnipeg Rifles on Aug. 28.

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Saskatoon lost only twice last season — with Regina winning both times — before avenging those defeats with a 29-9 victory at Mosaic Stadium in the league final.

With that in mind, both teams have a score to settle. The Hilltops will be looking to atone for the loss in Winnipeg while the Thunder aspires to exact a measure of revenge as a result of last year’s championship game.

That finale has served as fuel for the Thunder throughout the off-season and into the 2022 campaign.

Shewchuk has been a key part of the robust start, having thrown for 10 touchdowns over the first three games. He has exceeded 300 passing yards in each of those contests.

“I don’t spend a lot of time looking at the stats,” he said. “I’m not really into personal things. I just care about winning and being 3-and-0.

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“I just enjoy seeing the players who are so dominant perform the way they have been on offence.”

Ryland Leichert, for example, has rushed for 379 yards over the Thunder’s first three games. He is just 13 yards behind the league’s leading ground-gainer, Saskatoon’s Boston Davidsen.

Regina’s Sadik Sadik is fifth in the league in rushing yards, with 156. He is averaging 7.8 yards per carry.

Yardage-wise, the Thunder boasts three of the league’s five top receivers — Isaac Foord (whose 290 yards place him second), Isaiah Woodley (third, 279) and Rylan Sokul (fifth, 205).

Shewchuk is quick to compliment all of the aforementioned players, along with the Thunder’s offensive linemen.

“We’re very, very, very confident in the team we have this year,” he said.

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The Thunder and Hilltops are preparing for back-to-back Saturday meetings. Part 2 is set for Sept. 17, 2 p.m., at Mosaic Stadium.

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