The Saskatoon Hilltops kept the train on the tracks and continued their path towards another national championship on Sunday with a 33-18 victory over the visiting Edmonton Huskies.
In the first half, receiver Hayden Day pulled one in to account for the game’s first major and after a safety and another touchdown, this time from Datiel Fountaine, the Hilltops went into halftime with a comfortable 16-3 lead.
The Huskies came out a different team in the second half at SMF Field. Edmonton’s defence was able to get them rolling with a fumble recovery taken in for a touchdown to cut the lead to six. Then with the score tied at 18, the Hilltops needed a response and got it from Charles Sawi.
On a missed field goal, Sawi took the ball out of the end zone and the length of the field, 110 yards, crossing the goal line at the other end to make it 25-18 Hilltops and Saskatoon never looked back.
“It’s a very special return,” Sawi said. “I haven’t scored a touchdown in seven or eight games, so for me to score this one is very magical.”
The Hilltops went on to win their Prairie Football Conference semi-final over the Huskies 32-18 and booked a provincial final match up versus the Regina Thunder at home.
The Hilltops earned the right to host the final after going undefeated in eight regular season games, including two wins versus the Thunder. The Blue and Gold have now won 21 straight games dating back to their undefeated season last year that saw them win the club’s 23rd national title.
It will be the Hilltops versus the Thunder in the PFC Final, Sunday, October 20 at SMF Field in Saskatoon at 1 p.m.
