Hilltops suffer first loss of the season

There was plenty of fight in the second half, but not enough time for the Saskatoon Hilltops. The Calgary Colts took a 36-0 lead and held on for a 36-21 victory Sunday afternoon at SMF Field. 

In the first half it was all Calgary. The Colts put up 30 unanswered points for a 30-0 lead into the break. They added on with a pair of field goals in the second half before Saskatoon found their legs.

Jason Price caught two straight touchdown passes in the fourth to start shifting the momentum in the Hilltops favour. With not much time to mount a comeback, Logan Fischer ran in a 2-yard touchdown to make it 36-21 with less than three minutes remaining. 

That was all the ‘Tops could muster, suffering their first loss of the season and shocking the two-time defending champions. 

“It’s a humbling experience for sure,” said quarterback Jared Andreychuk. “We shot ourselves in the foot many times this game, we gotta be better.” 

The loss is the first of the young season for Saskatoon, who were beaten just once in 2015, also to Calgary. 

“We had no answers and to be honest they outclassed us tonight,” said head coach Tom Sargeant.

Saskatoon heads on the road to improve on a 2-1 start to the season. The Hilltops take on the Edmonton Wildcats on Sunday, Sept. 4 at Clarke Field.