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Hilltops host Thunder at SMF Field in PFC semifinal

Hilltops coach Sargeant celebrates 19th championship

The Saskatoon Hilltops will host the Regina Thunder today at SMF Field.

Whoever wins will go on to the Canadian Bowl conference finals, where they will face either the Calgary Colts or the Edmonton Huskies.

The Hilltops have bested the Thunder twice this season, with a combined score of 50-44.

The Hilltops are ranked first in the Prairie Football Conference, while the Thunder are ranked fourth.

"Any time you can get out of your own bed and roll into SMF Field on a Sunday afternoon at this time of the year in October, you know it's a special day," said Hilltops bench boss Tom Sargeant.

"Playing Regina makes it even that much more special," he added.

He describes the rivalry between the two teams as that of a big brother-little brother rivalry.

"You always want to make sure you do your best around people you know," Sargeant said.

"They just lead to great battles."

Thunder head coach Scott MacAulay agrees with Sargeant on the intensity of the rivalry.

"It really boils down to a couple of big plays," he said of their games.

"They should be happy we're coming there because we're going to sell the place out," MacAulay said of SMF Field.

"It's loud, it's energetic, it's a lot of fun for our players and coaches to be a part of."

Everyone on the teams knows everyone, which contributes to the competitive spirit of the game, MacAulay said.

In the last five years, four of the last five Canadian Bowl championships have been won by the Hilltops. Regina was the other team to win one in that time, in 2013, when they defeated the Vancouver Island Raiders in Regina.

Kickoff is at 1 p.m. CST.