Catley used big plays to shoot down Rifles

By Tim Switzer, Leader-PostOctober 4, 2009

It was a big-play day for the Regina Thunder on Sunday as it topped the Winnipeg Rifles 48-20.

Thunder quarterbacks and receivers hooked up for three touchdown plays of more than 80 yards during the victory at Mosaic Stadium.

"I was just reading coverages and hitting guys -- (the receivers) did the rest," said quarterback Wyatt Catley.

Making his first Prairie Football Conference start, Catley went 15-for-26 for 396 yards, most of which came on his two touchdown passes.

During the first quarter, Catley found a wide-open Camille Lagimodiere for an 89-yard pass-and-run scoring play. In the third quarter, Catley connected with Jay Smith on a short pass to the sideline that was nearly intercepted. A couple of moves and a long run later, Smith was diving over the end-zone pylon to finish off a 103-yard touchdown.

"I'm used to running 10 yards and getting hit," Smith said with a laugh. "I probably haven't run 100 yards since I was about five years old. I lost the wheels after about 50. I was shocked myself (that he made it)."

In between the two came the most unlikely of the big plays. In the game in the second quarter to get a feel for the action in the Thunder's final regular-season game, rookie backup quarterback Riley Hobbins hit Kolten Solomon over the top of the defence to start a 93-yard touchdown.

"It was just something I read," said the first-year pivot. "I was really excited and I just had to hope he didn't get caught."

While the Thunder went to 5-3, the victory did nothing to improve Regina's place in the PFC's final standings.

Regina finished fourth and will meet the first-place Saskatoon Hilltops (7-1) in a semifinal game Sunday in Saskatoon. Saskatoon beat the Calgary Colts 47-28 on Sunday to hang on to first place.

The Colts (5-3) will travel to Edmonton for a semifinal Sunday against the host Wildcats (6-2). The Wildcats beat the Edmonton Huskies 46-7 on Saturday.

While Catley, who has taken over starting duties from the injured Reid Quest for the rest of the season, put up some impressive numbers, he also threw two balls that were easily intercepted by the Rifles.

"He was a little bit out of synch but I think he did very, very well," said Thunder head coach Erwin Klempner. "Could he play better? Yeah. Does Wyatt think he could have played better? I'm sure. It's a progression. Next week has to be the week where he gets better."

"I wasn't as nervous as I thought I'd be," added Catley. "Bad things happen with those few mistakes, but I thought that might happen with my first start. I'd say I did not bad. You learn from those mistakes and figure out where I should have went. That's part of football."

While Catley was connecting on his deep passes, the Regina defence was getting to Winnipeg passer Ryan Marsch, who threw four interceptions and fumbled once. Cody Johnstone picked Marsch off twice before Derek Pilon and Cailen Musselman recorded interceptions late in the game. Marsch's fumble was picked up by Thunder lineman Matt Gosselin who returned it 42 yards for a touchdown after linebacker Tyler Hogan swatted the bouncing ball towards the Winnipeg end zone.

Tailback Brennan Kasbrick scored a pair of majors on one- and two-yard runs for Regina while Ben Koot kicked two 22-yard field goals and converted all six touchdowns.

Winnipeg got touchdowns from Darrell Kahlian (three-yard run), Drew Oleksewycz (four-yard pass from Marsch) and Matt Lariviere (12-yard pass from Marsch) while John Szilagyi converted two of them.

"We've taken a real positive step forward," said Klempner. "This really was a nothing game. It was something where we needed to establish an identity and this has given us a real identity."