Wyatt Catley was conflicted when he saw Regina Thunder starting quarterback Reid Quest limping off Taylor Field on Sunday.

"I got excited because I want the opportunity to get in and play, but at the same time, it sucks he went down," Catley, Regina's third-year backup, said after the Thunder's 38-18 loss to the Edmonton Wildcats. "I just tried to come in and move the ball a little. It was a little rough off the go there, trying to get adjusted, but it was a work in process and I thought we did alright."

Catley's opportunity came when Quest limped off with what is believed to be an injury to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. His status for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Winnipeg Rifles in unclear.

After Catley's first two series, his opportunity looked as though it might be short-lived. After throwing a second-down incompletion on his first attempt, Catley was under pressure and threw two more incompletions in the next series and was flagged for intentional grounding.

From there, however, Catley was almost perfect. On Regina's next possession, he hit Jonathan Probe streaking down the sideline, but the receiver could not hang on to the ball that landed right in his hands. On the possession after that, Catley connected with Jay Smith for a 65-yard pass-and-run touchdown.

"Jay said he wanted the ball and I said I was going to hit him," said Catley. "That was the kind of confidence we needed and that's the confidence he brings to this team."

Catley finished the contest 8-for-19 for 140 yards, a touchdown and an interception, a floater that was easily picked off by Edmonton's Corbin Sharun.

"Wyatt is a third-year kid who has all the ability in the world that's why we tried to get as many reps for him as we could in that game," said Regina head coach Erwin Klempner. "He just needs to get the rust off and get his senses together -- it's a very normal thing. Once he had the rust off, he did very, very well."

With Quest's future uncertain, Catley may have to be ready to take over the league-leading pivot full-time. Quest still leads the Prairie Football Conference with 2,018 yards passing.

"You never know when something is going to happen so you always have to be ready to step in and do a good job," said Catley. "You have to prepare as hard as you can, gets all the reps you can and do your job when you get the chance."

While Quest is hoping to be back, he has full confidence in the quarterback he has been battling with for backup and starting jobs since they joined the Thunder in 2007.

"He couldn't have done better," said Quest. "Everyone on this team has confidence in Wyatt. He'll go in, day in and day out and do his thing and guys really respect him. He's been doing a terrific job this year."