The Regina Thunder's high-profile offence got some stiff competition for the spotlight Sunday -- from the Thunder defence.

Regina's defenders forced seven turnovers and scored a touchdown in a 59-10 PFC victory over the Calgary Colts before 534 patrons at Mosaic Stadium.

"We have goals and one of them is to outscore the other team's offence," said Thunder safety Mark Ingram, who returned an interception 41 yards for a major Sunday. "Most people say that's unreasonable, but we try every time -- and we get close.

"Everyone talks about our offence, but we want to prove that we're something, too. Offence gets the girls, but defence wins games."

"We feed off each other," added linebacker Philmon Bairu, referring to the offence and defence. "We make the effort to get a two-and-out so they can have a shorter field. Then, when they score and we get up (on the scoreboard), we feed off that and try to keep it going the next time we're out there."

On Sunday, the Colts accepted the opening kickoff -- and then were stuffed three plays later on a third-and-inches gamble from their own 43-yard line. Seven plays later, Thunder quarterback Reid Quest threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Clay Cooke.

The Regina defence held the Colts to two singles on missed field goals the rest of the way in the first half, while the Thunder offence managed three more touchdowns to lead 28-2 at the break.

After the Thunder opened the third quarter with a touchdown drive, an interception by Bairu set up a Ben Koot field goal that made it 38-2. Ingram's TD return pushed the lead to 45-2 and his fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff was followed one play later by Mark Coons' 10-yard TD run that put Regina up 52-2.

Calgary scored the next eight points against the Thunder's backups, but an interception by Regina's Cailen Musselman led to Wyatt Catley's 44-yard scoring toss to Brandon Sieber.

"Our quarterbacks made some poor choices and Regina took advantage of those," said Colts offensive co-ordinator Rob McNab, whose squad used three pivots -- Jeremy Long (5-for-9, 67 yards), Brett Serhyenko (6-for-16, 71 yards, three interceptions) and Clayton Masikewich (2-for-5, 39 yards, two picks). "We put our defence in a bad position consistently and you can't do that."

The same sentiment wasn't being repeated on the opposing sideline.

"Our defence is the best defence in the league without question and they proved it today," Quest said. "It seemed like every time we would take possession for a drive, it would be inside (Calgary's) 50. (The defence) set us up all day. They were the difference-makers."

Quest finished with 15 completions in 22 pass attempts for 282 yards with five touchdowns and an interception. Catley was 3-for-5 for 56 yards with one TD.

Regina's other touchdowns were scored by Jay Smith (11- and eight-yard receptions), Kolten Solomon (75-yard pass-and-run) and Jonathan Probe (six-yard pass). Probe added four converts, and Koot had four converts to go along with his field goal.

Solomon finished with seven receptions for 205 yards. Coons rushed 17 times for 129 yards, giving him two 100-yard rushing games in as many starts. He carried 22 times for 102 yards in the Thunder's 32-14 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats a week earlier.

Jake Harty (20-yard run) had the lone major for Calgary, which got three singles and a convert from Andrew Fabian.

The Thunder takes a 2-0-0 record into its bye weekend. Regina returns to action Sept. 11 against the visiting Saskatoon Hilltops (2-0-0).

"People are hyping us up and we have to match that hype," Ingram said. "We've done that so far. (Calgary) is a good team and (the Wildcats) were the defending PFC champions. We want to prove that everyone (who has hyped the Thunder) is right."