MAKE SOME NOISE
The sun sets as members of the Regina Thunder practise at Scotty Livingstone Field in Mount Pleasant. The Thunder return to action Saturday against the Winnipeg Rifles at Mosaic Stadium, a week after a memorable game-saving pick by Tyrel Latoski.
Tyrel Latoski’s latest interception was an easy pick as the most memorable play of his football career.
The Regina Thunder defensive back made a game-saving pick in the waning seconds Saturday to help his team emerge with a 29-26 PFC road victory over the archrival Saskatoon Hilltops.
“It’s something that I’ve always kind of dreamed about doing — making a big play like that at the end of the game when the backs are against the wall,” Latoski said. “It felt pretty good, especially not beating those guys in the three years that I’ve been here.”
With nine seconds left, and Saskatoon scrimmaging the ball on Regina’s 21-yard line, quarterback Jordan Walls looked for ace receiver Sam Mike. Latoski anticipated the play and stepped in front of Mike at the Thunder’s five-yard line.
“All the guys were pretty excited,” Latoski said. “It was definitely one of my best moments.
“I remember getting touchdowns and things like that when I played receiver, but this is definitely my biggest play as a defensive back.”
Latoski played on offence and defence until he entered his Grade 12 year with the Balfour Bears.
“It was kind of a conscious decision, switching sides of the ball,” he recalled. “I wanted to focus on one side of the ball going forward after high school.”
That helped him focus on the ball late in Saturday’s game, which ended with the Hilltops and Thunder both sporting 3-1 records.
“A lot of the guys are just motivated moving forward,” said Latoski, who helped the Thunder rally from a 20-6 halftime deficit. “It’s definitely a big confidence-booster, knowing that we can beat those guys if we happen to face them later on in the playoffs.”
Saskatoon defeated Regina 3720 on Aug. 12 in opening-night action at Mosaic Stadium. Although the Thunder avenged that defeat by winning in Saskatoon, the Hilltops still won the season series by virtue of a better points for and against differential in head-tohead play (63-49).
The Edmonton Huskies are in first place at 4-0. Regina, Saskatoon and the Winnipeg Rifles are next in line at 3-1.
The Thunder is to play host to Winnipeg on Saturday, 7 p.m., at Mosaic Stadium.
Saturday’s football doubleheader at the new facility will begin at 2 p.m., when the University of Regina Rams oppose the University of Alberta Golden Bears in Canada West action.