One week after opening their Canadian Junior Football League season with a bang, the Winnipeg Rifles fired nothing but blanks in their home opener.
The Rifles, fresh from a 51-0 spanking of the Ottawa Sooners in their first game of the season, were crushed 44-0 by the Saskatoon Hilltops Sunday afternoon at St. Vital Mustangs Field. The loss drops the Rifles to 1-1 while the Hilltops – the defending national champions – improved to 2-0.
The Rifles were trading shots with the Hilltops early, as the two clubs were scoreless after the first quarter. But the next 15 minutes proved to be critical, as Saskatoon out-scored the homeside 33-0 before coasting to the victory in the second half.
Saskatoon was led by running back Logan Fischer, who finished the afternoon with 27 carries for 186 yards and two touchdowns.
Winnipeg is next in action on Saturday, August 26th as they visit the Edmonton Wildcats, 0-2.
