After dominating the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) with an undefeated season, the Sault College Cougars are now looking to reach even greater heights.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, the squad coached by OFC Coach of the Year Paul Orazietti will host the Prairie Football Conference (PFC) champion Regina Thunder at Superior Heights for a national semifinal. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and advance tickets are available through the Sault College athletics department for $20 for the general public, with cash payment preferred.
The winner will earn a spot in the Canadian Bowl on Nov. 8, where it will face the winner of the British Columbia Football Conference (BCFC) championship matchup between the Westshore Rebels and the Langley Rams. The BCFC champion will host the Canadian Bowl.
The Cougars enter the national semifinal with a perfect 10-0 record. During the regular season, Sault College led the OFC in both offence and defence, scoring 369 points and allowing just 154 over eight games. The team followed that performance with two important playoff victories over the Ottawa Sooners (39-20) and the London Beefeaters (26-21), capturing the Teddy Morris Memorial Trophy and earning the right to represent Ontario in the national semifinal.
Saturday’s game will mark the first time the Cougars have faced an out-of-conference opponent in the program’s recent history.
The OFC championship was made possible by outstanding contributions across the roster. The players delivered strong performances at every position. Eleven Cougars were named OFC All-Stars. The team also received three Major Award Nominations in addition to Orazietti’s Coach of the Year honour.
A formidable challenger
The Regina Thunder have earned their place in the national semifinal with an impressive season of their own. The Saskatchewan team won seven of its eight regular-season games, with its only loss coming in the final matchup against the Calgary Colts, 46-30, when several key players were rested.
Like the Cougars, Regina led its conference in both offence and defence, scoring 334 points while allowing just 124.
The Thunder’s leading player is running back Peter Boersch, who was named both the PFC’s Outstanding Running Back of the Year and Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season. The No. 26 rushed for 1,221 yards on 162 carries and scored five touchdowns throughout the campaign.
Several other Regina players also earned recognition for their performances. Offensive lineman Tristen Rapchalk received the Outstanding Offensive Lineman award, defensive lineman Liam Sellwood was named Outstanding Defensive Lineman, and defensive back Marcus Butz earned Outstanding Defensive Back honours.
Butz has been a key contributor to the Thunder defence, returning four of his six interceptions for touchdowns.
The Thunder are led by veteran head coach Scott MacAulay. He is a former player who joined the team in the early 2000s and took over as head coach in 2013. In his first season at the helm, he guided Regina to its only CJFL national championship.
MacAulay has also won the CJFL’s Gord Currie Coach of the Year award twice, in 2021 and 2022. In addition to the 2013 national title, Regina has captured the PFC championship four times (2013, 2022, 2024 and 2026).
With two conference champions meeting for a place in the Canadian Bowl, the Cougars will look to maintain their perfect record and take another step toward a national championship in front of their home crowd.
CJFL National Semi-Final
Sault College Cougars vs. Regina Thunder
Date: Saturday, Oct. 24
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Location: Superior Heights, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Admission: $20 for the general public, $10 for High School Students
Advance tickets: Available through the Sault College athletics department; cash payment preferred. Tickets available at the door.
Free admission: Sault College students with a valid student ID and children under 12
Livestream: CJFL TV