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Scott MacAulay’s team faced a stiff test Saturday at Leibel Field — and he loved every minute of it.

The Regina Thunder head coach had a huge smile on his face after the PFC team lost 36-14 to the Saint John’s University Johnnies of Collegeville, Minn., in a controlled scrimmage. The mock contest was the final segment of the CanAm Football Exchange, which also featured two practices.

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It’s the third time in four seasons the Thunder has staged the event. The Johnnies also visited Regina in 2013, while the Concordia College Cobbers of Moorhead, Minn., were the Thunder’s guests in 2014.

“Anytime you can play against a different team, you’re going to learn and grow from it,” MacAulay said Saturday. “But the fact that we played against the most notorious NCAA team — one of the top Division III teams in the U.S., not just their state — and competed with them, we’re definitely going to grow from that.”

In MacAulay’s mind, the growth will be seen up and down the Thunder roster, from the rawest rookie to the most-seasoned veteran. For MacAulay, all of the Regina players realized they can reach a higher level.