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| Mason Ochs, left, has been a CJFL all-Canadian all-star the last two years. |
A graduate
from Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers football program in the Saskatoon high
school ranks, Ochs enjoyed getting his nose down and dirty on the offensive
line in the physical part of the game.
Upon
joining the Hilltops in 2016, he felt surrounded by teammates who were like
minded.
“I liked
the attitude here,” said Ochs. “I heard good things from former players.
“It is just
grab your lunch buckets and go.”
Since that
rookie campaign, Ochs shot to star status at left tackle and named CJFL
all-Canadian all-star in each of the past two seasons. Now in his fourth
campaign with the team, Ochs is the cornerstone on a mostly veteran Hilltops
offensive line.
On Sunday,
he was again opening up the running lanes and protecting his quarterback
helping the Hilltops down the Rifles in Winnipeg 34-20 in the CJFL regular
season opener for both clubs.
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| Mason Ochs (#73) protects the blindside of the Hilltops’ quarterbacks. |
While his
team has been successful and he has personally been successful, Ochs said he
focuses on staying humble through all the high points. That lesson was
engrained in him as a rookie in 2016 playing behind then veteran offensive
linemen in Tyler Hoath, Drayke Unger and Cord Ivanco, who have all since
graduated from the team.
Ochs
frequently thinks about that veteran trio.
“I learned
a lot,” said Ochs, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 275 pounds. “I learned how to
carry yourself on the team and how to keep your nose down and don’t get out of
line or anything like that.”
Ochs proved
to be quick learner, and it vaulted him to the ever important starting left
tackle spot on the offensive line, where he protects his quarterback’s
blindside.
His
progression was so good the past two seasons that he participated in the training
camp of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in late May and early June.
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| Mason Ochs works on techniques at Roughriders training camp. |
“He is one
of our strongest players,” said Sargeant. “He has natural strength. He has just
got it.
“He just
gets it. He knows how to play. He plays with great athleticism, great feet.
“That was
why he was able to go to ‘Rider camp this year was because of those abilities.
He is just a high-end player. He looks great in our uniform, and he makes us
play good.”
Sargeant
has enjoyed seeing Ochs excel over the years and gave credit to Hilltops
offensive line coach Donnie Davidsen for helping the 21-year-old become an
elite player.
“To see his
growth as a player and a person has just been awesome his confidence and his
aggression,” said Sargeant. “He is such a great kid off the field.
“You get
between the lines he is a physical blocker. His growth and development through
coach (Donnie) Davidsen and all his great coaching has really made Mason a high
end player. We feel he is one of the top players in the league.
“A lot of
times we are going to be running in behind him. He is what he is. He is a
physical and dominant athletic blocker that other teams have to reckon with his
abilities.”
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| Mason Ochs (#73) takes part in a drill at Roughriders training camp. |
“It is a
piece of mind that is for sure having that guy around,” said Hermann. “The
experience he has gotten, and I’ve kind of seen him kind of develop thru the
last few years.
“He is a
man among boys out there sometimes. He is keeping me safe, and I am extremely
to have guys like him around for sure.”
Ochs
enjoyed the opportunity to go to Roughriders camp, and he added it was an
eye-opening experience to see the preparation that goes on in the professional
ranks.
“Film study
is no joke there,” said Ochs. “You’re watching tape and studying and writing
notes constantly.
“Practice
is just super technical, and they have film on all the time. They are recording
practices’ every little detail. If your hands are two inches higher than they
should be they will let you know about it.”
Ochs said
it was great to get to know the Roughriders veterans on the offensive line like
left guard Brendon LaBatte. Ochs said he had some star struck moments but found
it cool to hang out with players like LaBatte as if they had been friends for a
long time.
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| Mason Ochs (#71) hangs with Philip Blake (#53) and Brendon LaBatte (#57) |
“You’ve
been watching them your whole life. Next thing you know you are there learning
directly from them. You’re just watching them the whole time and copy what they
do.”
Ochs said
his experience with the Roughriders helped plant a seed of what might be possible
in the future.
“It is
something I could maybe do,” said Ochs. “It definitely showed me what I need to
work on and what I need to improve.
“It just
shows you have to carry yourself.”
As for the
present, Ochs was to continue to help the Hilltops accomplish great things.
“I’m very
excited,” said Ochs. “Every year I get a chance to compete for a title.
“It doesn’t
get any better than that.”
In Sunday’s
win over the Rifles, the Hilltops jumped out to a 16-0 early in the second
quarter, led 16-7 at halftime, extend their edge to 27-7 in the fourth quarter
before finishing out with a 34-20 final.
Saskatoon
scored on a three-play, 75-yard drive on its first offensive series that was
capped when Hermann hit fourth-year receiver Rylan Kleiter with a 24-yard TD toss
for a 7-0 lead.
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| Mason Ochs, right, is pumped for the Hilltops new season. |
Rifles running
back Mathe Mitayango ran in a touchdown from seven yards out before the second
quarter ended to cut the Hilltops lead to 16-7.
Kleiter hit
a 32-yard field goal for the Hilltops in the third quarter to give them a 19-7
edge. Early in the fourth quarter, John Brown scored a point off a punt single
to give the Hilltops a 20-7 lead.
Hermann
threw two touchdown passes to fifth-year receiver Connor Graham to round out
the Hilltops scoring from that point.
Rifles
quarterback Riley Naujoks threw a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth
quarter to round out the scoring for his side. He hit receivers Luke McMillan for one scoring toss and Jake Roger for the other scoring strike.
Naujoks completed 22-of-42 passes for 339 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Naujoks completed 22-of-42 passes for 339 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
In his
first career start at quarterback for the Hilltops, Hermann completed 14-of-27
passes for 257 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Graham hauled in
five passes for 123 yards to go with his two touchdown grabs.
Running
back Ben Abrook carried the ball 31 times for 144 yards.
Also on
Sunday, the Regina Thunder won their regular season opener 34-21 over the
Wildcats in Edmonton. On Saturday, the host Edmonton Huskies downed the Calgary
Colts 36-13 in the regular season opener for both sides in that contest.
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| Ben Abrook ran for 144 yards for the Hilltops. |
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to stankssports@gmail.com.
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