Home is still where the heart is for CJFL champion Hilltops

Saskatoon finally plays home opener Saturday versus Thunder

Ben Abrook, left, has piled up the yards for the Hilltops.

    They are riding a 26 game winning streak on the road, but the Saskatoon Hilltops are still elated to finally be playing at home.
    The Hilltops, who has won the last five straight Canadian Junior Football League championships, have opened the current regular season sporting a 3-0 record having won all three of those contests on the road. In the process, the Hilltops have extended their road winning streak to 26 straight games including three victories in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

    Saskatoon also extended its overall winning streak to 22 games including action in the regular season and playoffs.

    On Saturday, the Hilltops will host their home opener against their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder (2-1) at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football field.

    Hilltops third-year running back Ben Abrook said his team is really looking forward to playing at home. He said the players can’t wait to see lots of family and friends in the crowd along with the team’s fans.

    Abrook added that not everyone can take the time to follow the team on the road.

    “It is super nice,” said Abrook. “We get to be in our regular routine.

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant, right, hit a couple of big milestones.

    “We don’t have to be on the road, on the bus and everything. We’re super excited to get out there. We’re super excited to get the fans out and everything, so it should be good.”

    One of the Hilltops three season opening road wins game against the Thunder. On Aug. 25, the Hilltops downed the Thunder 34-16 at Mosaic Stadium giving Saskatoon head coach Tom Sargeant his 200^th career CJFL victory including action in the regular season and playoffs.

    Last Sunday at Clarke Park in Edmonton, the Hilltops slipped past the Huskies 24-22. Sargeant hit another milestone with that victory as it was his 150^th career win in CJFL regular season play.

    Sargeant, who has been the Hilltops head coach since 1998, has a 150-21-2 career record in the regular season and a 51-9 record in the post-season for a combined 201-30-2 mark. He by far the CJFL’s all-time career wins leader in regular season, post-season and overall.

    After opening with three straight road games, Sargeant is looking forward to defending home turf.

    “It certainly wasn’t an easy schedule at the beginning, but hey, you know what, we are through it now,” said Sargeant. “What I like is we are going to dress 65 players this weekend.

Ryder Klisowsky (#61) locks up on a block for the Hilltops.

    “A lot of the guys have been practising. Now they are going to have a little different zip about them with the opportunity to maybe have some playing time this week in getting on some special teams or maybe getting on an offence or defence. We know we are going to have a high end week of practice, and we are going to have great energy for Saturday night.”

    During the regular season, CJFL teams are allowed to dress 65 players for home games as opposed to a travel roster of 45 players, which is what all teams are allowed to dress in the post-season.

    Sargeant said the home date will allow the players who haven’t traveled with the club for road games to feel more part of the team. The veteran sideline boss is aware a sizable number of players on the Hilltops roster haven’t seen a regular season game in the current campaign.

    “They’ll get the whole field of flavour, the energy and the compete level,” said Sargeant. “It is different.

    “Ultimately, we have to get our 12 starters on offence, defence and special teams playing better. That has been the work of the coaches. When we coach our starters hard, that just raises the level of everybody else.

    “I want to have great practises this week, and I want to finish it off with our best game of the year. Going into a bye, there is nothing better than playing your best game and feeling good about everything. That is certainly the goal, but that is easier said than done.”

Jaxon Funk was the PFC’s defensive player of the week.

    Hilltops defensive lineman Jaxon Funk was named the defensive player of the week for the Prairie Football Conference for posting 11 solo tackles and a pass knockdown in last Sunday’s win over the Huskies.

    Over the first three weeks, Abrook has been on a tear taking over as the Hilltops starting running back this season. He leads the entire CJFL in rushing piling up 514 yards on 93 carries and scoring two touchdowns.

    Abrook said the Hilltops starting offensive line of left tackle Mason Ochs, left guard Ryder Klisowsky, centre Patrick Arno, right guard Taylon Elderkin and right tackle Jonathan Chisholm have really helped make things roll.

    “They’ve been going pretty good,” said Abrook. “The O-line has been blocking and making some holes.

    “We’ve been able to capitalize on a few things and run the ball pretty well.”

    Abrook said his comfort level gets higher every time he starts a game with for the team.

    “It is a different role for sure,” said Abrook. “You have to bring a little different intensity to every game and everything.

    “It has been good so far. I am definitely more confident after three games now. Hopefully, I get more confident as the season goes on.”

The Hilltops aim to celebrate some big moments on Saturday.

    Sargeant said Abrook and the Hilltops offensive line have some good chemistry going. On top of that, Sargeant said backup running back Carter McLean has done well in his reps and backup quarterback Doug Fleming has run the quarterback draw well.

    During this encounter with the Thunder, Sargeant wants to see his team’s passing game start heating up a little more.

    “We’re very happy with our run game,” said Sargeant. “We know we have to enhance our pass game.

    “We know we want to become a better 50/50 offensive pass/run team, and we are going to get there. It is just going to take us a little more work. Ben Abrook’s performance for the first three games has been exemplary that is for sure.”

Filteau to be remembered before Hilltops home opener

Justin Filteau in action for the Hilltops in 2014.

    The Saskatoon Hilltops will remember former linebacker in the late Justin Filteau before Saturday’s game.

    Filteau passed away in a plane crash on June 1 at the age of 26. The Moose Jaw, Sask., product played for the Hilltops from 2010 to 2014 helping the club win four CJFL titles in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014.

    He was a CJFL all-Canadian all-star in that final championship campaign.

    The Hilltops will hold a moment of silence before Saturday’s game for Filteau and two team directors who passed away in the off-season.

    Filteau’s parents in father, Ron, and mother, Nancy, are being brought up Saskatoon on a pair of invites.

    On Friday night, they have been invited by the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team to their home opener and homecoming game at 7 p.m. at Griffith Stadium against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

    Justin played for the Huskies from 2015 and 2017 and will be honoured in the break between the first and second quarters.

    Ron and Nancy have been invited to the Hilltops home opener on Saturday night against the Thunder set for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said the moment of silence before Saturday’s game will have a lot of meaning for his team.

    “It is going to be a special moment, because he was such a great kid,” said Sargeant. “He is what this Hilltop program is all about.

    “I remember being very blessed to have coached him for five years and being around his family knowing how much he meant to us and how much he cared about the blue and gold and how much he enhanced our tradition. We’ll certainly be proud at that moment and happy for their family.

    “We’re all still grieving in different ways, but that is the great thing about football. It can help you out of places sometimes that you don’t need to be. We’ll look forward to that special night and lots of thoughts and prayers toward the Filteau family and lots of fond memories of Justin.”

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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