Last dance with Hilltops means the world to Giddings

Saskatoon surges past Colts in Calgary 35-18

Jared Giddings is pumped to be back on the field.

Jared Giddings’ last dance with the Saskatoon Hilltops has already been better than he imagined.

When the 2020 CJFL season was canceled in early August of that year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, Giddings wondered if his chance to play his fifth and final season with the Hilltops was gone.

On September 8, 2020, the CJFL announced players who would have been in their 22-year-old years that season would be able to play in 2021, while players who were 21-years-old in 2020 would be eligible to play through to 2022.

With that decision, Giddings was able to return to the Hilltops as a 23-year-old to play his fifth and final campaign. The Humboldt, Sask., product wasn’t going to let that opportunity pass him by.

“It means the world,” said Giddings, who also took part in the Hilltops six weeks of practice in September and October of 2020. “This program has been a big part of my life.

“Ever since high school, I’ve been here. You build bonds with these guys. I had the option to comeback with the CJFL extending eligibility.

“I just couldn’t be more thankful. I really wanted to take that opportunity to just come back and be with these guys for one more year. I made so many memories.”

On Sunday, Giddings stepped into his boundary cornerback position and helped the Hilltops down the Calgary Colts 35-18 at Shouldice Park in Calgary.

Before joining the Hilltops as a player in 2016, Giddings attended Hilltops games as his older brother, Josh, played for the team in their 2012 CJFL championship winning season and 2013.

Jared Giddings attended winter camps with the Hilltops during his high school years and earned a roster spot after attending the team’s spring camp in 2016.

Jared Giddings makes an interception at Hilltops practice.

He always cherished his time with the team helping the Hilltops win CJFL titles in his first four seasons in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Giddings was a Prairie Football Conference all-star in 2018.

After there was no CJFL season in 2020, Giddings found he appreciated the chance to be on the team and play in the CJFL that much more. When the Hilltops took the field for their regular season opener and downed the Huskies in Edmonton 18-17, Giddings found that pre-game jitters returned.

“I was pretty nervous to be honest after a year off of football,” said Giddings, who stands 6-feet and weighs 185 pounds. “I was so excited just to be back out there.

“You never knew if it was going to happen again just because I was a little older guy. There was a little uncertainty there. I was so appreciative just to be able to step on the field.

“Just to see the atmosphere and the fans again, that was just an amazing feeling.”

Giddings is the only players on the Hilltops defensive unit who is in his fifth full season with the team.

The graduate of the nine-man Humboldt Collegiate Institute Mohawks football team is one of just three players who are in their fifth full season with the Hilltops. That short list includes a pair of offensive linemen in left tackle Mason Ochs and right tackle Jonathan Chisholm.

Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was pumped to have Giddings back for one last season and said the defensive back’s experience is extremely valuable.

“Jared (Giddings) is a primetime player,” said Sargeant. “He is one the few all-stars we have coming back.

“He absolutely understands the game. He brings a lot of confidence and a lot of swag. He is our top lockdown cover guy.

Jared Giddings provides a steady presence on the Hilltops defence.

“In critical spots, we are putting him in those physical and aggressive spots. He seems to take advantage of it. He makes our defence a lot better, and he also brings real good leadership too.”

Sargeant said Giddings provides a calming influence to the Hilltops defensive secondary.

“He has been around here now for six years, so you look at him and you just feel good,” said Sargeant. “You feel right.

“You know he is going to do what you want him to do. You know he is going to lead the group properly. He is a pretty quiet guy, but he practices hard.

“He just makes everyone around him better, because they just have to watch his practice habits and how he conducts himself. He is a true winner and a true leader for the Hilltops.”

Giddings said the Hilltops defensive secondary has some good chemistry. He noted that fourth-year safety Brant Morrow and third-year defensive halfback Evan Mantyka were both starters in 2019.

Giddings said converted receiver Steven Gilewicz has found his groove at the field side cornerback position in his second season with the team.

“The defensive back group, it seems like we have some experience compared to the rest of the defence,” said Giddings. “Being with (Brant) Morrow and (Evan) Mantyka, we started 2019 together.

“Steveo (Gilewicz), he has been with us for a couple of years now. It felt normal out there. I feel comfortable with those guys just to be having that experience.

“I wouldn’t actually want to be with anyone else to be honest. I know what those guys are going to bring, and I know what they are going to do. We all trust each other.”

As the season marches onwards, Giddings plans to soak each day for that day. After there was no CJFL campaign in 2020, Giddings has a new appreciation of the journey through a season.

Jared Giddings has helped the Hilltops win four CJFL titles.

“Football is a grind, and sometimes coming to practice isn’t easy,” said Giddings. “Honestly, it is all just a little bit easier now.

“When we were off, you don’t know what is happening. You don’t know what is going to happen next. Every day, it is like it is a blessing.

“I don’t mind coming to practice and getting bruised up a bit and hitting some guys. It is a lot of fun. I think it brought the fun back into football for me personally.”

In the win over the Colts on Sunday, Hilltops kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas kicked a 14-yard field in the first quarter to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.

Early in the second quarter, running back Carter McLean ran the ball in from eight yards out for a major to give the Hilltops a 10-0 edge.

The Colts responded with quarterback Cole Belway hitting receiver Joel Pipke with a four-yard touchdown pass to cut the Hilltops lead to 10-7.

With less than three minutes to go in the second quarter, the Hilltops scored 18 straight points to go ahead 28-7.

The surge started with the Colts electing to concede a safety after being pinned deep in their own end. On the ensuing Saskatoon offensive drive, Hilltops quarterback Doug Fleming hit third-year receiver Presley Peterson with a 40-yard touchdown pass.

The Colts again got pinned in their own end, and Belway was sacked in the end zone by Mantyka for another safety score for Saskatoon. The Hilltops surge closed when Fleming scored a rushing touchdown with 20 seconds remaining in the half.

At the start of the third quarter, the Colts picked up a single as kicker Austin Griffiths booted the opening kickoff into the end zone. Griffiths hit a 31-yard field goal before the third quarter ended trimming the Hilltops lead to 28-11.

Jared Giddings has made big plays for the Hilltops.

On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Belway hit receiver Brendt Adams on an eight-yard touchdown toss for the Colts to further cut the Hilltops edge to 28-18.

Saskatoon dashed any hopes of a Calgary comeback when running back Jordan Tabin ran the ball in from five yards out to round out the scoring in the 35-18 victory causing the Colts to fall to 0-2.

Sunday’s contest was the physical one causing the Hilltops to make some regular substitutions. On the offensive line, Mitchel Clarke entered the game at left tackle replacing Ochs, who is a three-time all-Canadian all-star, and Jayson Kehler went in a right tackle for Chisholm.

Clarke is in his third full season with the Hilltops, while Kehler is in his fourth full season with the team.

The Hilltops return to action on Saturday, September, 11 at 7 p.m. hosting their home opener against their provincial rivals in the Regina Thunder. Both teams enter that contest with identical 2-0 records and the winner will sit alone in first place in the Prairie Football Conference.

’Toppers RB Tabin picked by NLL’s Rush

Jordan Tabin runs the ball for the Hilltops in 2019.

Saskatoon Hilltops running back Jordan Tabin is going to get the chance to crack the professional ranks in lacrosse.

During the National Lacrosse League Entry Draft that was held virtually on Saturday, Tabin was selected in the sixth round and 89^th overall by his home province team in the Saskatchewan Rush, who are a league powerhouse. The Rush captured NLL titles in 2016 and 2018 playing out of the SaskTel Centre and when the franchise was still located in Edmonton, Alta., in 2015.

The 20-year-old Tabin plays defence for the Saskatchewan SWAT junior A lacrosse team.

On the football field, Tabin is playing in his third full season with the Hilltops having also suited up for the storied CJFL club in 2018 and 2019 CJFL championship seasons.

In the 2019 CJFL campaign, Tabin carried the ball seven times for 103 yards in the Hilltops eight regular season games and ran the ball six times for 81 yards scoring one touchdown in four post-season contests.

During the fourth quarter of the Hilltops 35-18 victory over the Colts in Calgary, Alta., at Shouldice Park, Tabin ran in a touchdown from five yards out in the fourth quarter.

Hilltops’ In The End Zone Dinner returns

A Scott Schultz card.

The Saskatoon Hilltops traditional In The End Zone Dinner to raise funds for the team’s scholarship program is returning this season.

The club wasn’t able to hold the fundraising dinner a year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s dinner will be held on September 11 at the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. The guest speakers will be a pair of former Saskatchewan Roughriders members in defensive lineman Scott Schultz and linebacker Mike McCullough.

Schultz, who is originally from Moose Jaw, Sask., played for the Roughriders from 2002 to 2009 and helped Saskatchewan win the 2007 Grey Cup as CFL champions.

McCullough suited up for the Roughriders for 11 seasons from 2003 to 2013 helping the team to Grey Cup wins in 2007 and 2013. The 2013 championship was won at the Roughriders historic home park in Taylor Field.

A Mike McCullough card.

Doors for the In The End Zone Dinner open at 4:15 p.m. with dinner to be served at 5:15 p.m.

Following dinner, the Hilltops will hold their home opener at 7 p.m. hosting their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, which is right next to the Gordie Howe Sports Centre on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

Single tickets for the dinner are $100 or a table of eight can be bought for $725.

Tickets can be purchased online by clicking on a link right here.

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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Hilltops’ QBs tackle bumps

Doug Fleming throws a pass at a Hilltops scrimmage.

The bumps came, but the Saskatoon Hilltops still found a way to win.

This past Sunday, the venerable Hilltops found themselves trailing the Edmonton Huskies 14-0 at halftime at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton, Alta. In the second half, the Hilltops rallied to pull out an 18-17 victory in rain soaked conditions on opening day of the CJFL regular season.

Quarterback Doug Fleming, who doubles as the club’s punter, kicked a punt single on the last play of the game to record the winning point of the contest. Fleming started the game for the Hilltops but was pulled at halftime in favour of backup Damon Dutton.

Dutton engineered the second half comeback that included hitting veteran receiver Dillan Heintz with a 38-yard pass on the Hilltops final drive to create the chance to score the winning point.

“The kids showed enough poise and guts and confidence to stay together and play and win,” said Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “You certainly never like to switch quarterbacks at halftime, but I thought Damon Dutton came in and gave us some life and made some plays and the players rallied around him.

“Our defence, any time you give up 17 points in the PFC we feel that is a pretty positive. At the end of the day, the focus of this time right now is blocking, tackling, catching, throwing, running and just the basics of the game. If everyone does their job and we play hard and do it together, it is going to result in pretty good play.

“We didn’t do that consistent enough on Sunday.”

Following that opening day comeback win, the Hilltops have been extra focused on the film room and at practice on Ron Atchison Field preparing for their next game this coming Sunday against the Colts in Calgary at Shouldice Park.

The Colts dropped a 36-25 decision with past Sunday at home against the Edmonton Wildcats in the season opener for both of those squads.

Damon Dutton throws a pass at a Hilltops scrimmage.

With the way the Hilltops regular season opener went, it brought the million dollar question about whether there will be a change at the starting quarterback spot.

“Doug (Fleming) is going to come in against Calgary,” said Sargeant. “He is our starting quarterback.

“At the end of the day, they are both going to play. Doug is a great kid and a great leader. Damon (Dutton) is a real good football player.

“They are both going to play. At the end of the day, Damon (Dutton) has earned some minutes and some opportunity. Doug needs to get out there and show us that his is more capable than what he did last week.”

Sargeant, who also doubles as the Hilltops offensive coordinator, said the coaches have to elevate their games going forward and that included him as well.

“As coaches, we have to own some of that too on the performance,” said Sargeant. “I’ve met with both quarterbacks.

“I had great visits with them. As I said, they both know that they can play better, and they want to do better. I guarantee you they are going to practice harder, and we’re going to see hopefully better results in the future.”

Sargeant added the Huskies have often made life difficult for opposing quarterbacks in recent years and played the Hilltops tough. He said that was added into all the evaluations of the Hilltops last outing too.

“The Edmonton Huskies are extremely well coached,” said Sargeant. “Their defensive concepts and systems we haven’t quite cracked the code yet.

“That is on us. We’ll keep working at it. We’ll keep striving to improve.

“At the end of the day, you have to tip your hat off to your opponent as well. They came out, they were at home, and they played a real good football game.”

The Hilltops are focused on continual improvement.

Fleming completed 6-of-15 passes for 42 yards, while being intercepted on one occasion against the Huskies. Dutton completed 8-of-15 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown pass in the second half of that contest.

Both signal callers remember former Hilltops star starting quarterback Jordan Walls was never totally happy with his performances against the Huskies in his career even though Walls was victorious in every encounter with the Edmonton side.

Both Fleming and Dutton, who strongly support each other, admitted getting the Huskies in the opener was a big challenge.

“It was a little more difficult than I would like it to be,” said Fleming. “I mean they are a really good team, and they play us really, really well.

“Obviously, Wallsy wouldn’t like his games too much, because they know how to play us. It was just a little bit of growing pains out there, but that is kind of expected.”

“It was a challenge,” said Dutton. “All we had to do really was stick to what we know and trust the coaches and trust each other.

“We were able to go out and execute in the second half there.”

Fleming was pleased to kick the winning point for the Hilltops but noted he would have rather won in a more sound fashion.

“It was cool,” said Fleming. “We would have rather have not been in that situation and would have rather won the game a little bit more cleanly than that.”

The Hilltops are preparing to face the Colts this coming Sunday.

Dutton was pleased to part of some key moments in the comeback including the Hilltops last two scoring drives. 

He hit speedy pass catcher Ethan Godson with a 22-yard touchdown pass to tie the game up at 17-17 with 5:27 remaining in the fourth quarter.

“It was exciting,” said Dutton. “It was that time of the game, and some guys had to step up and the coaches they were calling great plays.

“The O-line was doing their thing. They were holding off the D-line. The running game was really working, so it was a mixture of a bunch of things.

“Obviously, it was very, very exciting to be able to be part of that group making that push for the end of the game there.”

Fleming gets PFC special teams player of the week nod

Doug Fleming picked up a weekly PFC award.

Saskatoon Hilltops starting quarterback Doug Fleming captured a weekly award for his work in the kicking game.

Fleming, who doubles as the Hilltops punter, was the named the special teams player of the week for the Prairie Football Conference on Tuesday. In the Hilltops 18-17 opening day win over the Huskies at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton, Alta., Fleming punted the ball 13 times for 455 yards for an average of 35 yards per punt.

The veteran in his third full CJFL season had 407 net yards off his 13 punts for a net average of 31.3 yards per punt.

On the last play of the game, Fleming kicked a punt single to break a 17-17 tie and give the Hilltops an 18-17 victory.

Fleming was appreciative of the weekly honour, but he wants to have better outings as a signal caller so he doesn’t have to kick as much.

“It was nice, but I’d rather not have to punt 13 times in a game,” said Fleming. “I’d rather not have to use me as a punter.”

Calgary Colts receiver Brendt Adams was the PFC’s offensive player of the week, while Winnipeg Rifles defensive back Joseph Funk-Clements took honours as the PFC’s defensive player of the week.

Dale makes history as first female to play CJFL game

Emmarae Dale made CJFL history this past Sunday.

Emmarae Dale carved out a piece of history on the CJFL’s opening day with the Saskatoon Hilltops.

This past Sunday, Dale became the first female player to suit up and play a game in the CJFL helping the Hilltops slip past the Edmonton Huskies 18-17 at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton, Alta.

Dale, who is one of the Hilltops middle linebackers, recorded a special teams tackle in the win.

She was added to the Hilltops roster last year and took part in the six practice weeks the team held in September and October. The 2020 CJFL season was wiped out due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world.

Dale’s older brothers Anthony and Donovan both played for the Hilltops in the late 2000s and early 2010s, so she was pretty pumped to play in last Sunday’s game.

“It was pretty surreal,” said Dale, who stands 5-foot-6. “I think it was just such a long time coming that it is kind of weird to think that it has already come and gone.

“It was the first game back since COVID. I think everyone is still just kind of getting the rust off after such a long wait, but it was awesome being there. I think even when I was just first putting on the shoulder pads and the Hilltops jersey it definitely kind of hit me that it was going to be a big game and very meaningful game.

“It was really awesome. It was definitely exciting and humbling. It was just a lot of emotions just kind of wrapped into one I think.”

Before joining the Hilltops, the 23-year-old Dale starred for the Saskatoon Valkyries from 2016 to 2019 helping them win Western Women’s Canadian Football League titles in 2016 and 2019. She was also a member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s track and field for four seasons through to the end of the 2019-20 campaign specializing in throwing events.

Since the September 15, 2020 announcement that Dale had officially cracked the Hilltops roster, she has been regularly featured by various media outlets across Canada.

End Zone Dinner is back for Hilltops

A Scott Schultz card.

The Saskatoon Hilltops traditional In The End Zone Dinner to raise funds for the team’s scholarship program is returning this season.

The club wasn’t able to hold the fundraising dinner a year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s dinner will be held on September 11 at the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. The guest speakers will be a pair of former Saskatchewan Roughriders members in defensive lineman Scott Schultz and linebacker Mike McCullough.

Schultz, who is originally from Moose Jaw, Sask., played for the Roughriders from 2002 to 2009 and helped Saskatchewan win the 2007 Grey Cup as CFL champions.

McCullough suited up for the Roughriders for 11 seasons from 2003 to 2013 helping the team to Grey Cup wins in 2007 and 2013. The 2013 championship was won at the Roughriders historic home park in Taylor Field.

A Mike McCullough card.

Doors for the In The End Zone Dinner open at 4:15 p.m. with dinner to be served at 5:15 p.m.

Following dinner, the Hilltops will hold their home opener at 7 p.m. hosting their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, which is right next to the Gordie Howe Sports Centre on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

Single tickets for the dinner are $100 or a table of eight can be bought for $725.

Tickets can be purchased online by clicking on a link right here.

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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If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.

Fleming perseveres to score winning point for Hilltops

Saskatoon rallies for 18-17 victory in Edmonton

Doug Fleming sets to throw a pass at a Hilltops scrimmage.

When world events throw you a curveball, Doug Fleming believes you try to do the best you can with the cards that get dealt your way.

Fleming was looking forward to his third season in the CJFL in 2020 as he was slated to become the new starting quarterback for the storied Saskatoon Hilltops.

Unfortunately, the world came into the grips of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the 2020 CJFL campaign was lost.

The Hilltops were cleared to hold practices for six weeks during September and October of 2020, and Fleming was happy to take that on field action given the circumstances.

“It was tough, but we were fortunate enough to at least practice together and get a few scrimmages in,” said Fleming, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 215 pounds. “It sucked not playing, but it was nice to be able to grow as a person and like be better mentally and be better physically for this season.”

Fleming’s third CJFL season did indeed get underway. On Sunday, he made his first career start at quarterback as the Hilltops battled the Huskies at the Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton, Alta.

The start was a rough one. The Hilltops offence struggled in the first half and a late second quarter interception by Fleming saw the Huskies turn that turnover into a touchdown to go up 14-0 at halftime.

At the start of the second half, the Hilltops inserted Damon Dutton in at quarterback, who is also in his third full season with the team. Dutton led a second half comeback that saw the Hilltops get back on even terms at 17-17 with 5:27 remaining in the fourth quarter.

On the final play of the contest, the Hilltops had the ball on the Huskies nine yard-line. Fleming, who is also the Hilltops’ punter, came into the game and booted a walk-off rouge through the Edmonton end zone to give Saskatoon an 18-17 victory.

Damon Dutton throws a pass at a Hilltops scrimmage.

During the 2019 season, Fleming was being groomed to eventually take over as the Hilltops starting signal caller during his sophomore campaign with the team. Besides seeing action in lopsided wins, Fleming hit the field on goal-line and short-yardage situations along with some special offensive packages the team designed.

He completed 9-of-16 passes for 109 yards and one touchdown over the team’s eight regular season games. Fleming also ran the ball nine times for 68 yards and scored three touchdowns in those contests too.

The graduate of Saskatoon’s Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints football team said the 2019 CJFL championship season with the Hilltops was a campaign where he was doing a lot of learning and trying to get better.

“It wasn’t bad, but I definitely needed to improve on a bit of stuff,” said Fleming. “As the season went on, I missed a few easy throws.

“I really worked on trying to correct those mistakes for this year. It was fun to play. It was just nice to get off the bench a little.

“Even just running the ball, it was nice to be able to get out there and contribute.”

With Tyler Hermann playing out his final season of CJFL eligibility as the Hilltops starting quarterback in 2019, Hilltops legendary head coach Tom Sargeant, who is also the club’s offensive coordinator, wanted to get Fleming some meaningful reps that season.

“That was purposeful,” said Sargeant. “Number one, we knew eventually he was going to move into that starting role, so we wanted to give him some opportunities in real live situations to grow and learn what he needs to do and how he needs to do it to play at an elite level.

Doug Fleming saw frequent action in 2019.

“The good thing is Damon Dutton has had an outstanding camp as well. We’re very happy with our two quarterbacks.”

With the Hilltops down 14-0, they engineered their first score with Dutton at quarterback off a nine-yard touchdown run by running back Carter McLean at the 5:11 mark of the third quarter to trim the Huskies lead to 14-7.

Late in the third quarter, new Hilltops kicker Carter Sirman hit a field goal from 26 yards out to cut the Huskies advantage to 14-10.

Early in the fourth quarter, Laine Santos hit a 34-yard field goal for the Huskies to extend the host side’s advantage to 17-10.

With 5:27 remaining in the fourth quarter Dutton hit speedy receiver Ethan Godson with a 22-yard touchdown pass to even the score 17-17.

On the Hilltops final possession, Dutton hit sure handed receiver Dillan Heintz with a 38-yard pass to get the visitors down to the Huskies 18-yard line.

After one running play, Fleming was brought in try a punt single to win the game. He kicked the ball into the end zone, but the Huskies kicked the ball out of end zone.

Fleming fielded the ball for the Hilltops but was unable to kick the ball back into the end zone. The Huskies were called for a no yards penalty when Fleming caught the football giving the Hilltops one more play with no time remaining on the clock at the Huskies nine yard line.

Fleming hit the game-winning point from there.

The Huskies first half scores came courtesy a one-yard touchdown run by running back Alex Gayle early in the second quarter and quarterback Declan O’Flaherty hitting receiver Adner St Hilaire with a six-yard touchdown pass late in the second frame.

Sargeant said Fleming put in the time and deserved to be the Hilltops starting quarterback going into the opener. The sideline boss said the signal caller has continually improved and put in great work during the team’s six weeks of practice in the fall of 2020.

Doug Fleming, left, takes off on a memorable TD run in 2019.

“Dougie (Fleming) is growing, and he is getting better every day,” said Sargeant. “Coach (Shane) Reider and the offensive coaches are putting some things in to match his skill set.

“Every day he takes 100 steps. He is throwing the ball. He is getting more confidence with the game plan and our concepts. It is fun to watch.

“He is improving daily. He is a captain. Guys are rallying around him. They are following him. He just has positive energy. He is a fun kid to be around.”

Fleming carved out a special memory in the Hilltops second regular season game of the 2019 campaign, when they played the Thunder at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Aug. 25.

On a third-and-two gamble late in the second quarter, Fleming ran off a 33-yard touchdown run on a draw play for the Hilltops second major of the contest. He also ran in the Hilltops final major from 11 yards out to round out a 34-16 victory.

The result allowed Sargeant to record his 200^th career coaching victory.

Fleming was pumped to help Sargeant get that milestone win and remembers being pretty energized after the 33-yard touchdown run.

“I was pretty excited,” said Fleming. “(Then Hilltops kicker and receiver Rylan) Kleiter said I was shaking really bad trying to hold the extra point after.

“I was really amped up for it maybe a little too amped up.”

Doug Fleming (#4) celebrates a memorable TD run in 2019.

Fleming enjoyed being part of the Hilltops CJFL championship teams in 2018 and 2019. Saskatoon had won the last six straight CJFL titles before the 2020 campaign was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the 2018 and 2019 campaigns, Fleming said the veterans left a big positive influence on the younger players.

“It was pretty cool,” said Fleming. “You get to learn a lot from those veteran guys.

“In 2018, we only had eight guys, but they were very well accomplished. In 2019, we had 15 guys who hadn’t played much, but you learn a lot about perseverance from those guys who stood on the bench for four years and waited their turn to play one year.

“It was good learning that from them too.”

As for the 2021 campaign, Fleming said he doesn’t want to look too far ahead. With the Hilltops having gone a lengthy stretch of not having a game due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fleming wants to soak in the moments on the field as they come.

“We are taking it one week at a time and try and focus and win our game each week,” said Fleming. “We just go one week at a time.”

The Hilltops return to action this coming Sunday when they travel to Calgary to take on the Colts at Shouldice Park.

Doug Fleming, with ball, and the Hilltops next play in Calgary.

NOTES – Sunday’s victory marked the 30^th straight game the Hilltops have won on the road including play in the CJFL regular season and post-season. The Hilltops last road setback came way back on August 17, 2014, when they fell 19-16 in overtime to the Thunder in Regina at Taylor Field.

Overall, the Hilltops have won their last 32 games in a row including action in the CJFL regular season and post-season. Their last loss was a 29-26 setback to the Regina Thunder on Sept. 9, 2017 against the Thunder at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

It is believed both winning streaks are CJFL records. On paper, those streaks continue from the 2019 season with the 2020 CJFL campaign was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

End Zone Dinner is a go for Hilltops

A Scott Schultz card.

The Saskatoon Hilltops traditional In The End Zone Dinner to raise funds for the team’s scholarship program is returning this season.

The club wasn’t able to hold the fundraising dinner a year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s dinner will be held on September 11 at the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. The guest speakers will be a pair of former Saskatchewan Roughriders members in defensive lineman Scott Schultz and linebacker Mike McCullough.

Schultz, who is originally from Moose Jaw, Sask., played for the Roughriders from 2002 to 2009 and helped Saskatchewan win the 2007 Grey Cup as CFL champions.

McCullough suited up for the Roughriders for 11 seasons from 2003 to 2013 helping the team to Grey Cup wins in 2007 and 2013. The 2013 championship was won at the Roughriders historic home park in Taylor Field.

A Mike McCullough card.

Doors for the In The End Zone Dinner open at 4:15 p.m. with dinner to be served at 5:15 p.m. Following dinner, the Hilltops will hold their home opener at 7 p.m. hosting their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, which is right next to the Gordie Howe Sports Centre on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

Single tickets for the dinner are $100 or a table of eight can be bought for $725.

Tickets can be purchased online by clicking on a link right here.

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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Hilltops eye up opening day game in Edmonton

Carter McLean makes a cut during a Hilltops scrimmage.

The game day excitement is back for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

After the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world wiped out the 2020 CJFL season, the Hilltops will open their regular season schedule traveling to Edmonton, Alta., on Sunday to face the Huskies at Jasper Place Bowl. The two sides met in the last two Prairie Football Conference title games in 2018 and 2019 with the Hilltops coming out on top both times en route to capturing a CJFL championship.

The Hilltops were able to practice for six weeks in the fall of 2020, and now they will finally be able to play a game again.

With that regular season opening contest just three days away, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant is finding his energetic game day form again when he talks about the upcoming clash with the Huskies.

“That is the team we had to get past to get on to even more important games,” said Sargeant. “We know they are hungry.

“We know they’ve had enough of our success. They have an all-Canadian running back. They have a fifth-year quarterback.

“They have lots of players that are used to being in big games. We have lots of work to do to get everybody ready and playing the type of football that the Hilltops are used to excepting to play.”

Brandt Burzuk, right, returns to the Huskies at running back.

The Hilltops last hit the field for a game on November 16, 2019 downing the host Langley Rams 11-6 in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – at McLeod Stadium in Langley, B.C.

The Huskies last saw game action on October 27, 2019, when they fell 30-14 in the PFC title game to the Hilltops at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

While the venerable Hilltops have won 22 CJFL championships in their history, the Huskies have a storied history too claiming five CJFL titles. Traditionally, they have been a tough foe for the Saskatoon side.

When asked if it was good to get a traditionally tough opponent first, Sargeant kept rolling.

“We’ll just line up against anyone when and where and they’ll just tell us,” said Sargeant, who is the all-time leader for head coaching victories in Canada’s post-secondary football ranks at 210. “That is who we are.

“We’ll see if all the work we’ve done and the preparation we’ve done has been the right preparation. My team, myself, we’re judged on game day by how we perform, so we’re expecting a great performance on Sunday and we’ll take it from there.”

The Huskies return some familiar players. They are led by quarterback Declan O’Flaherty, who is in his final season of CJFL eligibility.

Declan O’Flaherty is back with the Huskies at quarterback.

Veteran running back Brandt Burzuk is also back for a final swan song CJFL campaign. In 2019, Burzuk was the PFC’s most valuable player, most outstanding offensive player and most outstanding running back.

He also took home honours as a CJFL all-Canadian all-star.

The Hilltops are taking the field with one of their younger rosters in recent years. Out of the 93 total players that are with the Hilltops this season, 38 are returning veterans and 55 are newcomers.

Out of the returning veterans, three players will be playing their fifth and final campaign with the team in left tackle Mason Ochs, right tackle Jonathan Chisholm and boundary corner Jared Giddings.

Doug Fleming, who is in his third full season with the Hilltops, will be making his first start at quarterback on Sunday against the Huskies.

“It is exciting,” said Fleming. “I thought we were going to be able to go last year.

“I don’t like the year off, but it was nice to be able to grow and learn a little bit and just be even more prepared for this year. They (the Huskies) are a very physical and tough team. They are geared to try and shut us down, so we’re trying to game plan to get open.”

Fleming will have a talented receiver group to distribute the ball to in slotbacks Dillan Heintz and Matt Turple along with wide receivers Ethan Godson and Lachlan Horsley. Explosive veteran Carter McLean provides big play capability from the tailback position.

The signal caller has lots of confidence in his offensive line that is led by Ochs and Chisholm.

“I’m pretty excited,” said Fleming. “I think we have a really good group of guys.

The Hilltops have depth at the receiver position.

“I think we have a solid O-line. We have a lot of fast receivers and a fast running back room. I think it will be pretty exciting to be out there with all those boys.”

While Ochs and Chisholm are the returning starters on the offensive line, the three new starters are all veterans in their respective fourth full seasons with the team who have been working hard to take on these roles in centre Luciano Jolly, left guard Ethan Paslowsky and right guard Jordan Bisson.

“It doesn’t even feel different,” said Ochs. “We’ve had so many off-season workouts.

“We’ve been together having fun after hours. We kind of kept tight there in COVID. We had our little group chat going, so all the guys are really close.”

Even in the lead up to Sunday’s encounter with the Huskies, Ochs said it has felt like the four other full seasons he played with the team.

“Since we’ve been back this week, it feels like nothing has changed,” said Ochs. “It just feels like it is just another year.”

The Hilltops defence will be anchored by Giddings, fourth year linebacker Brady Fossen, fourth year nose tackle Jaxson Funk and fourth year safety Brant Morrow.

No matter what the end result ends up being on Sunday, Sargeant knows his teams will have things to work on. He knows it is all part of the journey through a season.

Doug Fleming will make his first start at QB for the Hilltops.

“It is like anything,” said Sargeant.  “We’ll know way more Sunday after the game.

“Practice is one thing. Game day is different against a different opposition. I’m excited for all my team.

“It is a young team. They just have to play games.”

NOTES – While the CJFL hasn’t hit the field for a game since November of 2019, the Hilltops enter the 2021 campaign with a number of winning streaks that are still active. They have won their last 31 straight games including action in the CJFL’s regular season and post-season.

The Hilltops have claimed their last 29 straight games on the road including action in the CJFL regular season and post-season. In the post-season, the Hilltops have a CJFL record of 20 straight wins going into the current campaign.

End Zone Dinner on for Hilltops

A Scott Schultz card.

The Saskatoon Hilltops traditional In The End Zone Dinner to raise funds for the team’s scholarship program is returning this season.

The club wasn’t able to hold the fundraising dinner a year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s dinner will be held on September 11 at the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. The guest speakers will be a pair of former Saskatchewan Roughriders members in defensive lineman Scott Schultz and linebacker Mike McCullough.

Schultz, who is originally from Moose Jaw, Sask., played for the Roughriders from 2002 to 2009 and helped Saskatchewan win the 2007 Grey Cup as CFL champions.

McCullough suited up for the Roughriders for 11 seasons from 2003 to 2013 helping the team to Grey Cup wins in 2007 and 2013. The 2013 championship was won at the Roughriders historic home park in Taylor Field.

A Mike McCullough card.

Doors for the In The End Zone Dinner open at 4:15 p.m. with dinner to be served at 5:15 p.m. Following dinner, the Hilltops will hold their home opener at 7 p.m. hosting their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, which is right next to the Gordie Howe Sports Centre on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

Single tickets for the dinner are $100 or a table of eight can be bought for $725.

Tickets can be purchased online by clicking a the link right here.

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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Hilltops back in the groove, pumped for 2021 season

QB Doug Fleming fires a pass downfield at the Hilltops scrimmage.

Mason Ochs jokes that he has been the grizzled old veteran long before he became a fifth-year player with the Saskatoon Hilltops.

“They’ve always called me an old man for having grey hair,” said Ochs with a laugh. “It is kind of nothing new here.”

The graduate of Saskatoon’s Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers football program was back manning his left tackle position as the Hilltops began their training camp on Monday. The team’s first week wrapped up with a scrimmage on Thursday at Ron Atchison Field next to the Hilltops clubhouse.

Ochs joined the Hilltops right out of high school in 2016. He became a starter at left tackle in 2017 and was named CJFL all-Canadian all-star that year and again in 2018 and 2019.

The 2020 CJFL campaign was wiped out due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world. The Hilltops had won the last six straight CJFL titles including the last four of those with Ochs on the roster before play came to a halt.

The Hilltops did gather to practice for six weeks in the fall of 2020.

The 2021 CJFL campaign has been green-lighted as a go, and the Hilltops open the regular season on Sunday, August 22, traveling to Edmonton, Alta., to play the Huskies at Jasper Place Bowl.

The Hilltops last hit the field for a game on November 16, 2019 downing the host Langley Rams 11-6 in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – at McLeod Stadium in Langley, B.C.

A receiver holds on to a pass at the Hilltops scrimmage.

Ochs said it felt like Christmas time to be back at the Hilltops clubhouse and Ron Atchison Field this week.

“It feels great,” said Ochs, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 275 pounds. “It has been too long.

“It almost kind of felt like it was never coming back after you lose 2020. I didn’t even know if that was my last game in 2019 there. It couldn’t be better to be back.”

In 2021, Ochs truly is a grizzled old veteran with the team. He is just one of three players who were rookies in 2016 who are back with the Hilltops this season along with longtime pal on the offensive line in right tackle Jonathan Chisholm and boundary corner Jared Giddings.

The CJFL allowed players who were on team rosters as 22-year-olds in 2020 to return this season as 23-year-olds because of the fact the 2020 season was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ochs was upbeat about how things went during the first week of training camp and thought Thursday’s scrimmage provided a good conclusion to the week.

“Things went good,” said Ochs. “They started off a little sloppy, but towards the end, we picked them up.”

During the scrimmage, Ochs said it was good to see both the offensive and defensive units shine at different times.

“The offence was moving the ball,” said Ochs. “The defence was making plays.”

A defensive player secures a tackle at the Hilltops scrimmage.

Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant is well known for being a ball of energy. With that said, the legendary sideline boss still had an extra bounce in his step this week as his Hilltops are engaged to play a campaign.

With the team not taking the field for a game since 2019, Sargeant, who is the all-time leader for head coaching victories in Canada’s amateur post-secondary football ranks with 210 wins, said it does feel like a new beginning in 2021.

“It is just awesome to be back here,” said Sargeant. “It is awesome to be around my coaches and my players.

“It is such a good vibe and such a good feel. We have a lot of rust. We have lots of things we have to get better at.

“We have to replace 15 starters, so there is lots in front of us. We have the right kids here. We’re ready to develop this team and take it to great places.”

Sargeant said the first week of training camp had the standard ups and downs. When the team returns to practice this coming Monday after three days off, Sargeant said the focus will be getting ready for the first game against the Huskies.

“We picked our team,” said Sargeant. “We had some ebbs and flows, so we got that sorted out.

“Now, we’re identifying whose going to be our starters. We have to take 45 on the road. We’re traveling with players on the road now.

Carter McLean rolls off a big run at the Hilltops scrimmage.

“We have to figure out our 45 beginning on Monday when we come back to our main camp and get ready for the Edmonton Huskies. We’re real excited for the process ahead.”

Sargeant believes this year’s team can be really good, but there is still a lot of work to do.

“This team has tremendous potential and lots of room for growth,” said Sargeant. “That is what we have to do.

“Look at our scrimmage (Thursday night), we got to finish with a touchdown and some good vibes. Our defence really was flying and running around. We have lots of work to do on our special teams.

“I wasn’t happy with that tonight. As I said, we’re going to get to work, and I can’t wait for everything in front of us.”

Ochs said the Hilltops coaches have been great in making sure everything is going forward and everyone is taking care of business. He said training camp activities and practices have gone on like they would in any normal year, and you wouldn’t know the 2020 CJFL season was cancelled.

“The coaches are everything,” said Ochs. “After missing a year there, to have that same continuity, the same guys, the same systems and the same beliefs, that is huge.”

Ochs is very optimistic about how good the 2021 season can be. He is looking forward to the opener against the Huskies, but knows there will be growing pains as the campaign goes on.

“I think it can be great,” said Ochs. “It looks great out here.

The Hilltops are preparing for their CJFL regular season opener.

“Obviously, the test is Week 1. I guess we’ll know where we are at after a few weeks here facing some tough competition.”

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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Expect sports to be “the wild west” in transitional season

Gainer the Gopher makes his rounds after a Roughriders TD in 2019.

Do not expect it to be business as usual for the overall sports scene in the world for the upcoming 2021-22 winter season.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world will still be throwing wrenches into plans in the upcoming campaign even as vaccines for the virus continue to roll out.

Life in North America is proceeding like the COVID-19 pandemic is in its concluding run. You can expect sports leagues at all levels will do whatever they can to ensure that major championship events happen.

Still, you can expect to see inconsistencies on how sports will be rolled out dependent on league and geography. Those inconsistencies have shown up this past week.

Early Friday morning, those that woke up in Canada got to see the country’s senior national women’s soccer team win the gold medal game at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, on television. Canada and Sweden played to a 1-1 draw thru regulation and extra time before Canada came away with top spot pulled out a 3-2 win in a penalty kick shootout that went six rounds.

That contest like the whole Summer Olympics was played without fans in attendance. Players wore facemasks during the medal presentation ceremonies.

The precautions are in place as Japan is facing a health care crisis due to the spread of COVID-19.

On Friday evening in Regina, Saskatchewan, a sellout crowd of 33,350 spectators filled into Mosaic Stadium to watch the Saskatchewan Roughriders open their CFL schedule taking a 31-0 lead on the visiting British Columbia Lions before holding on to a 33-29 victory.

It marked the first time in 628 days the Roughriders played a game. The 2020 CFL was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cody Fajardo throw a pass for the Roughriders in 2019.

Those that attended Friday’s Roughriders game didn’t have to show proof of vaccination. That was a big contrast from Thursday’s CFL opener in Winnipeg, Man., where the host Blue Bombers downed the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19-6.

The Bombers announced an attendance of 29,376 which was just over 3,000 short of a sellout at IG Field. Those that attended Thursday’s CFL clash in Winnipeg had to show proof of vaccination for COVID-19 to gatekeepers before entering the Bombers home park.

“Vaccination” will be the key word in the sports scene going forward. Going hand in hand regarding the issue of vaccination will be question about whether games will be forfeited if teams are unable to play due to a COVID-19 breakout.

It is assumed a forfeit rule will motivate those involved in sports to get fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

On Tuesday, the CFL announced a COVID-19 game cancellation policy.

If COVID-19 issues force a game to be cancelled and it can’t be rescheduled where one club incurs COVID-19 issues, that team will forfeit with its opponent being credited with a 1-0 victory.

If COVID-19 issues are prevalent on both teams, both clubs will be credited with a loss.

In both scenarios, players will be paid for forfeited games, if a team can prove that 85 per cent or more of its contracted players are vaccinated at least partially or fully. If a team falls below the 85 per cent threshold, players will not be paid.

As of Friday, only three of the CFL’s nine clubs have reached that 85 per cent threshold.

Back on July 22, news broke that the NFL had a forfeit policy regarding COVID-19 outbreaks. If a game during the 18-week NFL regular season can’t be rescheduled due to a COVID-19 outbreak among unvaccinated players, the team with the outbreak will forfeit and be credited with a loss.

The CHL is expecting to hold a complete season in 2021-22.

Players on both teams will not be paid for the lost contest. The team responsible for the cancelled game due to unvaccinated players will cover financial losses and be subject to potential discipline from the Commissioner’s office.

In Canada, it remains to be seen if these types of policies will be mirrored in circuits like the CHL, CJFL, U Sports, junior A hockey leagues, under-18 AAA hockey circuits or high school leagues. The same goes for circuits like the NLL, which plays in both countries.

In recent days, it is easy to find news stories that vaccination efforts for COVID-19 in both the United States and Canada have stagnated.

In January, the United States experienced days where it was dealing with 279,000 new cases of COVID-19 a day. As vaccines rolled out, the United States began to experience days where it was only experiencing around 6,000 new COVID-19 cases a day at points in June.

Over the past week, has become common for the United States to have days with over 125,000 new COVID-19 cases a day as vaccinations stall. The reports commonly say over 95 per cent of those new cases are from people who are not vaccinated for COVID-19.

In Canada, new case counts are starting to rise again. Last Sunday, there were 279 new COVID-19 cases in Canada. On Thursday, there were 1,445 new COVID-19 cases and 1,519 new COVID-19 cases on Friday.

Both the United States and Canada have about a solid 25 per cent of their respective populations that don’t want to be vaccinated for COVID-19. That reality exists despite concerns about variants of COVID-19, especially the Delta variant, that are more transmissible.

That will all translate to bumps in the sports world in both countries, which could result in craziness of “the wild west.”

Could restrictions and Public Health Orders that were lifted in various areas in both countries return?

U Sports is set to play for the first time since March of 2020.

It feels like many decision makers will be very hesitant to backtrack on reopening, so you can expect sports seasons on all levels will go ahead.

How those seasons will play out on all levels remains to be seen.

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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