Rebels high-powered offence led by CJFL’s
marquee player
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| The Hilltops defence had made life miserable for opponents. |
In 2023, Saskatoon’s defence is having a season for the ages. The Hilltops gave up just 51 points in eight regular season games, which was their lowest points allowed total dating back to 1949 and lower than any of the regular season points against totals given up by the storied squad’s 22 CJFL championship winning clubs.
In the post-season, the Hilltops have given up just 15 points in three games. While building an 11-0 overall record, the Hilltops are giving up an average of just six points a game.
On Saturday, the PFC champion Hilltops close the 2023 campaign taking on the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The two sides will go at it at Starlight Stadium at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.
The Rebels went 12-0 overall thanks to the work of their high powered offence, which is led by the CJFL’s marquee player in quarterback Te Jessie. In the Rebels 10 regular season games, Jessie was outstanding completing 150-of-212 passes for 2,453 yards and 41 touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions.
He had a quarterback rating of 135.1, and his 41 touchdown passes set a new record for CJFL regular season play. A graduate of the St. Paul’s High School Crusaders Football Team in Winnipeg, Man., Jessie topped the CJFL’s annual Top 50 players to watch list heading into the 2023 campaign. He was named a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star on Thursday.
“You see why both teams are in the Canadian final,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “They have an offence that is certainly worthy of big play potential and putting all those points on the board.
“Our defence has been as stingy as any defence in Canada. You are getting two marquee units going at it, so it comes down to our offence versus their defence and our special teams, which is a third of the game. There are a lot of things in play here.
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| Dalton Urban returns an interception for the Hilltops. |
Hilltops defensive tackle Craig Torgerson, who will exhaust his CJFL eligibility once the Canadian Bowl ends, said it was a source of pride for the players on the club’s defence to have allowed the fewest points against since 1949.
“It is actually very special,” said Torgerson. “It is probably one of the better defences I’ve ever played on in my life.
“I definitely won’t take it for granted. The defence has put in a lot of hard work as well as the offence. I just like to see it paying off.”
A lot of players on the Hilltops defence had big seasons. Defensive end Riece Kack topped the PFC in sacks in each of the past two seasons recording 7.5 sacks in each of those campaigns respectively. Safety Dalton Urban finished second in the PFC in interceptions with five.
Defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens collected 20 solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists, three quarterback sacks, one pass knockdown, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Defensive back Carter Wingert had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries playing out his final CJFL campaign for the Hilltops. Matt Wist, who is the Hilltops star 22-year-old middle linebacker, recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and three interceptions this season.
Wade Keating, who is an outside linebacker, recorded 17 solo defensive tackles, 10 defensive tackle assists, two special teams solo tackles, one special teams tackle assist, one pass knockdown, one fumble recovery and one interception.
Outside linebacker Noah Gedir had a breakout season for Saskatoon with 17 solo defensive tackles, 14 defensive tackle assists, nine special teams solo tackles, one quarterback sack, two pass knockdowns, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
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| Wade Keating has been a consistent outside linebacker. |
Wist said the players on the Hilltops defence are eager to see how they match up against the Rebels offence.
“It is definitely going to be a challenge for us, and we’re looking forward to it,” said Wist, who will be playing his last career CJFL game in the Canadian Bowl. “We’re always looking to build to be a better team, and they are going to give us a good challenge.
“I’m just looking forward. It is going to be a good game. I think we’re going to show up and do what we can.”
Matching up against a quarterback that has piled up the accomplishments an accolades Jessie has also has gotten the players on the Hilltops defence excited.
“It is kind of at the back of your mind a little bit,” said Kack. “He (Jessie) is certainly a spectacular player.
“We’re definitely looking to get after him and give him a bit of our treatment.”
One of the tradition strengths of the Hilltops defence under defensive coordinator Jeff Yausie has been the unit’s ability to create turnovers. Wist said his club’s defence will try to repeat that traditional trend.
“Those turnovers would definitely help our offence in just field position wise,” said Wist. “I think, if we are doing our jobs and executing our assignments, I think we will be in the right spots to make those turnovers.”
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| The Hilltops defence hopes to celebrate big plays in the CJFL final. |
“It is definitely high, but we are definitely humble,” said Wist. “They are a good team.
“We know that. They went undefeated as well. They have set records this year, so it is going to be a good matchup.
“We’re definitely coming in there confident, because we know what we’ve done this season and have accomplished.”
Davidsen, Kack lead Hilltops all-Canadian
parade
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| Boston Davidsen ran for 1,184 yards in the regular season. |
The PFC champion Hilltops (11-0) will take on the host and BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria.
On Thursday, the first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars on offence were announced. Hilltops power running back Boston Davidsen was named a first team all-Canadian after carrying the ball 170 times for 1,184 yards and nine touchdowns in eight regular season games.
Receiver Drake Douglas also took first team all-Canadian honours after catching 42 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns in regular season play. Hilltops right tackle Cody Shumanski captured a first team all-Canadian spot on the offensive line.
Teijon Abel-Douglas claimed honours as first team all-Canadian at kicker. He was good on 23-of-27 field goal attempts for an 85.2 per cent success rate. Abel-Douglas led the PFC in scoring with 104 points coming off 23 field goals, 31 converts and four singles.
Quarterback Te Jessie and receiver Kieran Poissant were the members of the Rebels offence who were named first team all-Canadians.
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| Riece Kack (#47) led the PFC with 7.5 sacks in the regular season. |
Kack led
the PFC with 7.5 quarterback sacks. He recorded 11 solo defensive tackles,
seven defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, two special
teams tackle assists, one pass knockdown and two fumble recoveries.
Stevens collected 20 solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists, three quarterback sacks, one pass knockdown, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Hilltops middle linebacker Matt Wist took honours as a first team all-Canadian at punter. He punted the ball 47 times for a gross average of 37.7 yards per kick, a net average of 32.2 yards per kick and three singles.
Linebacker Demar Hohnstein and defensive back Gio Linuzzi were the Rebels first team all-Canadians on defence.
On Tuesday, the Rebels had four plays named second team all-Canadian all-stars on offence. Running back Gerren Hardisty, receiver Cairo Berry and offensive linemen Xavier Venkataya and Camauri Barney were second team all-Canadians.
The second team all-Canadian all-stars on defence were announced on Monday. Wist and safety Dalton Urban claimed second team all-Canadian honours from the Hilltops, while defensive lineman Cody McMahon of the Rebels was dubbed a second team all-Canadian.
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