Hilltops take CFL rule changes as it is what it is

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant studies play in a CJFL game on Aug. 17.

The Saskatoon Hilltops will deal with the trickle down effects of the CFL’s rule changes as they come.

On Monday, Canada’s professional circuit announced some major rule changes. Starting in 2026, the famous rouge has been altered.

No points will be awarded for missed field goals, punts and kickoffs that go through the end zone via either through the air or a bounce. If a returner fields any of those types of kicks in the end zone and is tackled in the end zone or kneels down in the end zone, a single point rouge will be scored.

A 35-second play clock will replace the 20-second play clock in 2026. Next year once a play is blown dead, a 35-second play clock begins. Also in 2026, team benches at all CFL stadiums will be on opposite sides of the field.

In 2027, the field of play will change. The field of play between the goal-lines will be 100 yards instead of 110 yards. The depth of the end zones will shrink from 20 yards to 15 yards.

The width of the field will still be 65 yards. The uprights will be moved from the goal-line to the back of the end zone.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant had up and down feelings about the changes.

“I understand and respect the reason why they want to move the goalpost,” said Sargeant, who has guided the Hilltops to 14 CJFL title wins as head coach. “I think that is a safety element.

“Everything we’ve done when you look at the game of football with literature is trying to make the game a safer place. I think they’re trying to make it more Americanized. Do I agree with all the things, no I don’t, but you know right now that is professional sport.

“I coach amateur football. Hopefully, it doesn’t affect us and we can keep doing what we’re doing, because obviously for the blue and gold, it has worked out pretty well.”

Hilltops star fifth year defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens went to training camp with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and was on their practice roster until the time arrived for him to be assigned back to the Hilltops. The Eatonia, Sask., product has a fondness for how the game is now, but he believes CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston is trying his best to move the game forward.

“It is a little tough for me,” said Stevens. “All the respect to the commissioner there.

“He is trying to improve the league and do what he can do to help out there and help grow the game and make it more exciting for the fans, obviously. I have mixed feelings, but ultimately, it is not up to me with what happens. I do know no matter what the Canadian game is going to be great no matter what happens.”

As for the change in the field size, Stevens said you just have to adjust to it. He said the three players currently on the Hilltops roster that were born in the United States in receiver/safety Isaiah Vallderruten, running back David Collins and receiver David Boyd Jr. have all adapted to playing the larger Canadian sized field, so that adaptation can work going the other way.

“I’ve only ever played on one size of field there, obviously,” said Stevens. “If it came down to it, what else can you do.

“You’d have to adapt to it, and obviously, get used to new things as the Americans here. They had to get used to our field, so we’ll see how it goes.”

CFL rule changes gave Yausie new work

Jeff Yausie works the sidelines as the Hilltops DC on Aug. 17.

The CFL’s incoming rule changes created some unexpected homework for Jeff Yausie.

Yausie had been focusing on his role as the defensive coordinator for the CJFL’s storied Saskatoon Hilltops reviewing video of their 52-26 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. That all changed on Monday morning when the CFL announced some major rule changes, and Yausie had to jump into action as the CEO of Football Saskatchewan in gathering information and having meetings about the changes.

Yausie said the staff at Football Saskatchewan didn’t have any idea the CFL rule changes were coming on Monday. One of the meetings included talking with Saskatchewan Roughriders president and CEO Craig Reynolds.

“I had meetings with Craig (Reynolds) from the ’Riders, and they were told to keep it top secret until the announcement, which totally makes sense,” said Yausie. “It was a complete surprise for us.

“Even Football Canada had received word like the night before at the last second, so there was not a lot of consultation across the players association and the amateur football. Obviously, it was a really well-organized announcement. They did their homework.

“They had some real good graphics and stuff to explain the changes and the differences.”

While the new rules will see the CFL change to a field that is 100 yards in length between the end zones as opposed to the current 110 yards, Yausie doesn’t think the CFL is moving to a version of the sport that more resembles what is played in the United States.

“I really don’t,” said Yausie. “To me, the only changes to make it more American football are 100-yard field and goalposts to the back of the end zone.

“I like goalposts to the back of the end zone, and I like 100-yard field. I think it’ll turn into more scoring, which is what their analytics told them. For us and the rest of the changes, I think you have to change and grow to get better and to keep up with the times.

“We’re excited about that. The concern is the change to the field sizes and how that affects amateur football. That is going to take time for that to figure out.”

Yausie said he was happy the changes that are coming in are staggered for 2026 and 2027. He added it would take more time in the amateur football world to change facilities and believes those changes could take five to 10 years before everyone adjusts. For teams that play in CFL stadiums, Yausie said they would be affected the most.

He believes it is possible that Football Canada might follow the CFL as far as rule changes go.

“I think they could,” said Yausie. “We’ll certainly analyze it as far as the rule changes that were made, not the field sized ones, but the rule changes to start.

“The good thing is the CFL is a professional league. We can analyze what they’re doing, and we can see if it works, if it doesn’t work. If it is great, then we’ll adopt and change.

“I think some of that will happen.”

Yausie admits it is also a challenge to secure money for sports facilities in Canada, so that exists as a hurdle when it comes to changing fields.

“For sure, dollars for sports is a huge concern,” said Yausie. “The cool part is in Saskatchewan we love our six-a-side football, our nine-a –side football and our 12-a-side football.

“Football is football. I don’t care what the field size is. They didn’t touch the 65-yard width, which is huge.

“They didn’t touch the downs like three-down football we are. They didn’t touch a yard off the ball. To me, it is really not Americanizing Canadian football.”

Reaction to CFL rule changes more mixed than I thought

Andrew Harris in action for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2017.

The CFL rule changes avoided the deal breaker.

As a result, the reaction I’ve seen to the incoming rule changes is more mixed than I thought. To me, the reaction has been about 55 per cent negative and 45 per cent understanding. In my subjective view, it has been way more even than I expected.

I think the deal breaker would have been had the CFL elected to become a four-down game as opposed to sticking to three downs. Having three downs to gain 10 yards is the most defining characteristic of the Canadian game of football.

Had there been a change to four downs, I could envision the two CFL stronghold franchises in the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers losing half of their season ticket holders going into the 2026 campaign.

The CFL approached the rule changes with great skill. They highlighted the changes to the rouge. I think half of the fans of the Canadian game did not want any points to be given for balls that were kicked through the end zone – especially for missed field goals.

The alterations that were made to the rouge were something that most to all CFL fans could agree to. From there, the CFL eased into the other changes like adjusting the play clock and field dimensions.

The CFL approached the rule changes like skilled politicians. You make a change in the law or a program everyone pretty much can agree to and you proceed to add changes to other laws and programs people might be wary of after that.

With that approach, the CFL got a sizable number of people who felt OK with the rule changes.

As far as bringing in a 35-second play clock is concerned, I’ve had football people tell me there are consistency issues with the 20-second play clock regarding how officials allow teams to substitute in players. Those issues aren’t major ones and were something that was being dealt with in organizational meetings in the sport.

For myself, I still don’t like the rule changes, but they are not deal breakers that will make me decide to stop going to games. I will still go to CFL games.

Had they made it even more like the game in the United States, I wouldn’t like the changes, but I would still go for the curiosity factor. I also find I like football in all its forms including the flag and touch games.

I think the changes that were made open doors for the CFL to possibly get a television contract or streaming service contract in the United States and possibly expand again to the United States. I think the changes will help sell the league to legal gambling partners and possibly make it easier to get a video game done.

I haven’t gambled on any type of sports in years. With that noted, I realize the sports industry makes big money on gambling, and I think it is likely way more money than I originally thought.

I know in Canada the notion is there about expanding the CFL to Quebec City or Halifax, N.S.

However, I can see the CFL looking to the United States, because it is easier to do business there. To build any sort of sports facilities in Canada including potential stadiums in Quebec City and Halifax, those looking to build often rely on getting grants from the Government of Canada. Currently, the Government of Canada ties those grants to promises of the new facilities that are powered by green energy to a certain extent and are environment friendly.

Actually to be realistic, the Government of Canada makes the sports industry jump through various hoops in ways that parallel most other industries in the country.

In the United States, sports are a major industry. To use a metaphor, sports in the United States is a big-boss table that includes kings and queens, while Canada’s sports industry is a baby in a high-chair.

I think the CFL could use expansion to the United States as a way to leverage better business environments for its franchises in Canada.

I know almost all professional football circuits that have operated in the United States not named the NFL have failed. Still, I can see why the business people in the CFL would look in that direction. The current rule changes still keep the essence of the Canadian game, and I can see the business crew in the CFL thinking that could still be a great selling point there.

I also note that while I hate the CFL rule changes I don’t get overly emotional about it, and I don’t let it affect my life. I don’t own a team, so I have no control over what happens to that circuit.

It is an entertainment option. One day I might decide it doesn’t work for me anymore, and at that point, I will no longer be someone that buys tickets to games or merchandise.

I won’t pout or get upset or act like a bratty baby. I will just leave and go on to something else.

At this point, the CFL still works for me as an entertainment option.

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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The CFL game on the field is a gem, changes not needed

An Edmonton Eskimos promo poster form 1981.

Apparently, the CFL product on the field is a game that is “radically” flawed.

To me, it left like that was the message that was sent, when the Canadian professional football circuit announced some major rule changes on Monday with one phase of changes coming in 2026 and another phase in 2027. From what I understand, it was announced on Sunday that the press conference for the rule changes would happen on Monday.

Attention got more heightened for the Monday announcement when long time former Saskatchewan Roughriders play-by-play voice and current independent sports media pundit Rod Pedersen put out a post on Platform-X that he was told to be prepared for an Americanization of the CFL game.

On Monday, the following rule changes were announced that are coming in 2026. First, the famous rouge has been altered.

No points will be awarded for missed field goals, punts and kickoffs that go through the end zone via either through the air or a bounce. If a returner fields any of those types of kicks in the end zone and is tackled in the end zone or kneels down in the end zone, a single point rouge will be scored.

A 35-second play clock will replace the 20-second play clock in 2026. Next year once a play is blown dead, a 35-second play clock begins. Also in 2026, team benches at all CFL stadiums will be on opposite sides of the field.

In 2027, the field of play will change. The field of play between the goal-lines will be 100 yards instead of 110 yards. The depth of the end zones will shrink from 20 yards to 15 yards.

The width of the field will still be 65 yards. The uprights will be moved from the goal-line to the back of the end zone.

I elected to mull on the changes over a 24 hour period. During my life, one of my blessings was I got to be friends with the late iconic CFL coach and general manager and scout of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts in Cal Murphy.

Murphy truly loved the game and his passion got you excited for the sport. He loved both the Canadian and American versions of the sport and the uniqueness each version of the game brought.

Murphy is best known for his time with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers serving as either head coach or general manager or both from 1983 to 1996. If Murphy was still alive, my gut feeling is he would mirror current Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea and current British Columbia Lions star quarterback Nathan Rourke in not liking the changes.

I think Murphy would say the rule changes are, “A crock of crap.”

Cal Murphy pictured during a Roughriders event in 1999.

Murphy was the lone voice in the league against United States expansion in the 1990s, and it turned out he was right with all the concerns he brought up with how that failed.

I guess I have hit the age where I am an old fuddy-duddy in liking the Canadian game of football the way it is.

When it comes to the game itself on the field, I felt there was nothing wrong with the game currently being played in the CFL and the Canadian version of the sport in general. 

I believe the Canadian version of the sport in its current form is as perfect of a version of the game you can get.

I know there are critics of the rouge and want it totally removed. I think that adds to the charm of the game.

I love the quirky moments that come with the rule in its current form like in the University of Regina Rams first post-season win in the U Sports ranks way back on November 3, 2000 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. The Rams were tied 32-32 with the University of Calgary Dinos in a Canada West semifinal.

On the final play of the fourth quarter, the Rams had the ball at the Dinos 16 yard line. The Rams Canadian Football Hall of Fame head coach Frank McCrystal sent his future star NFL punter Jon Ryan into the game. Ryan booted a 36-yard punt single through the end zone to give the Rams a 33-32 walk off victory, and they continued on a run to an appearance in the U Sports championship game – the Vanier Cup.

I know in the current day there are pundits saying that is a horrible way to win a game like getting a single off a missed field goal. Back then, McCrystal and his staff were credited with their astute coaching work and mastery of the rulebook for getting in position where Ryan could win the game with a punt single.

Starting next season in the CFL, you won’t be able to boot a punt single through the end zone to win a game with a rouge.

Of course, the CFL’s problem has always been marketing and storytelling. There have been some years the marketing has been better than others.

I believe the Roughriders reached unprecedented heights in the 2000s and early 2010s by marketing themselves as “Canada’s Team” and putting up billboards outside of opposing team’s stadiums that displayed a big picture of their fans that make up Rider Nation with the caption “We walk among you.”

That rallied the Roughriders faithful around their team. That also rallied the fans of the other CFL clubs around their respective franchises due to being shown up by the folks that make up Rider Nation.

Jon Ryan kicked a rouge for the Rams first U Sports playoff win.

If you want to look at the weakness of the story telling of the CFL, just ask any CFL fan who were the “Alberta Crude?”

The “Alberta Crude” was the defensive line made up of Dave “Doctor Death” Fennell, Ron Estay, David Boone and Bill Stevenson. They played a crucial role in helping the Edmonton Eskimos win five straight Grey Cups from 1978 to 1982.

To me, the Eskimos of that era should be viewed as one of the most if not the most iconical squads in the CFL and one of the most iconical teams in all of Canadian sports. That dynasty was highlighted by the play of two legendary quarterbacks with Tom Wilkinson giving way to Warren Moon.

Those that saw Moon play can still see him throwing the most picturesque passes to his trio of 1,000- yard receivers in 1981 in Brian Kelly, Tom Scott and Waddell Smith.

Edmonton’s coaching staff of that era was made up of head coach Hugh Campbell with Murphy, Don Matthews and “Papa” Joe Faragalli working as assistant coaches. Faragalli did move on to become the Roughriders head coach in 1981. With Campbell, Murphy, Matthews and Faragelli working the sidelines, one had to wonder how the Eskimos ever lost a game.

(*Side note – “Papa” Joe was the innovator pretty much for all the passing sets you see in the CFL in the current day*).

Still, you don’t see sports documentaries made about the Eskimos teams from 1978 to 1982 like you do of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers of the 1960s, the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s, the San Francisco 49ERS of the 1980s, the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s or the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era New England Patriots of the 2000s and 2010s.

Outside of old fuddy-duddies like me, the Eskimos teams from 1978 to 1982 aren’t remembered the way they should be if they are remembered at all. That goes for so many different eras of history of the CFL and no one is forking out the money to ensure those tales are remembered.

If you can’t get your past properly respected in the public eye, how do you venture into the future as an elite sports league?

Having that narrative of then, now, forever and together helps build the community of everyone being part of something.

Darian Durant (#4) throw a pass for the Roughriders in 2016.

The NFL had that question answered with the creation of NFL Films way back in the 1960s, and that has contributed to the creation of iconic teams and iconic stories.

As for the CFL, those in the ownership and board of governor positions have decided the product on the field is the problem, and that is where change needs to be made.

I wonder if “Uncle” Wally Buono is “all in” with the rule changes, or is he just an old fuddy-duddy that doesn’t matter anymore. I would be really comfortable with having him as the head of a competition committee or a rules committee for the CFL at age 75, if that would be something he would ever consider doing.

I do understand the reasons the CFL presented in their rule changes.

With that said, I didn’t know offence was a critical problem, kicking too many field goals was a critical problem, the time clock was a critical problem, the uprights on the goal-line created a critical visibility problem and field dimensions were a critical problem in the Canadian game. In the two CFL games I’ve attended this season, I believe the product on the field is as good as it has ever been, but also none of today’s current teams would beat the Eskimos from 1978 to 1982.

I personally don’t think the rule changes will result in more offence. I am willing to see how they look in action.

I know the league’s economic struggles, and I think the circuit’s leaders believe that alignment with the NFL and the American game is the only path forward to grow the game, because the NFL is so huge. Amateur football and high school football in the Toronto area and in Vancouver is already played with four down rules from the United States, which means about 18-million of Canada’s population of 40-millon are more in tune with the American game in just those two areas.

From that perspective, I think CFL leadership see harmonizing with the NFL as the only way forward, and they are comfortable with losing the old ardent CFL supporters. Like in politics, the large population centres in Canada dictates what the rest of the country does.

With that said, the CFL did start to rebound in the late 1990s and early 2000s the circuit made a rebound focusing on the “Canadian” aspect of the game. I think that is an important lesson to learn.

Still, I think the essence of the CFL game will still hold up after the rule changes. However, I can’t see the rule changes being the vehicle that motivates people to buy more tickets and watch more games. If the marketing and storytelling isn’t there, the changes are doomed to fail.

Gainer the Gopher meets the fans in 2019.

Until I get convinced otherwise by actions, I think football in the CFL and Canada has been accelerated to being converted to the style of game that is played in the United States. Something that is “Radically Canadian” is about to be truly lost.

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 walk with Elias

Saskatoon picks up 52-26 road win over Wildcats

Fifth-year captain Brexton Elias has settled in as the Hilltops starting QB.

For a time, it seemed like fate was going to prevent Brexton Elias from ever starting at quarterback for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

The 22-year-old spent his first four seasons as a backup signal caller for the storied CJFL club including the past two seasons as the number two guy behind star starter Trey Reider. After Reider’s graduation from the squad following the completion of the 2024 campaign, Elias was tabbed as the starter at quarterback going into his fifth and final season with the team.

The injury bug proceeded to bite, and Elias was scratched for the Hilltops first two regular season contests. He dressed as the fourth string quarterback in the third game for the venerable CJFL side.

On September 6, Elias finally made his elusive first start for the Hilltops in a clash against their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder at Mosaic Stadium. Elias completed 14-of-25 passes for 188 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions in an 18-15 win, which included him guiding the squad on a late fourth quarter touchdown drive that resulted in the game-winning points.

“That was a special moment just to finally get into the game and start a game for this team,” said Elias. “I’ve been working for years on this to finally be able to get in there with the boys and fight for a win felt really good.”

Elias has now won his first three starts helping the Hilltops to improve to 5-1. On Sunday, the Hilltops traveled to Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta., and downed the host Edmonton Wildcats 52-26 in a CJFL regular season clash.

The Hilltops led 23-9 at halftime and went up 52-9 at one point in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats closed out the contest scoring 17 straight points to round out the final outcome.

With the win, the Hilltops have now won five straight to improve to 5-1. Out in Winnipeg on Sunday, the visiting Regina Thunder also improved to 5-1 outgunning the host Rifles 41-40 in a wild classic type Canadian game. Also on Sunday, the visiting Edmonton Huskies got past the host Colts in Calgary 41-30.

The Hilltops sit first in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference thanks to their head-to-head win over the Thunder. The Hilltops and Thunder are guaranteed to finish in the top two positions in the PFC, which means they will both host PFC semifinal contests. They go head-to-head on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in a contest that has a high probability of deciding first in the conference.

The Wildcats, Colts, Huskies and Rifles are all 2-4 and are tied for third through to sixth in the conference standings. Only two of those clubs will ultimately make the post-season.

Joining the Hilltops after graduating from the Marion M. Graham Falcons Football Team, Elias went on a four-year journey with the Hilltops where his focus was on being a good contributor in the team’s quarterback room leading up to his time in becoming a starter.

Brexton Elias was a Hilltops backup QB for four seasons.

“It has been a long process,” said Elias, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 190 pounds. “Just for me, it has been a mental game for the last four years just learning everything.

“I had a great guy to learn under in Trey Reider. He was a great QB. It was awesome to be able to watch him play and learn everything that he did well.

“It has been a mental game for the last four years.”

With all the work Elias has put in since joining the team, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said he was super excited when the veteran signal caller got to start.

“I am proud of his patience and how hard he has worked to get to this spot,” said Sargeant. “We’re going to keep developing this offence catering to his skill set.

“He did a great job of moving the chains and getting the ball to the right people.”

Sargeant added that all the years of study and work Elias committed to in the quarterback room are paying off now.

“He is a student of the game,” said Sargeant. “He puts the time in.

“He pays attention to detail, and it has paid off. He struggled with that injury at the beginning of the year. It was very frustrating for all of us, but he kept his cool and kept learning and kept growing.

“Now that he is getting live snaps, he has been more than up to the challenge. He has been very, very effective in moving the chains for us.”

Elias’s first start included him moving the ball like a game manager. Against the Thunder, Elias showed poise, and he ensured he took care of the football.

“It felt like that was the plan,” said Elias. “Our O-line is awesome, the running backs are awesome, our receivers are awesome, so my goal was just to get in there, don’t make mistakes and let my playmakers make plays.”

In his second start against the Calgary Colts on September 14 at Shouldice Athletic Park in Calgary, the Hilltops opened the playbook a little more for Elias. He completed 15-of-22 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions before giving way to backup Griffin Sander in a 51-3 romp.

“Against the Colts, we were able to throw the ball a lot,” said Elias. “My O-line protected me well.

Brexton Elias brings poise to the quarterback position.

“I haven’t been sacked yet this year. My O-line is doing an awesome job, and it felt good to get the arm going a bit.”

While he has been working well from the passing pocket, Elias believes he can be a bit more dynamic from the quarterback position when the time calls for it.

“I’m able to get out of the pocket and run around a little bit,” said Elias. “I haven’t had to do that much, because my O-line’s been awesome.

“I can play from the pocket, but I can also get out and run around, if I need to.”

Elias also took initiative when it came to joining the Hilltops. He sent Sargeant a text message asking about becoming one of the team’s quarterbacks.

Sargeant invited Elias to come tryout, and that started the signal caller on his long journey to becoming the team’s starter. Over the years, Elias earned an appreciation for how special the culture is with the team.

“I love the family bond that all these guys have together,” said Elias. “We spend a lot of time together.

“All these guys, they’re awesome, and the coaching staff, we come together well over the season.”

When the Hilltops went into the off-season following the 2024 campaign, Elias was well aware he would get the chance to guide the team’s fortunes on the field offensively.

“In the off-season, “Sarge” told me that I was the guy coming into the season, so I was obviously mentally and physically preparing to take that role this season,” said Elias. “The coaches, we worked over the winter a little bit.

“I was getting reps as the main guy, so I’m feeling good.”

When Elias was forced to miss time at the start of the season due to injury, Sargeant said the coaches were not going to deviate from their plan to allow the veteran, who is a team captain, to be the starter.

“We’re such an open book,” said Sargeant. “Communication was always on.

“He was always in the film room. He was with us every step of the way. He just couldn’t play.

Brexton Elias plans to cherish his time with the Hilltops.

“Last year, he got in enough meaningful opportunities and was able to play enough that he is ready for these moments now.”

As the campaign moves on, Elias has it stored in the back of his head that he is playing out his final season of CJFL eligibility. Out of the Hilltops 16 players who are playing out their final campaign, Elias spent his entire career with 10 players out of that group as members wearing the blue and gold. He focuses on staying in the moment as each day goes on and doesn’t dwell on the inevitable end that is coming.

“I don’t even want to think about that,” said Elias. “I’ve grown my last five years with all these guys.

“They’re awesome, awesome buddies of mine, and I don’t even want to think about moving on from this. I want to enjoy every moment of this last year.”

Johnson to speak at End Zone Dinner

Evan Johnson in action for the Roughriders on July 15, 2023.

One of the CFL’s all-time steady veterans on the offensive line is coming to the Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

Evan Johnson, who played seven CFL seasons from 2017 to 2024, will be the guest speaker for the annual event that raises money for the Hilltops scholarships and bursaries. The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 27, at the main hall in the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located on the south end zone of Saskatoon Minor Football Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

The doors open at 4:15 p.m. and the dinner follows at 5 p.m. A ticket to the End Zone Dinner includes a ticket to that night’s regular season contest against the Hilltops provincial rivals the Regina Thunder. That game is slated for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Johnson graduated high school from Regina’s Campbell Collegiate and moved on to play football in the U Sports ranks from 2012 to 2016 with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He would be selected in the first round and ninth overall by the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2017 CFL Draft.

From 2017 to 2019, Johnson played 52 regular season games with the Redblacks making starts at left guard, right tackle and left tackle. He suited up for the Redblacks in their 27-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in the 2018 Grey Cup played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alta.

From 2021 to 2023, Johnson played 48 regular season contests with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He moved on from the Roughriders to appear in 10 games with the Hamilton Tigers-Cats in 2024.

Johnson, who is 31-years-old, is married to Dallis (Aiken) Johnson, who is a former defensive back with the powerhouse Saskatoon Valkyries of the WWCFL. They reside in Saskatoon where Evan Johnson works for an engineering firm.

Tickets for the Hilltops End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking 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 are getting healthy, preparing for Wildcats

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant, left, talks with Charles Sawi, centre.

When it comes to injuries, legendary Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant hopes the storm has passed over his Saskatoon Hilltops.

On Sunday, the Hilltops head on the road to face the Edmonton Wildcats at 1 p.m. at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. Heading into their sixth regular season contest, the Hilltops might be the most healthy they’ve been at any part of the campaign.

Before the 2025 CJFL campaign began, the Hilltops lost starting star 22-year-old safety Dalton Urban for the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, when Urban was playing a CFL pre-season game for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on May 30 at Mosaic Stadium. Urban has been on the Hilltops sidelines helping out the team’s defence with coaching tips.

The Hilltops are still without backup quarterback Charlie Molder, who was hurt in the team’s first regular season contest, when the Hilltops fell 31-11 to the Rifles in Winnipeg on August 10.

During the season, starting quarterback Brexton Elias, star running back Corbin Ebben, star middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk and fifth-year receiver David Boyd Jr. all missed time due to injury and returned to action with the team.

Sargeant would love the development of the returnees to be a sign that the worst of the injury woes are behind his club.

“I sure hope so,” said Sargeant. “I’ve also learned you have to embrace adversity.

“It is always the next man up. We had a lot of players step up and perform their roles. David Boyd Jr. didn’t play the first two games because of injury.

“It allowed other people to show up. All you’re doing is you are building depth, you’re building that veteran presence and that confidence within everyone’s game.”

Since returning from injury, Elias has given the Hilltops their most poised play from the quarterback position. The 22-year-old missed his team’s first two regular season games and dressed as the fourth string quarterback in the third contest.

Brexton Elias (#6) has brought poise to the QB position.

He made his first start of the campaign and played the role of game manager in an 18-15 win over Thunder at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on September 6. In that contest, Elias completed 14-of-25 passes for 188 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Hilltops opened things up more in the passing game in Elias’s second start this past Sunday, when Saskatoon crushed the Colts 51-3 at Shouldice Athletic Park in Calgary. Elias completed 15-of-22 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

During his first four seasons with the Hilltops, Elias was a backup quarterback, and he was slotted in as the team’s starter after star Trey Reider exhausted his CJFL eligibility following the completion of the 2024 campaign. Elias is focusing on constant improvement as the campaign moves on.

“Every day I am trying to get better with these guys,” said Elias. “Week by week, I am trying to focus on the team that we’re playing on Sunday and just preparing for them every week.”

Sargeant said Elias is taking steps forward every time he gets into game action.

“We’re excited to get on the bus and play the Edmonton Wildcats this weekend and see him grow his game and let his personality keep taking over on this offence and becoming more impactful,” said Sargeant. “Each game that he plays, it makes us better.”

Sunday’s game is another big one for the Hilltops, who have a 4-1 record after winning their last four straight and were rated third in the CJFL’s Top 10 Power Rankings released on Thursday. They hold first place in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference over the 4-1 Thunder due to posting a head-to-head victory in the lone meeting to date between the two sides.

The contest is a big one for the Wildcats, who are in a heated race for third and fourth place in the PFC and the conference’s final two post-season berths. At 2-3, the Wildcats, Winnipeg Rifles and Calgary Colts are all tied for third to fifth in the conference. The Edmonton Huskies sit in the basement of the conference standings but are still in the mix at 1-4.

Sargeant wants to see his team continue to take steps forward in their upcoming clash with the Wildcats.

“We played our best game of the year against the Calgary Colts on Sunday,” said Sargeant. “We’re looking to improve that and enjoy the next contest against the Edmonton Wildcats.

“As long as my fifth years keep playing hard and being the best players on the field, the blue and gold are going to be in good shape.”

Mix of four nab PFC players of the week nods

Four different players picked up nods as PFC players of the week on Wednesday.

Regina Thunder running back Peter Boersch and Edmonton Huskies quarterback Wesley Neitz were both claimed honours as the offensive player of the week.

Boersch had another big game last Sunday when the Thunder downed the visiting Winnipeg Rifles 25-12 at Leibel Field. He carried the ball 24 times for 181 yards and caught one pass for 30 yards. On the season, Boersch leads the PFC in carries (124) and rushing yards (967).

Neitz had a huge outing last Sunday as his Huskies fell 33-20 to the visiting Edmonton Wildcats at Jasper Place Bowl. In that contest, Neitz completed 27-of-43 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions.

Thunder defensive back Cooper Filazek was named the defensive player of the week for his efforts in his team’s win over the Rifles. Filazek made six defensive solo tackles, three defensive tackle assists, one pass knockdown and two interceptions.

Wildcats receiver Mekhi Tyrell was tabbed as the special teams player of the week. In his club’s win over the Huskies, Tyrell returned two punts for 84 yards, which included running one punt back for an 80-yard touchdown. He returned one kickoff for 28 yards and caught one pass for six yards.

Johnson to speak at End Zone Dinner

Evan Johnson in action for the Roughriders on July 15, 2023.

One of the CFL’s all-time steady veterans on the offensive line is coming to the Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

Evan Johnson, who played seven CFL seasons from 2017 to 2024, will be the guest speaker for the annual event that raises money for the Hilltops scholarships and bursaries. The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 27, at the main hall in the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located on the south end zone of Saskatoon Minor Football Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

The doors open at 4:15 p.m. and the dinner follows at 5 p.m. A ticket to the End Zone Dinner includes a ticket to that night’s regular season contest against the Hilltops provincial rivals the Regina Thunder. That game is slated for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Johnson graduated high school from Regina’s Campbell Collegiate and moved on to play football in the U Sports ranks from 2012 to 2016 with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He would be selected in the first round and ninth overall by the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2017 CFL Draft.

From 2017 to 2019, Johnson played 52 regular season games with the Redblacks making starts at left guard, right tackle and left tackle. He suited up for the Redblacks in their 27-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in the 2018 Grey Cup played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alta.

From 2021 to 2023, Johnson played 48 regular season contests with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He moved on from the Roughriders to appear in 10 games with the Hamilton Tigers-Cats in 2024.

Johnson, who is 31-years-old, is married to Dallis (Aiken) Johnson, who is a former defensive back with the powerhouse Saskatoon Valkyries of the WWCFL. They reside in Saskatoon where Evan Johnson works for an engineering firm.

Tickets for the Hilltops End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking 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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Menghestab earned status as Hilltops favourite

Saskatoon crushes Colts in Calgary 51-3

Nahom Menghestab reacts to getting a sack on August 24.

Nahom Menghestab is the Saskatoon Hilltops player everyone wants to hang out with.

As physical as he can play on the field from his nose tackle position on the defensive line, the 22-year-old has an easy to approach feel good vibe away from the game. He can flash a smile, and it feels like everything in the world at that point in time is as it should be.

“He is easy going,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “He can relate to anyone.

“With just how hard and aggressive he plays on the field, he is the opposite off the field. He is just very laid back. He has just sort of got a smile on his face and is just happy to be in the place and happy to be here, which makes me happy to be here.

“It is just one of those realities.”

Often, it catches Menghestab off guard when it materializes how much his teammates love him. On the field, a lot of the respect that comes his way is due to the fact he frequently attracts double teams to free up his teammates to make plays.

During the 42-15 victory over the Winnipeg Rifles on August 24 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Menghestab was reminded that his teammates care about him a tonne. When he got a quarterback sack late in the fourth quarter of that contest, all the Hilltops players on the field exploded with excitement and the Hilltops sidelines jumped into full jubilation.

The pumped up reaction by his teammates caught Menghestab off guard.

“I don’t even realize that,” said Menghestab. “I think I just made so many friends, and I always make sure we make it like a good brotherhood around this team.

Nahom Menghestab is playing out his final CJFL season.

“I’m happy they got hyped up with that sack. I definitely was and everyone was just telling me like we were all turned up and everything. I was like, “I appreciate you boys.””

The sack celebration by the team was one of the highlights for Menghestab in his fifth and final campaign with the team. Another came on September 6 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina against the host Thunder. On that night, Menghestab knocked down a pass attempt from Thunder quarterback Adam Mosher with 1:24 left in the quarter on a third down gamble that ultimately allowed the Hilltops to turn an 18-15 lead into an 18-15 victory.

More good memories were made by Menghestab and the entire Hilltops team on Sunday. They traveled to Shouldice Athletic Park in Calgary and crushed the host Colts 51-3 in a CJFL regular season contest. Saskatoon jumped out to a 20-3 lead at halftime and cruised from there.

With the victory, the Hilltops push their winning streak out to four games improving to 4-1, while the Colts fall to 2-3. The Hilltops finish a stretch of playing three straight games on the road traveling to Sherwood Park, Alta., this coming Sunday to face the host Edmonton Wildcats (2-3) at 1 p.m. at Emerald Hills Regional Park.

Menghestab wants every moment in his final campaign to be cherished.

“I think it is just realizing how fast everything went by,” said Menghestab, who stands 6-feet and weighs 300 pounds. “My first year, I was enjoying it and everything.

“In the second year, I got hurt and missed my season. I had the rest of the three years, and it is just coming to my last year CJFL is amazing, but it goes by so fast. I make sure everyone knows that to enjoy it.”

Sargeant said Menghestab is a great Hilltops success story. The sideline boss remembers when Menghestab came to the Hilltops as an 18-year-old graduate of the St. Joseph High School Guardians Football Team in 2021 that the defensive tackle had a lot of potential to grow in a lot of different ways.

Nahom Menghestab (#69) is lined up next to Johnathon Stevens.

From that beginning, Menghestab became a starter on the Hilltops defensive line in his third year in 2023, when Saskatoon went 12-0 overall to win a 23^rd CJFL championship. Sargeant said it has been great to see Menghestab become a dominant run stopper and sort of like a team favourite.

“He is such a nice guy and wants to do well and wants to be respected by his teammates,” said Sargeant. “More importantly, I think he has gained respect of the league now.

“He is absolutely one of our top run defenders. Him and John Stevens inside the A and B gapers make the game so difficult for the opposition.”

Sargeant said Menghestab is big time appreciated by the team’s coaches for his relentless work taking on double teams and filling the role that sees others make plays and pile up statistics. With that said, Sargeant added Menghestab is finding ways to make plays.

“He has got the toughest job,” said Sargeant. “He is drawing double teams all the time.

“Not only is he taking two guys on to free up our linebackers to allow them to run to the ball, he is doing all the dirty work. What makes him so unique is he has got an unreal ability to get off those blocks and make plays. (In the win over the Rifles), he got a big sack and you know he is always getting eight to 10 defensive points, which as a nose, you don’t see that in the rest of the league.

“He is a very unique talent, and I’m sure glad he is on our team and just how he goes about business. He is in the film room leading guys and asking questions. He is always growing.”

Nahom Menghestab (#69) is skilled at getting past blockers.

Menghestab has never shied away from the contact side of the game. He has always enjoyed that aspect of the sport from when he started playing in the Kinsmen Football League in Saskatoon in Grade 5. He is always up for the challenge of facing a double team, which is something he has been dealing with since his high school days.

“I’ve definitely got used to it because of Joe’s and everything,” said Menghestab. “I was always played as a nose (tackle).

“I think just with (defensive line) coach “Fish” (Dave Fisher), coach “Sarge” (Tom Sargeant) and (defensive coordinator) coach Jeff (Yausie) telling me like it is a selfless job (helps). You have to be helping your linebackers not getting touched. I think it is that feeling knowing that I have that as something on my shoulders that gives me strength to do it.

“I do have those times where I do want to take that one guy and just get it. I definitely am happy that my linebackers can get that chance to get that tackle.”

Looking back on his entire football career, Menghestab said he has fond memories playing high school football with the Guardians. He still believes the team could have done great things in his Grade 12 year, which was nixed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world. Still, that didn’t take away from the memories he already made.

“When I was playing at St. Joe’s, there were amazing players there,” said Menghestab. “We had Trey Reider.

“We had a crazy running back in Kayden Miller and Nathan Jule and Chase Tataryn. Our team was really good and stacked. It is just with the coach and everything it was like a new feel, a new vibe.

“I wish we still had that year in Grade 12 to dominate again, but Grade 11 definitely made an impact in that. I’m glad to have Dalton (Urban) and some of the guys here from Joe’s to play with.”

Nahom Menghestab is living in the moment with the Hilltops.

As the 2025 campaign goes forward, Menghestab is all about staying in the moment. 

He believes that is the best way to go about enjoying his final season with the team.

“I’m definitely trying to make sure I go game by game like every week,” said Menghestab. “I try not to go overhead and think about the future and all that.

“It is something where I do want to win it all, because it is the last year with me and Johnny (Stevens) and Ryan Adamko. Those guys were with me since first year. It is just trying to win that “ship” one more time.”

Johnson to speak at End Zone Dinner

Evan Johnson in action for the Roughriders on July 15, 2023.

One of the CFL’s all-time steady veterans on the offensive line is coming to the Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

Evan Johnson, who played seven CFL seasons from 2017 to 2024, will be the guest speaker for the annual event that raises money for the Hilltops scholarships and bursaries. The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 27, at the main hall in the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located on the south end zone of Saskatoon Minor Football Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

The doors open at 4:15 p.m. and the dinner follows at 5 p.m. A ticket to the End Zone Dinner includes a ticket to that night’s regular season contest against the Hilltops provincial rivals the Regina Thunder. That game is slated for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Johnson graduated high school from Regina’s Campbell Collegiate and moved on to play football in the U Sports ranks from 2012 to 2016 with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He would be selected in the first round and ninth overall by the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2017 CFL Draft.

From 2017 to 2019, Johnson played 52 regular season games with the Redblacks making starts at left guard, right tackle and left tackle. He suited up for the Redblacks in their 27-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in the 2018 Grey Cup played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alta.

From 2021 to 2023, Johnson played 48 regular season contests with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He moved on from the Roughriders to appear in 10 games with the Hamilton Tigers-Cats in 2024.

Johnson, who is 31-years-old, is married to Dallis (Aiken) Johnson, who is a former defensive back with the powerhouse Saskatoon Valkyries of the WWCFL. They reside in Saskatoon where Evan Johnson works for an engineering firm.

Tickets for the Hilltops End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking 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.

Rifles face test of resilience

After a 2-0 start, the Rifles have dropped two straight to fall to 2-2.

Will the uprising of the Winnipeg Rifles vanish as quickly as it started?

During the early part of the CJFL regular season, the Rifles were the darlings of the circuit jumping out to a 2-0 start. The excitement over that start was strengthened by the fact the Rifles hammered the visiting Saskatoon Hilltops 31-11 on August 10 at Maple Grove Rugby Park in the Manitoba capital city.

The encounter was the first regular season contest for both squads in the 2025 campaign, but seeing the powerhouse and storied Hilltops lose big to someone other than the Regina Thunder was surprising. All of a sudden, there were visions the Rifles could be the first team to win the Prairie Football Conference title outside of the Hilltops and Thunder since the Edmonton Wildcats took the conference title in 2009.

The Rifles suffered their first loss of the campaign on August 24 dropping a 42-15 decision to the Hilltops at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. At first, an optimist would view that contest as a learning experience in knowing how much you need to raise your level of play when you beat an all-time great club like the Hilltops badly and face them again just a couple of weeks later.

Returning home to host at the Calgary Colts, who were 1-2 at the time, at Maple Grove Rugby Park this past Sunday, it looked like for at least 30 minutes the Rifles had got back on course. At halftime, they led the Colts 21-0 and held a 235-to-109 edge in total yards.

All of a sudden, the wheels fell off for the Winnipeg side.

Calgary scored 10 unanswered points to cut Winnipeg’s lead to 21-10 in the third quarter. After the Rifles got a punt single and the Colts put up a touchdown with 7:18 remaining in the fourth quarter, Winnipeg’s lead sat at 22-17.

With 78 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Rifles kicker Gabriel Yaipen hit a 23-yard field goal to push his club’s lead out to 25-17. The Colts responded with quarterback Noah Makkreel hitting receiver Kione Roberson with a 75-yard touchdown strike with 63 seconds remaining in the frame. Calgary wasn’t able to add the two-point convert allowing the Rifles lead to hold at 25-23.

The Colts would get another possession, and with 21 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, kicker Lucas Hyrniuk hit a 52-yard field goal to put the Colts up 26-25. That outcome would hold up as the game’s final score allowing the Colts to improve to 2-2, while the Rifles fell to 2-2.

For the Rifles, the way that loss to the Colts played out could be a turning point that sees the Winnipeg side venture in the wrong direction. The Rifles last made the CJFL Playoffs posting a 4-4 mark in 2022 to finish fourth in the PFC’s regular season standings and fell in the post-season to the Thunder, who would win the conference title.

In 2023, the Rifles missed the post-season with a 2-6 mark, and they finished last in the PFC in 2024 with a 1-7 record.

On Sunday, the Rifles travel to Regina to take on the Thunder at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field. The Thunder fell to 3-1 after falling 18-15 to the visiting Hilltops at Mosaic Stadium last Saturday. Regina is rated fifth in the CJFL Top 10 Power Rankings, and the Rifles are rated 10^th.

It is always a tough task to take on the Thunder after a loss, especially when they are playing at home. The Rifles will have their backs to the wall.

If the favoured Thunder win that contest, the Rifles losing streak will be extended to three games, and one has to wonder if the tailspin is on. If the Rifles pull out an upset, it would cement a notion that the PFC is still very much wide open, and the conference is in the midst of arguably one of its most exciting seasons.

We will soon find out how much resilience the Rifles actually have.

Rifles/Colts clash pulls in all PFC player of the week nods

Kyler Banfield was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week.

The Winnipeg Rifles and Calgary Colts played one of the most compelling games of the CJFL campaign, and as a result, all of the awards for the various PFC players of the week go to athletes who were in that contest.

Last Sunday, the Rifles jumped ahead 21-0 over the visiting Colts at halftime in a CJFL regular season contest at Maple Grove Rugby Park. The Colts rallied to pull out a 26-25 victory. Colts kicker Lucas Hyrniuk nailed the winning field goal from 52-yards out with 21 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to put Calgary ahead for good.

Thanks to that amazing effort, Hyrniuk took home honours on Wednesday as the PFC’s special teams player of the week. The 52-yard winner was the only field goal Hyrniuk hit going one-for-two in that department in the contest.

Hyrniuk made both of his one-point conversion attempts. He punted the ball six times for 251 yards for an average of 41.8 yards per kick. Hyrniuk kicked off five times for 285 yards for an average of 57 yards per kick.

Colts running back Zion Brown-Dogbe claimed honours as the PFC’s offensive player of the week carrying the ball 20 times for 181 yards and one touchdown. His rushing major came from a 75-yard romp.

Rifles outside linebacker Kyler Banfield claimed honours as the defensive player of the week. Banfield recorded seven total defensive tackles, one quarterback sack, one pass knockdown, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Hilltops quarterback situation appears set

Brexton Elias is healthy and is the Hilltops starting QB.

With the fear of attracting further bites from the injury bug, the Saskatoon Hilltops quarterback situation appears to be set.

The Hilltops started the 2025 CJFL campaign with fifth-year signal caller Brexton Elias on the shelf due to injury. Elias had been slotted in as the Hilltops starter in the pre-season.

Saskatoon proceeded to lose second-year pivot Charlie Molder to injury in their first regular season contest that was a 31-11 loss to the Rifles in Winnipeg on August 10.

As a result of those developments, the Hilltops added Clark Snider before their second regular season game. Snider, who is in his final season of CJFL eligibility, played the 2024 campaign with the Kamloops Broncos.

Before their third regular season game, the Hilltops brought Griffin Sander on board. Sander had been a reserve quarterback with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team and is in his fourth campaign of CJFL eligibility.

Elias dressed as the Hilltops fourth-stringer for their 42-15 victory over the Rifles on August 24 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. He started in their 18-15 victory over their provincial rivals in the host Regina Thunder last Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.

At the moment, the Hilltops are carrying five quarterbacks. Elias is the starter. The club’s active roster includes reserve signal callers Jace Martins, who is in his rookie season in the CJFL after graduating high school in Sylvan Lake, Alta., and Sander.

Rookie pivot Kyren Houmphanh, who is a graduate of Saskatoon’s Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints football team, is on the practice roster. Molder is still out with injury, but he is listed on the practice roster.

Hayden McMahon is no longer on the Hilltops roster. He had been in his third year with the club and was the starting quarterback for the squad’s first two regular season victories of the 2025 campaign. Snider is also no longer on the roster.

Elias gave the Hilltops their most solid quarterbacking effort of the campaign in their road win over the Thunder. Unless the injury bug comes biting again, it appears the offence will be Elias’s to lead.

The Hilltops (3-1) are in Calgary on Sunday to face the Colts (2-2) at Shouldice Athletic Park at 1 p.m. Saskatoon is rated third in the CJFL’s Top 10 Power Rankings, while the Colts are listed in the ninth position.

Johnson to speak at End Zone Dinner, other notes

Evan Johnson in action for the Roughriders on July 15, 2023.

One of the CFL’s all-time steady veterans on the offensive line is coming to the Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

Evan Johnson, who played seven CFL seasons from 2017 to 2024, will be the guest speaker for the annual event that raises money for the Hilltops scholarships and bursaries. The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 27, at the main hall in the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located on the south end zone of Saskatoon Minor Football Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

The doors open at 4:15 p.m. and the dinner follows at 5 p.m. A ticket to the End Zone Dinner includes a ticket to that night’s regular season contest against the Hilltops provincial rivals the Regina Thunder. That game is slated for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Johnson graduated high school from Regina’s Campbell Collegiate and moved on to play football in the U Sports ranks from 2012 to 2016 with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He would be selected in the first round and ninth overall by the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2017 CFL Draft.

From 2017 to 2019, Johnson played 52 regular season games with the Redblacks making starts at left guard, right tackle and left tackle. He suited up for the Redblacks in their 27-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in the 2018 Grey Cup played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alta.

From 2021 to 2023, Johnson played 48 regular season contests with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He moved on from the Roughriders to appear in 10 games with the Hamilton Tigers-Cats in 2024.

Johnson, who is 31-years-old, is married to Dallis (Aiken) Johnson, who is a former defensive back with the powerhouse Saskatoon Valkyries of the WWCFL. They reside in Saskatoon where Evan Johnson works for an engineering firm.

Tickets for the Hilltops End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

• Winnipeg Rifles outside linebacker Kyler Banfield leads the PFC with 78 defensive points. Banfield hit that point total by piling up 26 solo defensive tackles, 12 defensive tackle assists, two quarterback sacks, one pass knockdown, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
• Regina Thunder running back Peter Boersch leads the PFC in carries (100) and rushing yards (786) in what has been a breakout season. He also has three rushing touchdowns on the campaign.
• On Tuesday, I had new content appear on the Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I put together a feature on Saskatoon football lifer Jeff Yausie. Yausie is the current CEO of Football Saskatchewan and the defensive coordinator for the Saskatoon Hilltops. The piece on Yausie can be found by clicking right here. I also put together a photo roundup that is anchored by images from the fun that can be had at the FSIN Adult Fastball Championships, which were held August 29 to 31 on the Complex’s grounds. The photo roundup also contains photos from baseball, football and softball. That post can be found by clicking 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.

Not pretty – Hilltops grind out 18-15 win over Thunder

Brexton Elias made his first CJFL start at QB on Saturday.

As far as clashes between the Saskatoon Hilltops and Regina Thunder go, Saturday’s regular season contest at Mosaic Stadium in Regina was not a football Mona Lisa.

Both CJFL powerhouses tried to do their best to emulate the NFL’s 2000 Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens won the Super Bowl in that campaign leaning on a ferocious defence led by middle linebacker Ray Lewis and game managing quarterback Trent Dilfer, who focused on not turning the ball over.

Going at it in a defensive slugfest, the Hilltops found a way to get past the Thunder 18-15. The result saw the records of both clubs move to identical 3-1 marks, where the Hilltops hold the standings tiebreaker for first place in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference due to their head-to-head win over the Thunder.

Hilltops fifth-year quarterback Brexton Elias returned from injury and made his first career CJFL start on Saturday. Elias was penciled in as the club’s starter going into the campaign but got injured during the pre-season and missed the team’s first three regular season games.

The Thunder countered with 20-year-old signal caller Adam Mosher, who is playing out his first campaign as Regina’s starter.

Both Elias and Mosher successfully filled their respective roles as game managers and didn’t make any mistakes to cost their respective club’s the contest. They did not in any way emulate classic head-to-head encounters between NFL icons Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

With 3:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, Thunder kicker Shawn Green booted a 40-yard field goal to push his club’s 12-11 lead out to 15-11. At that point in time with how the contest was going, it appeared that Thunder advantage would hold up to be the winning score.

The Hilltops took the ball on the ensuing series on their own 35 yard line. On the first play of that drive, they got a beneficial defensive pass interference call on a 50-50 jump pass toss to receiver Luke Bednarek as he was covered by Thunder defensive back Lorrin LeBlanc.

Just two plays after that call, Elias hit Bednarek for a 34-yard completion that got the Hilltops down to the Thunder 22 yard line. As the march continued, the Hilltops found themselves facing a third and goal at the Thunder 10 yard line.

Isaac Michayluk returned from injury for the Hilltops.

Elias threw the ball into the end zone to receiver Isaiah Vallderruten drawing a legitimist defensive pass interference call on Thunder defensive back Jake Mayo, who both arrived early and wrapped his arms around Vallderruten’s head.

Hilltops breakout star running back David Collins ran home a touchdown from one yard out on the ensuing play to put the Hilltops up 18-15 with 2:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. The major score was his second of the contest.

The visitors preserved victory forcing the Thunder to go scoreless on their final two offensive series. With the Hilltops facing a third down with three seconds to play, Elias pulled out a Henry Burris game style closing play by bombing the ball downfield to successfully run out the final three seconds on the clock.

The scoring buildup to the final 3:33 of the fourth quarter was a slow one. The two sides exited the first quarter locked in a 2-2 tie after the Hilltops conceded a safety and then the Thunder conceded a safety.

Regina proceeded to conceded another safety early in the second quarter to allow the Hilltops to take a 4-2 lead. With 4:24 remaining in the second quarter, Collins ran home a touchdown from three yards out for his first major score of the night to push Saskatoon’s lead out to 11-2.

Before the second quarter ended, Green hit a 29-yard field goal for the Thunder to trim Saskatoon’s lead to 11-5.

With about 5:24 to play in the third quarter, Thunder breakout star running back Peter Boersch broke off a 51-yard run on a fake punt to get the ball down to the Hilltops eight yard line.

After gaining two yards on the next two plays, the Thunder faced a third and goal from the Hilltops six yard line. Mosher proceeded to hit receiver Lucas DI Iorio with a six-yard touchdown pass to push the Thunder ahead on the scoreboard 12-11.

That set the scene for the dramatics in the final 3:33 of the fourth quarter.

After returning from injury, Elias wasn’t spectacular, but he gave the Hilltops their most sound performance from the quarterback position of the 2025 campaign. The Hilltops also benefitted from returning star running back Corbin Ebben and star middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk from injury.

David Collins ran in two touchdowns for the Hilltops.

The Hilltops, who were rated fifth in the CJFL Top 10 Power Rankings that were released this past Thursday, have now won three straight games. They return to action on Sunday, September 14, when they travel to Calgary to face the Colts (1 p.m. local time, Shouldice Athletic Park).

The Thunder, who were rated third in the CJFL Top 10 Power Rankings and are the defending PFC champions, saw a three game winning streak come to an end at the hands of the Hilltops. The Regina side will also get back to it on Sunday, September 14, by hosting the Winnipeg Rifles (1 p.m., Leibel Field).

As the 2025 CJFL campaign moves on, you can expect both the Hilltops and Thunder will improve a lot. When it came to Saturday’s head-to-head encounter, the Hilltops found a way to grind out a win, and sometimes grinding out a win is good enough on that particular day.

Johnson to speak at End Zone Dinner

Evan Johnson in action for the Roughriders on July 15, 2023.

One of the CFL’s all-time steady veterans on the offensive line is coming to the Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

Evan Johnson, who played seven CFL seasons from 2017 to 2024, will be the guest speaker for the annual event that raises money for the Hilltops scholarships and bursaries. The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 27, at the main hall in the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located on the south end zone of Saskatoon Minor Football Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

The doors open at 4:15 p.m. and the dinner follows at 5 p.m. A ticket to the End Zone Dinner includes a ticket to that night’s regular season contest against the Hilltops provincial rivals the Regina Thunder. That game is slated for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Johnson graduated high school from Regina’s Campbell Collegiate and moved on to play football in the U Sports ranks from 2012 to 2016 with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He would be selected in the first round and ninth overall by the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2017 CFL Draft.

From 2017 to 2019, Johnson played 52 regular season games with the Redblacks making starts at left guard, right tackle and left tackle. He suited up for the Redblacks in their 27-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in the 2018 Grey Cup played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alta.

From 2021 to 2023, Johnson played 48 regular season contests with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He moved on from the Roughriders to appear in 10 games with the Hamilton Tigers-Cats in 2024.

Johnson, who is 31-years-old, is married to Dallis (Aiken) Johnson, who is a former defensive back with the powerhouse Saskatoon Valkyries of the WWCFL. They reside in Saskatoon where Evan Johnson works for an engineering firm.

Tickets for the Hilltops End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking 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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