Hilltops right guard Elderkin becomes Internet star

This photo of Taylon Elderkin has gone viral on the Internet.

    Taylon Elderkin seems to constantly chuckle when he thinks about seeing an off day surprise.

    The standout right guard on the Saskatoon Hilltops offensive line was on his way to work on Monday, when he found out he was tagged in a picture running the football in a CJFL regular season game one day earlier.

    Last Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops thumped the visiting Winnipeg Rifles 49-22, and Elderkin carried the ball early in the third quarter for 13 yards.

    A photo taken by myself of that run has gone viral on the Internet over various social media lines.

    “It definitely wasn’t expected,” said Elderkin with a chuckle. “I don’t know.

    “One of our guys sent it in to that lineman page, and yeah. It definitely took off a lot more than what I thought.”

    Elderkin said Luciano Jolly, who is a backup centre on the Hilltops offensive line, sent the picture of Elderkin running with the football to a site called Linemanprobs.com, which sells clothing and accessories geared toward offensive linemen.

The Taylon Elderkin run on Instagram.

    The site circulated the picture on its social media platforms with the caption, “Coach just hear me out.”

    Elderkin kept hearing about the photo from his Hilltops teammates throughout the day on Monday, which is an off-day for the team.

    “In our group chat, they just kept sending messages,” said Elderkin, who stands 6-feet and weighs 290 pounds. “(Hilltops left tackle) Mason (Ochs) was like, ‘It is rising and rising.’

    “I think eventually it got to like 20,000 likes or something.”

    On Instagram, the photo has surpassed 20,500 likes. On Twitter, it has attracted over 1,200 likes. On Facebook, the photo has drawn over 750 reactions and has been shared over 540 times.

    All of those numbers were current as of Thursday night.

The Taylon Elderkin photo on Twitter.

    “For a 13-yard run, it is something else,” said Elderkin. “I guess I’d rather see more publicity on (Hilltops running back) Ben (Abrook) making 1,000 yards.

    “I’m getting bugged a lot, so it is kind of different and fun at the same time.”

    In the romp over the Rifles, Elderkin and the Hilltops offensive line opened huge holes to allow Abrook to pile up 206 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 18 carries.

    Abrook blew past the 1,000-yard mark in rushing. 
   After that contest concluded, Abrook had carried the ball 180 times for 1,114 yards and seven touchdowns helping the Hilltops, who are the five-time defending CJFL champions, improve to 7-0.

    In the aftermath, Elderkin came away from that contest with the fame. 
    Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said the team’s coaching staff has a few chuckles over the photo.
    Sargeant first saw the photo on Monday, when his wife, Kris, showed it to him over a social media line.

The Taylon Elderkin photo on Facebook.

    “I’m not a Facebook or a Snapchat or whatever it is, but I’m happy for him (Elderkin) and happy for the program and happy for the offensive linemen,” said Tom Sargeant. “You always want to give those guys some love.
    “To celebrate having a 1,000-yard rusher in Ben Abrook, that is certainly one way to recognize that. That has just been a tradition of the Hilltops. We’ve been doing this for about the last eight or 10 years, where we honour a fifth-year player, and they get to handle a ball, and we see what we can do.

    “I think he (Elderkin) is in second place. Nathan Heide is still in first with 19 yards, and Tay is now in second place with 13 yards. It is good to see the O-line always get some recognition.”

    Elderkin, who will turn 22-years-old in December, joined the Hilltops on a full-time basis in 2016, and Sargeant said the North Battleford, Sask., product has been a joy to coach.

    “What a super kid,” said Sargeant. “He started slow, but by the middle of his first year, he was a starter.

    “No one has played more football on this team than Taylon Elderkin. He is a very unassuming guy. He is just a great teammate.
    “He is loyal. Whatever you need, he is going to give you everything he has got. He is one of the reasons we’ve had a lot of success running the ball and protecting our quarterback, because Taylon loves and is great at playing the game of football.”

Another photo of Taylon Elderkin’s 13-yard rumble down the field.

    Elderkin said he has taken some good-natured jabs the last few days including ones from graduated teammate like former Hilltops offensive lineman Cord Ivanco, who is the equipment manager for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team.

    As the years go on, Elderkin said the picture of his carry going viral will always be a discussion point to have a few laughs over.
    “It will definitely be in there,” said Elderkin. “It is something you will look back on your last season.

    “Being able to do that, it could have been (left guard) Ryder (Klisowsky), because at the beginning of the year, we rock, paper, scissors for it. I came out on the lucky side of that.”

Hilltops RG Taylon Elderkin (#67) assists in pass blocking in the trenches.

    Elderkin is ready to experience another memorable moment in his final season. This coming Sunday, the Hilltops close their regular season schedule hosting the Edmonton Wildcats (2-5) at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

    As a team tradition, the Hilltops players, who are playing out their final campaigns of CJFL eligibility, will be introduced one by one and walk on to the field with their parents. Elderkin will be taking that final walk out of the tunnel with his mother, Melissa, and he is looking forward to that moment in time.

    “The season has definitely gone by pretty quick,” said Elderkin. “Being able to do that with my mom, she supported me throughout my entire football career.

    “Doing that with her, I think that is going to be real special for me and for her too.”

Abrook takes PFC offensive player of the week honours

Ben Abrook jets home on a 52-yard touchdown run.

    A monster outing allowed Saskatoon Hilltops star power running back Ben Abrook to take offensive player of the week honours for the Prairie Football Conference for the second time this season.

    Last Sunday, the 21-year-old carried the ball 18 times for 206 yards and scored two touchdowns as the Hilltops hammered the Winnipeg Rifles 49-22 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. On Wednesday, Abrook was named the PFC offensive player of the week.

    The huge outing allowed Abrook, who is in his third year with the Hilltops, to blow past the 1000-yard mark in rushing. In helping the Hilltops post a 7-0 record, Abrook has carried the ball 180 times for 1,114 yards and seven touchdowns.

    The Hilltops close their regular season schedule this coming Sunday taking on the Edmonton Wildcats at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

    It is unlikely Abrook will catch the Hilltops record for most yards gained rushing in one regular season.

    That mark is held by current Hilltops running backs coach Andre Lalonde. In his final campaign as a Hilltops running back in 2013, Lalonde ran the ball 182 times for 1,367 yards and seven touchdowns in eight regular season games.

    Lalonde was the CJFL’s offensive player of the year and an all-Canadian all-star that season.

    Earlier this season, Abrook took PFC offensive player of the week honours for his performance when the Hilltops downed the Regina Thunder 28-21 on Sept. 7 at SMF Field.

Kleiter three-peats for PFC special teams player of the week

Rylan Kleiter (#7) is a three-peat player of the week for the PFC.

    Another week means another Prairie Football Conference special teams player of the week award has come the way of Saskatoon Hilltops receiver/kicker Rylan Kleiter.

    On Wednesday, Kleiter was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week for a third straight week. He received his third player of the week honours for his efforts last Sunday, when the Hilltops dumped the Winnipeg Rifles 49-22 at SMF Field.

    Kleiter connected on 4-of-5 field goal attempts hitting from 12, 27, 40 and 15 yards out. He scored a single off a 40 yard missed field goal.

    Kleiter kicked off six times for 340 yards averaging 56.7 yards per kick. He took on the Hilltops punting duties punting the ball four times for 144 yards for a 36 yard average.

    The fourth-year player connected on all five of his conversion attempts.

    Going into the final week of the PFC’s regular season, Kleiter leads the conference in scoring with 88 points coming off 16 field goals, 27 one-point converts, one single and two touchdowns.

Sargeant’s pride shows through for Hilltops fifth years

Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant has a lot of pride in his fifth years.

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant admits that his team’s final home game of the regular season always pulls at his heartstrings.

    The Hilltops close their regular season schedule this coming Sunday, when they host the Edmonton Wildcats at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

    The ’Toppers always honour their players, who are playing out their final campaigns of CJFL eligibility, before the final home game. Most of those players have usually played five full seasons with the team.

    The graduating players will be introduced one by one, and they will walk out to the field with their parents. The Hilltops have been holding this tradition for a large number of years.

    The Hilltops have 15 players who will exhaust their eligibility after this season including Patrick Arno, John Brown, Taylon Elderkin, Connor Graham, Caleb Haight, Tristan Hering, Tyler Hermann, Colton Holmes, Riley Keating, Logan Kelsey-Stern, Ryder Klisowsky, Jesse McNabb, Kirk Morrow, Jadyn Pingue and Tanner Rhode.

    “A lot of emotions are going to come through me and just make me realize how proud and how fortunate I am to be a part of these young men’s lives,” said Sargeant. “To see their parents who we spend a lot of time with over the last five years, it is now.

    “We have to make sure that we represent those families. We always talking about coaching and playing for our fifth-year players and their families and make sure we put them in good spots so that they can keep climbing this mountain. There is nothing better than to be a fifth-year player with the Saskatoon Hilltops and leaving as a champion.

    “We believe they are going to do that whether or not, because they are part of this process. We’re going to work darn hard to make sure good things happen for them all the way to the end.”

    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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Ochs loves being part of lunch-pail crew with Hilltops

Mason Ochs, left, has been a CJFL all-Canadian all-star the last two years.

    Mason Ochs figured he would be a good fit for the Saskatoon Hilltops, and that gut feeling was confirmed when he joined the powerhouse CJFL squad.

    A graduate from Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers football program in the Saskatoon high school ranks, Ochs enjoyed getting his nose down and dirty on the offensive line in the physical part of the game.

    Upon joining the Hilltops in 2016, he felt surrounded by teammates who were like minded.

    “I liked the attitude here,” said Ochs. “I heard good things from former players.

    “It is just grab your lunch buckets and go.”

    Since that rookie campaign, Ochs shot to star status at left tackle and named CJFL all-Canadian all-star in each of the past two seasons. Now in his fourth campaign with the team, Ochs is the cornerstone on a mostly veteran Hilltops offensive line.

    On Sunday, he was again opening up the running lanes and protecting his quarterback helping the Hilltops down the Rifles in Winnipeg 34-20 in the CJFL regular season opener for both clubs.

Mason Ochs (#73) protects the blindside of the Hilltops’ quarterbacks.

    The Hilltops have won the last five straight CJFL titles and Ochs was a member of the last three of those championship teams.

    While his team has been successful and he has personally been successful, Ochs said he focuses on staying humble through all the high points. That lesson was engrained in him as a rookie in 2016 playing behind then veteran offensive linemen in Tyler Hoath, Drayke Unger and Cord Ivanco, who have all since graduated from the team.

    Ochs frequently thinks about that veteran trio.

    “I learned a lot,” said Ochs, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 275 pounds. “I learned how to carry yourself on the team and how to keep your nose down and don’t get out of line or anything like that.”

    Ochs proved to be quick learner, and it vaulted him to the ever important starting left tackle spot on the offensive line, where he protects his quarterback’s blindside.

    His progression was so good the past two seasons that he participated in the training camp of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in late May and early June.

Mason Ochs works on techniques at Roughriders training camp.

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said Ochs also had some natural gifts in size and strength that allowed him to be a starter in his second year.

    “He is one of our strongest players,” said Sargeant. “He has natural strength. He has just got it.

    “He just gets it. He knows how to play. He plays with great athleticism, great feet.

    “That was why he was able to go to ‘Rider camp this year was because of those abilities. He is just a high-end player. He looks great in our uniform, and he makes us play good.”

    Sargeant has enjoyed seeing Ochs excel over the years and gave credit to Hilltops offensive line coach Donnie Davidsen for helping the 21-year-old become an elite player.

    “To see his growth as a player and a person has just been awesome his confidence and his aggression,” said Sargeant. “He is such a great kid off the field.

    “You get between the lines he is a physical blocker. His growth and development through coach (Donnie) Davidsen and all his great coaching has really made Mason a high end player. We feel he is one of the top players in the league.

    “A lot of times we are going to be running in behind him. He is what he is. He is a physical and dominant athletic blocker that other teams have to reckon with his abilities.”

Mason Ochs (#73) takes part in a drill at Roughriders training camp.

    Fifth-year quarterback Tyler Hermann, who is in his first season as the Hilltops starter, said he feels fortunate that his blindside is protected by Ochs.

    “It is a piece of mind that is for sure having that guy around,” said Hermann. “The experience he has gotten, and I’ve kind of seen him kind of develop thru the last few years.

    “He is a man among boys out there sometimes. He is keeping me safe, and I am extremely to have guys like him around for sure.”

    Ochs enjoyed the opportunity to go to Roughriders camp, and he added it was an eye-opening experience to see the preparation that goes on in the professional ranks.

    “Film study is no joke there,” said Ochs. “You’re watching tape and studying and writing notes constantly.

    “Practice is just super technical, and they have film on all the time. They are recording practices’ every little detail. If your hands are two inches higher than they should be they will let you know about it.”

    Ochs said it was great to get to know the Roughriders veterans on the offensive line like left guard Brendon LaBatte. Ochs said he had some star struck moments but found it cool to hang out with players like LaBatte as if they had been friends for a long time.

Mason Ochs (#71) hangs with Philip Blake (#53) and Brendon LaBatte (#57)

    “It was incredible,” said Ochs. “It was just these guys are up there.

    “You’ve been watching them your whole life. Next thing you know you are there learning directly from them. You’re just watching them the whole time and copy what they do.”

    Ochs said his experience with the Roughriders helped plant a seed of what might be possible in the future.

    “It is something I could maybe do,” said Ochs. “It definitely showed me what I need to work on and what I need to improve.

    “It just shows you have to carry yourself.”

    As for the present, Ochs was to continue to help the Hilltops accomplish great things.

    “I’m very excited,” said Ochs. “Every year I get a chance to compete for a title.

    “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

    In Sunday’s win over the Rifles, the Hilltops jumped out to a 16-0 early in the second quarter, led 16-7 at halftime, extend their edge to 27-7 in the fourth quarter before finishing out with a 34-20 final.

    Saskatoon scored on a three-play, 75-yard drive on its first offensive series that was capped when Hermann hit fourth-year receiver Rylan Kleiter with a 24-yard TD toss for a 7-0 lead.

Mason Ochs, right, is pumped for the Hilltops new season.

    The Rifles conceded a safety before the first quarter came to a close, and Hilltops second-year running back Carter McLean ran in a touchdown from three-yards out early in the second quarter to give the visitors a 16-0 edge.

    Rifles running back Mathe Mitayango ran in a touchdown from seven yards out before the second quarter ended to cut the Hilltops lead to 16-7.

    Kleiter hit a 32-yard field goal for the Hilltops in the third quarter to give them a 19-7 edge. Early in the fourth quarter, John Brown scored a point off a punt single to give the Hilltops a 20-7 lead.

    Hermann threw two touchdown passes to fifth-year receiver Connor Graham to round out the Hilltops scoring from that point.

    Rifles quarterback Riley Naujoks threw a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring for his side. He hit receivers Luke McMillan for one scoring toss and Jake Roger for the other scoring strike.
    Naujoks completed 22-of-42 passes for 339 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

    In his first career start at quarterback for the Hilltops, Hermann completed 14-of-27 passes for 257 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Graham hauled in five passes for 123 yards to go with his two touchdown grabs.

    Running back Ben Abrook carried the ball 31 times for 144 yards.

    Also on Sunday, the Regina Thunder won their regular season opener 34-21 over the Wildcats in Edmonton. On Saturday, the host Edmonton Huskies downed the Calgary Colts 36-13 in the regular season opener for both sides in that contest.

Ben Abrook ran for 144 yards for the Hilltops.

    The Hilltops return to action this coming Sunday, when they travel to Regina to take on the Thunder at 3 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.

    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 hoggies still look fine

New look offensive line leads way in opening day victory

The Hilltops offensive line paved the way for 435 total offensive yards.

    The Saskatoon Hilltops new look offensive line is no longer a question mark.

    Coming into the 2016 season, there were concerns the Toppers O-line would no longer be as vaunted as it has been in the past. After winning the Canadian Junior Football League championship for a second straight year in 2015, the Hilltops graduated all-Canadian all-stars in left tackle Terry Thesen and left guard Nathan Heide along with standout centre Jordan Hydomako.

    Those three departures were more than monster size to say the least.

    During Sunday’s regular season opening 40-13 romp over the Winnipeg Rifles at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops new look offensive line didn’t skip a beat helping the host side pile up 435 yards of offence including 220 yard along the ground and 215 yards through the air.

    Tyler Hoath and Drayke Unger were back as starters but in new positions. Hoath moved from right tackle to left tackle, while Unger switched from right guard to left guard. Kirk Simonsen is the new starter at right tackle, Jack Sloboda takes over at right guard and Cord Ivanco handles the duties at centre.

Hilltops RB Logan Fischer had lots of running thanks to the O-line's work.

    They played as a fairly cohesive unit opening big holes for the Hilltops large stable to tailbacks and ensured starting quarterback Jared Andreychuk and backup signal callers Jordan Walls and Tyler Hermann all had comfortable days in the pocket. The Hilltops did not surrender any sacks during their opener.

    The fact the offensive line jelled so well maybe shouldn’t have been that big of a surprise, and it comes as a testament to the work put in by Hilltops offensive line coach Donnie Davidsen. This year the O-line is also getting additional tutelage from first year coach and former Hilltops player Chris Mercer.

    Also, Simonsen is in his third year with the team, while Ivanco is in his fourth year. Both worked hard as reserves and they are taking advantage of their time to shine as starters. Sloboda moved over to the Hilltops from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team, so he also has the experience of being a seasoned post-secondary player.

    As a unit, the Hilltops O-line was also athletic and mobile, and they allowed offensive coordinator Sheldon Ball utilize a fairly wide open game plan.

Hilltops QB Jared Andreychuk was protected well by his O-line.

    The Rifles played the Hilltops tough as Sunday’s contest was scoreless after the first quarter. Just 45 seconds into the second quarter, Andreychuk hit Ryan Turple with a 67-yard touchdown strike to get the Toppers rolling.

    Saskatoon went up 14-0, when Andreychuk hit defensive lineman Dylan Buckle with a four-yard toss on a gadget roll out play. Buckle was playing tight end in a jumbo set when he hauled in Andreychuk’s pass.

    Just a short time after those scores, the Hilltops defence added to the outburst, when linebacker Adam Benkic returned a fumble 22 yards for a major score to put the hosts up 21-0. James Vause proceeded to boot two field goals to put the Hilltops up 27-0 at halftime and the host side cruised on the scoreboard from there.

    In the second half, Vause hit another field goal, Andreychuk hit third year receiver Sam Mike for a TD strike and rookie receiver Rylan Kleiter booted his first career field goal to round out Saskatoon’s scoring.

    Rifles quarterback Jamie Ybarra Jr. hit receiver Ian Lee for a six-yard scoring toss and tailback Micheal Ritchott ran in a major from 19 yards out to account for Winnipeg’s points.

Hilltops rookie RB Joshua Ewanchyna found lanes to cruise through.

    Andreychuk completed 8-of-19 passes for 193 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions for the Hilltops. Logan Fischer rolled off 133 yards rushing on 20 carries for Saskatoon.

    Ybarra Jr. completed 22 of 35 passes for 262 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

    The Rifles turned the ball over six times, while the Hilltops didn’t have any giveaways.

    The Hilltops return to action this coming Sunday, when they travel to Edmonton to take on the Huskies (0-1).

    In Saskatoon’s season opening win, there were bumps which has to be expected at this point in the year. If the Hilltops offensive line can keep rolling, the venerable CJFL club’s quest to win a third straight Canadian Bowl and a sixth league title in seven years becomes much more attainable.

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