Hilltops best Colts and weather, finish second in PFC

Collins surpasses 1,000 yards rushing in regular season finale

Ryan Adamko (#65) looks for a play call in snowy conditions.

Would you like rain gear or snowshoes?

That seemed to be the question facing both the Saskatoon Hilltops and Calgary Colts as they closed their respective CJFL regular season schedules playing each other on Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. As far as the natural elements went, it rained through the entire first half and turned into snow early in the third quarter.

The snow continued to fall through to the end of the contest. Throughout the game, sporadic winds would come into play creating another challenge for both clubs.

When the fourth quarter came to an end, the Hilltops claimed a 31-6 victory. With the win, the Hilltops improve to 6-2 and finish second in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference.

David Collins, left, walks to the field with his mom Sadia VaPond.

“You know what, (it was) a little sloppy today,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “We were matching the conditions at times.”

The loss was a fourth straight one for the Colts eliminating them from CJFL post-season contention as they finish with a 2-6 mark. They conclude having an identical record with the Edmonton Wildcats.

The Wildcats and Colts split their two head-to-head regular season meetings, but the Wildcats finish fifth in the PFC due to outscoring the Colts 50-38 in those two contests. That caused Calgary to settle out in the basement of the conference.

David Collins reaches the end zone after a 65-yard TD run.

The Wildcats were eliminated from CJFL post-season contention on Sunday when they traveled to Regina and were wiped out by the host Thunder 56-3 at Leibel Field. The Thunder finished first in the PFC with a 7-1 mark.

In the clash between the Hilltops and Colts, those on both sides will probably remember the havoc the weather played on the afternoon’s festivities, which saw the Hilltops honour their graduating players pre-game. Saskatoon’s graduating players made a walk to the field with their parents, and that walk has been a Hilltops tradition for decades.

Both the Hilltops and Colts combined for 16 turnovers. The Colts turned the ball over 10 times including twice on interceptions, four times via fumbles and four times on downs. The Hilltops gave the ball away six times including once by an interception, three times via fumbles and twice on downs.

David Collins finished the regular season with 1,028 yards rushing.

The teams were playing competitively and with fairly decent intensity until the 3:53 mark of the third quarter. With the Hilltops holding a 21-0 lead, one of the Colts players got injured on the field of play. The teams had to go through a wait of about 30 minutes before an ambulance arrived to tend to the injured Colts player.

The Colts and the officials returned to the dressing room, while the Hilltops remained on the field and went through some exercises to remain warm. When it was time to resume play, the Colts went through a short warm up when they came out of their dressing room.

After the action resumed, the competitive play for both sides took a drop. By the time play got going again, the rain turned to snow and the intensity drop persisted through to the end of the contest.

Ryan Adamko (#65) celebrates recovering a fumble.

“It is definitely one for the books,” said Hilltops fifth-year defensive tackle Ryan Adamko. “At that break (where the injured Colts player was tended to), we just tried to keep ourselves warm out here moving.

“We were keeping our boys trying to not lock up. I am happy with the way it ended, but now, we have to look forward and get ready for next week.”

The Hilltops came out of the gates on fire. Just 1:54 into the first quarter, star running back David Collins broke off a 65-yard touchdown run to give the host side a 7-0 lead.

A short time later, Collins surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the season marking the 11-time in team history a Hilltops player has hit the 1,000-yard barrier for rushing in one regular season. After getting past 1,000 yards rushing, Collins ran in a major score from three yards out at the 10:25 mark of the first quarter to push the Hilltops advantage out to 14-0.

Charles Sawi (#18) ran the ball nine times for 51 yards and two TDs.

On the day, Collins ran the ball 12 times for 119 yards to go with his two major scores. On the season, the St. Michael, Minnesota, product carried the ball 126 times for 1,028 yards and 13 touchdowns.

“It is nice to see D.C., David Collins, get that thousand yards,” said Sargeant. “You know, we blocked well, and you know, it wasn’t a good day for throwing.

“Defence was on point and played real well. Special teams were a little loose. We just seemed to be struggling a little bit.

“At the end of the day, we’re 6-2. We know we’re in second place, and we’ve got work to do.”

Some of the Hilltops hearty supporters watch their team.

Just past the midway point of the second quarter, fourth-year star running back Charles Sawi ran home a touchdown from two yards out to give the Hilltops a 21-0 lead heading into halftime.

After the injury stoppage early in the third quarter, the Hilltops increased their lead to 24-0 on the final play of that frame thanks to a 22-yard field goal from place kicker Ryden Gratton. Saskatoon’s field goal special teams unit struggled in the adverse conditions as Gratton made 1-of-4 field goal attempts in the contest.

Members of the Hilltop Cheerleaders battle the elements.

At the 3:31 mark of the fourth quarter, Sawi ran home a major score from five yards out to make the Hilltops advantage stand at 30-0 after a one-point conversion try was unsuccessful. On the ensuing play, Gratton scored a rouge off an 85-yard kickoff to make Saskatoon’s lead sit at 31-0.

It appeared the Hilltops were going to hold on to the shutout, but that changed late in the fourth quarter. At that point, Colts middle linebacker Davin Bajema intercepted Hilltops back-up quarterback Charlie Molder and returned the ball 50 yards deep into the Saskatoon end.

Colts reserve quarterback Jan Djoumessi concluded a short drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 2:48 remaining in the fourth quarter. Calgary wasn’t able to add a two-point convert causing the 31-6 score in favour of the Hilltops to settle out as the final outcome of the contest.

Colts QB Noah Makkreel (#13) is taken down by the Hilltops defence.

While the Colts got the late score to break up the shutout bid, Adamko was pleased with how things went defensively for his team.

“Defence, it seemed like all the boys were clicking,” said Adamko, who had one solo defensive tackle, two defensive tackle assists and one fumble recovery in the win. “Everyone knew what they were doing, and we all just did our jobs.

“It all worked out in our favour.”

Hilltops starting quarterback Brexton Elias completed 3-of-9 passes for 18 yards before being pulled at halftime as the Saskatoon coaches elected to get everyone on their roster into the game. Colts starter Noah Makkreel completed 9-of-16 passes for 87 yards before being pulled.

Colton Zimmer makes a special team tackle for the Hilltops.

Sawi ran the ball nine times for 51 yards including his two rushing majors.

The Hilltops had 235 yards rushing and 53 yards passing as a team, while the Colts had 64 yards rushing and 89 yards passing.

Rudolph Osborne topped the Hilltops with 5.5 total tackles to go with one pass knockdown. Defensive end Anthony Roepe had one quarterback sack for Hilltops.

Cornerback Aiden Rosa and middle linebacker Maddox Huynh each had one interception for Saskatoon. Long snapper Colton Zimmer and defensive ends Huntur Johnson and Noah Chelson each had one fumble recovery for the ’Toppers.

The Hilltops huddle up as the snow falls.

Colts middle linebacker Sean Gunnip led his club with nine total tackles to go with one quarterback sack and one fumble recovery. Defensive end Jordan Southern also had a fumble recovery for Calgary.

With the regular season now in the rearview mirror, Adamko is looking towards going on his final post-season run with the storied and historic Hilltops.

“It is surreal to think five years have already been gone by,” said Adamko. “I am excited to go through it and keep on playing.”

Also on Sunday at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton, the visiting Winnipeg Rifles trailed the host Huskies 11-0 after the first quarter, but roared to a 47-11 victory. The win was a second straight one for the Rifles, who finished third in the PFC with a 4-4 mark. Huskies finish fourth in the PFC with a 3-5 record.

Hilltops QB Griffin Sander eludes a Colts tackler.

The Hilltops will host the Rifles in one PFC semifinal set for this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at SMF Field. The Thunder host the Huskies in the other PFC semifinal set for this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field.

Way back on August 10, the Hilltops and Rifles opened their respective regular season schedules playing each other in Winnipeg, and the host Rifles claimed a 31-11 win. They met again on August 24 at SMF Field, and the Hilltops romped to a 42-15 victory.

“They showed us what we were about early in the year, and that loss was something that moved us forward,” said Sargeant. “I think ultimately in the long run we played well in the second game.

Hilltops players keep warm on their bench area on Sunday.

“Now, it is sort of let’s rally up, and hey, game three. Let’s see what happens.”

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Hilltops’ Collins chases 1,000-yard club for rushing

David Collins has 909 yards rushing this season.

Individual milestones were not on David Collins’ mind when he joined the Saskatoon Hilltops but getting to enjoy the game of football for one more season was.

The 22-year-old running back, who is from St. Michael, Minnesota, joined the CJFL’s storied and historic Hilltops after taking a year off from the sport. Collins last played the sport in 2023 for the Central Lakes College Raiders in Brainerd, Minn., who are members of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

After seven games with the Hilltops, Collins, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 195 pounds, has carried the ball 114 times for 909 yards and 11 touchdowns. His rushing yardage total ranks second in the Prairie Football Conference, and his 11 rushing majors top the conference in both rushing and total touchdowns.

The Hilltops (5-2) close their regular season on Sunday when they host the Calgary Colts (2-5) at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. If Collins can collect 91 yards rushing in that contest, it will mark the 11^th time in the history of the modern version of the Hilltops dating back to 1947 that one player hit 1,000 yards rushing in one regular season.

“I am very blessed for the opportunity and being able to play for this long of a season, and hopefully we can go as far as we can go in the championship game,” said Collins. “(I am) really thankful for the O-line.

“Thank you for my team. Thank you for the coaches for giving me the opportunity and believing in me to even get this close to the chance.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said Collins is going to get his chance to hit the 1,000-yard rushing barrier as the Hilltops aim to get going in an upward trend as the CJFL playoffs are just around the corner for the Saskatoon side. 

In their last outing, the Hilltops dropped a 24-21 decision at Saskatoon Minor Football Field to their provincial rivals in the Regina Thunder back on September 27. Following action on September 27 and 28, all teams in the PFC headed out on a bye week.

David Collins leads the PFC with 11 total touchdowns.

Sargeant said the Hilltops path forward includes ensuring Collins is a major part of the offence.

“He (Collins) has got to touch that ball 20 to 25 times this weekend,” said Sargeant. “There is no question about it.

“The offence has got to go through him. That is the mentality. That is the reality.

“Let’s go out there and make it happen. When he is touching the ball, if he is getting his carries, that means we’re moving the chains and first downs lead to touchdowns, and that is the type of offence we want to run.”

Going into the final weekend of the regular season for the PFC, the Hilltops, who are rated fourth in the final CJFL Top 10 Power Rankings on Friday, still have an outside shot at top spot in the conference. If they beat the Colts and the Thunder (6-1) fall in their final regular season clash with the Edmonton Wildcats (2-5), the Hilltops would take top spot in the conference.

The Thunder and Wildcats go at it on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field in Regina. The Colts and Wildcats need to win their final respective contests, which would be big upsets, to keep their respective post-season hopes alive.

The Edmonton Huskies (3-4) will host the Winnipeg Rifles (3-4) at Jasper Place Bowl on Sunday at 1 p.m. local time. The winner will lock up third place in the conference. A tie would clinch post-season berths for both squads.

Currently, the Colts hold the tiebreaker over the Rifles. The Huskies hold the tiebreaker over the Colts. The Rifles hold the tiebreaker over the Wildcats.

The Wildcats hold the tiebreaker over the Colts and Huskies. If there ends up being a three-way tie for fourth place and the final playoff berth in the PFC, the points for and against ratio for each team could be the deciding tiebreaker.

When the Hilltops and Colts met back on September 14 in Calgary, Saskatoon romped to a 51-3 victory. Sargeant said that was his club’s most complete game of the 2025 campaign, and he wants his club to get back to and surpass that performance to make a long post-season run possible.

David Collins is enjoying his lone season with the Hilltops.

“I’m just trying to build this football team so that when we hit the playoffs we hit our stride, and we play with great confidence and get the ball to the right guys,” said Sargeant. “David Collins is certainly one of those guys.”

Going forward, Collins is looking forward to embracing all the remaining experiences with the Hilltops. He almost can’t believe his team will only play one more regular season contest before starting a journey through the single-elimination CJFL post-season.

“It (the 2025 season) has been super fast,” said Collins. “Especially like coming in late July and soon as like the season got started and going, it just was every day was like game after game.”

Saints and Sun rolling in 2025, other notes

The St. Clair Saints and Okanagan Sun have cemented themselves as the teams to beat in the CJFL in 2025.

Last year, the Saints and Sun met in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The host Saints claimed a 37-22 victory at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont.

This year the defending CJFL champion Saints have topped the Ontario Football Conference with an 8-0 mark and are rated first in the final CJFL Top 10 Power Rankings released on Friday. The Sun claimed first place in the British Columbia Football Conference with a 10-0 mark.

Due to the fact the champion of the Prairie Football Conference hosts the Canadian Bowl, the post-seasons in the CJFL Playoffs begin this weekend for teams in the OFC and the BCFC, while the PFC concludes its regular season.

The Saints open their post-season schedule hosting the Sault Ste. Marie Cougars (4-4) in an OFC semifinal at Acumen Stadium at 1 p.m. local time. The Sun host the Vancouver Island Raiders (5-4-1) in a BCFC semifinal at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, B.C., at 1 p.m. local time.

The BCFC champion will host the OFC champion in this year’s CJFL national semifinal set to be held on October 25.

• Winnipeg Rifles receiver Jarome Penner leads the PFC in receptions (39) and yards (760). He also has three receiving touchdowns on the campaign.
• Winnipeg Rifles linebacker Kyler Banfield leads the PFC with 118 defensive points. He tallied up that total recording 34 defensive solo tackles, 25 defensive tackle assists, one special teams tackle, one special teams tackle assist, two quarterback sacks, four pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
• Saskatoon Hilltops defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens leads the PFC with three quarterback sacks.
• On Thursday, I had new content appear on the Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I put together a feature on Bedford Road Collegiate Redhawks Football Team star in Parker Bond. Bond is a natural middle linebacker, and has filled the roles of running back, fullback, receiver, starting quarterback and played on all special teams with the Redhawks this season. The piece on Bond can be found by clicking right here. I also put together a photo roundup that is dominated by images of high school football and the Toon Squad Female Flag Football League. The photo roundup also contains photos from baseball, softball, track and field and a couple of other surprises. 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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Invincible – Hilltops and Thunder are not

Squads built PFC leading records on work ethic

David Collins (#10) races downfield for the Hilltops.

The Saskatoon Hilltops and the Regina Thunder are vulnerable.

That seems like a strange thing to say about two squads that are cemented to finish in the top two of the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference in 2025. The Thunder lead the PFC with a 6-1 mark, while the Hilltops are second at 5-2.

All PFC teams are currently on a bye week and they all have one regular season contest remaining on their respective schedules.

The Hilltops and Thunder split their two head-to-head games in their regular season series playing to a tie 39-39 score in those two contests. At the moment, the Hilltops hold the head-to-head standings tiebreaker holding a 121 differential in points for and against in the regular season. Regina has a 104 differential in points for and against.

The Thunder can lock up top spot in the PFC by winning their final regular season contest against the visiting Edmonton Wildcats on Sunday, October 12 at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field. If the Wildcats pull off an upset, the Hilltops would be able to move back into first place in the PFC by winning their final regular season contest against the visiting Calgary Colts on Sunday, October 12 at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The Hilltops and Thunder first went head-to-head on September 6 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. Saskatoon pulled out an 18-15 victory in a defensive slugfest.

The two sides met again this past Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Thunder prevailed in this encounter 24-21.

It is common to see the Hilltops and Thunder in the top two of the PFC. In 2025, it doesn’t feel like those two clubs are head and shoulders above everyone else like in past years.

During their first encounter, it felt like both sides had their starting quarterbacks in Hilltops pivot Brexton Elias and Thunder signal caller Adam Mosher act as game managers and play into the hands of their respective defences. There was more offence in the second encounter resulting in a more exciting contest, but there still seemed to be a reliance on the running game on both sides.

Peter Boersch leads the PFC with 1,117 yards rushing.

The signal callers on both sides haven’t played to a superstar level, which would make one club or the other untouchable. 

Regina saw that type of quarterbacking in the past at the CJFL level not with the Thunder but when Darryl Leason quarterbacked the Regina Rams from 1992 to 1995. Leason would again be the Rams signal caller in 2000 and 2001 after they moved to the U Sports ranks in 1999.

Saskatoon saw that type of quarterbacking when the late Chase Bradshaw was calling signals for the Hilltops from 2007 to 2011. The Hilltops also got stellar quarterbacking from Jared Andreychuk and Jordan Walls through most of the 2010s making the Saskatoon side fairly close to invincible.

With that noted, it feels like the players including the quarterbacks on the Hilltops and Thunder are bringing the work ethic and giving everything they have in 2025. When those clubs have posted lopsided victories against other foes in the PFC, those results were created by hard work.

Offensively, the Hilltops and Thunder are mirror images of each other in 2025. The Thunder top the PFC with 1,844 yards rushing, while the Hilltops are second with 1,680 yards rushing.

The passing attacks for both squads are at the other end of the spectrum. The Thunder are last in the PFC with 1,183 yards passing, and the Hilltops are second last in the PFC with 1,310 yards passing.

Traditionally, the Thunder are usually a pass-happy team that mirrors their U Sports cousins and CJFL predecessors in the Rams.

On defence, the Hilltops have given up the fewest gross yards of offence at 2,234, while the Thunder have surrendered the second fewest gross yards at 2,375.

Brexton Elias directs traffic on the run for the Hilltops.

For both teams, it makes sense to rely on the running game as both have strong offensive lines. The running backs on both sides are next level.

Thunder running back Peter Boersch had turned into a legitimate star leading the PFC in carries (156) and rushing yards (1,117) to go with three majors on the ground. Regina has also benefited from the strong play of sophomore running back Carter Ashman.

American import running back David Collins has had a spectacular campaign in the lone season he will be able to play for the Hilltops. 

The 22-year-old has carried the ball 114 times for 909 yards and 11 touchdowns. Collins sits second in the PFC in rushing yards and first in rushing touchdowns.

Saskatoon has benefitted from the strong play of veteran running backs Corbin Ebben and Charles Sawi.

On defence, Saskatoon has lots of big play players like middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk and defensive tackles Johnathon Stevens and Nahom Menghestab. Regina also has a lot of big time players on defence including middle linebackers Devin Baumann and Kenten Effa along with boundary cornerback Cooper Filazek.

At quarterback, Elias and Mosher feel like they have much greater potential than they’ve shown. During the CJFL post-season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one or both had breakout games.

Still, it feels like the Hilltops and Thunder could potentially be upset in their respective PFC semifinal games, if they are not at their best. One squad that could cause upset wins is the 3-4 Winnipeg Rifles.

The Rifles thumped the Hilltops 31-11 on August 10 at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg. 

Adam Mosher calls out signals for the Thunder.

On top of beating the Hilltops, the Rifles were one unsuccessful two-point conversion away from upsetting the Thunder falling 41-40 on September 21 at Maple Grove Rugby Park.

With that noted, the Hilltops and Thunder could continue to keep bringing top efforts, which ultimately leads to one squad winning another CJFL championship. In that situation, the winning coaching staff will have a special sense of pride for their players in how far they have come over the campaign.

Going forward, another PFC final between the Hilltops and Thunder is expected, but in the back of the mind, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one or both teams didn’t make it that far. They have to continue to bring a top level work ethic to have a third meeting in the 2025 campaign.

PFC players of the week nods Thunder heavy

Jake Mayo is the PFC’s defensive player of the week.

An exciting win over their provincial rivals have resulted in Regina Thunder players claiming two of the three PFC player of the week awards.

On Tuesday, Thunder cornerback Jake Mayo was tabbed as the PFC’s defensive player of the week, while Thunder place kicker/punter Shawn Green was the special teams player of the week. Both had big outings in their team’s 24-21 victory over the Saskatoon Hilltops this past Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

In the Thunder victory, Mayo intercepted two passes returning one pick 34 yards for a touchdown with 2:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. Mayo also had four solo defensive tackles and one pass knockdown.

Green made his lone field goal attempt from 35 yards out and connected on all three of his one-point converts. He punted 11 times for 373 yards for an average of 33.9 yards per kick. Green kicked off four times for 174 yards for an average of 43.5 yards per kick.

Edmonton Wildcats receiver Mekhi Tyrell took honours as the PFC’s offensive player of the week for his efforts in his team’s 28-26 setback this past Sunday to the Winnipeg Rifles at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg. Mekhi caught 11 passes for 160 yards and carried the ball once for 23 yards. On special teams, Mekhi returned three punts for 30 yards and one kickoff for 15 yards.

Shawn Green is the PFC’s special teams player of the week.

All teams in the PFC have one game remaining on their respective regular season schedules. The Rifles hold third place at 3-4, while the Edmonton Huskies sit fourth at 3-4. The Wildcats are fifth at 2-5, while the Calgary Colts are sixth at 2-5.

The top four teams in the conference make the CJFL playoffs.

All six PFC teams will play their final regular season contests on Sunday, October 12.

The Huskies will host the Rifles at Jasper Place Bowl at 1 p.m. local time. The winner will lock up third place in the conference. A tie would clinch post-season berths for both squads.

The Saskatoon Hilltops (5-2) host Colts at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, and the Regina Thunder (6-1) host the Wildcats at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field.

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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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.

Hilltops seek redemption as Rifles come to town

Winnipeg romped to 31-11 win over Saskatoon in PFC Week 1

The Hilltops huddle up during game action last Sunday.

The score 31-11 is burned into the minds of the Saskatoon Hilltops.

That was tally the Hilltops were on the losing end of when they faced the host Rifles at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg on August 10. The contest was the regular season opener for both teams.

It is believed that since the start of the 2006 season the only other time the storied Hilltops lost to the Rifles came back on August 28, 2022, when the Rifles claimed a 19-16 victory in Winnipeg. The fact the Hilltops lost on August 10 to the Rifles in convincing fashion turned heads across the CJFL.

With the Hilltops having won 23 CJFL championships in their history, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said the convincing setback to open the season in Winnipeg was a reminder his squad is gunned for by the rest of the teams in the entire CJFL.

“People want to come out and play their best and do their best against us, because we’re the measuring stick,” said Sargeant. “That is the reality.

“At the end of the day, we know that. We got to prepare better, coach better, they got to play better and the rest of the stuff just don’t matter.”

Injuries have made Hayden McMahon (#15) the Hilltops starting QB

Last Sunday, the Hilltops rebounded and romped over the visiting Edmonton Huskies 46-6 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Also on that day, the Rifles traveled to Sherwood Park, Alta., and downed the host Edmonton Wildcats 43-24.

Rifles quarterback Riley Element completed 15-of-26 passes for 304 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in that contest. He was named the offensive player of the week for the Prairie Football Conference on Wednesday for his performance against the Wildcats.

The Hilltops (1-1) host the Rifles (2-0) this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. 

In the CJFL Power Rankings that were released on Thursday, the Rifles are rated fifth, while the Hilltops are rated seventh.

After what happened between these two sides on August 10, there will be a lot of intrigue around the CJFL to see how the second clash between these two teams in three weeks will play out.

The Hilltops head into Sunday’s game battling the injury bug especially at quarterback. Brexton Elias, a fifth-year veteran who was pegged as the starter in pre-season, and Charlie Molder, a second-year player who was pegged as the backup, are both out with longer term injuries. 

Isaac Michayluk steadies the Hilltops defence at MLB.

Hayden McMahon, who is in his third year with the team, was penciled in at third on the Hilltops depth chart in pre-season and is now the starter for the foreseeable future.

McMahon actually played the majority of the first encounter with the Rifles as Molder went down due to injury very early in that contest. 

Going into the upcoming battle with the Rifles, McMahon said the intensity would be dialed up to a higher level at Hilltops practice in anticipation for this next meeting.

“I know the coaches will make the adjustments, and we’ll have a really good game plan,” said McMahon. “If we’ve got to adjust that game plan throughout the game, we will.

“I’ve got full faith in our team and our coaching staff that we’ll put a great game plan together and play those Rifles hard, because they’re a really good team.”

On May 17 at St. Vital Mustangs Field in Winnipeg, the Rifles played an exhibition game against the Saint John’s University Johnnies, who are an NCAA Division III team based out of Collegeville, Minnesota. The Johnnies hammered the Rifles 51-3.

Rifles head coach Geordie Wilson was quoted on the Rifles Instagram account that his club’s clash with the Johnnies was a necessary process that will aid his team’s readiness to play the Hilltops in the season opener.

Kaiden Banfield (#34) charges downfield on Sept. 15, 2024.

Hilltops star fourth-year middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk said the Rifles are legit.

“They’re a good team,” said Michayluk. “They are physical.

“They want it. They have a really good running back in Kaiden Banfield. He is a stud.”

Michayluk said you could tell the Rifles worked hard in the off-season to get ready for the 2025 campaign during that season opening tilt.

“They had a really good off-season it seemed like,” said Michayluk. “They were prepared.

“A lot of respect goes to them. We’ve just got to prepare. We’ve just got to work hard and prepare for them.”

Sargeant said his Hilltops know the challenge that waits for them this coming Sunday.

He said it is up to his venerable squad to bring the battle in this encounter, and he doesn’t expect his team to receive much sympathy if they don’t beat the Rifles in this contest and fall to 1-2.

“No one is going to feel sorry for the Saskatoon Hilltops for all we’ve accomplished, all we’ve done and so we know that,” said Sargeant. “Hey, we’re in the chase, we’re in the hunt, and we’re just going to keep battling.

David Collins charges downfield for the Hilltops.

“I think this team is going through a lot of adversity right now, and hey, I’m creating a lot of that adversity for them too. As I said, we’re not going to take a backseat to no one, and we’re just going to keep grinding. That is the team I got.”

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 plan to stick to basics against Huskies in Edmonton

Two sides close regular season going head to head

The Huskies and Hilltops will battle in two straight weeks.

When you are closing the regular season against a team you will see in the post-season, gadget plays tend to fly out the window in the first encounter.

That is the situation facing the defending CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops and the Edmonton Huskies. The two sides will go at it and close out their respective regular season schedules on Sunday at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton at 1 p.m. local time.

The Hilltops enter the contest with a 7-0 mark having locked up first place in the Prairie Football Conference and home field advantage through the CJFL playoffs until reaching the league’s championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The Huskies are 3-4 and are cemented to finish fourth in the PFC.

That means the Hilltops and Huskies will collide for a second straight week in a PFC semifinal contest slated for 1 p.m. Sunday, October 13 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said he wants to keep the game plan to his team’s regular plays and looks and avoid putting in something special the Huskies could dissect on video for the post-season rematch. With that noted, he still wants his squad to play hard.

“For me, it is pretty simple,” said Sargeant. “We are going to have a pretty basic game plan, because we know they’re coming back to our place the following week.

“We’re certainly going in with our top 46 players. We’re going there to come out in game eight and play our best game of the year and play Hilltops football. We’re going to do that in a specific way that we’re not going to show or expose a lot of things that we might do in the future.”

Drake Douglas has 856 receiving yards this season for the Hilltops.

Hilltops star outside linebacker Noah Gedir said his club can get really in depth breaking down what the Huskies do in having to play them for two straight weeks. For the first encounter, Gedir said it is important for the Hilltops to keep up their physical play.

“To have the same opponent two weeks in a row, that means you can watch the same film for two weeks in a row and really deep dive into what they’re doing and the schemes that they’re trying to run,” said Gedir. “Our goal this week is just to go down there and be the most physical team like it was last week and the week prior.

“We just have to be physical and work on the fundamentals of football. The coaches are saying this year is about getting one per cent better. As long as we get one per cent better come Sunday afternoon in Edmonton, then we’re on the right path going into playoffs.”

In Sunday’s clash in Edmonton, a handful of Hilltops players have shots to reach some personal milestones. Star fifth-year receiver Drake Douglas leads the PFC in receptions (47), receiving yards (856) and receiving touchdowns (eight). If Douglas collects 144 yards receiving, he will become the first player in the history of the Hilltops to hit the 1,000 yard barrier in receiving yards for the regular season in team history.

Hilltops star power running back Corbin Ebben has carried the ball 125 times for 774 yards and six touchdowns. Ebben has a long but still possible shot at hitting the 1,000 yard barrier in rushing, if he can pile up 226 yards on the ground on Sunday. In the history of the Hilltops, the individual 1,000 yard rushing season for the regular season has been accomplished 10 times.

Hilltops star defensive end Kai Kukurudza tops the PFC with seven quarterback sacks. He needs three sacks to hit double digits for total sacks in the regular season.

Hilltops star middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk is contending for the lead in defensive points in the PFC. He has 95 defensive points, which has him tied with Winnipeg Rifles outside linebacker Kyler Banfield.

Kai Kukurudza has seven sacks this season for the Hilltops.

Michayluk has piled up his 95 defensive points on 25 solo defensive tackles, 25 defensive tackle assists, five special teams solo tackles, four special teams tackle assists, one pass knockdown and one interception. Banfield has collected his 95 defensive points on 33 solo defensive tackles, 12 defensive tackle assists, one special teams solo tackle, one special teams tackle assist, one blocked kick, one pass knockdown, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.

Overall for this week, Sargeant is focused on his team playing with intensity, while keeping things straight forward.

“We’re going to keep practicing hard and developing hard,” said Sargeant. “At the end of the day, we’re just going to play simple Hilltop football, and let’s see where it takes us.”

Taylor, Zimmer tabbed as players of the week

Zaden Taylor (#10) was the PFC’s defensive player of the week.

Zaden Taylor and Colton Zimmer got to stand in the PFC’s weekly spotlight for the first time in their careers with the Saskatoon Hilltops.

Taylor, who is an outside linebacker in his second of CJFL eligibility, was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week on Tuesday. On that same day, Zimmer, who is a fourth-year running back, took home honours as the PFC’s special teams player of the week for his work as the Hilltops long snapper.

In the Hilltops 36-11 victory over their provincial rivals in the Regina Thunder last Saturday, Taylor had eight defensive solo tackles, one special teams tackle assist and one interception. Zimmer had 14 perfect snaps on Saturday that included six punts, five field goal attempts and three one-point convert attempts.

Hilltops kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas successfully made all the Hilltops five field goal attempts and all three one-point convert attempts.

Edmonton Wildcats quarterback Marcos Soltero was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week on Tuesday for his efforts in his team’s 32-20 victory over the Edmonton Huskies last Saturday at the Huskies home field in Jasper Place Bowl. The win was the first victory of the campaign for the Wildcats.

In that contest, Soltero completed 21-of-30 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing one interception.

Seniors walk still a heartwarming Hilltops tradition

Erik Barsness (#60) walks to the field with his parents.

The Saskatoon Hilltops still have one of the most heartwarming traditions in Canadian sports for graduating players.

Before the Hilltops played their final home regular season game downing their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 36-11 last Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops honoured their graduating players. During a pre-game ceremony, the Hilltops graduating players were announced one by one and made a walk to the field with their parents. All of the parents took the field decked out in cool looking team gear.

The nine graduating players included cornerback Justin Adamko, left guard Erik Barsness, receiver Drake Douglas, offensive lineman Jeremy Funk, outside linebacker Noah Gedir, quarterback Trey Reider, defensive halfback Isaac Rivalin, linebacker Andy Scrivens and right tackle Cody Shumanski.

All of these graduating players are still in the CJFL playing with the Hilltops even with navigating their individual journeys around the fact the 2020 campaign was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world. There were all sorts of various restrictions and shutdowns in place when the 2020 season was supposed to happen in order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 campaign marked the first year of CJFL eligibility for this year’s group of graduating players. They are the last class that had to navigate around how pandemic restrictions affected their CJFL playing careers.

All of the Hilltops nine graduating players had sizable roles in helping the club win a 23^rd CJFL championship last season and helping the storied squad post a 7-0 mark so far in the current campaign.

Roughriders great Clark rocked at End Zone Dinner

Dan Clark speaks at the Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner.

Dan Clark, who is an all-time great with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, did a stellar job holding court as the guest speaker at the Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner last Saturday.

The dinner was held in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building before the Saskatoon Hilltops downed their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 36-11 in a CJFL regular season contest at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Clark was a star centre Roughriders from 2009 to 2022.

He was on the Roughriders practice roster in 2009 and 2010 and was on the main roster from 2011 to 2022 appearing in 131 games. During his years on the Roughriders practice roster, Clark was playing for the Thunder. Before playing for the Thunder, Clark played high school football for Regina’s Thom Collegiate Trojans.

The 36-year-old Clark drew some good-natured chuckles about how Thunder seemingly always fell short against the Hilltops during his time with Regina’s CJFL club. He also went into how important his time was playing in high school for the Trojans and talked lots about his time with the Roughriders.

Of course, Clark’s best Roughriders memory was winning the Grey Cup 45-23 over the Hamilton Tigers-Cats on November 24, 2013 at historic Taylor Field.

For another other good-natured chuckle, Clark was asked if he advocated for big guys scoring touchdowns. Clark gained fame catching an eight-yard touchdown pass from legendary Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant in a 37-0 romp over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a game played at Taylor Field on July 21, 2013.

On August 24, 2014, Clark caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Roughriders backup quarterback Tino Sunseri in a 20-16 victory over the British Columbia Lions at B.C. Place in Vancouver, B.C.

During his CFL career, Clark had three receptions for 21 yards to go with his two touchdowns. He said he used to advocate for big guys scoring touchdowns, but he enjoyed his spot being the most recently remembered big guy touchdown scorer for the Roughriders.

Clark said he enjoyed holding the distinction of having two touchdown receptions in his CFL career and liked to bring that up when he talks with other offensive linemen who have played in the league.

Thunder, Colts will battle for two straight weeks

The Thunder will face the Colts for two straight weeks.

The Regina Thunder and Calgary Colts are in a similar spot as the defending CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops and Edmonton Huskies.

The Hilltops and Huskies will go at it and close out their respective regular season schedules on Sunday at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton at 1 p.m. local time. Saskatoon enters that contest with a 7-0 mark having locked up first place in the Prairie Football Conference and home field advantage through the CJFL playoffs until reaching the league’s championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The Huskies are 3-4 and are cemented to finish fourth in the PFC. That means the Hilltops and Huskies will collide for a second straight week in a PFC semifinal contest slated for 1 p.m. Sunday, October 13 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The Thunder (5-2) will host the Colts (4-3) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field in Regina. Both squads are cemented at finishing in the second and third spots in the PFC, which means they will go at it either Saturday, October 12 or Sunday, October 13 in a PFC semifinal.

The Colts split their two regular season games with the Huskies, but they hold the standings tiebreaker against the Edmonton side with a 47-41 edge in the total score of those two head-to-head contests.

Sunday’s clash between the Thunder and Colts is the only head-to-head meeting of the 2024 regular season for those two clubs. The winner of Sunday’s contest will host the PFC semifinal between those two squads. If the contest ends in a tie, the Thunder will host the PFC semifinal encounter with the Colts.

In the CJFL’s Top 10 Power Rankings released on Thursday, the Hilltops were rated first, the Thunder were ranked fourth and the Colts came in at seventh.

The Edmonton Wildcats and Winnipeg Rifles will close their overall 2024 campaigns both sporting 1-6 records in their head-to-head meeting on Sunday. The Wildcats will host the Rifles at 1 p.m. local time at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta.

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.