Hilltops CJFL title wins always beat solo honours for ‘Sarge’

Sideline boss still deserves another CJFL coach of the year nod

Tom Sargeant has guided the Hilltops to 14 CJFL titles as head coach.

Being named CJFL coach of the year isn’t high on the priority list of Tom Sargeant.

The legendary head coach of the Saskatoon Hilltops is doing just find lifting the Canadian Bowl over his head as his team wins another CJFL championship. It gives him great pride in his players knowing that the Canadian Bowl will once again reside in the trophy case of the Saskatoon Hilltops clubhouse.

In posting a perfect 12-0 record during 2023 CJFL campaign, the Hilltops captured all the team trophies they could possibly win. The Canadian Bowl was the last of the trophies the Hilltops needed to win to complete the set.

They accomplished that on Saturday when they downed the host Westshore Rebels 17-10 in a CJFL championship game played under a Biblical style downpour at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria. The victory marked the 23^rd time the Hilltops won the CJFL title

With that win in the books, Sargeant has won 14 CJFL titles as the Hilltops head coach, two as an assistant coach and his first came as a receiver in 1985. He is the owner of 17 CJFL championship rings in total.

Despite the impressive total of league title wins, Sargeant has only been named CJFL coach of the year on two occasions. The first came in 2000, when the Hilltops fell 36-28 in the CJFL title game to the Okanagan Sun in Kelowna, B.C. That marked the first time the Hilltops played in the CJFL championship game with Sargeant as head coach.

Sargeant was named the CJFL’s coach of the year for a second time in 2003. The Hilltops blanked the Rebels, who were known as the Victoria Rebels at that time, 59-0 in the CJFL championship game.

Tom Sargeant, second from right, contemplates an offensive play.

The storied Saskatoon club capped a 12-0 perfect season with that win where they set a record that still stands for most points scored in a CJFL championship game. That was the third CJFL title Sargeant won as the Hilltops head coach completing a run where the Hilltops won three straight CJFL titles.

While Sargeant was named the coach of the year for the Prairie Football Conference on numerous occasions since 2003, he has not been given another CJFL coach of the year award even with the Hilltops winning 11 CJFL championships since 2003.

Sargeant has a beyond impressive 236-37-2 career record as the Hilltops head coach, and he holds the record for most amateur post-secondary football head coaching victories in Canada.

The CJFL coach of the year award is named after the late Gord Currie, who is the Canadian Football Hall of Fame having won six CJFL championships as head coach of the Regina Rams from 1965 to 1976. If Currie was still alive, he would have been uncomfortable with the fact Sargeant has only been named the CJFL Gordon Currie Coach of the Year twice despite his Hilltops winning 14 CJFL titles under his watch.

In 2023, Dexter Janke, who was serving his first year as Rebels head coach and assistant general manager, was named the CJFL coach of the year. 

Janke was deserving of the honour as the Rebels posted a 12-1 overall record win 2023, with the one loss coming to the Hilltops in the Canadian Bowl by a seven-point margin.

He is well-known in Saskatoon’s football circles having played running back for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the U Sports ranks from 2010 to 2013. Janke is a quality person, and the odds are high the Rebels will remain in contention to win CJFL titles for however long he wants to remain head coach.

Tom Sargeant has 236 victories as the Hilltops head coach.

With having played defensive back in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders from 2015 to 2017 and winning a Grey Cup with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2019, Janke will likely have an opportunity to coach at that level somewhere down the road, especially with the fact he is still relatively young at age 31.

Still, the Hilltops under Sargeant put together a special campaign in 2023. In the teams eight regular season games, the Hilltops gave up just 51 points, which is the storied squad’s lowest points against total dating back to 1949. 

The 2023 Hilltops gave up fewer points during the regular season than any of the club’s previous 22 CJFL championship winners.

The Hilltops gave up just 25 points in their four post-season games. In their 12 overall contests, the Hilltops outscored their opposition 469-76.

They had this impressive campaign coming off a 2022 season, where they were 6-4 overall and fell in the PFC final to their provincial rivals the Thunder in Regina 39-21. The Hilltops lost 20 players to graduation following that contest, and they didn’t know where they would stack up as the PFC went through a great reset will all clubs graduating a number of players.

At this point at age 58, it seems like the only way Sargeant will win another CJFL coach of the year award if he announces at the start of a season that campaign will be his last as the Hilltops head coach before riding off into the sunset, and the Hilltops proceed to go to the CJFL championship game. 

While that type of last dance run would bring out Hilltops alums in big numbers to their home games to wish Sargeant well, Sargeant wouldn’t be one to have a known final farewell tour season.

On top of that, the idea of Sargeant having a last run isn’t on the radar at the moment. With how passionately his wife, Kris, and adult daughters, Macy and Abby, are into the Hilltops, Sargeant has a strong backing at home to continue coaching the Hilltops for the foreseeable future.

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant stands for the national anthem.

With that said, it shouldn’t take the notion of going on a farewell tour to bring up the possibility of Sargeant winning the CJFL’s coach of the year award again. Still, winning that award is of little concern to Sargeant.

In the big picture, it is about getting the Hilltops players to be at their best on the field in game day action and away from the field in their everyday lives in the community. If the team’s coaches do their job correctly, the CJFL title will follow.

Plus, Sargeant will tell you it is always a beautiful site when the Hilltops keep their trophy case full of all the trophies they can possibly win over the course of a campaign.

The team that wins the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions will be the happiest and most satisfied at the end of the day, and Sargeant has experienced his share of memorable championship moments at the end of a season.

Wist set CJFL title game record, equals another, other notes

Matt Wist (#44) had an all-time great game in the Canadian Bowl.

Matt Wist’s final CJFL game was one for the record books.

The 22-year-old star middle linebacker and punter had a spectacular outing for the Saskatoon Hilltops as they downed the Westshore Rebels 17-10 on Saturday in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. In that contest played in a heavy downpour at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria, Wist was named the defensive player of the game recording three interceptions, nine solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists and one pass knockdown.

With those defensive statistics, Wist accumulated 36 defensive points, which is a new record for a CJFL championship game. The old record of 28 defensive points was set by Okanagan Sun defensive lineman Matt Lammerding on October 30, 2004. Lammerding piled up his defensive points as the Sun fell 24-7 in the CJFL title game to the host Huskies in Edmonton at Commonwealth Stadium.

Wist’s three interceptions equals the record for most interceptions by an individual in a CJFL championship game. That record was achieved on five previous occasions before Wist picked up three Rebels passes on Saturday.

Larry West of the Edmonton Wildcats was the first individual to intercept three passes in a CJFL championship game. He achieved that feat on November 12, 1967 in the Wildcats 29-6 over the Burlington Braves from Ontario in a CJFL title game played at a neutral site in Regina, Sask.

Bob Korpan was the first Hilltops player to intercept three passes in a CJFL title game making his three picks on November 15, 1969. The Hilltops downed the host Sooners in Ottawa 28-7 in that CJFL championship contest.

Before Wist made three interceptions, Hilltops defensive back Graig Newman has been the last player to record three interceptions in a CJFL championship game on November 12, 2011.  Newman intercepted three passes in the Hilltops 29-1 victory over the host Hurricanes in Hamilton at Ivor Wynne Stadium in that CJFL title game.

On the punting side of things in adverse conditions, Wist punted the ball 10 times for 306 yards for an average of 30.6 yards per kick and a net average of 27.3 yards per kick.

• In the Hilltops 17-10 CJFL championship game over the Rebels on Saturday, Rebels receiver Cairo Berry was named the special teams player of the game. Berry returned one kickoff for 81 yards for a touchdown and seven punts for 33 yards.
• The CJFL handed out its major award last Friday. Head coach Dexter Janke of the Rebels was named the Gordon Currie Coach of the Year, quarterback Te Jessie of the Rebels was the Peter Dalla Riva Outstanding Offensive Player, linebacker Stephen Smith of the Regina Thunder was the Larry Wruck Outstanding Defensive Player and defensive back Dylan Roberts of the London Beefeaters was special teams player of the year. The offensive rookie of the year was receiver Darius France of the St. Clair Saints, and the defensive rookie of the year award went to linebacker Noah Nelson of the Ottawa Sooners. Kicker Ethan Hartman of the Edmonton Huskies took the Past Commissioners Award for community involvement, Paul Dimini of the Calgary Colts took the CJFL Stewart MacDonald Executive of the Year award, CJFL deputy commissioner Paul Shortt took the Ed Henick Meritorious Service Award, Darcy Park of the Edmonton Wildcats took the CJFL Life Member Award and the Hamilton Hurricanes claimed the Rick Smoke Community Involvement Award.
• Trey Reider has a 16-1 career record as the Hilltops starting quarterback. He is eligible to play one more season for the storied CJFL club.
• Rob Vanstone, who is the senior journalist and team historian of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, put together a great piece on the Hilltops CJFL championship game win over the Rebels. That piece can be found by clicking right here.
• Vanstone checked in with another great piece on Darren Abel, who is a football consultant on the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles Football Team. Abel has a long history with the Eagles that includes playing for the team from 1981 to 1983 and serving as head coach from 1995 to 2019. The piece came out this past Wednesday before the Eagles downed the visiting Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears from Saskatoon 35-15 in the SHSAA’s 5A championship football game. The piece on Abel can be found by clicking right here.
• Regina’s Miller Comprehensive Catholic High School Marauders won the SHSAA’s 6A football championship on Saturday for a third straight year. In Saturday’s title game, the visiting Marauders slipped past the host Holy Cross High School Crusaders of Saskatoon 12-10 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
• On Saturday at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver, B.C., the host University of British Columbia Thunderbirds slipped past the University of Alberta Golden Bears 28-27 in the Canada West Conference championship game – the Hardy Cup. Trailing 27-21, Thunderbirds quarterback Garrett Rooker hit receiver Sam Davenport with time expired in the fourth quarter with a 13-yard touchdown toss to win the game.

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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Durant doesn’t rule out returning to CFL

Darian Durant speaks at the In the End Zone Dinner.

    It was the question everyone wanted Darian Durant to answer.

    How much fun was it to DJ at Gabbo’s Nightclub after winning the 2011 Labour Day Classic?

    Speaking to a packed banquet room in the clubhouse building at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the legendary former Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback grinned and answered the query at the Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner on Saturday night.

    “It was nice,” said Durant. “It took it way back with that one.

    “You know 2011 was a rough year, and after getting that win in the Labour Day Classic, I think that was when (head) coach (Ken) Miller came back for his first game after his retirement. I was just happy to get a win.

    “It was just a regular party, and Gabbo’s was the place to be.”

    Durant was the guest speaker at Saturday’s dinner, where the net proceeds go towards scholarships and bursaries for Hilltops players. A question and answer session was part of the program.

    Of course, the 36-year-old from Florence, South Carolina, was asked if he would return to play in the CFL during the Q and A session. Durant announced his retirement on May 11.

    “You just never know,” said Durant. “I remember we were talking at the table when Kerry Joseph came back in 2014, (and) he came back right before the playoffs.”

Darian Durant, left, shares a laugh with Dave Thomas.

    The signal caller, who played 12 seasons in the CFL, said he retired because his wife gave birth to the couple’s first child in daughter, Amayah Taylor. Amayah Taylor was named after the Roughriders former storied home park, Taylor Field.

    “I wanted to be there every step of the way,” said Durant, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 214 pounds. “Now that she is a little bit older, I am kind of itching a little bit.

    “The feeling is coming back, so we’ll what it holds here in a couple of weeks and who may need a quarterback for a playoff run.”

    He was also asked if he thought about coaching.

    “I thought about being the offensive coordinator of the ‘Riders right now,” said Durant, who played for the Roughriders from 2006 to 2016. “Of course, I have my differences with Chris Jones, but I want to see the organization win no question about it.

    “It seems that they need some offensive help (with) the way the defence is playing and special teams is scoring touchdowns. If we can score some offensive touchdowns, we have a Grey Cup team.”

Darian Durant celebrates scoring a touchdown in 2016.

    If Durant was to return to the CFL, that move has to run through the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who still have the signal caller under contract. After playing the 2017 CFL season with the Montreal Alouettes, Durant was released by that club and signed a one-year deal with the Bombers.

    His separation from the Winnipeg side was a messy one as those associated with the Bombers howled at the fact Durant kept a $70,000 signing bonus. The contract with the Bombers expires in February of 2019.

    Besides the serious queries, Durant was asked questions that were more on the humourous side including his thoughts on end zone dances, giving advice on who to start on a fantasy football team and which Roughriders mom made the best cookies.

    Durant said Karen Newman, who is the mother of Durant’s former teammate and Hilltops alum Graig Newman, made the best cookies.

    “I’ll always remember those cookies,” said Durant, who looked towards Karen Newman in giving his response. “Thank you so much.”

    The man who quarterback the Roughriders to a 45-23 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2013 Grey Cup at Taylor Field was asked what he thought about social media.

    “Some guys are just outspoken,” said Durant, who was a reserve quarterback on the Roughriders 2007 Grey Cup championship team. “Some guys don’t know how to express themselves.

Darian Durant (#4) fires a pass down the seam in 2016.

    “I think social media gives you a platform to interact with your fans and interact with people who may never be able to speak to you. It can also be a downfall, because when things aren’t going your way, sometimes you get out of character and say things you don’t mean.

    “I’ve been guilty of that. I’ve been fined numerous times by the league for social media rants. It can be good and bad.”

    When he was asked to do an impersonation of current Roughriders head coach and general manager Chris Jones, Durant played that offer down.

    “I think someone is trying to get me in trouble here,” said Durant with a chuckle. “They probably have their phone recording what I am saying right now.”

    Jones held his current role during Durant’s final season with the Roughriders in 2016. Durant offered up his thoughts on Jones, who has the Roughriders sitting second in the West Division at 8-5.

    “I think he is an excellent coach,” said Durant. “The business side of things we just didn’t see eye-to-eye.

    “You just have to respect that. He is in a position of power, and you have to respect your boss and that is just how that went.”

Darian Durant (#4) throws a pass into the flat in 2016.

    With the Roughriders, Durant sits second in team history for career pass attempts (3,584), completions (2,226), yards (28,507) and touchdown passes (152).

    During his 12 seasons in the CFL, he completed 2,500 out of 4001 passes for 31,740 yards, 167 touchdown passes and 115 interceptions.

    Durant closed the question and answer session saying he was pumped to have had the opportunity to be the guest speaker that night for the dinner to help Saskatoon’s storied Canadian Junior Football League club.

    “I always enjoy coming to Saskatoon,” said Durant. “The tradition here is just amazing.

    “I’ve just been hearing about the success that this Hilltops squad has been having over the years. The commitment to excellence starts here. You guys pave the way for these kids.

    “You guys make it possible. I just want to thank you guys for having me. Keep pushing these kids to not only be the best on the field, but off the field as well.”

    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.