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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Isaac Michayluk returned from injury for the Hilltops.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

David Collins ran in two touchdowns for the Hilltops.

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

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

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

Johnson to speak at End Zone Dinner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-------

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 overcoming injury bug early in season

Dalton Urban, centre, watches game action August 24.

The injury bug seems intent to strike the Saskatoon Hilltops early and often.

Even 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. The injury occurred when Urban dressed for a pre-season game for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on May 30 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

Urban’s injury occurred while playing the Roughriders kickoff coverage team in the 27-20 setback to the Blue Bombers. He has been invited to training camp activities with the Roughriders and was putting on a great showing with the community-owned CFL squad with the injury putting a damper conclusion on things.

While he isn’t able to play, Urban is hanging around the Hilltops. During game days, he can often be found wearing team gear similar to the sideline staff and holding a tablet as he discusses adjustments with teammates. It wasn’t the place one would expect to see Urban as the club has gotten out to a 2-1 start.

Along with Urban going down, the injury bug has taken out a big chunk from the Hilltops quarterback position. Before the season started, Brexton Elias was pegged to be the Hilltops starting signal caller taking on that role in his fifth and final season with the club. He was tabbed with succeeding graduated star starter Trey Reider.

Elias was injured in the pre-season and still hasn’t made his first official CJFL start.

Early in their regular season opener against the host Rifles in Winnipeg on August 10, the Hilltops started second-year signal caller Charlie Molder only to lose him early on in the contest to a longer term injury. Hayden McMahon finished up playing the bulk of that contest as quarterback as the Hilltops fell 31-11.

McMahon, who is in his third year with the team, has started the Hilltops last two games, which were both home victories. They defeated the Edmonton Huskies 46-6 on August 17 and posted a redeeming 42-15 victory over the Rifles on August 24.

Those starts marked the first time has taken on that role as a signal caller in a game since his high school days playing for the six-a-side Biggar Central School Blazers in Biggar, Sask., as a Grade 12 senior in 2022. McMahon appears to have a tonne of upside, where one of the big things holding him back was the lack of playing experience in the 12-person game.

Corbin Ebben went down to injury on August 17.

With that noted, the Hilltops would be in big unexpected territory if McMahon went down to injury. They added Clark Snider before their second regular season game. Snider, who is in his final season of CJFL eligibility, played the 2024 campaign with the Kamloops Broncos.

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

Jace Martins, who is in his rookie season in the CJFL after graduating high school in Sylvan Lake, Alta., has been slated as the Hilltops backup quarterback for their last two games.

In the August 24 victory over the Rifles, the Hilltops dressed Elias as the fourth-string quarterback. CJFL teams are allowed to dress 60 players for regular season home games, 45 for regular season road games and 40 for post-season contests. Elias likely wouldn’t see the field in that contest only as an emergency if the Hilltops three other quarterbacks that dressed went down to injury.

During his career, Elias has been a good contributor in the team’s quarterback room, and the Hilltops coaches will create opportunities for him to fill that role. When he gets healthy enough to play further up the depth chart, the Hilltops coaches will then have to re-evaluate where they are on that front.

The Hilltops lost fourth-year star running back Corbin Ebben to injury in their August 17 win over the Huskies. At that spot, newcomer David Collins, who is in his final year of CJFL eligibility, and Charles Sawi, who is in his fourth season of CJFL eligibility, have filled in admirably.

Collins sits second in the PFC with 480 yards rushing coming on 54 carries to go with four touchdowns. Sawi sits sixth in the PFC with 170 yards rushing coming on 19 carries to go with three major scores. When Ebben is set to return, the Hilltops coaches are going to have to do evaluations to figure out where the veteran fits in.

The Hilltops also lost fifth-year centre Matt Noble to a shoulder injury in the win over the Huskies. Noble has had a history of shoulder issues and got married in the off-season. At the moment, he has elected to not complete his final campaign of CJFL eligibility and move on with life away from the team taking stock of his life situation.

Hilltops star middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk, who is in his fourth season with the team, was lost due to injury in the August 24 win over the Rifles. So far, the Hilltops have been able to overcome Michayluk’s absence.

The injury bug is one of those things that can derail a football season, and injuries are often out of a team’s control.

Still, the Hilltops wouldn’t mind having some better luck on that front as the rest of the 2025 campaign goes on.

Valentino CJFL record gets weekly accolade

When you set a CJFL record, there is a good chance you will get a weekly player of the week nod.

In the Saskatoon Hilltops 42-15 victory over the Winnipeg Rifles back on August 24 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Hilltops second-year defensive back Ryan Valentino set a CJFL record for making five special teams solo tackles in one game. The previous record of four was shared by many players. Rifles linebacker Kresten Neufeld happened to make four special teams solo tackles in that same contest.

Valentino also had one defensive tackle assist to go with his five special teams solo tackles. Thanks to his efforts, Valentino was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week for the game action from that weekend on August 26.

Also for that week, Hilltops fifth-year running back David Collins was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week. In that victory over the Rifles, Collins ran the ball 33 times for 262 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught one pass for no gain.

Edmonton Wildcats linebacker Ethan Speedy claimed honours as the PFC’s defensive player of the week for his efforts in his club’s 19-16 setback to the Calgary Colts on August 24 at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. Speedy had eight defensive tackles and three pass knockdowns.

All teams in the PFC enjoyed a bye week this past weekend.

Instagram accounts to watch for CJFL and U Sports

A screenshot of the Wizard Takes Instagram page.

A pair of independent Instagram accounts have attracted a solid following with one focusing on the CJFL and one concentrating on U Sports football.

Wizard Takes, which goes by the handle @wizardtakes, has collected over 10,000 followers and focuses nationally on the CJFL in a way that hasn’t been seen in any media circle for some time. Ob.sessedsports, which goes by the handle @ob.sessedsports, has surpassed over 12,400 followers and follows U Sports football in a solid way on a national level that would be hard to be matched by any outlet in any media circle.

You would have to go back to 1990 to note the last era when media outlets across Canada still had a good focus on the CJFL. After that point, it became spotty where good coverage was regionalized.

For U Sports, it could be argued the football league still got fairly strong coverage across Canada just a relatively short time ago in 2014.

In the current day for both the CJFL and U Sports football, the coverage across Canada is spotty and is definitely not anywhere close to what it used to be.

Often owners of mainstream outlets for the ones that have human owners and are not owned by an inanimate hedge fund, the message is no one cares about these circuits. It is a problem faced by all high level amateur sports leagues in Canada.

The numbers Wizard Takes and Ob.sessedsports are gaining with followers show there is an audience out there for CJFL and U Sports football. Both accounts produce a whole host of solid posts with a variety of content. They are both showing that if you have the quality people will pay attention.

The best part with Instagram compared to Platform-X, which is formerly known as Twitter, is Instagram is filled with accounts that are actual people. About 80 per cent of the accounts on Platform-X are either anonymous or bot accounts, which has created the toxic vibe on that platform that is very focused on politics.

Of course, celebrities still have the biggest following on Instagram, and that includes Canadian sports celebrities. Canadian pole vaulter Alysha Newman, who won a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, has over 728,000 followers on Instagram. Newman arguably has the most swagger seen from any Canadian born athlete in recent years.

Still, the followings Wizard Takes and Ob.sessedsports have gathered are impressive and deserved. If you have an interest in CJFL and U Sports, they are a must to check out.

Johnson to speak at End Zone Dinner, other notes

Evan Johnson (#64) in action for the Roughriders on July 15, 2023.

Arguably, the best looking offensive lineman to ever play in the CFL 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 former 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.

• Hilltops cornerback Jace Mowles leads the PFC with three interceptions. The Hilltops top the conference in total takeaways with 12.
• Hilltops running back Charles Sawi tops the PFC in punt returns (17) and punt return yardage (175).
• Edmonton Wildcats receiver Jacob St. Hilaire has caught 16 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown. He leads the PFC in receiving yards.
• With the Saskatchewan Roughriders topping the entire CFL with a 9-2 mark, it appears most of Rider Nation is back on the bandwagon. The team’s three biggest home attendances have come in the club’s last three home games. On July 25, the Roughriders drew 27,933 spectators for their 21-18 home win over the Edmonton Elks. On August 16, the Roughriders had a sellout crowd of 33,350 come out for their 29-9 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. On Sunday, the Roughriders were allowed to sell extra standing room tickets for the Labour Day Classic and drew their biggest crowd ever at Mosaic Stadium at 34,243 spectators to see 34-30 triumph over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. When the Roughriders do well, it gives a boost to football across Saskatchewan.

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

-------

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.

Battle of undefeated teams up next for Hilltops

3-0 Saskatoon faces 3-0 Thunder in Regina

Drake Douglas has been making big plays for the Hilltops.

Just saying “Saskatoon versus Regina” is enough to stoke the passions in Saskatchewan’s amateur football community.

For venerable Saskatoon Hilltops and the Regina Thunder, it is “rivalry week” in their respective CJFL campaigns. On Saturday at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, the defending CJFL champion Hilltops take on their provincial rivals in the Thunder in a battle of 3-0 teams. The winner will sit alone in first place in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference.

The Hilltops head into this regular season clash rated first in the CJFL’s Top 10 Power Rankings, while the Thunder are rated fourth. For the followers of both clubs, the hype for Saturday’s game is well underway.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant is looking for his players to have their best outing of the campaign. He also knows a long road remains in the 2024 campaign following Saturday’s encounter.

“We enjoy the process, the preparation,” said Sargeant. “It is game four, so this should be our best game of the year.

“Coming off a bye, we’re all fresh, and we’ve got a lot of time to figure out what we need to do and how we need to do it just like they are. It is just going to come down to who is going to control the line of scrimmages and who is going to execute their game plans better”

Sadik Sadik is having a breakout season for the Thunder.

In their three games this season, the Hilltops have outscored their opposition 137-33. The Thunder have outscored their opponents 127-14 in their three contests. Last season, the Hilltops took all three meetings against the Thunder including two regular season encounters and a 21-13 victory in the PFC final at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The Hilltops go into Saturday’s contest with a large cast of star playmakers on offence in quarterback Trey Reider, running backs Corbin Ebben and Charles Sawi and receivers Drake Douglas and Datiel Fountaine. Douglas has 17 receptions for a PFC leading 319 yards and four touchdowns. He tops the PFC in punt returns (18) and punt return yards (229).

Saskatoon’s offensive line is solid once again being anchored by left tackle Davin Johnson and right tackle Cody Shumanski.

The Thunder counter with their stars in quarterback Carter Moberg, running backs Sadik Sadik and Ryland Leichert, and receivers Zak Kwiatek and Lucas Di Iorio. 

Dalton Urban drops into coverage for the Hilltops.

Sadik is having a breakout campaign as a 22-year-old leading the PFC in rushing yards (358) and rushing touchdowns (five) on 40 carries. He also has seven catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns.

Regina’s offensive line is anchored by left tackle Mekhi Molleken and centre Max McFadden.

“They know us just as well as we know ourselves and vice versa,” said Sargeant. “Everyone has put in time and energy to come out and play a great game.

“That is all we’re looking for. I’m excited to go down to Regina to Mosaic. Hey, 3-0 versus 3-0, it doesn’t get much better than that.”

On defence, the Hilltops have a number of playmakers in defensive end Kai Kukurudza, defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens, middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk and defensive halfback Nathan Young and safety Dalton Urban. Young has returned two interceptions for touchdowns this season.

The Thunder counter with a host of playmakers on defence in middle linebacker Stephen Smith, outside linebackers Mitchell Tanchak and Zach Cloutier and defensive backs Noah Zimroz, Marcus Butz and Cooper Filazek. 

Ryland Leichert runs the ball for the Thunder in October 2023.

Tanchak, Zimroz, Butz and Filazek each have two interceptions for the Thunder.

Sargeant believes Saturday’s clash has the makings to be a great game but again cautions there is still a long way to go in the 2024 campaign after Saturday’s contest.

“It is game four,” said Sargeant. “You’re looking for placing and standings and all that other stuff, but it is game four.

“You know what? We’re going there, and they’re at home, so they’re going to be feeling good about themselves. They’re going to want to play well and represent in front of their fans.

“We’re going there, and you know, as I said, come out and play our best game of the year. That is all I’m asking.”

Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner set for Sept. 28

The Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner is set for September 28.

The dinner will be held in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located at the south end of Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The doors for the dinner will open at 4:15 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5 p.m.

The presenting sponsors of the event are TCU Financial and SaskTel. It is hosted in conjunction with the Hilltops community partners in the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation. The official beverage sponsor is the Crossmount Cider Company.

All proceeds of the event go towards the Saskatoon Hilltop Scholarship Fund.

The guest speakers for the End Zone Dinner are still to be announced. Past guest speakers have included a host of stars and legends from the CFL’s Roughriders including the late George Reed, Darian Durant, Chris Getzlaf, Neal Hughes, Al Johns, Carm Carteri, Derrick Moncrief and Jorgen Hus.

Single tickets for the event are $100, and a table of eight goes for $725. Ticket purchases include admission to that night’s CJFL regular season contest between the Hilltops and the Regina Thunder set for 7 p.m. at SMF Field. Tickets for the 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.

-------

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.