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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Injury unable to derail Rhode’s final season with Hilltops

Tanner Rhode (#11) jets home for a Hilltops touchdown on Sunday.

    It wasn’t going to be a lost season for Tanner Rhode.

    Rhode had bigger games, but he cherished every moment he was on the field with the Saskatoon Hilltops on Sunday.

    During the first day of Hilltops training camp, the fifth-year pass catcher injured his shoulder, and there was concern that he wouldn’t even be able to play out his final season of CJFL eligibility.

    The graduate of Saskatoon’s Marion M. Graham Collegiate Falcons high school football team was determined not to miss his final campaign with the Hilltops, who he has won three CJFL championship rings with joining the squad in 2016.

    With the help of the team’s training staff, Rhode worked to get healthy, so he could rejoin the Hilltops on the field. Rhode’s return became a reality on Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, when the Hilltops improved to 7-0 dumping the Winnipeg Rifles 49-22 in a CJFL regular season contest.

Tanner Rhode hits the field with the Hilltops on Sunday.

    Rhode caught two passes for 75 yards, but one of his catches was on a deep slant pattern that went for a 65-yard touchdown reception. The 22-year-old’s catch gave Saskatoon a 35-8 lead at halftime.

    “It has been such a long wait, but I finally got on the field,” said Rhode. “It feels good to get back with the guys.

    “In a way, it was pretty deflating knowing that it (his shoulder injury) was potentially a season ending injury. With our good training staff, they got me back early. I am here playing now, so it feels good.”

    Last season, Rhode was the Hilltops second leading receiver catching 23 passes for 409 yards and scoring two touchdowns in eight regular season games.

    Last Sunday versus the Rifles, Rhode was shaking off some rust as far as his timing was concerned with game speed. Early on, he misjudged the ball on a couple of plays.

    On one end zone toss, he tried to make an acrobatic one-handed grab, but the ball was knocked away by Rifles defensive back Jake Richardson.

Tanner Rhode, left, secures the ball for his 65-yard touchdown catch.

    Still, Rhode was just happy to be on the field to try and make plays. He admitted he had a fear for a short time that returning to action this season might not be in the cards at all.

    “I still had hope,” said Rhode, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 185 pounds. “The main goal was to be back by playoffs.

    “To get out here to play some plays, it is perfect.”

    What was more perfect for Rhode was the fact he reached the end zone on a deep pass near the end of the first half. Rhode’s long touchdown reception was a fluid play and reminiscent of what he did for the Hilltops in the past.

    Even with that in mind, Rhode deflected credit in the direction of Hilltops starting quarterback Tyler Hermann.

    “Hermann made a perfect throw to me,” said Rhode. “I was in the right spot at the right time.

The Hilltops celebrate Tanner Rhode’s touchdown catch.

    “It was a team effort.”

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was happy to see Hermann and Rhode connect for that long touchdown reception on Sunday. The legendary sideline boss wanted to see Rhode revert to his playmaking form and was going to give the veteran pass catcher every chance to return to that form.

    “It is good to see Tanner Rhode back,” said Sargeant. “He gave us that big play – a big home run.

    “Number 11 back on our roster makes us a better football team, so we’re really excited about that.”

    Sargeant is always committed to having his Hilltops play each season for the team’s fifth-year players. With everything Rhode has given to the program over the years, Sargeant wanted to see the standout receiver back out on the field during game action.

Tanner Rhode, in back, tries to make a one-handed catch.

    The sideline boss was impressed with the effort Rhode has put into making his comeback a reality.

    “He stayed with it and worked hard,” said Sargeant. “We gave him about 20 snaps (on Sunday), and he’ll get more work next week and more practice time.

    “At the end of the day, he is a high end football player that is getting back to us at the right time. It is only going to make us a little more dynamic and tougher to defend.”

    Rhode was proud of the fact he was able to comeback early. He was expecting his first action would have been the first game of the post-season.

    He was quite pumped to return for the Hilltops final two games of the regular season. The Hilltops, who are the five-time defending CJFL champions, close their regular season schedule this coming Sunday, when they host the Edmonton Wildcats (2-5) at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

    Rhode is thankful he doesn’t have to continue watching from the sidelines. When he returned to game action, the feeling he had was better than what he imagined it would be.

Tanner Rhode (#11) enjoys Sunday’s win with a couple of supporters.

    “It is amazing,” said Rhode. “Words can’t even describe it.

    “Sitting out is the worst. I’m back, so it is nice.”

    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.