All in the family – Gedir has lifelong ties to Hilltops

Saskatoon goes 8-0 to close regular season

Noah Gedir, middles, walks with mom Ashley and dad Michael.

For Noah Gedir, the Saskatoon Hilltops have always been part of his life.

His links to the storied CJFL club go back to the fact his father, Michael, played centre on the squad’s offensive line from 1997 to 2001. Michael helped the Hilltops win their 10^th CJFL championship in his final season, when Saskatoon hammered the Okanagan Sun 45-11 at Foote Field in Edmonton, Alta., on November 4, 2001.

Noah was born just over nine months later after that championship game win. Some of his earliest recollections revolve around coming out to the old Hilltops clubhouse to see his father play in the annual Alumni Game for the Alumni Team at Ron Atchison Field.

“I have a vague memory of one of the Alumni Games back here at the Hilltops clubhouse,” said Noah, who is a fifth-year star outside linebacker for the Hilltops in the current day. “We have a picture hanging on the fridge of him holding me when I was maybe three-years-old.

“I look back at that and some of the same coaches actually coached him, and now, they’re coaching me so just that Hilltop tradition. He lived through it, and now, I get to live through it. It is pretty special to have that moment.”

While playing defence as opposed to offence, the son followed in this father’s footsteps. Last year on November 11, 2023, Noah helped the Hilltops win their 23^rd CJFL title when they downed the host Westshore Rebels 17-10 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., to capture the Canadian Bowl. The high-motor linebacker recorded four defensive solo tackles and three defensive tackle assists in the win.

“I’ve been around the ‘H’ for a while now, pretty much my whole life,” said Noah. “We definitely have that winning mindset in the family, which is awesome to have.”

On Sunday, Noah and the Hilltops downed the host Huskies 21-14 at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton in the final CJFL regular season clash for both clubs. The Huskies attempt at a two-minute drill drive in the fourth quarter to change the contest’s final result came to an end with an interception by Hilltops rookie defensive lineman Noah Chelsom with 14.4 seconds remaining on the clock at Saskatoon’s 26 yard line.

Noah Gedir (#36) charges to the field with the Hilltops.

The win allowed the defending CJFL champion Hilltops, who already have first place in the Prairie Football Conference locked up, to finish the regular season with an 8-0 record and improve their overall winning streak to 20 games. The Huskies, who were locked into finishing fourth in the PFC, fell to 3-5 with a fourth straight setback.

The two sides go at it again this coming Sunday in the CJFL playoffs going head-to-head in a PFC semifinal contest at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Hilltops have homefield advantage through the CJFL post-season up to the CJFL title game, which will be hosted on November 9 by the champion of the Ontario Football Conference.

With Noah’s family ties to the Hilltops, he said his family played a big role when it came to him getting interested in the game.

“Obviously, with my dad playing football, and then at a young age, my whole family has always been a big CFL family and diehard ’Riders fans,” said Gedir referencing the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. “My grandparents always came out to my games.

“They’ve had season tickets to the Hilltops for I think it is 23 years now or something crazy like that. Football has kind of been a Gedir family thing. I started when I was young and got to play until I’m now.”

Still, Noah developed his own love for the game, which came from the defensive side of the ball. The 22-year-old said he quickly discovered he got pumped up when he could fly around to the ball and make hits on opposing players.

“I just like, honestly, the controlled violence of it,” said Gedir, who stands 6-feet and weighs 220 pounds. “You only get so many opportunities to go out there and play football.

Noah Gedir was a PFC all-star last year.

“It was just so fun to throw on the pads. Obviously, I play linebacker. I like doing the hitting.

“I don’t like being hit, so I chose defence. It is fun to fly around and just the team aspect of the sport having the 12 guys relying on each other is something really special. You don’t really get it anywhere else in the world.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was the venerable squad’s head coach for Michael’s last four years with the team and an assistant coach during Michael’s rookie year. When Noah decided to join the Hilltops after graduating from Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School Crusaders Football Team, Sargeant was confident he would have no worries when it came to intangibles.

“He (Noah) is just a quality kid,” said Sargeant. “You have to remember I coached his dad back in the day.

“There is a father-son combination, so that is pretty cool. He just walks around and brings confidence and poise to this group. He has high expectations on everybody, and it starts with himself.”

Last season in the Hilltops eight regular season games, Noah recorded 17 solo defensive tackles, 14 defensive tackle assists, nine special teams solo tackles, one quarterback sack, one pass knockdown, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in being named a PFC all-star. After the Hilltops first seven games this season, Noah has posted 19 solo defensive tackles, 15 defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, one special teams tackle assist, five pass knock downs and two fumble recoveries.

The quick-reaction linebacker’s 76 defensive points ranked 10^th in the PFC heading into the final week of regular season play for the conference.

“He (Noah) has played a lot of football,” said Sargeant. “The ‘Will’ linebacker in the Hilltops defence is one of the more storied positions.

“We groomed him in that spot, and so when his opportunity came, he just took advantage of it. I think he is in the top 10 of defensive points in the PFC. He was around the ball flying around and leading his guys.

Noah Gedir (#36) has 76 defensive points in seven games in 2024.

“It is just a lot of fun to see that growth and development. The fifth years, the expectations on them are high. We’re expecting him to continue to lead us as we march in the playoffs.”

After graduating from Holy Cross, Noah said it wasn’t a “no doubt” decision when it came to joining the Hilltops due to his family’s links to the team. 

With that said, his family ties did help weigh his choice towards the Hilltops when it came time to make a selection of where he would play football after high school.

“I wouldn’t say it was a given,” said Gedir, who had five total tackles, one interception and one pass knockdown in Sunday’s win. “It was definitely on my mind that is for sure.

“I’ve always wanted to play for the Hilltops. I love the culture they have and the great coaching staff they have. Obviously my dad playing here back in the day, that was definitely in the back of my mind.

“I’m so happy to be here. It is my last year. I’m enjoying every minute I can with the guys that I have here.”

So far, Noah’s best memory playing for the Hilltops was the CJFL title win last season, where he played on a defence that hit some impressive milestones. During the regular season, the Hilltops gave up 51 points for the squad’s lowest points against total dating back to 1949.

Saskatoon proceeded to give up just 25 points over four post-season wins on the way to claiming the CJFL championship. The 76 points the Hilltops gave up overall in the regular season and post-season was again the squad’s lowest total dating back to 1949.

Noah Gedir is playing his final CJFL season with the Hilltops.

“I mean definitely raising that trophy last year was a pretty special feeling and having that amazing defence, that historic defence that we had last year,” said Noah. “We’re just trying to replicate that this year.

“Hopefully at the end of this year, we have that same exact feeling, so I can say it wasn’t 2023 that was the best time of my life with the Hilltops. It was 2024 in my last year when we won. That is the goal.

“Hopefully, we can get that job done.”

In Sunday’s regular season finale against the Huskies, the Hilltops built a 15-0 lead at halftime off two field goals by kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas, a five-yard touchdown reception from receiver Datiel Fountaine on a throw from star quarterback Trey Reider and one safety.

Abel-Douglas hit a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter to push Saskatoon’s advantage out to 18-0. 

Huskies backup quarterback Wyatt Matson hit receiver Cameron Coyne for a five-yard receiving major with 22.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter to cut the Hilltops lead to 18-7.

In the fourth quarter, Abel-Douglas hit his fourth field goal to push the Hilltops advantage out to 21-7. Matson then hit receiver William Campbell for an eight-yard touchdown toss for the Huskies with 8:20 remaining in the fourth quarter to cut Saskatoon’s lead to 21-14. The Hilltops held on from there.

With the post-season set to start, Noah said the finality that he is playing his final season for the Hilltops is hitting home as the 2024 campaign enters its final weeks. He wants to soak in every moment as it comes.

 “I wasn’t really looking at how many weeks we had left,” said Noah. “I was just kind of enjoying each day while I could be here and practise and be in the film room and be with the guys.

Noah Gedir signs autographs for some youngsters.

“I am just enjoying each moment I have with the team and being in the facility and a part of this great organization.”

NOTES – The Regina Thunder beat the visiting Calgary Colts 40-21 on Sunday at Leibel Field. The Thunder (6-2) and Colts (4-4) will go at it in a PFC semifinal this coming Sunday in Regina. Also on Sunday at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta., the host Edmonton Wildcats edged the Winnipeg Rifles 32-21. The Wildcats concluded their 2024 campaign with a 2-6 record, while the Rifles finished with a 1-7 mark.

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Hilltops lock up first in PFC, improve to 7-0

Saskatoon thumps Thunder 36-11 at SMF Field

Datiel Fountaine makes a 26-yard TD catch for the Hilltops.

It was seemingly a perfect night under the “Saturday night lights” for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

On Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops dumped their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 36-11 in a CJFL regular season clash played before 2,266 spectators. The host side jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and continued to methodically pull away from there.

The win allowed the defending CJFL champion Hilltops to improve to 7-0 and lock up first place in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference. The Hilltops will also have homefield throughout the CJFL playoffs up to the league championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The Canadian Bowl will be hosted by the champion of the Ontario Football Conference.

Hilltops LB Noah Gedir tackles Thunder RB Ryland Leichert.

“Our line of scrimmage, our offensive line played outstanding today,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, whose team has won 19 straight overall. “Our defensive line, it just came together tonight.

“This is the best we’ve played all year. Obviously, Regina is a formidable opponent. They’re well coached, and they know us well and they play hard.

“We had to come out and play hard and play aggressive, and that is what we did today. I am super happy with what took place, and now, we’ve got to keep building.”

At that point, Sargeant took a quick pause before looking to the future.

Trey Reider (#3) throws a pass behind sound protection.

“We clinched first. Good. Who cares?” said Sargeant. “Now, we’ve got to keep moving.”

The Thunder fell to 5-2 with the result of Saturday’s contest. They have lost their last five straight head-to-head encounters including action in the regular season and post-season to the Hilltops.

On offence, all the Hilltops big players had big games. Star fifth-year quarterback Trey Reider completed 14-of-25 passes for 272 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He ran the ball four times for 26 yards too.

Star fifth-year receiver Drake Douglas hauled in five passes for 132 yards. Breakout second-year receiver Datiel Fountaine caught six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

Drake Douglas, left, caught five passes for 132 yards.

Emerging star third-year power running back Corbin Ebben ran the ball 29 times for 196 yards and one touchdown.

The Hilltops starting offensive line in right tackle Cody Shumanski, right guard Jack Erlandson, centre Matthew Noble, left guard Erik Barsness and left tackle Davin Johnson all had banner days.

“Our O-line played great today,” said Reider. “They controlled the line of scrimmage.

“I have to shout out to Corbin Ebben. He ran the ball great. Drake Douglas came down with every ball.

“Obviously, two touchdown catches is great for Datiel (Fountaine) coming down with those.”

On defence, the Hilltops got big contributions from a number of players in limiting the Thunder to 307 total yards of offence. Star defensive end Kai Kukurudza record two sacks and 3.5 total tackles.

Corbin Ebben ran the ball 29 times for 196 yards.

Star defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens had one sack and 2.5 total tackles. Defensive tackle Nahom Menghestab and defensive end Noah Chelsom shared a sack. Second-year outside linebacker Zaden Taylor had eight solo defensive tackles, one special teams tackle assist and one interception.

Middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk had 7.5 total tackles. Outside linebacker Noah Gedir had 5.5 total tackles and two pass knockdowns. Safetly Dalton Urban had 3.5 total tackles and one interception.

“A big focus was stopping the run, so I think really early on we stopped that,” said Kukurudza. “Our interior guys in Nahom (Menghestab) and (Johnathon) Stevens, they really did their job.

“Noah (Chelsom) on the weak side didn’t let anything up either. Our DBs were locked down. All our sacks are really DB covered sacks, so it was good.”

Zaden Taylor (#10) reacts to making an interception.

The Hilltops opened the game’s scoring on their first offensive series, which culminated with Reider hitting Fountaine with an eight-yard touchdown pass to give the hosts a 7-0 lead. Before the first quarter expired, Hilltops veteran kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas hit a field goal from 18 yards out to push the Hilltops edge out to 10-0. That marked the first of five field goals Abel-Douglas would hit on the day.

At the 8:55 mark of the second quarter, Thunder kicker Shawn Green nailed a 35-yard field goal for the visitors to trim the Hilltops lead to 10-3.

The Hilltops closed out the first half getting field goals from Abel-Douglas from 13 and 30 yards out to hold a 16-3 lead.

The Hilltop Cheerleading Team performs at halftime.

Green recorded a rouge for the Thunder on the opening kickoff to start the second half to make the Hilltops lead stand at 16-4.

On that first offensive series of the half, the Hilltops got another major score as Reider hit Fountaine with a 26-yard touchdown strike to put the host side up 23-4. Ebben would run in a major from three yards out to push the Hilltops lead out to 30-4.

While the Hilltops offence was rolling on Saturday, Reider said his team will be focusing on fixing the mistakes they did make.

“I feel it was a good game, but at the end of the day, we can always do better,” said Reider. “Every day, every week, we’re trying to get better.

“I feel like that was one of our best games of the season for sure.”

Kai Kukurudza (#73) celebrates making a sack on Saturday.

Just 10 seconds into the fourth quarter, Thunder star quarterback Carter Moberg hit receiver Benjamin Walz with a 15-yard touchdown toss to trim the Hilltops lead to 30-11.

Abel-Douglas proceeded to hit field goals from 15 and 22 yards out to round out the 36-11 final score in favour of Saskatoon.

Also in the fourth quarter, Kukurudza recorded both of his sacks on third down gambles by the Thunder.

“It just feels good when you go all game like doing your job, and then finally, you can really do what you need to do at the end when it matters most on those third downs,” said Kukurudza. “It is good.”

Moberg completed 17-of-31 passes for 156 yards and one touchdown, while throwing two interceptions for the Thunder. Star veteran running back Ryland Leichert topped Regina with 88 yards rushing on 15 carries. Walz had record 55 yards receiving on six catches to go with his touchdown through the air.

Dalton Urban (#17) returns an interception for the Hilltops.

Star middle linebacker Stephen Smith led the Thunder with 9.5 total tackles.

The Thunder return home to close out their regular season schedule on Sunday, October 6, when they host the Calgary Colts at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field.

The Hilltops will also conclude their regular season schedule on Sunday, October 6. They will travel to Edmonton to face the Huskies at 1 p.m. local time at Jasper Place Bowl.

Looking forward to the rest of the season, Sargeant is pumped his squad will have homefield advantage through the CJFL playoffs until reaching the Canadian Bowl. With that noted, he wants his team to focus on playing well in their final regular season contest first.

“We love playing at home,” said Sargeant. “We’ve worked hard to be in the spot we’re in, and now, we’ve got to take advantage.

“We’re off to the Edmonton Huskies next week. We could be playing them two weeks in a row. You know what?

The Hilltops do a breakdown cheer after Saturday’s win.

“We just can’t give an inch to anything or anyone. This is the type of group that they’re pretty locked and loaded right now. I’m very pleased with the performance of all 65 players that we dressed tonight.”

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