Canadian Bowl will be my last ride for football on this blog

The Hilltops and Thunder take part in a prayer circle on Sept. 27.

REGINA, Sask. - Earlier this season, CJFL provincial rivals the Saskatoon Hilltops and Regina Thunder could be found taking part in what those in some parts of the world and political spectrum would say is the most controversial moment of their rivalry – a prayer circle.

Back on September 27, the Thunder edged the Hilltops 24-21 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Following that contest at centre field, a sizable contingent from both the Hilltops and Thunder got together in a circle, took a knee and said a prayer.

If anybody on the far left wing saw this, they would say this is an injustice toward humanity. Religion and especially the Christian religion have no place in sports. Those extreme leftists would view both of those teams as evil.

For those on the right wing, those players would be viewed as athletes who are not afraid to show their faith in the Lord. They would be viewed as having extreme courage and being heroes.

Those on even the further right use this display as those players taking a step towards being part of the maple version of the Make America Great Again movement, which brought Donald Trump into power as the President of the United States of America.

Those on that right wing spectrum might even use it as an example of the influence late American right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk had on the youth of the world and helping move the world towards what they viewed as a better place.

The truth is the Hilltops and Thunder players formed a circle, took a knee and said a prayer to show their faith in a Higher Power. Football teams are multicultural, and some of those players might not believe in Christianity and were praying to the Higher Power they believed in. There was nothing more, nothing less about that prayer circle than what I just wrote.

Everything that I wrote about those on the extreme left and further right wings is all spin doctoring 101. These are traps teams in the United States are falling into by doing nothing else than being themselves. That also includes activities like walks to the rink for hockey teams, because players on both the men’s and women’s side of the sport are well dressed during those walks to the rinks when they are posted on social media or regular media channels.

At the moment, the Hilltops and Thunder haven’t fallen into any of these traps to my knowledge, but they very well could have.

For myself on the political spectrum, I find these days I don’t fit in either with the right or left wings. I am not a Trump fan, and the same goes for former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has acted as part of the extreme left in his career in my view.

I actually think Kirk is a sympathetic figure. When I have seen videos of him interacting with others and interacting with his family, I just see him as a Christian good guy.

I don’t agree with everything he said, but he struck me as the type of guy you can agree to disagree with and then go off and have a pop or two together. I think it would be easy for a friendship to form with someone like him, even when you have differing views.

That unfortunately in this world has become a lost art. The fact Kirk was gunned down on September 10 is an example that agreeing to disagree and forming friendships with someone with a different view is a lost art.

All of this serious talk actually makes anything that has occurred in the football rivalry between Saskatoon and Regina seem small and insignificant. For the older veterans of that football rivalry, we are all just old men telling old tales, and if you are in the right mindset, humour can be found in the old tales.

That brings us today’s championship final of the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference, where the Hilltops downed the Thunder 30-27 in overtime at Mosaic Stadium. When kickoff happened shortly after 1 p.m., I wasn’t there.

I was on a spot at the edge of the north shore of Wascana Lake visiting my dad’s resting place for the first time since the summer of 2020. God, family, and then football. My late friend in CFL icon Cal Murphy would say I had my priorities in the right place, if that is where a Higher Power says you are meant to be at that place in time.

For me, it felt like I was in the right place at the right time as I contemplate a bigger than football and sports moment for myself. That is resulting in a longer column here and a lot of contemplation over the last three days.

After visiting my dad’s resting place, I ventured over to the University of Regina to start typing this piece. If you needed to find me, I was in the spot where the old University of Regina Rams table existed in the main food court. Again, it felt like the right place at the right time to be as I feel a significant part of me when I am at my best was formed at my time at the U of Regina living here from 1995 to 2001.

The trigger of my challenge came when I messaged the Thunder about getting a media pass to work the PFC final at Mosaic Stadium, because the staff at Mosaic Stadium, while friendly, is tight with security there.

At 6:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, I received this message from Thunder president Murad Al-Katib, “I am sorry. We are unable to provide you with field and media floor access. This access is limited to accredited media as per PFC policies.

“As for stats access, I suggest you request from your Hilltops contacts. Greg (Peacock), team president, is on copy.”

I received a media pass to work Thunder hosted games at Taylor Field and later Mosaic Stadium with no problems or questions asked in the past. Because of responsibilities covering hockey with regards to the WHL and by extension the CHL, I didn’t make any CJFL road games in 2023 and 2024. The response from Al-Katib in my mind is spin doctoring.

I went through the CJFL code of conduct and social media policies online and didn’t find anything regarding media accreditation. I can’t find any PFC policies online. Maybe I looked in the wrong place.

I’ve had CHL accreditation for almost three decades working either for mainstream media outlets or as an independent. Any time I work Hockey Canada events, I get accreditation pretty much immediately.

So that brings us to what changed on the Thunder’s side.

I give the straight goods, and I don’t blow smoke up anyone’s asses to be old school. I know that is no longer the common practice in today’s world. Here is the thought process from my side.

On October 20, 2024, the Thunder downed the Hilltops 24-19 in that year’s PFC final. On the second last play of that contest, Thunder middle linebacker Stephen Smith nailed Hilltops quarterback Trey Reider with a blatant and illegal helmet-to-helmet head shot that was not flagged for penalty. Had a penalty been called, the Hilltops would have had maybe one or two plays to score the winning touchdown from about the Thunder 12 yard line or closer depending on the call.

The Hilltops ran a trick play on that play, which likely resulted in the foul being missed. The play happened right in front of me along with Shane Clausing of then 650 CKOM in Saskatoon, who also got the smoking gun video of that play.

The smoking gun video had been viewed about 999 times on Platform X. I thought it was more that that.

I actually found that video today on Platform X and double checked it. It is right here for anyone that is interested.

I along with Clausing wrote about the missed call in our game pieces. In old school style game reporting, that is what you do when there is an obvious call of a dangerous play late in a contest that is missed by the officials that could have changed the result of that game. You do that because that goes down as something that sticks in the memory of those who watched the game in the stadium that day.

When I posted the link on my Facebook page to the story on my blog, John Tokar, who was the athlete development coordinator of the Thunder at the time and now their leadership development coordinator, wrote a comment that I spread disinformation about Smith and that the play never happened.

When I first saw the comment, my mind quickly switched to my experiences in the WHL.

My first thought was, “Wow. If this happened in the WHL, their communications department would see it in quick order, hand the screenshots over to their department of discipline and a fine or fines would likely be given out within a period of two days for violating that circuit’s social media policy.”

When I talked with Clausing, he said he hadn’t heard anything on his side from the Thunder. He couldn’t believe I took all the heat, because he took the smoking gun video of the play from the sidelines.

I also realized the WHL has a sizeable league office staff of paid full-time employees. The CJFL is a volunteer run league. I believe the only person in the CJFL who is compensated with a full-time wage for the months the season goes on is Ryan Watters, who is in charge of communications and digital media.

Being a volunteer run league with limited resources compared to the WHL and the overall CHL, I was under the impression the CJFL didn’t have a code of conduct or a social media policy. That would be due to the fact they wouldn’t have the resources to enforce those policies like in the WHL and CHL.

I contacted CJFL commissioner Jim Pankovich asking if the CJFL had a code of conduct or a social media policy.

He said the CJFL did have code of conduct and social media policies. He asked what I came across and to send all the information I had his way. I sent him some screenshots that included Tokar’s comments and stills from Clausing’s video and the link to Clausing’s video on Platform X.

Pankovich thanked me for the information and said the league would review and investigate further if necessary.

A couple of days later, I was contacted by Tokar. He apologized, and we had a really great back and forth.

He was brave enough to ask if all the comments under my Facebook post could be deleted. As a show of good faith and to show it was all water on the bridge, I said that wouldn’t be a problem, and I deleted all the comments under my Facebook post.

During my almost three decades covering the WHL and CHL, I have had times where I have dealt with very passionate coaches and general managers that would say to my face they didn’t agree with something I wrote or said.

Red Deer Rebels general manager and owner Brent Sutter, who often served as his team’s head coach, is notorious for his fire-type passion, and I consider him a best friend in the game even after the times we had disagreements. It has actually only been one or two times we have really disagreed with each other as I believe Sutter and I view a lot of things in a similar way.

If a situation came up where we agreed to disagree, we agreed to disagree, and I believe in every one of those cases each side had a better understanding of where the other was coming from.

The next time I would meet with anyone in the WHL and CHL after a disagreement, it was all water under the bridge and you forged ahead in a positive manner. That is the way in that level of hockey.

While my contact with Tokar was outstanding, I had contacts and talks with various folks in the football community connected to the Thunder and Hilltops. When that all wrapped up, I came away with a feeling that this whole situation wasn’t over, and I got a gut feeling that ill will was going to be held against me.

I have been doing media work since 1996, so I believe I have some type of ability to read humans. Plus, we live in the age of Trump, where society is more filled with division and hatred than ever before casting a shadow over all parts of life.

With social media and all the communication tools at our disposal, we are more connected and disconnected with each other at the same time. This is due to the lack of face-to-face interactions especially interactions in a social setting.

Also in my personal life then at the time of the 2024 PFC final and now, I deal with pressures from my 80-year-old mom and my family to be in the sports world less and to be more present at home. Everyone on the family front was full support with my pursuits covering the sports world and my activities in, but once the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit, the dynamics and expectations on the family front changed.

I am not stating this as a complaint. I am stating this as a part of life.

As a result, I went into this CJFL season really with one foot out the door. I actively wouldn’t be covering it on this blog, if the Hilltops hadn’t requested more help from me to put pieces together for their game program. I have been doing that since 2017.

In relation to the CJFL, I have been what you would old school call a Hilltops beat writer since I moved back to Saskatoon after a 10-year stay in Medicine Hat, Alta. During my years in the Hat, I had only here and there interactions with high-level football above the high school level. Believe it or not, most of those interactions were with the NFL due to Medicine Hat product and Medicine Hat High School grad Dan Federkeil playing four years on the offensive line with the Indianapolis Colts and having to block for “the” Peyton Manning.

With that said, I had gone 10 years without being heavily involved with high level football above high school until I returned to Saskatoon in 2014.

During summer, I went to a couple of Saskatchewan Roughriders games at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. I ran into a handful of Thunder staffers, and our interactions, while cordial, were awkward.

I would say since October of 2024 the only Thunder staffer I have encountered face-to-face that was jovial and legitimate extremely happy to see me was receivers coach and long time old Rams bud Chris Ashman. That was at the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame induction night when my old Regina Rams from 1997 and 1998 along with long time friend and Rams alum Jon Ryan went into the Hall.

On one Roughriders game in August, I ran into one Thunder staff, who have I have known for about a decade and has the purest heart you could know. We had a great chat about baseball, but it felt like that staffer was torn to be talking to me and was holding back wanting to tell me something.

To add to everything, since 2024 I felt like from the CJFL office it would be kind of better if I silently went away. There seemed to be a fear of what to do if anything else happened that needed to be checked into.

That thinking doesn’t come from a malicious place. It comes from a place of worry about all the time that gets spend dealing with these types of issues. They really are time sucks.

I wrote all of that to be able to add background for where I am coming from, when I saw Al-Katib’s response early Thursday morning.

I will admit my first reaction came from my influence of the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders side of my life. Starting a game by putting your five toughest players on the ice to instigate a five-versus-five line brawl to send a message is the obvious road that wouldn’t lead anywhere and make things worse. In today’s age, that would get you a lifetime suspension from the sport.

Same would go with my old late friend Donn Clark who as the Raiders head coach in the 1993-94 season challenged Medicine Hat Tigers head coach Bob Loucks to fight behind the Zamboni at The Arena in Medicine Hat, Alta., late in a WHL game on January 15, 1994, when Clark felt the Tigers were taking advantage of his younger team. Just to be clear, that is how that night is remembered on the Prince Albert side of things where the Raiders players loved the fact their coach had their collective backs.

The Hilltops did give me a team personnel field pass to be used for today’s game. I decided against using it and going just to avoid a bitter Thunder staffer from finding a code of conduct issue to be used against the Hilltops and myself. I didn’t feel like putting any more time into bitter issues.

During my thoughts, I reflected on the last time I went into a season covering a team where one foot was out the door. In this case, it was a pair of teams.

I went into the 2016-17 U Sports campaign covering the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams with one foot out the door due to some issues that arose late in the previous campaign that were also unresolved that were far different from the one I have been writing about regarding the CJFL.

There came a point early in that Huskies campaign, where I just decided the best course of action was for me to divorce the two Huskies hockey teams. The divorce turned into a marriage separation, and I will give the Coles notes version of why that was.

Kaitlin Willoughby - the ultimate professional and leader.

Kaitlin Willoughby, who was an assistant captain of the Huskies women’s team and would later become their full-fledged captain, rose up like a phoenix and became the ultimate professional and leader. She handled it. When I reflect on that, it comes as no surprise she is still playing these days in the PWHL with the Montreal Victoire.

I was back covering the Huskies hockey teams full time, and was doing regular stories on the Huskies football team until I got knocked off course by the COVID-19 pandemic. After the COVID-19 pandemic, I never really got any momentum again on that front outside of working like one to three overall Huskies events a season.

With all that said, the overall point here was Willoughby showed the type of leadership that is extremely lacking in today’s world.

Now with all of that background established, I have made a decision.

Leading up to and working the upcoming CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl, it will be my last ride in covering football for this blog. I will go into a marriage separation status with the game of football after the Canadian Bowl when it comes to writing about it on this blog and that goes for all levels of the game in Canada. I will leave myself leeway for writing about the NFL and NCAA Division I for fun whenever rare times come that I feel like doing that.

I have decided that the whole is greater than the one, which means myself. I have also decided the whole is greater than the one team, being the Hilltops. To be honest, the Hilltops are like the children in caught in the marriage separation thing in my eyes out of this whole thing.

I have come to the conclusion there are maturity issues with some inside the Thunder team, but I admit I can’t pinpoint who those folks are. I am judging from the body language of their staffers I have encountered in more fun settings that those issues are there.

I am kind of old school, and I will not apologize for covering the head shot hit late in the 2024 PFC final in an old school way. I know my type is a breed that is near extinction, but for better or worse, I stick to my guns in the old school way on that front.

Actually to be truthful, I’ve had folks tell me in the WHL, while I cover things in the old school way I am still a homer and I am pulling for the best for the main teams I am covering at the time. Even with that, those folks say I can still take a step backwards and be objective with regards to the main teams I cover, and I can write stories on any team on the circuit and those stories are as good as the one on the main teams I cover.

Jeff Chynoweth, who is the former owner and general manager of the franchise that was one the Kootenay Ice, said pretty much those exact words to me many years ago, and I have never forgotten them. Those types of words rank as the greatest compliments I have ever received on my work.

I might not be like my long ago University of Regina School of Journalism classmate Merelda Fiddler-Potter who has a long list of well-earned awards and a whole host of degrees, but I cherish the compliments like the ones Chynoweth gave me. Side note, I decided to mention Fiddler-Potter, because I saw a poster at the U of R listing her accomplishments and I did have a crush on her when we first met. We formed a pretty decent friendship in our school years.

Now remember, we are in the age of Trump, and that is also considered in the decision making. With all the division and hatred that is prevalent in way too many parts of the world, I am not into getting into fights over what I consider petty issues in the big picture of things.

On the football front, I know how intertwined the game is in Canada, and Thunder personnel are involved in the game at the provincial level in various facets. In the grand scheme of things, I don’t have to be in that world. If my departure will help everyone in the game being more comfortable in the future, again, I believe in this case the needs of the many are greater than the needs of the one, and the time has arrived for the many to go forward without this one.

Being in the sports world, we all have expiry dates when comes to teams and leagues, and my gut feeling is my expiry date with the CJFL came after the 2024 campaign.

I will still allow myself freedom to do fun football posts on the Canadian game on my own social media channels. If there are paid requests through entities like The Canadian Press and the Prince Albert Daily Herald to cover the game in Canada, I will fulfill those requests, unless my busy life has me committed to other things.

Now that the Hilltops have advanced, I have had previous talks with the staffers at the Daily Herald about doing a story on brothers Ryan Adamko and Scott Adamko, who are graduates of the Prince Albert Carlton Comprehensive High School Crusaders program. I will do a double check on the need there, but I expect I will be doing a story on that front for the Daily Herald.

I will still do stories on football in Canada for the platforms overseen by the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I work there as a communication coordinator, and that is part of my job there.

For the first time in my dealings with the CJFL, the upcoming Canadian Bowl that the Hilltops will be hosting at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on November 9 will be a suit game for me. Like when I work covering games in the WHL and CHL, I will be bringing out the suit and tie to cover the upcoming CJFL title game, which means I will be in a more heightened business state.

Again, this is my last ride like Ray Lewis with the Baltimore Ravens in the 2012 NFL season. Of course in life, I have learned to “never say never,” so it will never be written in stone how long the marriage separation from the sport of football in Canada will last on this blog.

I have already thought about paying more attention to things I haven’t with the extra time I will have. That includes being more present in the home and being around for my 80-year-old mom, being more focused on my work on the WHL circuit, hopefully getting out to a Winnipeg Blue Bombers home game wearing Bombers gear in memory of Murphy, and hopefully seeing Prince Albert product Abby Soyko play with the University of Alberta Pandas Women’s Hockey Team in their storied and historic home barn of the Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton, Alta. She has been a super special person and supremely good influence that I have dealt with in the sports world.

Oh, as far as possible controversies go from today’s PFC final, I don’t know what happened as far as the blow by blows of the contest went. If there was a controversy, I am perfectly fine if this one played out.

That controversy would be that the players on the Hilltops and Thunder, if they felt moved to do so, would have once again gathered at centre-field after the game to take part in a prayer circle to show their faith in the Lord or the Higher Power that they believe in.

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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Rookie Elash morphs into all-star centre with Hilltops

Holy Cross High School grad relative newcomer to football

Matt Elash (#62) stands for the national anthem.

Matt Elash said his teammates on the Saskatoon Hilltops keep him humble, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The graduate of the Holy Cross High School Crusaders Football Team, who turned 18-years-old earlier this month, took over the role of starting centre for the CJFL’s storied Saskatoon Hilltops in just the third week of the regular season. With that development, Elash became one of the rare rookies to earn a starting spot on the club that has won 23 CJFL titles in its history.

Elash ended up excelling and earning nods as an all-star in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference, and he was also named to the conference’s all-rookie team. With the accolades that have come his way, Elash has had a few more media interviews come his way.

Through it all, Elash said he still receives some good natured jabs from his veteran teammates along the offensive line to keep him grounded.

“It is kind of a weird dynamic, because even though I’m the rookie, they still get to like razz me around,” said Elash. “Centre is still kind of a leadership position, and so it is like we have to be kind of on the same level, but I’m still like the rookie.”

Elash is also getting a full taste of rivalry action during his first year on the junior football circuit. On Sunday, his Hilltops (7-2 overall) will face their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder (9-0 overall) for the fifth straight year in the PFC final at 1 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium. In the previous four meetings, the Hilltops claimed the conference title in 2021 and 2023, while the Thunder took the conference championship in 2022 and 2024.

In the two regular season encounters split by the two clubs, Elash thought that the rivalry between the Hilltops and Thunder was like the one he experienced in high school between his Crusaders and the St. Joseph High School Guardians.

“I actually compare them a lot to St Joe’s, because they run a similar defence with like the 30-front with the D-linemen and lots of twists and blitzes,” said Elash. “It is very similar to the St. Joe’s defence.

“I find the Thunder somewhat similar to Joe’s.”

Matt Elash (#62) is the Hilltops rookie starting centre.

When it comes to the sport of football, Elash is still a relative newcomer. He is really only in about his fifth year playing the game taking up the sport when he started attending Holy Cross.

“I started in Grade nine,” said Elash, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 260 pounds. “I joined the junior team.

“It was my first time. My first coach was Noah Foster. He played Hilltops for a while.

“In high school, I started doing football and wrestling. I found it was really my thing. I was exceeding in it, and I just kind of stuck with it.”

Elash was actually a competitive swimmer all through his middle school years. During his high school years, Elash admitted he enjoyed the school spirit that surrounded the football team at Holy Cross and the attention was a fun benefit.

He credits his first head coach with the Crusaders senior team in Scott Hundseth for being his biggest influence in helping him along in the sport of football.

“He has played a big factor in that,” said Elash. “I also did the Institute of Saskatchewan Football.

“He was also a coach there. He is the one who recommended it to me, and he just played a big factor.”

Elash’s opportunity to become the starting centre came when fifth-year veteran Matt Noble elected to retire from playing the sport after the Hilltops second regular season contest due to shoulder injuries. When Noble’s injury troubles surfaced during action in the Hilltops first two regular season games, Elash was inserted into the centre spot.

Matt Elash (#62) sets out to make a block.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said Elash quickly turned the heads of the team’s coaching staff, when he started training with the club.

“He was a top recruit for us,” said Sargeant. “He just kept doing his thing, working hard and got noticed by the coaches.

“Matt Noble, our other centre got hurt, and he (Elash) took advantage of his opportunities. Low and behold, he became a starter, and for him to finish off and cap the season as an all-star, that says just tremendous things about his dedication and work ethic towards the game of football.

“He is an outstanding player and a better person, and we’re sure excited that he is in our uniform.”

Sargeant chuckles at the notion of Elash being a “pup” on the Hilltops starting offensive line, which contains fourth-year left-tackle Davin Johnson, fifth-year right-tackle Victor Bikulo, third-year left guard Simon Clark and third-year right guard and PFC all-star Jack Erlandson.

“He is the young buck there for sure,” said Sargeant. “At the end of the day, he doesn’t play like it.

“Centre is a tough position. There is lots that comes his way, but he is a student of the game too. He is very passionate about the game of football.

“He puts a lot of time and energy into it, and as I said, he is a special person, special player, and he has really helped our run game to make it what it is this year.”

When it comes to playing the centre position, Sargeant said Elash does a number of things well.

Matt Elash was named a PFC all-star.

“Number one, his snaps are right on point, and that is always job number one,” said Sargeant. “Number two, once a snap is gone, he certainly fits into who he is supposed to block and does a great job of keeping his eyes, his feet all together and all in one package.

“He does a good job of moving people. As I said, it is fun to see, and any time you put on the game film, he is certainly passing with flying colours with his performance.”

Elash was expected to get the chance to be the Hilltops starter until his second or third year with the team. When Noble decided to retire as a player and Elash became the starting centre, the young offensive lineman was shocked when that all came about.

“It was a big opportunity for me,” said Elash. “I was excited and also very nervous, because in the games, he (Noble) would go in and then he’d get hurt, and then I’d have to go in.

“It wasn’t like being completely thrown into the fire, but it was still pretty shocking.”

Elash is looking forward to having a long career with the Hilltops, and he wants to keep continually improving. 

In the present, he just wants to win the PFC final to get to the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The winner of the PFC final clash between the Hilltops and Thunder will host the CJFL title match on November 9.

“I’m nervous for my fifth years, because I still want them to play another game,” said Elash. “I’m nervous for the fifth years, because I want to win.

Matt Elash, with ball, is looking towards a long career with the Hilltops.

“I want them to play another 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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Hilltops romp over Rifles, take PFC semifinal 60-26

Charles Sawi (#18) jets home on a 27-yard touchdown run.

The Saskatoon Hilltops put on a running display that would have made the NFL’s famed 1972 Miami Dolphins proud.

On Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops piled up 380 yards rushing as a team and romped over the visiting Winnipeg Rifles 60-26 in a PFC semifinal contest. Saskatoon jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter, improved their advantage to 29-12 at halftime and cruised to victory from there before a crowd of 528 spectators, who weren’t scared away by sporadic windy conditions and overcast skies.

For Hilltops fifth-year right tackle Victoire Bikulo, he couldn’t think of a better way to get his final run through the CJFL Playoffs started.

The Hilltops offensive line opened the way for 380 yards rushing.

“It felt amazing,” said Bikulo, who wasn’t able to dress for any post-season games due to a leg injury in 2023 when the Hilltops won their last CJFL championship. “I’ve been waiting for this for about three years.

“It felt pretty great. I am happy to be out here.”

The win allowed the Hilltops, who improved to 7-2 overall, to advance to the PFC final, while the Rifles finished out at 4-5 overall. For the fifth straight year, the PFC final will be contested between the Hilltops and their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder.

David Collins had 16 carries for 207 yards and two touchdowns.

The Thunder thumped the Edmonton Huskies 49-10 in the other PFC semifinal on Sunday that was played at Leibel Field in Regina to improve to 8-1 overall, while the Huskies finished out at 3-6 overall. Regina will host the PFC final this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.

In the four previous meetings, the Hilltops picked up wins in 2021 and 2023, while the Thunder claimed victory in 2022 and 2024. For Bikulo, the Thunder are the only foe he has seen in the PFC final during his career with the Hilltops.

“We kind of always expect it to be them,” said Bikulo. “It is great to always play them, because they bring a lot of adversity, a lot of animosity and a lot of great energy that we kind of go against.

Corbin Ebben ran the ball six times for 24 yards and two TDs.

“It is pretty good there. They got a great team going on over there. They have a good running game, and we have a good one as well.

“I’m pretty sure we’ll be running the ball a lot, and it will be very interesting to see what their defence does this time. It will be fun. It will be interesting, and it is definitely something to look out for, for sure.”

In the win over the Rifles, the Hilltops relied on their stellar running back trio of David Collins, Charles Sawi and Corbin Ebben similar to how the 1972 Super Bowl winning 17-0 Dolphins relied on their ball carrying trio of Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick.

Collins ran the ball 16 times for 207 yards and two touchdowns, and he caught one pass for 21 yards. Sawi ran the ball three times for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and he returned three punts for 54 yards. Ebben ran the ball six times for 24 yards and two touchdowns, and he caught two passes for 17 yards.

Rifles receiver Cole Davies holds on to this catch for a 79-yard gain.

Bikulo said it was pretty advantageous to be able to block for that trio.

“It is unbelievable,” said Bikulo. “Once you have those three guys in the backfield, it messes up a lot of defences.

“You throw Corbin (Ebben) out at wideout. You throw Charles (Sawi) out there. You throw any of them out there it kind of throws away their defence and really helps us hone in on our ground game.

“We can really do a lot of things out of those formations. We can make a lot of things work, because we have those three guys in our offence in the backfield. You have Brex (Brexton Elias) back there who can throw it anywhere really, and it gets pretty dangerous and pretty awesome.”

Kaiden Banfield ran the ball 24 times for 123 yards and two TDs.

Elias got into the running parade too carrying the ball four times for 37 yards and one touchdown. Due to the fact the running game was rolling, Elias only completed 3-of-5 passes for 40 yards and no interceptions before giving way to backup Griffin Sander with just under five minutes to play in the third quarter with the Hilltops holding a 50-18 advantage.

Sander completed 8-of-9 passes for 87 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions before third stringer Charlie Molder entered the contest late in the fourth quarter.

The Hilltops also benefited from outstanding play from their starting offensive line in left tackle Davin Johnson, left guard Simon Clark, centre Matt Elash, right guard Jack Erlandson and Bikulo. Erlandson and Elash were announced as PFC all-stars before the start of Sunday’s games.

Riley Element had 338 yards passing for the Rifles.

“We have two all-stars there,” said Hilltops legendary head coach Tom Sargeant. “We feel we could have maybe one or two more.

“We’re a team that loves the offensive line. We coach into that and the defensive line. Today, we won the line of scrimmage, and that was the difference in the football game.

“We challenged those players that is what it was going to be, and they answered the bell. That is why we’re moving on to the PFC final next week.”

The Hilltops jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter thanks to a five-yard rushing major by Ebben and a 16-yard touchdown run by Elias. The Rifles answered with a one-yard touchdown plunge by star 22-year-old running back Kaiden Banfield to cut the Hilltops lead to 14-7. Collins proceeded to break off a 56-yard touchdown run to push Saskatoon’s advantage out to 21-7.

The Hilltops defence deflects a Rifles pass into the air.

Right before the end of the first quarter, the Rifles elected to gamble on a third and goal situation from the Hilltops two yard line. Rifles star quarterback Riley Element threw a pass to star receiver Jarome Penner in the end zone. Penner stretched out attempting to make a diving catch where the ball hit his hands but he couldn’t haul it in.

The Hilltops would concede a safety due to the bad field position early in the second quarter to cut their own lead to 21-9. Saskatoon would proceed to get a 49-yard punt single from Molder and a 27-yard rushing major from Sawi on a reverse to allow the hosts to have a 29-9 lead.

Johnson, who is in his fourth year with the Hilltops, said it is fun to be able to block for Collins, Sawi and Ebben.

Nate Gallant had two interceptions for the Hilltops.

“It is nice having those three guys,” said Johnson. “They each have their own style, and they each can make big plays.

“As long as we stay or just catch someone and make sure that we’re getting a body on someone, they will make a big play out of it.”

Before the second quarter ended, Rifles kicker Gabriel Yaipen hit a 30-yard field goal to shave the Hilltops lead to 29-12.

The Hilltops started the third quarter rolling off 21 unanswered points to push their advantage out to 50-12. Sawi ripped off an 80-yard rushing touchdown on another reverse, Collins ran home a score from 55 yards out, and Ebben added a nine-yard rushing touchdown.

Winnipeg replied with Element connecting with Penner on a 30-yard touchdown pass. After a failed two-point conversion, the Hilltops lead sat at 50-18.

Brexton Elias jets to the end zone on a 16-yard TD run.

Right before the third quarter came to an end, Sander hit fifth-year receiver David Boyd Jr. with a 29-yard touchdown pass to push the Hilltops advantage out to 57-18.

In the fourth quarter, Hilltops kicker Ryden Gratton hit a 35-yard field goal to make his team’s lead sit at 60-18.

Banfield ran home a major from two yards out for the Rifles. After another failed two-point conversion attempt, Saskatoon’s lead sat at 60-24. The Hilltops would concede a safety late in the fourth quarter to round out the 60-26 final score in their favour.

When the game ended, Johnson admitted the Hilltops offensive line does take pride in helping the squad put up a big rushing yardage total.

The Hilltop Cheerleaders perform at halftime on Sunday.

“It is always exciting,” said Johnson. “It shows that everybody is working hard, (and) everybody is coming together.

“We’re making good blocks. The running backs, they’re always doing their job. They are making good runs.

“It is good to see.”

The Rifles did put up some good offensive numbers in defeat. Element completed 24-of-45 passes for 338 yards and one touchdown, while throwing two interceptions. He also had one carry for 12 yards.

Hilltops RT Victoire Bikulo blocks out a Rifles defensive lineman.

Penner caught eight passes for 119 yards to go with his major through the air. Receiver Cole Davies hauled in seven passes for 116 yards including a monster 79-yard reception that set up Winnipeg’s first major.

Banfield ran the ball 24 times for 123 yards to go with his two majors along the ground. He also hauled in one pass for three yards.

Hilltops second-year safety Nate Gallant led his squad with 6.5 total tackles and two interceptions. He almost had a third interception on Sunday too. Defensive end Noah Chelsom had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for Saskatoon.

The Hilltops were without the services of fifth-year defensive tackle Nahom Menghestab and receiver/safety Isaiah Vallderruten due to injury.

Jarome Penner caught eight passes for 119 yards and one TD.

Middle linebacker Derek Gumieny recorded 6.5 total tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for the Rifles. Outside linebacker Kyler Banfield and defensive back Gage Richey each had 6.5 total tackles for Winnipeg. Defensive end Brock Beauchemin had one quarterback sack for the visitors.

“For three quarters, that is as good as we played all year,” said Sargeant. “The coaches did a great job of defining and setting what the game plans need to be, and the players did a heck of a job executing it.

“For 45 minutes, I was very happy with who and what we are, and then hey, our young guys got in and got to see that is a good football team there. You just have to look at the stats and see what they’ve accomplished this year. We need to be on point.

Charles Sawi (#18) rockets downfield on an 80-yard TD run.

“We got to jump to that early lead, and then boom, they came right back and hit us with a big shot up the middle. We learned a lot about ourselves. As a coach, I was very proud of the effort that I saw on this field today.”

Now, the Hilltops turn their attention towards the Thunder. The provincial rivals split their two head-to-head encounters in the regular season. Johnson expects the PFC final to be a physical contest and wasn’t surprised the Saskatoon versus Regina matchup materialized.

“That is what we expect when we come into the season,” said Johnson. “We know it is going to be them.

Griffin Sander completed 8-of-9 passes for 87 yards and one TD.

“They are a tough team. We’ve just got to be tougher, and it really comes down to the little things.”

NOTES – On Saturday, the Okanagan Sun downed visiting the Westshore Rebels 45-26 in the BCFC final at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, B.C. The Sun improved to 12-0 overall, while the Rebels finished out an 8-4 overall.

Also on Saturday, the defending CJFL champion St. Clair Saints blanked the visiting London Beefeaters 54-0 in the OFC title game at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont. The Saints improved to 10-0 overall, while the Beefeaters finished out at 7-3.

This coming Saturday, the Sun host the Saints in a CJFL national semifinal set for 1 p.m. local time at the Apple Bowl. The winner of that contest will travel to Saskatchewan to face the winner of the PFC final between the Hilltops and Thunder on November 9 in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

David Boyd Jr. (#82) celebrates a 29-yard TD reception.

The CJFL announced the PFC all-stars before Sunday’s game. That announcement 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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Hilltops versus Thunder – How will they measure up?

David Collins sits second in the PFC with 480 yards rushing.

A clash with the Regina Thunder will provide the Saskatoon Hilltops their next chance to put to rest some lingering doubts.

On August 10, the Hilltops traveled to Winnipeg and dropped a surprising 31-11 decision to the host Rifles in the CJFL regular season opener for both sides. The ’Toppers earned redemption posting a 42-15 victory over the Rifles at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on August 24.

While the Hilltops are sporting a 2-1 regular season record, doubts will continue to exist due to the convincing loss they took on the chin to start the 2025 campaign.

On Saturday, the Hilltops will travel to Regina to face their provincial rivals in the Thunder (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium). The Thunder are defending champions of the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference and top the PFC standings with a 3-0 record.

In last year’s PFC final played on October 20 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Thunder stampeded their way to a 24-19 victory. They piled up 321 yards rushing as a team on 49 carries for an average of 6.6 yards per rush.

So far this season, the Thunder have continued to live on the run. They top the PFC with 975 yards rushing for an average of 325 yards rushing per game.

Thunder running back Peter Boersch, who is in his third season of CJFL eligibility, leads the PFC with 645 yards rushing coming off 73 carries and scoring three touchdowns. Tailback Carter Ashman is turning heads along the ground for the Thunder carrying the ball 35 times for 212 yards and one major score. His rushing yardage total ranks fifth in the PFC.

The Thunder enjoy their win in the 2024 PFC final.

You can bet the Thunder will try to trample the Hilltops again until Saskatoon shows run stopping capabilities in the head-to-head clash.

Running the ball has been something the Hilltops have shown they can traditionally do well. Saskatoon sits second in the PFC with 802 yards rushing as a team for an average of 267.3 yards rushing per game.

Hilltops newcomer running back David Collins, who is in his final season of CJFL eligibility, has carried the ball 54 times for 480 yards and four touchdowns. His rushing yardage total is good for second in the PFC.

Charles Sawi, who is in his fourth season making explosive plays for Saskatoon, has carried the ball 19 times for 170 yards and three touchdowns. His rushing yardage total ranks sixth in the PFC.

Ultimately, commitment to the running game will be important for both teams. When the post-season comes around, the weather in late October and November can be bad in Canada, which means teams have to rely more than ever on the run in adverse weather conditions.

When it comes to throwing the ball, no so far this season is going to mistake Hilltops or the Thunder for being the CFL’s 1981 Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos led by ironic quarterback Warren Moon throwing to receivers Brian Kelly, Tom Scott and Waddell Smith. The Thunder has the second fewest passing yards in the six-team PFC at 510, and the Hilltops sit last in the PFC with 395 yards passing as a team.

Thunder starting quarterback Adam Mosher, who is 20-years-old, has completed 33-of-57 passes for 465 yards and six touchdowns, while throwing one interception.

Charles Sawi sits sixth in the PFC with 170 yards rushing.

Hayden McMahon was thrust from third stringer to the Hilltops starting quarterback role for the team’s second regular season contest. In the 2025 campaign, McMahon, who is 20-years-old, has completed 28-of-54 passes for 376 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing four interceptions.

Will Saturday’s game be the time either Mosher or McMahon truly step into the spotlight to be the difference of why their team wins the game?

Will the running attacks by both sides continue to have success?

If the Hilltops win, it creates an image they are truly back, and the rest of the CJFL has to be aware of them once again.

If the Thunder win, it further cements them as the team to beat in the PFC in 2025.

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 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.

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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Experience powers Ebben in Hilltops backfield

Corbin Ebben runs for a TD on August 17.

Personal success will never outshine team success for Corbin Ebben.

In 2024, Ebben entered his third CJFL season with the storied and historic Saskatoon Hilltops and took on the role as the full-time starter at running back. During the regular season, Ebben topped the Prairie Football Conference with 964 yards rushing coming on 157 carries and scoring six touchdowns. He also caught 16 passes for 184 yards and four major scores.

Thanks to those efforts, Ebben took home honours as a PFC all-star and a second team CJFL all-Canadian all-star. He played a huge role in helping the Hilltops post an 8-0 record.

Ebben’s statistics and honours didn’t take away the sting of not going all the way in the post-season. The Hilltops fell in the CJFL’s Prairie Conference Final 24-19 to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

“That is the worst loss I’ve ever had playing football,” said Ebben. “We’re just going to build off that.

“We’re never going to forget that feeling. We’re going to use that for sure this year to help us build up to not letting that happen again.”

In 2025, Ebben headed into his fourth year with the Hilltops and the second season as the team’s starting running back. He said the experience from last season helps going into this season as he has a better understanding of the all-around aspects when it comes to playing the position.

“What is different this year is definitely going to be just confidence overall,” said Ebben, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 205 pounds. “Last year being my first year as a starter and just having that under my belt and being able to just build off of last year, it was big.

Corbin Ebben runs tough on the inside for the Hilltops.

“The goal is always the same to get to the Canadian Bowl, which we fell short last year, but I believe that we could build up to that this year.”

Going into the 2025 campaign, the Hilltops are looking to Ebben to play an even greater role in their success. They graduated a significant number of key players from last season including nine who aged out of CJFL eligibility including star quarterback Trey Reider, star receiver Drake Douglas and star right tackle Cody Shumanski.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said his team expects a lot out of Ebben on the field and to bring intangibles to the team away from the field that were brought by the players who graduated.

“Number one, he has got a leadership role, and number two, the expectations of ours have been set real high with the great year he had last year,” said Sargeant “We need to double down, and he needs to come out and play even better, faster, and he is going to get more opportunities through our offence.

“He is going to be vital to us having success offensively.”

One of the ways the Hilltops will be looking to get more out of Ebben is expanding his role in the passing game. 

In the PFC final loss to the Thunder in 2024, Ebben showcased how adept he was in the receiving game catching 10 passes for 114 yards and scoring one touchdown.

Corbin Ebben (#34) runs against the Thunder on Sept. 28, 2024.

“That is one of my traits I believe is just being versatile and not being just a running back,” said Ebben. “I like just taking routes out of the backfield and doing whatever they need me to do really just to get open and get that ball, which I mean is just something I love doing.

“I like running. I like catching.”

Sargeant said the Hilltops plan to take better advantage of the athletic aspects Ebben brings to the game, which will include getting him the ball more in the passing game.

“He is multidimensional,” said Sargeant. “We feel he is our top receiver.

“We feel he is a special running back. A lot of our designs are all around him getting the football. It is what it is, and it is our job to make sure that happens.

“Everything is predicated by how well the offensive line plays. As long as the line plays well, then all of a sudden other things open up in throwing and running and all of that. Corbin (Ebben) will be a massive piece in both the pass and run game.”

In their past, the Hilltops have had running backs that didn’t just exclusively carry the ball but could make catches out of the backfield. Logan Fischer, who played running back from 2013 to 2017, was one of the Hilltops best versatile running backs in recent history.

He played with the Hilltops on four straight CJFL championship wins from 2014 to 2017 with the 38-24 victory over the Okanagan Sun in the Canadian Bowl played on November 7, 2015 being his signature game. In that contest, Fischer carried the ball 23 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns and caught seven passes for 107 yards.

Fischer was pretty much the last player the Hilltops had who was known for collecting over 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in one game. It is an accomplishment Ebben hasn’t been able to do.

Corbin Ebben (#34) charges downfield in last year’s PFC semi.

“That would be pretty cool,” said Ebben. “I really hope I can do something like that.

“As long as we win, then that is all I really care about.”

Ebben is also at the point he is realizing how quick his CJFL career is going by. Being a fourth year player this season, the 21-year-old said he actually does feel like he is one of the older guys on the team.

“It is pretty crazy,” said Ebben, who is a graduate of the Delisle Composite High School Rebels nine-a-side football program. “It felt like just yesterday I walked in these doors for the first time, and now, it is year four for me.

“It flies by pretty quick.”

He added it has been an adjustment to not have Reider as the team’s signal caller, but he has faith in the current quarterbacks on the Hilltops roster.

“It is different,” said Ebben. “Trey (Reider) was an unbelievable quarterback.

“I absolutely loved lining up beside him. At the same time, I believe we got some really good quarterbacks here. I mean we got some super versatile guys that are ready to go.”

As the Hilltops season goes along, Ebben said the goal of the team is the same as it has always been. The team wants to help the players who are playing out their final respective seasons of CJFL eligibility to depart as CJFL champions.

“It is always about the fifth years here,” said Ebben, who was injured in the team’s second game in 2025 and is working to make a return. “That is made very clear, and that is what we try to do for those guys.

Corbin Ebben (#5) wants to push the Hilltops to another CJFL title.

“For what they have given, we owe it to them every play to give everything that we’ve got.”

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Thunder stampede their way to PFC championship

Hilltops downplay no flag on head hit to Reider

The Thunder celebrate their PFC championship win.

The Regina Thunder continued to be their version of Bronko Nagurski and the Chicago Bears of the 1930s NFL.

On Sunday playing before 1,826 spectators at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Thunder stampeded their way to a 24-19 victory in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference final over their provincial rivals the Saskatoon Hilltops, who entered the contest as the defending CJFL champions.

The Thunder starting offensive line of left tackle Nolan Finn, left guard Caleb Barajas, centre Max McFadden, right guard Tristen Rapchalk and right tackle Eric Boyd hammered the Hilltops defence allowing the Regina side to pile up 321 yards rushing as a team on 49 carries for an average of 6.6 yards per rush attempt.

The Thunder O-line help their team rush for 321 yards.

Thunder star running back Sadik Sadik led Regina with 28 carries for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Regina’s other star running back in Ryland Leichert also had a big day carrying the ball 20 times for 118 yards.

Before facing the Hilltops, the Thunder piled up 751 yards rushing in their two previous outings that included a regular season 40-21 victory over the Calgary Colts and a 64-7 PFC semifinal win over the Colts.

Sadik is playing out his final season of CJFL eligibility as he is 22-years-old. He was pumped his club could win the PFC title after falling in last year’s PFC final 21-13 to the Hilltops in Saskatoon.

Sadik Sadik ran the ball 28 times for 178 yards and two TDs.

“Coming out here, I told the boys I don’t’ want to end my season here in Saskatoon,” said Sadik. “This honestly couldn’t have been drawn up any better playing Saskatoon at their home.

“Coming out here dominating and making this place our territory, we own this place. It is really what it is.”

Despite the physicality of the Thunder, the Hilltops almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat taking the ball on one last offensive series from their own 15 yard line with 61 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and no timeouts at their disposal. After getting across midfield, the Hilltops went into their bag of tricks for a gadget play that resulted in the most controversial moment of the contest.

On what would ultimately be the second last play of the contest, the Hilltops ran their version of the “Philly Special.” Star fifth-year quarterback Trey Reider, who was named the MVP of the PFC for the 2024 campaign, passed the ball laterally in the right flat to star power running back Corbin Ebben.

Trey Reider charges downfield for the Hilltops.

Ebben took a couple of steps and fired a lateral pass back across the field to Reider. Reider took off down the left sideline before encountering Thunder star middle linebacker Stephen Smith at the Thunder 22 yard line. Smith made a head first driving tackle striking the crown of his helmet into the head of Reider dropping the signal caller to the turf.

The Hilltops bench was immediately calling for a major foul penalty for the obvious and visible helmet-to-helmet hit that has been banned in tackle football for some time now, but the officials didn’t throw a flag on the head shot. As a result, the Hilltops had basically one play to throw the ball into the end zone from the Thunder 22 yard line with 6.1 seconds remaining on the clock. Since Reider went down in bounds, the clock starts when the officials blow the play in.

A Hilltops final pass to the end zone in knocked incomplete.

Had a major foul penalty been called, the Hilltops would have been scrimmaging first and goal from the Thunder seven yard line, and the clock would not start until the ball was snapped. Saskatoon could have conceivably run two more offensive plays in that scenario.

Instead, Reider made a Hail Mary jump ball pass to star fifth-year receiver Drake Douglas about five yards deep in the end zone along the right sideline. Thunder safety Adam King knocked down the final toss to preserve the victory for his side.

Reider put the Hilltops offence on his back finishing the day completing 23-of-41 passes for 305 yards and one touchdown, while throwing one interception. He also topped the Hilltops with 102 yards rushing on nine carries.

The Hilltops react to losing in the PFC final.

At end of the contest, Reider didn’t have anything bad to say about the officials or what happened on the play when he was hit helmet to helmet.

“At the end of the day, you can try to blame the refs, but I just put this on myself,” said Reider, who finished his career with the Hilltops with a 25-2 record as their started quarterback. “You can’t really blame anyone.

“I could have made him miss maybe. That is just on me. I’m not going to put anything on the refs or anyone else.

The Thunder raise the PFC championship trophy.

“I am going to put it on myself.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was diplomatic when asked about the head shot Reider took.

“That is a variable we don’t control,” said Sargeant. “At the end of the day, referees are working hard doing their job.

“I have a lot of respect for what they do. Being in these big games and at the end of the day, their job is to make sure our players are protected. If they felt that was the case, then we got to agree with what was in front of us.”

Ryland Leichert (#32) ran the ball 20 times for 118 yards.

Overall, Sargeant said his storied club didn’t perform at a level that was needed to pull out a victory.

“We didn’t play well enough to win,” said Sargeant. “At the end of the day, full credit goes to the Regina Thunder.

“They battled, and they competed for sixty minutes. I’m proud of my kids, you know what? At the end of the first half, they took it to us.

“We responded, regrouped, and you know, just didn’t make the right plays at the right time. As I said, it just wasn’t enough. We kept on fighting, scratching and clawing to the end, but it wasn’t good enough today.”

The Thunder opened the contest with an impressive first series that ended with starting quarterback Ethan Hugg hitting receiver Zak Woidyla for a 10-yard touchdown pass to put the visitors up 7-0.

Drake Douglas caught seven passes for 121 yards.

Before the first quarter ended, the Hilltops got on the scoreboard with a 22-yard field goal from kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas to trim the Thunder lead to 7-3.

At the 3:29 mark of the second quarter, Thunder kicker Shawn Green hit a 26 yard field goal to give his squad a 10-3 lead at halftime.

The Thunder pushed their lead out to 17-3 with a four-yard rushing major by Sadik at the 5:51 mark of the frame. With 2:18 remaining in the third, Green had to concede a safety due to bad field position to make the Thunder lead stand at 17-5.

On the ensuing offensive series, the Hilltops quickly drove downfield. With 59.4 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Ebben ran home a major from 14 yards out to cut the Thunder advantage to 17-12.

Corbin Ebben (#34) scored a pair of touchdowns for the Hilltops.

Early in the fourth quarter, disaster struck the Hilltops on special teams. Douglas muffed a punt return deep in his own end, and defensive back Owen Effa recovered the ball for the Thunder. Zadik proceeded to score on a two-yard run at the 3:20 mark of the fourth quarter to give the Thunder a 24-12 advantage.

With 4:20 remaining in the fourth quarter, Reider hit Ebben with a 14-yard touchdown pass to trim the Thunder lead to 24-19. That set the stage for the dramatics at the end of the game.

Coming into Sunday’s contest, the Thunder had lost five straight overall to the Hilltops, who finished the 2024 campaign with a 9-1 overall mark. The Hilltops had also won 21 straight games overall. Sadik was overjoyed his squad beat the Hilltops to capture the PFC title in his final CJFL season.

Trey Reider (#3) completed 23-of-41 passes for 305 yards.

“It means a lot,” said Sadik. “There is a lot of work that went into this you know what I mean?

“(There were) a lot of ups and downs. At the end of the day, we came out here, and we did what we had to do and we came out with the win.”

The Thunder, who improved to 8-2 overall, have now won their last three straight overall. Their last loss came on September 28, when they were thumped 36-11 by the Hilltops at SMF Field.

Thunder head coach Scott MacAulay was pumped his team rebounded from that drubbing to ultimately claim the PFC title.

“It feels fantastic,” said MacAulay. “It wasn’t an easy season.

Zak Woidyla makes a 10-yard touchdown catch for the Thunder.

“We had to do a lot of changes. I think the turning point was the last time we played against the Hilltops. We had to go back and take a look at what our assets were on our team and make sure we tried to use them a little bit more and put the ball in the boys’ hands and let them do the job.”

MacAulay said the players and coaches on his club concluded their strengths on offence were their offensive line and their talented veteran running backs. Since pushing all the chips in on the running game, the Thunder have been riding high.

“Our guys worked out hard during the off-season,” said MacAulay. “They’re physically fit, and this is what they wanted.

Stephen Smith had seven total tackles for the Thunder.

“The players were the one stepping up and saying that they wanted to run the rock and were holding the coaches accountable. It was a great couple of weeks.”

Douglas led the Hilltops with 121 yards receiving on seven catches. Ebben finished with 52 yards rushing on 13 carries to go with his major score on the ground. He caught 10 passes for 114 yards.

“We worked pretty hard, and this is not the outcome we wanted at the end of the day,” said Reider. “There is not really a lot to say right now.”

Hugg completed 7-of-9 passes for 53 yards and one touchdown. Former Thunder starter Carter Moberg saw spot action completing 1-of-2 passes for 11 yards.

Kai Kukurudza (#73) shows he made a fumble recovery.

Defensive back Nathan Young led the Hilltops with nine total tackles and one pass knockdown. Hilltops defensive end Kai Kukurudza and defensive tackle Ryan Adamko each had one fumble recovery.

Thunder cornerback Tristan Bergquist led his squad with seven solo defensive tackles and three pass knockdowns. Smith record five solo defensive tackles and four defensive tackle assists for the Thunder.

Middle linebacker Mitchell Tanchak had an interception for Regina.

Sargeant said he was going to be realistic with his final address with the club.

“(I will tell them) just how much I love them and how far we grew as a team,” said Sargeant. “At the end of the day when you’re a Hilltop, the expectations are always high.

Ethan Hugg completed 7-of-9 passes for 53 yards and one TD.

“No one is going to feel sorry for the blue and gold. It is the reality. We played well, but we didn’t play well enough to win. We’ve got to live with that, and we’ve got to deal with that.

“At the end of the day, we’ll move on. That is life. You move on.”

The Thunder will move on to host a CJFL semifinal this coming Sunday against the BCFC champions Okanagan Sun (12-0) at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field in Regina. When the Thunder last won the PFC title in 2022, they fell to the Sun 21-19 in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

MacAulay is giving his squad the chance to soak in the PFC final victory first before the Thunder turn their attention to the Sun.

Thunder members enjoy the PFC championship trophy.

“We’re going to celebrate tonight,” said MacAulay. “Winning in the PFC, there are six great teams.

“I think you’ve got to relish in the moment and worry about the Sun come tomorrow. We’re definitely excited to be moving on and have that opportunity.”

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