“Pound the rock!” – Hilltops wise to keep focus on running game

Hilltops RB Corbin Ebben makes a jump cut past a defender.

By tradition, the Saskatoon Hilltops have always strived for balance on offence, but they are synonymous with the power running game in their history.

While the Hilltops overall are having a strong season running the ball, there have been a couple of hiccups that have caused concern. In their 38-13 regular season opening victory at Saskatoon Minor Football Field over the Edmonton Huskies, the Hilltops as a team posted 116 yards rushing coming off 25 carries.

That included rushing touchdowns from quarterback Trey Reider from 41 and six yards out and a one rushing plunge from power running back Corbin Ebben. Ebben topped the team with 60 yards rushing as an individual, but it is rare when the Hilltops don’t have a player record at least 100 yards rushing in a game.

On September 7 taking on the Thunder in Regina at Mosaic Stadium, the Hilltops collected only 78 yards rushing as a team on 26 carries for their fourth regular season outing. Reider recorded the lone major on the ground from five yards out on a scramble out of trouble run.

The Hilltops prevailed 29-15 thanks to Reider’s passing. He completed 17-of-27 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing one interception.

Out of the Hilltops first four contests, they had two outings where their running game wasn’t up to their sturdy form. Following their CJFL championship win last season, the Hilltops graduated star power running back Boston Davidsen, who closed out his junior football career with back-to-back regular season of rushing for 1,000 or more yards.

One had to wonder if the Hilltops running game was taking a step backwards due to the fact Davidsen was no longer with the team.

Last Sunday, the Hilltops did their best to work out their struggles on the ground against the winless Winnipeg Rifles. In a 57-14 romp, the Hilltops as a team ran the ball 34 times for 253 yards and five touchdowns.

Corbin Ebben, left, celebrates scoring a TD for the Hilltops.

Ebben led the way for the Hilltops on the ground carrying the ball 17 times for 132 yards and one touchdown. Saskatoon’s rushing statistics also got a boost in that contest from a 70-yard run by backup fourth-year quarterback Brexton Elias.

The Hilltops running attack looked like it was back in form as the team improved 5-0. They will aim to keep perfecting their work on the ground this coming Sunday as they host the Edmonton Wildcats (0-5) at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Wildcats need to win to keep their post-season hopes alive.

Ebben currently sits second in the Prairie Football Conference with 470 yards rushing coming off 80 carries. He has reached the end zone on the ground three times.

On Wednesday, Ebben, who is in his third-year of CJFL eligibility, was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week for his efforts in the Hilltops latest victory of the season over the Rifles. On top of his rushing totals, Ebben had one catch for 15 yards against Winnipeg last Sunday. 

On the season, the 20-year-old has caught 10 passes for 102 yards and three touchdowns. He has been named the offensive player of the week for the PFC twice.

Ebben, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 205 pounds, is one of the most popular players in the Hilltops dressing room, because he brings a strong work ethic into every practice and game. The graduate of the Delisle Composite High School Rebels nine-a-side football program is really coachable too. He missed time in the second half of the 2023 regular season due to injury, but he made it back for the post-season.

Still, the Hilltops were hoping to get the ball a little more than they did to Ebben in 2023. One wonders if those missed repetitions with the ball by Ebben might have contributed to a slower start on the ground.

Ebben did record his first 100-yard rushing game of the campaign in the Hilltops second regular season contest on August 18, when they downed the Rifles in Winnipeg 47-1. He ran the ball 20 times for 104 yards and one touchdown in that contest.

The Hilltops have always aimed to be 50/50 team on offence, because they are playing football in Canada. When the temperatures get colder at the end of the regular season and through the post-season, the elements often force teams to have success running the ball.

Last season, the snow and cold was only a partial concern for the team. The Hilltops had to win a pair of games in absolute monsoon like rainy conditions.

Corbin Ebben sits second in the PFC with 470 yards rushing.

On September 30, 2023 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops grinded out a 19-10 victory over the Thunder. In a constant downpour, the Hilltops won by running the ball 40 times for 152 yards.

In the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – played on November 11, 2023 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., against the Westshore Rebels, the Hilltops again played in rain that came down in Biblical proportions. Saskatoon posted a 17-10 victory for a 23^rd CJFL title in team history. As a team, the Hilltops ran the ball 30 times for 187 yards and one touchdown.

While the weather calls for a mix of sun and could and a high of 20 C for the Hilltops upcoming home clash against the Wildcats, you never know when Mother Nature is going to add a surprise in the contests that follow.

Due to that possibility, the Hilltops are wise to keep their focus on continually improving their game on the ground.

Clark to appear at End Zone Scholarship Dinner, other notes

Dan Clark calls signals for the Roughriders in 2019.

Dan Clark will be the special guest at the Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner set for September 28.

Clark was a star centre for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2009 to 2022. He was on the Roughriders practice roster in 2009 and 2010 and was on the main roster from 2011 to 2022 appearing in 131 games. During his years on the Roughriders practice roster, Clark was playing for the CJFL’s Regina Thunder.

Clark gained fame catching an eight-yard touchdown pass from legendary Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant in a 37-0 romp over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a game played at historic Taylor Field on July 21, 2013. Following that contest, Clark and the Roughriders would later win the Grey Cup with a 45-23 victory over the Tigers-Cats on November 24, 2013 at Taylor Field.

In 2019, Clark was the unanimous selection as the Saskatchewan Roughriders Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. He was also named a CFL all-star.

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

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

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

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

• On Wednesday, Calgary Colts defensive back Cody Anglo was name the PFC’s defensive player of the week for his performance in his team’s 24-16 victory over the visiting Edmonton Huskies at Shouldice Athletic Park. Anglo recorded seven defensive solo tackles, four defensive tackle assists, one special teams solo tackle, two pass knockdowns and one interception.
• On Wednesday, Regina Thunder linebacker Devin Baumann was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week for his performance in his club’s 51-16 victory over the visiting Edmonton Wildcats at Leibel Field. Baumann blocked two punts and recovered one for a touchdown to go along with two special teams tackle assists.
• The Saskatoon Hilltops topped the CJFL’s Top 10 Power Rankings that were released on Thursday. The Regina Thunder were rated fourth, the Calgary Colts placed eighth and the Edmonton Huskies came in at 10^th.
• The Saskatoon Hilltops are wearing decals on the back of their helmets to honour the memory of long time director Jeff Gould. Gould passed away on August 26 at age 73 due to complications following a recent cancer diagnosis. Gould was serving in his 15^th year as a Hilltops director and was the team’s game day convener and was also a vice-president of the PFC. Gould also held roles in the past as the Hilltops manager and team president.
• The Winnipeg Rifles (0-5) need to beat the Calgary Colts (3-2) in order to keep their post-season hopes alive. The two squads meet at 1 p.m. local time on Sunday at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg.
• Rob Vanstone, who is the senior journalist and team historian of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, put together a fabulous piece on Saskatoon Hilltops power running back Corbin Ebben. The feature goes into Ebben’s beginnings in the sport of football with the Delisle Composite High School Rebels nine-a-side team. That piece can be found by clicking right here.
• Darren Zary, who is outstanding forever sports writer at the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, put together a great emotional piece on legendary Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant undergoing open-heart, double-bypass surgery this past March. After the surgery, Sargeant successes in being able to return to the Hilltops sidelines for the start of the current campaign. That piece 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 see improvement, aim for better against Colts

The Hilltops defence gangs up on a tackle in a 2023 PFC semifinal.

For legendary Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, Week 2 was better than Week 1, and he is expecting better in Week 3.

In Week 1 on August 11 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops downed the Edmonton Huskies 38-13 in an opening contest that was flat on seemingly all fronts. 

In Week 2 this past Sunday at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg, the Hilltops romped past the host Rifles 47-1 in an outing where Sargeant thought his club played to the level of where they should be at in this point in the campaign.

“I felt I certainly gave some challenges during the week to players and coaches,” said Sargeant. “I felt that at the end of the day the growth that took place is right now we’re more on course to where I feel this team can be playing.

“I still expect more and want more, but I saw some real positive strides that got us excited. Now, we’ve got to build on that.”

Now the Hilltops travel to Calgary to face the Colts (1-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. local time at Shouldice Athletic Park. The Hilltops are rated first in the CJFL’s Top 10 Power Rankings, while the Colts come in at ninth. Last season, the Hilltops had a couple of their best games in their two meetings with the Colts.

Kai Kukurudza (#73) had three sacks on Aug. 27, 2023 versus the Colts.

In a Week 3 meeting in the 2023 regular season, the Hilltops stampeded over the Colts 50-18 at SMF Field. The two sides went head-to-head in a PFC semifinal, where Saskatoon hammed the Calgary side 53-2 again at SMF Field. The 18 points the Hilltops gave up in the first encounter with the Colts was the most points they would allow in a game in the 2023 campaign.

In the regular season meeting last year, Hilltops defensive end Kai Kukurudza had a breakout game. Kukurudza recorded three sacks to go with three total tackles.

“You always tell yourself you can have big games and like breakthrough games,” said Kukurudza, who is now in his third season with the Hilltops. “When it finally happens, it really feels like that hard work paid off.

“It is euphoric after that. It kind of felt like I belonged, and it felt really good.”

Kukurudza is starting for the Hilltops this season. Over the team’s first two contests, he has recorded 10.5 total tackles, two quarterback sacks and an interception.

A graduate of the Monsignor McCoy High School Colts Football Team in Medicine Hat, Alta., Kukurudza is looking forward to team’s upcoming clash with the Colts for a number of reasons.

Caine Harrison throws a pass for the Colts in a 2023 PFC semifinal.

“I actually have a couple of friends on the Colts too, which is kind of interesting,” said Kukurudza. “I didn’t have to play against them last year, but it’ll be fun.

“I’m excited. I have my friends coming to the game too and lots of family. It is close to home, which is good.

“You just want to perform. It should be good.”

The Colts have some strong talent on offense this season like they did in 2023. They have two capable quarterbacks in Isaiah Klein and Caine Harrison. Tailback Zion Dogbe-Brown has made big plays in the running game, while receivers Blaise Newberry, Sam Duerr and Quinn Fedoroff are all sound target through the air.

Sargeant said he will be looking to Kukurudza and defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens to lead the charge to disrupt the Colts.

“We’re playing the Calgary Colts this weekend, and they’re a team that likes to throw the ball,” said Sargeant. “They’re more of a 60-40 throw team, so he (Kukurudza) is going to get a lot more opportunities, and we need him to step up.

“We need him to get in the way of the quarterback and just sort of get them off their launch pads and throw points. Kai is a big part of that. With John Stevens pressure from the inside, we feel we’ve got two guys that really provide that energy of going to the quarterback, and we’re looking for more.

Johnathon Stevens has been a rock at DT for the Hilltops.

“We want more willing participants stepping up to help us in this sack attack.”

Overall, Sargeant said his Hilltops need to be aware of the Calgary side, and he is looking for his squad to keep their current progression going.

“It is game three,” said Sargeant. “Let’s come out and play a better game against Calgary, because Calgary is a good football team.

“They’ve got a quarterback that can make plays and some skilled guys that certainly got us under great concern. We’re excited for the next challenge. We’re 2-0 and happy to be there.”

Kukurudza tabbed as a PFC player of the week, other notes

Kai Kukurudza (#73) had two sacks last Sunday against the Rifles.

A dominant effort by the Saskatoon Hilltops defence has resulted in another PFC play of the week nod.

On Tuesday, Hilltops third year defensive end Kai Kukurudza was named the defensive player of the week for the PFC. In the Hilltops 47-1 victory over the Rifles at Maple Grove Rugby Park last Sunday in Winnipeg, Kukurudza recorded five solo defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists, one special teams tackle assist and two quarterback sacks.

Kukurudza played a key part in limiting the Rifles to 68 yards rushing and 123 yards passing as a team. After adding in team losses, the Rifles posted just 123 yards of net offence against Saskatoon.

The Hilltops have collected defensive player of the week honours in both weeks of regular season action held by the PFC in 2024. Last week, Hilltops defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens took the PFC’s defensive player of the week award.

Also on Tuesday, Regina Thunder running back Sadik Sadik claimed honours as the PFC’s offensive player of the week. In the Thunder’s 36-0 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats last Sunday at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta., Sadik ran the ball 15 times for 194 yards and one touchdown. He also caught two passes for five yards.

Thunder place kicker Shawn Green took honours as the PFC’s special teams player of the week for his efforts in that win over the Wildcats. Green made all five of his field goals with a long kick from 38 yards out along with all three of his one-point converts.

He kicked the ball off four times for 191 yards for an average of 47.8 yards per kick and punted the ball eight times for 286 yards for an average of 35.8 yards per kick.

• Saskatoon Hilltops star receiver Drake Douglas tops the PFC in receptions (14), receiving yards (277) and receiving touchdowns (four) after two games. He also sits first in the PFC with 170 yards on punt returns coming off 14 run backs.
• Edmonton Huskies running back Carson Eddy leads the PFC with 246 yards rushing coming off 45 carries after two games.
• Regina Thunder quarterback Carter Moberg is the only player with over 400 yards passing in the PFC after two games. Moberg has completed 28-of-55 passes for 458 yards and five touchdowns, while throwing three interceptions.
• Winnipeg Rifles linebacker Kyler Banfield leads the PFC with 43 defensive points coming from 17 solo defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists, one special teams tackle, one special teams tackle assist and one interception after two games.
• Rob Vanstone, who is the senior journalist and team historian of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, put together a great story on Saskatoon Hilltops star receiver Drake Douglas. That piece 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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Big sack game still surreal for Hilltops’ Kack

Riece Kack gets a CJFL record sixth sack in one game last Sunday.

Riece Kack is still coming to the realization his big sack game actually did happen, and it wasn’t a dream.

Last Sunday, the Hilltops veteran defensive end piled up six sacks as his squad blanked the visiting St. Clair Saints 43-0 in a CJFL semifinal at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The win allowed the PFC champion Hilltops (11-0) to advance to the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The Hilltops will hit the road to face the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) for the CJFL title on Saturday, November 11 at 3 p.m. local time or 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria. The OFC champion Saints, who are based in Windsor, finished out at 10-1 overall.

With his six sacks against the Saints, Kack set a new record for most sacks in a CJFL playoff game. The old record of five sacks was set by Roger Rourke of the Richmond Raiders on October 12, 1985.

On top of setting a new record for CJFL playoff contest, Kack, who was named the defensive player of the game in the win over the Saints, actually recorded the most sacks in any CJFL contest be it the regular season, playoffs or the CJFL championship game. The CJFL record for most sacks in a regular season game is five, which had been achieved on six occasions.

Ron Zammit of the Hamilton Hurricanes was the first to record five sacks in a CJFL regular season game on October 2, 1982 and Evan Foster of the Langley Rams was the last to pull of that feat on September 9, 2012.

Riece Kack’s sacks allowed the Hilltops to get a shutout win.

Tyler Eckert of the Langley Rams recorded the most sacks in a CJFL championship at 3.5 coming in his squad’s 37-0 victory over the Beefeaters in London, Ont., in the Canadian Bowl played on December 4, 2021.

“That is pretty crazy,” said Kack. “I mean ’85 or whatever it has kind of been untouched.

“It is insane for sure. It is just off the charts. I definitely don’t like to call it a fluke, but that just doesn’t happen every day.”

The Hilltops had nine total sacks as a team which was a new club record for a CJFL playoff game. Saskatoon previously recorded a team record seven sacks in CJFL playoff games on November 2, 2002 and October 29, 2017.

The ’Toppers nine sacks for a playoff game equals the most sacks recorded in a playoff game by a team from the PFC. The Regina Rams recorded nine sacks in a CJFL playoff game on October 24, 1981 on their way to winning a CJFL title.

“It has been all year we’ve had the jump on lots of teams in the sack category,” said Kack, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 230 pounds. “It is just pressure from every which way, inside and outside and linebackers and DBs covering.

“It has just been a phenomenal defence we have so far here.”

Riece Kack gets his first sack in last Sunday’s CJFL semifinal.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant knew Kack set a new record for most sacks in a CJFL playoff game in the CJFL semifinal win over the Saints. Sargeant didn’t realize no one had six sacks in a CJFL game be it in the regular season, playoffs or CJFL championship game until Kack collected six sacks last Sunday.

The sideline boss, who was named the PFC’s coach of the year for 2023, didn’t know his Hilltops equaled the record for most sacks in a CJFL playoff game by a team from the PFC. Sargeant said Kack and the Hilltops defence were rewarded for the hard work the put in over the 2023 campaign.

“It was a great performance by Riece (Kack),” said Sargeant. “He was on point.

“Obviously, our coverage game was awesome, because some of those sacks were coverage sacks. It is just part and parcel of the way that 12 person defence has been playing all year. They know each other so well.

“They stay together, play hard together. As I said, Riece (Kack) is one piece of the cog that excelled, and it was fun to watch. You know what, it helped to lead us to live another two weeks, and that is all we care about.”

Now, Kack and the Hilltops have their attention turned towards preparing for the Rebels. Anticipating the Hilltops could face the Rebels, Kack said he had been watching some of the Rebels games online as the season went along. 

The Hilltops celebrate a sack from Riece Kack (#47) last Sunday.

The 21-year-old expects the Hilltops defence will be in for a bigger test in the Canadian Bowl.

“I have to get back into the game film,” said Kack. “I know this O-line is going to be a bit more of a test for us for sure.”

In the games he watched online, Kack said the Rebels have a number of playmakers on their team.

“They look like they have some big guys out there, some crazy athletes,” said Kack. “I think we just have to go, and we have to play our brand of football.

“We can’t cater to them. We have to just go in there and play our style of ball. I think we still have another gear to find here.

“If we find that gear, I think it will be a good game for us.”

Stevens equals forced fumble CJFL record, other notes

Johnathon Stevens (#47) forces a fumble last Sunday.

Saskatoon Hilltops defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens was able to find his way into the CJFL record book this past Sunday.

When the PFC champion Hilltops blanked the OFC champion St. Clair Saints 43-0 in a CJFL semifinal last Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Stevens equaled the CJFL playoff record for most forced fumbles in one playoff game at two. The 19-year-old from Eatonia, Sask., became the first player from a PFC team to record two forced fumbles in a CJFL playoff game.

A total of three players were able to record two forced fumbles in a CJFL playoff game before Stevens. Aram Eisho had two forced fumbles for the Hamilton Hurricanes on October 17, 2009.

Arie Nakagawa recorded two forced fumbles for the Langley Rams on October 27, 2012. Ben Osmow forced two fumbles for the Hurricanes on October 19, 2013.

• The Hilltops have won 22 CJFL titles in team history. The first game in 1953 and the last in 2019.
• The Westshore Rebels are still in search of their first CJFL title. The Rebels were last in the CJFL championship game in 2016 falling to the Hilltops 37-25.
• Rob Vanstone, who is the senior journalist and team historian of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, put together a great story on Hilltops defensive end Riece Kack getting six sacks in his team’s CJFL semifinal win. That piece can be found by clicking right here.
• Vanstone checked in with another great piece on University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team defensive back Ethan Laing. That story can be found by clicking right here.
• Vanstone had a third great story from Saskatoon’s football scene this past week. He put together a feature on quarterback Carter Casey of the St. Joseph High School Guardians Football Team. The piece on Casey 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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Reider has been the difference for Hilltops in 2023

Trey Reider has quarterbacked the Hilltops to a 10-0 mark in 2023.

Trey Reider has gotten the Saskatoon Hilltops over the hump.

During the 2023 CJFL season, Reider has given the Hilltops consistent play at quarterback. With that consistent play, the Hilltops have posted a 10-0 record and captured the Prairie Football Conference championship.

The Hilltops close out their home schedule on Sunday, when they host the Ontario Football Conference champion St. Clair Saints (10-0), who are based out of Windsor, in a CJFL semifinal contest at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The winner advances to the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl – which will be played on November 11 against the British Columbia Football Conference champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) in Victoria, B.C. The start time to the game is still to be announced.

During the Hilltops eight regular season games, Reider has completed 108-of-167 passes for 1,571 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing five interceptions during the regular season. He topped the PFC with a 114.6 quarterback efficiency rating, was named a PFC all-star and took honours as the PFC’s Most Outstanding Quarterback.

Thanks to the fact the Hilltops have a strong running game behind star power running back in PFC MVP Boston Davidsen and the Hilltops defence has given up just 66 points in the club’s 10 outings, Reider hasn’t had to go out and gun the football all over the field like Warren Moon.

The 21-year-old signal caller has done his job in making good decisions and being efficient in the passing game in order to compliment the Hilltops running game, defence and the squad’s special teams unit, which has had a good campaign too.

After returning to action after the 2020 CJFL campaign was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world, the Hilltops didn’t get consistent enough play from the quarterback position in 2021 and 2022. The quarterbacks had some great games in those campaigns, but they also had outings where things stalled out.

Trey Reider has been efficient at QB for the Hilltops.

In 2021, Doug Fleming started the first three regular season games at quarterback for the Hilltops before he got benched after he struggled for a stretch. Damon Dutton took over as the starting quarterback for the rest of that campaign starting with the team’s fourth regular season contest.

The Hilltops finished 6-2 in the regular season and finished with an 8-3 record overall after falling in a CJFL semifinal to the Rams in Langley, B.C., 17-14 after turning the ball over 12 times.

In 2022, Dutton began the campaign as the Hilltops starting quarterback, but after he struggled for a stretch, Reider was inserted at the starting spot for the last three regular season games and both of the club’s post-season contests. The Hilltops made it to the PFC final falling to the Thunder in Regina 39-21.

The Hilltops posted a 5-3 record in the regular season due to a three-game skid and went 6-4 overall. That 6-4 overall mark was the worst record the Hilltops had posted since going 6-4 overall in 1993.

Fleming departed from the Hilltops following the 2021 campaign, and Dutton exhausted his CJFL eligibility with the completion of the 2022 season.

Saskatoon was good but not good enough in 2021 and 2022.

Reider is showing was the storied CJFL club can do with consistent play at quarterback. When the Hilltops won nine CJFL titles in a 10-year period from 2010 to 2019, they never had questions at the quarterback spot.

When the Hilltops won three straight CJFL titles from 2010 to 2012, the late Chase Bradshaw played quarterback with great athleticism and humbleness in the 2010 and 2011 title wins, and Matt Karpinka held down the controls under centre for the 2012 championship win.

In the Hilltops run of winning six straight CJFL titles from 2014 to 2019, Jared Andreychuk quarterbacked the Hilltops in expert fashion to championships in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Jordan Walls was the master at the controls in the title wins in 2017 and an 11-0 perfect season 2018.

Tyler Hermann had the opportunity to call signals as the starting quarterback for one season as a fifth-year senior in 2019, and he put together a memorable campaign that saw the Hilltops go 12-0 in winning the CJFL championship.

Trey Reider (#3) is pictured with the PFC championship trophy.

Over that 10-year run from 2010 to 2019, the Hilltops were spoiled with great play at quarterback, and it went so long that you could almost take it for granted. When the quarterback play was a step under from the level of what those Hilltops signal callers performed to from 2010 to 2019, the drop was noticeable.

In 2023, Reider has given the Hilltops their best play at the quarterback spot since the 10-year run from 2010 to 2019. As a result, the Hilltops record in 2023 has been better than it was in 2021 and 2022.

With Reider at the controls, you have to like the Hilltops chances at potentially getting two more wins to capture a 23^rd CJFL title in the team’s history that dates back to 1947.

Hilltops first CJFL title came against Saints club in 1953

The Saskatoon Hilltops saw one of their defining moments as a team come to pass against the St. Clair Saints franchise.

On Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the PFC champion Hilltops host the OFC champion Saints, who are based out of Windsor, in a CJFL semifinal final. The Saints first trip to Saskatoon came way back in 1953, when they were known as the Windsor AKO Fratmen.

Back in 1953, the modern day current version of the Hilltops were in their seventh year of existence, and they were playing host to the AKO Fratmen in the CJFL title game. The AKO Fratmen entered the contest as defending CJFL champions having defeated the visiting Edmonton Wildcats 15-12 in Windsor in the previous year’s national final.

The Hilltops made it to the CJFL championship game in their second year of existence, but they dropped a 23-10 decision to the Wildcats in Hamilton.

Excitement was high for the 1953 title game in Saskatoon, and the first 4,300 tickets for the contest at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus sold out quickly. Another 2,900 tickets were sold for the game bringing the attendance to 7,200, which was a record at the time for a CJFL title game played on the Prairies. The large gathering circled the field at Griffiths Stadium.

Hilltops quarterback Ron Adam hooked up with Bill Trout on a sleeper play for the game’s first touchdown and the hosts never looked back. The Hilltops stormed to a 34-6 victory on a -1 C day to capture the then league championship trophy the Leader-Post Trophy, which was also known as “the Little Grey Cup,” as CJFL champions.

For historical references, touchdowns in 1953 were worth five points instead of six points before teams tried to tack on a one or two-point conversion.

In the 1953 CJFL title game, Adam’s arm was golden in that contest as he completed 12-of-20 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns. At the time, football was way more geared to the run, and it was common for the offensive line to contain seven players. It was very rare for quarterbacks at that time to eclipse 300 yards in passing in those days as Adam did.

Adam also ran home a major score from 13 yards out.

At that time, the CJFL drew big crowds as the main feeder for the CFL. Following the 1953 CJFL title game, Adam, who passed away in 2014, went on to play seven seasons with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders mainly as a defensive back.

At the Canadian university level, the first Vanier Cup to declare a national champion wasn’t played until 1965.

The Hilltops and AKO Fratmen met in a CJFL title game in 1996 in a neutral site clash in Oshawa, Ont. Saskatoon romped to a 39-7 victory. The two sides collided in the 2017 CJFL title game in Windsor, which the Hilltops claimed 56-11.

The Saints/AKO Fratmen franchise last won the CJFL championship in 1999, when they defeated the visiting Kelowna, B.C., based Okanagan Sun 32-29 in Windsor.

The St. Clair College Student Athletic Association bought the Fratmen in February of 2020. The club played as the St. Clair Fratmen in 2021 and took on the St. Clair Saints name before the start of the 2022 campaign.

Rebels knock off Sun for BCFC title, other notes

The road to the Canadian Bowl will lead to Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria, B.C.

On Saturday at that venue, the host Westshore Rebels downed the defending CJFL champion Okanagan Sun 33-19 to capture the Cullen Cup as British Columbia Football Conference champions. With the win, the Rebels, who improved to 12-0 overall, advance to host the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl – on November 11 at Starlight Stadium.

The Rebels will play the winner of the CJFL semifinal between the PFC champion Saskatoon Hilltops and OFC champion St. Clair Saints. The CJFL semifinal between the Hilltops and the visiting Saints is set for Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field at 1 p.m. Both squads enter that contest with 10-0 overall records.

In Saturday’s BCFC title clash between the Rebels and the Sun, the Sun took a 12-4 lead into halftime. The Rebels proceeded to score 29 unanswered points in the third quarter to hold a comfortable 33-12 advantage. The Sun answered back with a touchdown in the fourth quarter to round out the 33-19 final in favour of the Rebels.

The Kelowna based Sun concluded the 2023 campaign with a 9-2 overall record.

• Rob Vanstone, who is the senior journalist and team historian of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, wrote a great piece on the Saskatoon Hilltops PFC championship win. That piece can be found by clicking right here.
• The Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears won the Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate’s 5A Football City Final with a 41-14 victory over the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints on Friday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
• The University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team concluded their U Sports regular season with a 43-11 victory over the University of Regina Rams on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. The Huskies finished third in the Canada West Conference with a 5-3 record, while the Rams were last in the six-team Canada West with a 1-7 mark. Attendance for Saturday’s game between the Huskies and Rams at Mosaic Stadium was 1,599.

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 “D” versus Colts “O” focus of PFC semifinal clash

The Hilltops defence is set to rock ’n’ roll in the playoffs.

The CJFL match of the week might be the Saskatoon Hilltops offence going against the Calgary Colts defence.

Those two prime units will go head to head in a PFC semifinal clash on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Hilltops go into that CJFL playoff contest having finished first in the PFC with an 8-0 record, while the Colts finished fourth with a 3-5 mark.

The Hilltops gave up just 51 points against in regular season play, which is the team’s lowest total in that department dating back to 1949. Saskatoon gave up the fewest rushing yards (741), passing yards (1,191) and total yards (1,932) in the PFC during the regular season.

The Colts scored the second most points in the PFC in the regular season at 273. They had the third most rushing yards (1,295), the most passing yards (2,381) and most total offensive yards (3,676) in the conference during regular season play.

The two sides met way back on August 27 at SMF Field, which was the third regular season contest for both sides. The Hilltops posted a convincing 50-18 victory, but the Colts scored more points against the Hilltops in one game than any other opponent has this season.

The Hilltops closed the regular season this past Sunday with a 39-1 victory over the Winnipeg Rifles at SMF Field, while the Colts thumped the Edmonton Wildcats 66-10 at Shouldice Athletic Park in Calgary.

Nicholas Sirleaf lead the PFC with 739 receiving yards.

“When you see how many points they score, they’re one of the high octane offences,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “They like to move the ball around.

“They’ve got very athletic and highly skilled players. We have to be sharp. Their first play of the game last week against Edmonton (Wildcats) was for an 83-yard touchdown.

“They’re big play opportunistic, and we have to be sharp. We have to read our cues, and we have to adjust on the fly and be in the right spots.”

On defence, one of the biggest head turners for the Hilltops is star defensive end Riece Kack, who has topped the PFC in sacks in each of the past two season recording 7.5 sacks in each of those campaigns respectively. Safety Dalton Urban finished second in the PFC in interceptions with five.

Defensive back Carter Wingert had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries playing out his final CJFL campaign for the Hilltops. Matt Wist, who is the Hilltops star 22-year-old middle linebacker, recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and three interceptions this season.

Outside linebacker Noah Gedir had a breakout season for Saskatoon with 17 solo defensive tackles, 14 defensive tackle assists, nine special teams solo tackles, one quarterback sack, two pass knockdowns, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Colts 19-year-old sophomore receiver Nicholas Sirleaf led the PFC in receptions (45), receiving yards (739) and receiving touchdowns (eight). Pass catcher Seth Famekinde has developed into a big play target hauling in 38 passes for 423 yards and two touchdowns.

Riece Kack topped the PFC with 7.5 quarterback sacks.

Running back Alan Xiang lead the Colts with 381 yards rushing coming on 84 carries, and he scored six touchdowns. Zion Dogbe-Brown made some noise from the running back spot carrying the ball 43 times for 334 yards and three touchdowns.

“It is going to be a test for sure,” said Hilltops 22-year-old outside linebacker Wade Keating. “They have five good receivers who can all catch the ball and make big plays.

“It is just going to be doing what we’ve been doing all year but just a little bit extra.”

The crazy part about the Colts is you don’t know who they are going to start at quarterback, but they have two capable signal callers. 

Liam Oczkowski, who is a 19-year-old sophomore, completed 133-of-201 passes for 1,648 yards and 10 touchdowns, while throwing three interceptions. Oczkowski, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 210 points, saw his completion and passing yardage totals lead the PFC, and he started the Colts first five games.

Caine Harrison, who is a 20-year-old grad of Crescent Heights High School Cowboys football team in Calgary, has completed 50-of-89 passes for 733 yards and five touchdowns, while throwing four interceptions. 

Harrison, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 170 pounds, was with the University of Calgary Dinos Football team in 2021 and the Acadia University Axemen in 2022 in the U Sports ranks.

Alan Xiang led the Colts with 381 yards rushing.

“We played Liam (Oczkowski) in game one, and this Caine Harrison is coming out of nowhere,” said Sargeant. “To be honest, Liam (Oczkowski) has been dressed in the last two weeks, but (Caine) Harrison seems to have from our vantage point won the starting job.

“He threw for close to 390 yards last week you probably want to keep that guy in the game. We’ll plan and prepare for both, but at the end of the day, we know what their offensive system is set up to do. They have a lot of talented athletes.

“They have a very gifted offensive package, so our top dogs on defence are going to have to be on point come Sunday.”

On paper, the Hilltops do have the advantage when their offence goes against the Colts defence. 

Saskatoon topped the PFC in scoring with 335 points and was second in total offensive yards with 3,556. Calgary gave up the second most points in the PFC at 301 and gave up the third most offensive yards in the conference at 3,218.

Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen led the PFC in carries (170), rushing yards (1,184) and rushing touchdowns (nine). Quarterback Trey Reider completed 108-of-167 passes for 1,571 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing five interceptions. He topped the PFC with a 114.6 quarterback efficiency rating.

Sure-handed receiver Drake Douglas hauled in 56 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns.

The Hilltops aim to celebrates lots of big plays on defence.

Zach Angstadt, who is an 18-year-old rookie defensive end, led the Colts with three quarterback sacks. Colts 21-year-old safety Cody Anglo recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, six defensive tackle assist, one pass knockdown, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Keating, who will graduate from the CJFL when the Hilltops post-season run ends, said he could sense the finality a little bit of his playing days coming to an end. With that said, Keating added he is feeling the moment of the present so much that thoughts of his playing career wrapping up are way back in his mind.

“It is just like the old saying time flies when you’re having fun, and that is what this group is having,” said Keating. “We’re having a tonne of fun, and it is flying by.”

Thunder’s Leichert hits 1,000 yards

Ryland Leichert dives in for a Thunder touchdown.

Ryland Leichert has joined club one thousand.

For the first time in his CJFL career, the 20-year-old running back with the Regina Thunder has hit the 1,000-yard barrier for rushing in regular season play. Leichert finished the 2023 regular season carrying the ball 152 times for 1,017 yards and eight touchdowns. All of those totals rank second in the PFC.

Leichert needed one last big game to hit the 1,000-yard plateau, and got in the Thunder’s 33-10 victory over the visiting Edmonton Huskies this past Sunday at Leibel Field to close the regular season schedule for both sides. In that contest, Leichert carried the ball 18 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

Thanks to Leichert’s efforts, the Thunder finished second in the PFC at 6-2. They host the third place Huskies (4-4) in a PFC semifinal this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field.

Rebels’ Jessie has record day, other notes

Te Jessie in a CJFL promo graphic.

Westshore Rebels star quarterback Te Jessie captured a CJFL record this past Saturday to add the spectacular season he is having.

In the Rebels 61-7 CJFL regular season win over the visiting Langley Rams at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria, B.C., Jessie completed 13-of-17 passes for 249 yards, four touchdown passes and no interceptions. He now has 38 touchdown passes on the campaign, which is a new CJFL record in regular season action.

Jessie surpassed the old record of 35 touchdown passes that was shared by Jordan Yantz of the Vancouver Island Raiders from 2011 and first achieved in 2007 by Nate Cote of the Rebels, when they were known as the Victoria Rebels.

Jessie and the Rebels sit first in the CJFL’s British Columbia Football Conference with a 9-0 record. They close their regular season schedule this coming Saturday traveling to Nanaimo to take on the Vancouver Island Raiders (0-9) at 7 p.m. local time at Nanaimo District Secondary School.

In the 2023 campaign, Jessie has completed 144-of-202 passes for 2,343 yards and 38 touchdowns, while throwing six interceptions. He has carried the ball 30 times for 164 yards and three touchdowns.

Jessie, who is a graduate of the St. Paul’s High School Crusaders Football Team in Winnipeg, Man., topped the CJFL’s annual Top 50 players to watch list heading into the 2023 campaign.

In May, Jessie participated in the training camp for the CFL’s British Columbia Lions as part of the CFL’s QB Internship Program.

Last season, Jessie was named a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star and claimed the CJFL’s Peter Dalla Riva Offensive Player of the Year Award. In 10 regular season games with the Rebels, Jessie completed 169-of-305 passes for 2,864 yards and 28 touchdowns, while throwing 11 interceptions. He carried the ball 54 times for 290 yards and six touchdowns in regular season play in 2022.

Jessie is the son of Tim Jessie, who was a running back on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Grey Cup championship teams in 1988 and 1990 and was part of the NFL’s Washington franchise - then known as the Redskins - that won Super Bowl XXII following the 1987 regular season.

• Saskatoon Hilltops middle linebacker and punter Matt Wist punted the ball 47 times for 1,771 yards for an average of 37.7 yards per kick and three singles. Thanks to the work the Hilltops coverage team, Wist had a net punting average of 32.2 yards per kick. Wist topped the PFC in punting average, net punting average and punt singles.
• Regina Hall of Fame sportswriter Rob Vanstone, who is the senior journalist and historian for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, typed out an outstanding feature on Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen. That piece can be found by clicking right here.
• Vanstone has typed out all sorts spectacular pieces on the Roughriders website this season on the team and various football related features that are Saskatchewan focused. Feel free to check all those out on riderville.com.
• On October 9, I had new content appear on the Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I put together a piece on star high school running back, receiver and punter Mason Grabowski of the Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears. He is one of top high school players in Saskatchewan. The piece on Grabowski can be found by clicking right here. I also put together a photo roundup that mostly shows football rocking the fall season like it traditionally does on an annual basis. That post 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’ Abel-Douglas just misses record territory

Teijon Abel-Douglas (#80) boots a field goal on August 13.

Teijon Abel-Douglas just focuses on his next kick and doesn’t realize when he is on a roll.

This past Sunday, the Saskatoon Hilltops third-year place kicker nailed all five of his field goal attempts in his team’s 49-0 victory over the host Winnipeg Rifles at East Side Eagles Field in Winnipeg. The Humboldt, Sask., product was short of the Hilltops team record for most field goals make in one regular season game and two kicks away from the CJFL regular season mark for most field goals made in one contest.

Abel-Douglas was unaware about how close he was to record territory. He said his job was easy making kicks in the win against Winnipeg, because the Hilltops special teams unit was on fire.

“It is just good execution from everyone,” said Abel-Douglas, whose 2-0 Hilltops return to action this coming Sunday against the 0-2 Calgary Colts (1 p.m., Saskatoon Minor Football Field). “It is good execution from Isaac (Michayluk) snapping and Drake (Douglas) holding and the unspoken heroes of like the guys on the line taking the shot.

“When we have everything just working and running smoothly, it is real easy. It is just keep your head down, kick the ball and celebrate with the team after.”

Had the opportunity for Abel-Douglas to make a couple of more field goals in that contest come up, he would have had the chance to equal some long standing marks.

The Hilltops team record for most field goals made in one regular season game is six, and it happened twice. On August 26, 1984, Rick Barrack was the first Hilltops player to make six field goals in one regular season game. That mark was matched on October 3, 1999 when Jody Kerr made six field goals in one regular season contest.

The CJFL record for most field goals made in one regular season game is seven, and it happened twice. On July 31, 1988, Brian Demug of the Colts made seven field goals in one CJFL regular season game. That mark was matched on August 15, 1992 when Jason Appleyard of the London Beefeaters hit seven field goals in one CJFL regular season contest.

Against the Rifles this past Sunday, Abel-Douglas made his field goals from 18, 30, 31, 31 and 34 yards out. He made three of those kicks in the first half helping the Hilltops build an 18-0 lead and added his fourth and fifth field goals in the third quarter to aid the Hilltops in building a 38-0 advantage.

Teijon Abel-Douglas (#80) got close to a longstand CJFL record.

Abel-Douglas said he didn’t feel like he was in the zone or anything special was happening. He was just focused on the process of making each kick.

“It is more next kick mentality,” said Abel-Douglas, who stands 6-feet and weighs 155 pounds. “You’re only as good as your last kick.

“Kickers don’t get a bunch of opportunities every week. Any time I am out there I like to keep my head down and just stay focused. After the first, second and third one, you are just always thinking about the next one.

“That is what was going through my head I would say.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was pleased Abel-Douglas was able to come through with his kicks to allow the Saskatoon side to build momentum in that contest against the Rifles. That performance saw Abel-Douglas named the PFC’s special teams player of the week on Wednesday.

“Our goal all the time on offence is to get points on the board whether they are touchdowns or field goals,” said Sargeant. “Obviously, we want touchdowns, but the situation didn’t dictate that.

“Teijon (Abel-Douglas) and the field goal team went out there, and they were 100 per cent. It was awesome. It is a good mechanism.

“You are always looking for all three phases to contribute. Any time you make a field goal, it helps to build the momentum and the morale up, and that certainly paid off. Eventually, we did find the end zone a few times.”

Back 2021, Abel-Douglas joined the Hilltops right after graduating from Humboldt Collegiate Institute, where he played for the Mohawks football team. He was joined on the Saskatoon roster by then 19-year-old Carter Sirman, who was playing his first CJFL season. Abel-Douglas handled the majority of the place kicking duties that campaign, while both kickers battle nagging injuries.

In 2022, the Hilltops brought in then 22-year-old veteran Connor Green who ultimately replaced Sirman on the team’s roster. Green, who spent four years with the University of Regina Rams football team in the U Sports ranks, handled the majority of the place kicking and punting duties for the Hilltops in 2022.

Teijon Abel-Douglas handles the Hilltops place kicking duties.

He ended up developing a mentor and apprentice type relationship with Abel-Douglas, who was in his second-year with the club. Abel-Douglas it was a huge help to have Green on the roster.

Through the veteran, the youngster learned more about the skills and techniques of the punting game. When it came to kicking field goals, Abel-Douglas said he picked up tips about how to read the wind conditions from Green to be able to boot the ball better among the countless pointers that came his way.

“You could definitely tell he (Green) had done it for longer than I had,” said Abel-Douglas, who added Green quickly developed an infectious love for the Hilltops that lasts to this day. “Being a fifth-year guy and playing in all those big games we had playing in the PFC final and all that, you sit and watch and you are there to support him.

“You want to get better off what he is showing you. He is not showing it for no reason. I definitely keep a lot of that in my mind.

“Me and him (Green) still talk very frequently, and he wishes me good luck. He is a great friend, a great brother. I definitely learned a lot from him.”

Sargeant said that mentor and apprentice type relationship Green and Abel-Douglas developed really helped Abel-Douglas when he reassumed the main place kicking duties for the Hilltops this season.

“Teijon kicked the year before (in 2021), and he had a year to sort of be around how another guy attacks his role and his job,” said Sargeant. “I think it was an awesome learning experience.

“Hey, Teijon is in his third year. He has two more years after this year, and he is really becoming a marquee player in the PFC, and the sky is the limit. The confidence that he left with from Sunday him and us as a team it is only going to benefit us as we move into the future.”

Looking to the future, Abel-Douglas didn’t think it would be likely he would get the chance to kick six, seven or eight field goals in a game to get a chance match or break the Hilltops or the CJFL records for most field goals made in a game. He expects the offence will be efficient in finishing drives with touchdowns.

Teijon Abel-Douglas is focused on helping the Hilltops win games.

With that noted, he admitted he doesn’t concern himself with setting any personal records.

“I feel like at the end of the day we are here to win a national championship,” said Abel-Douglas. “If it naturally comes where we need to kick seven field goals or something like that, if that happens, then sure, great.

“I’ll do my part for the team. At the end of the day, we want to win. I’m here to win.

“These guys take hits for me. These guys bleed. At the end of the day, it is more of me just doing my job, me doing my part for them as they do their part for me.”

Young Colts quarterback to test ’Toppers, other notes

Matt Wist, centre, and the Hilltops“D” will face a pass happy Colts squad.

It won’t be hard to miss the player the Saskatoon Hilltops will be looking to limit or shutdown when they play the Calgary Colts.

The two teams are set to go at it on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in a CJFL regular season clash. The Hilltops enter the contest with a 2-0 record, while the Colts have an 0-2 mark.

While the Colts are searching for their first win, their 19-year-old quarterback is turning heads helping the Calgary side score 58 points in two games. Liam Oczkowski, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 210 points, has completed 38-of-67 passes for 590 yards and four touchdowns, while throwing one interception. He has run the ball 18 times for 122 yards and one major score.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said it was pretty obvious to see that Oczkowski, who played last season with the Prince George Kodiaks in the British Columbia Football Conference, is the Colts big playmaker.

“It starts with their quarterback (Oczkowski),” said Sargeant. “He was involved in 80 per cent of their plays last week and 70 per cent the week before.

“They really put the ball in his hands and expect him to be a decision maker, be a playmaker, and he has shown that ability to do that. He has put up a lot of good numbers. We have a lot of respect for his athleticism.”

With Oczkowski slinging the ball, the Colts have two receivers rated in the top four in receiving yards in the PFC. Nicholas Sirleaf sits third in the PFC with 182 receiving yards coming off seven catches with two of those receptions going for touchdowns. Tim Dewar sits fourth in the PFC with 123 receiving yards coming on eight catches.

The Hilltops enter Sunday’s game with five players having make single interceptions over their first two outing in linebackers Matt Wist, Wade Keating and Denym Mantyka along with cornerback Justin Adamko and safety Dalton Urban. Saskatoon has outscored the opposition 99-2 so far this season.

“It is going to be a big job by our defence, but at the end of the day, we have a lot of confidence in that defence,” said Sargeant. “Part of the whole package is we have to make sure our offence stays on the field a little bit better this week than what they did last Sunday (in a 49-0 win over the Rifles in Winnipeg).

“We have a lot of challenges out there. We have a lot of expectations. We know we have to rally up and come out and play better this Sunday at home against Calgary.

“Hey, they are 0-2. They’ve had enough. They are going to be ready to try and catch us on one.”

Teijon Abel-Douglas, who is the Hilltops place kicker, believes his team’s overall confidence is in a good spot going into this Sunday’s game against the Colts.

“I think honestly offensively and defensively we’re just playing great,” said Abel-Douglas. “The defence, they had nine takeaways last week.

“When the defence is on top of it like that, and we have a short field to work with, it is great. I think the confidence around here is a great deal right now. At the same time, we have to play one down at a time there is no question about that.

“Going into this week, I’m feeling good. The body feels good. I think the spirits around here are high, and I think we are ready to go.”

• On Wednesday, Regina Thunder quarterback Carter Moberg was named the offensive player of the week for the PFC for his efforts in his team’s 53-14 road win over the Edmonton Wildcats. In that contest, Moberg completed 21-of-34 passes for 367 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran the ball twice for 18 yards.
• On Wednesday, Edmonton Huskies running back Brady Fedyniak was named the defensive player of the week for the PFC for his efforts in his team’s 51-38 victory over the visiting Calgary Colts this past Saturday. He recorded 10 total solo tackles in the win.
• Hilltops star running back Boston Davidsen sits second in the PFC in rushing yards. He has carried the ball 34 times for 268 yards and two touchdowns.
• Hilltops emerging star receiver Drake Douglas tops the PFC in receiving yards. He has 13 catches for 210 yards and one touchdown.
• Hilltops starting quarterback Trey Reider has completed 28-of-42 passes for 395 yards and five touchdowns this season, while throwing one interception. Reider was the subject of a feature story appearing on the website of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders known as www.riderville.com written by Roughriders senior journalist and team historian Rob Vanstone, who is part of the 2023 class to enter the Regina Sports Hall of Fame. The piece on Reider 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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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.