Hilltops walk with Elias

Saskatoon picks up 52-26 road win over Wildcats

Fifth-year captain Brexton Elias has settled in as the Hilltops starting QB.

For a time, it seemed like fate was going to prevent Brexton Elias from ever starting at quarterback for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

The 22-year-old spent his first four seasons as a backup signal caller for the storied CJFL club including the past two seasons as the number two guy behind star starter Trey Reider. After Reider’s graduation from the squad following the completion of the 2024 campaign, Elias was tabbed as the starter at quarterback going into his fifth and final season with the team.

The injury bug proceeded to bite, and Elias was scratched for the Hilltops first two regular season contests. He dressed as the fourth string quarterback in the third game for the venerable CJFL side.

On September 6, Elias finally made his elusive first start for the Hilltops in a clash against their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder at Mosaic Stadium. Elias completed 14-of-25 passes for 188 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions in an 18-15 win, which included him guiding the squad on a late fourth quarter touchdown drive that resulted in the game-winning points.

“That was a special moment just to finally get into the game and start a game for this team,” said Elias. “I’ve been working for years on this to finally be able to get in there with the boys and fight for a win felt really good.”

Elias has now won his first three starts helping the Hilltops to improve to 5-1. On Sunday, the Hilltops traveled to Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta., and downed the host Edmonton Wildcats 52-26 in a CJFL regular season clash.

The Hilltops led 23-9 at halftime and went up 52-9 at one point in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats closed out the contest scoring 17 straight points to round out the final outcome.

With the win, the Hilltops have now won five straight to improve to 5-1. Out in Winnipeg on Sunday, the visiting Regina Thunder also improved to 5-1 outgunning the host Rifles 41-40 in a wild classic type Canadian game. Also on Sunday, the visiting Edmonton Huskies got past the host Colts in Calgary 41-30.

The Hilltops sit first in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference thanks to their head-to-head win over the Thunder. The Hilltops and Thunder are guaranteed to finish in the top two positions in the PFC, which means they will both host PFC semifinal contests. They go head-to-head on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in a contest that has a high probability of deciding first in the conference.

The Wildcats, Colts, Huskies and Rifles are all 2-4 and are tied for third through to sixth in the conference standings. Only two of those clubs will ultimately make the post-season.

Joining the Hilltops after graduating from the Marion M. Graham Falcons Football Team, Elias went on a four-year journey with the Hilltops where his focus was on being a good contributor in the team’s quarterback room leading up to his time in becoming a starter.

Brexton Elias was a Hilltops backup QB for four seasons.

“It has been a long process,” said Elias, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 190 pounds. “Just for me, it has been a mental game for the last four years just learning everything.

“I had a great guy to learn under in Trey Reider. He was a great QB. It was awesome to be able to watch him play and learn everything that he did well.

“It has been a mental game for the last four years.”

With all the work Elias has put in since joining the team, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said he was super excited when the veteran signal caller got to start.

“I am proud of his patience and how hard he has worked to get to this spot,” said Sargeant. “We’re going to keep developing this offence catering to his skill set.

“He did a great job of moving the chains and getting the ball to the right people.”

Sargeant added that all the years of study and work Elias committed to in the quarterback room are paying off now.

“He is a student of the game,” said Sargeant. “He puts the time in.

“He pays attention to detail, and it has paid off. He struggled with that injury at the beginning of the year. It was very frustrating for all of us, but he kept his cool and kept learning and kept growing.

“Now that he is getting live snaps, he has been more than up to the challenge. He has been very, very effective in moving the chains for us.”

Elias’s first start included him moving the ball like a game manager. Against the Thunder, Elias showed poise, and he ensured he took care of the football.

“It felt like that was the plan,” said Elias. “Our O-line is awesome, the running backs are awesome, our receivers are awesome, so my goal was just to get in there, don’t make mistakes and let my playmakers make plays.”

In his second start against the Calgary Colts on September 14 at Shouldice Athletic Park in Calgary, the Hilltops opened the playbook a little more for Elias. He completed 15-of-22 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions before giving way to backup Griffin Sander in a 51-3 romp.

“Against the Colts, we were able to throw the ball a lot,” said Elias. “My O-line protected me well.

Brexton Elias brings poise to the quarterback position.

“I haven’t been sacked yet this year. My O-line is doing an awesome job, and it felt good to get the arm going a bit.”

While he has been working well from the passing pocket, Elias believes he can be a bit more dynamic from the quarterback position when the time calls for it.

“I’m able to get out of the pocket and run around a little bit,” said Elias. “I haven’t had to do that much, because my O-line’s been awesome.

“I can play from the pocket, but I can also get out and run around, if I need to.”

Elias also took initiative when it came to joining the Hilltops. He sent Sargeant a text message asking about becoming one of the team’s quarterbacks.

Sargeant invited Elias to come tryout, and that started the signal caller on his long journey to becoming the team’s starter. Over the years, Elias earned an appreciation for how special the culture is with the team.

“I love the family bond that all these guys have together,” said Elias. “We spend a lot of time together.

“All these guys, they’re awesome, and the coaching staff, we come together well over the season.”

When the Hilltops went into the off-season following the 2024 campaign, Elias was well aware he would get the chance to guide the team’s fortunes on the field offensively.

“In the off-season, “Sarge” told me that I was the guy coming into the season, so I was obviously mentally and physically preparing to take that role this season,” said Elias. “The coaches, we worked over the winter a little bit.

“I was getting reps as the main guy, so I’m feeling good.”

When Elias was forced to miss time at the start of the season due to injury, Sargeant said the coaches were not going to deviate from their plan to allow the veteran, who is a team captain, to be the starter.

“We’re such an open book,” said Sargeant. “Communication was always on.

“He was always in the film room. He was with us every step of the way. He just couldn’t play.

Brexton Elias plans to cherish his time with the Hilltops.

“Last year, he got in enough meaningful opportunities and was able to play enough that he is ready for these moments now.”

As the campaign moves on, Elias has it stored in the back of his head that he is playing out his final season of CJFL eligibility. Out of the Hilltops 16 players who are playing out their final campaign, Elias spent his entire career with 10 players out of that group as members wearing the blue and gold. He focuses on staying in the moment as each day goes on and doesn’t dwell on the inevitable end that is coming.

“I don’t even want to think about that,” said Elias. “I’ve grown my last five years with all these guys.

“They’re awesome, awesome buddies of mine, and I don’t even want to think about moving on from this. I want to enjoy every moment of this last year.”

Johnson to speak at End Zone Dinner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.”

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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Rams were a play away from their biggest upset

Rouge et Or claim Mitchell Bowl to end Cinderella run

The University of Regina Rams are likely not over the stunned and numb feelings yet.

On Saturday at Mosaic Stadium, the Rams nearly pulled off the biggest upset likely ever seen in U Sports football. With 3:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, second-year running back Marshall Erichsen ran home a touchdown from 36 yards out to give the Rams a 14-10 lead over the visiting and ultra-power Universite Laval Rouge et Or in the Mitchell Bowl, which is a U Sports semifinal playoff game.

The Rouge et Or responded putting together an 11-play touchdown drive that covered 85 yards. With 79 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, star quarterback Arnaud Desjardins hit receiver Isaac Gaillardetz with a five-yard touchdown toss that put the Rouge et Or up 17-14.

The Rouge et Or proceeded to force the Rams to turn the ball over on downs in their next offensive series. Laval than ran out the clock ensuring the 17-14 advantage help of as the contest’s final outcome.

With the win, the Rouge et Or (10-1) advanced to the U Sports championship game – the Vanier Cup. They will face the Wilfred Laurier University Golden Hawks this coming Saturday at 1 p.m. Eastern Time at Richardson Memorial Stadium in Kingston, Ont.

Earlier in the day last Saturday, the Golden Hawks beat the Bishop’s University Gaiters 48-24 in the Uteck Bowl, which is the other U Sports semifinal. The visiting Golden Hawks (11-0) built a 34-10 lead over the Gaiters (10-1) at Coulter Field in Lennoxville, Quebec, and cruised to victory from there.

For the Rams, they obtained way more success this season than few outside their players and coaches thought they would have.

After opening their U Sports regular season schedule with two straight wins, the Rams proceeded to lose five straight. On the cusp of missing the post-season, the Rams closed the regular season downing the visiting U of Alberta Golden Bears 29-22 in their final regular season contest on October 25 at Leibel Field. U of R was down 22-4 in the third quarter before rallying for the win.

That victory allowed the Rams to finish with a 3-5 regular season record to place fourth in the Canada West Conference and capture the conference’s final post-season berth.

On November 2, the Rams traveled to Winnipeg, Man., and knocked off the U of Manitoba Bisons 28-25 at Princess Auto Stadium. The Bisons had finished first in Canada West with a 7-1 mark. Down 25-21, quarterback Noah Pelletier hit receiver Nicholas Sirleaf with a 16-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Rams their 28-25 victory.

The Rams advanced to the Canada West final to face their provincial rivals the U of Saskatchewan Huskies at Griffiths Stadium. Playing in front of 6,355 spectators, the Huskies jumped out to a 14-1 lead early in the second quarter. The Rams rallied back for a 19-14 victory.

Following the victory over the Huskies, the Rams returned to Regina to face the Rouge et Or at Mosaic Stadium in front of a crowd of 4,532 spectators. Going into the Mitchell Bowl, it was near impossible to find a pundit that gave the Rams a chance against the Rouge et Or, who have won 11 Vanier Cups since first taking the field in 1996.

When the dust settled, the Rams basically needed to make one more play to pick up the win. One of those missed chances came on the Rouge et Or’s final scoring drive of the contest.

Scrimmaging on first down from the U of R 46 yard line, Desjardins threw a pass that was batted in the air by Rams star defensive end Tarick Polius. The ball deflected high in the air, and one of the Rams defenders in the second level just missed making a diving interception. Had that play been made, it might have preserved victory for the Rams.

The players on the Rams defensive line were some of biggest stars of the contest. A tone was set on Laval’s first possession when pressure from the Rams defensive line caused two Desjardins incompletions for a two-and-out.

Polius, fourth-year defensive end Jacob Dakiniewich and nose tackle Toryn Swystun-Bernes showed they were going to be handful for the offensive line of the Rouge et Or. That played a factor for the rest of the game.

After the Rams went up 4-0 in the second quarter on a 20-yard field goal and a 33-yard missed field goal rouge from kicker Isaac Wegner, the Rouge et Or got their only big play on offence in the first half. Desjardins hit receiver Olivier Cool for a 75-yard touchdown pass to give the visitors a 7-4 advantage. Outside of that play, Laval couldn’t get anything done in the first half.

Wegner hit a 14-yard field goal with 1:45 remaining before halftime to even the score at 7-7. That 7-7 draw lasted until there was 7:54 remaining in the fourth quarter when Rouge et Or kicker Felipe Forteza hit a 32-yard field goal to put the Quebec side up 10-7. That set the stage for the dramatics that followed with Erichsen’s touchdown for the Rams and Gaillardetz’s major that won it for the Rouge et Or.

The Rouge et Or coaching staff led by head coach Glen Constantin made some good adjustments at halftime to get around the pressure the Rams defensive line was bringing. On offence, Laval elected to rely on a lot of quick hitters and short passes in the passing game looking to put together eight to 10 play marches to score.

The Rouge et Or would change up their tempo mixing up going between no huddle, to quick huddle to regular huddle in order to cause disruptions to the Rams defence.

During the regular season, the Rams gave up 177 points against, which was the lowest points against total in Canada West. Tonnes of credit has to be given to Rams defensive coordinator Sheldon Gray for how well the U of R played on that side of the ball all season. Gray, who was once a Rams star defensive back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has turned into an outstanding coach.

Rams head coach Mark McConkey, who was a Rams receiver in the late 2000s and early 2010s, and his squad did a great job of playing to their strengths with their defence against the Rouge et Or.

Offensively, it feels like the Rams aren’t that far from having a big breakout where they consistently put up high point totals. The coaches will have to make decisions if they need to find and add a couple of playmakers via recruiting or believe they have the guys and keeping continuity will result in a breakout in 2025.

Against the Rouge et Or, gritty Rams quarterback Noah Pelletier completed 28-of-44 passes for 356 yards, while throwing one interception. After throwing his interception in the fourth quarter to Rouge et Or defensive back Jordan Lessard, Pelletier made a tackled with his injured left shoulder to take down Lessard.

While you don’t want to throw an interception, Pelletier’s effort in making his tackle on that play using his injured shoulder is one of those things that inspires teammates.

Playing his third year of eligibility, Pelletier began the 2024 campaign as the Rams backup, but he retook the starter’s role when Owen Sieben went down due to injury midway through the U of R’s first regular season contest. Pelletier started all eight of the Rams regular season games and their Canada West semifinal playoff loss in his first year of eligibility in 2022.

He started the Rams first two games in 2023 before being injured. The signal caller returned as the team’s backup and short-yardage quarterback for that campaign.

Having been an academic all-Canadian in the past, it has felt like Pelletier could morph into a big hero one day in his own style. In late September, the Canada West website put together a story about the journey Pelletier was taking off the field to build at stronger connection with his Metis roots. While those from Indigenous communities can relate to that story, it is also something anyone from any culture or ancestry can relate to.

Overall, the 2024 campaign was a huge success for the Rams, who were tied for last along with the U of Calgary Dinos in the pre-season Canada West coaches poll. They hadn’t won a post-season game since 2012 and last won the Canada West Conference title in 2000, when they made the Vanier Cup and fell 42-39 to the U of Ottawa Gee-Gees.

The Rams restored some of their luster.

They will likely hear less of, “Oh, they were great back in the day when Gord Currie and Frank McCrystal were their head coaches and Darryl Leason was their quarterback.”

Of course, that reflects back to the Rams days in junior football when they won 15 CJFL titles and initial campaigns in U Sports and spurts when Teale Orban , Marc Mueller and Noah Picton played quarterback for the team.

In 2024, the Rams provided hope that maybe their best days aren’t just “back in the day.”

Reider named Hilltops top grad

Trey Reider sets to throw a pass for the Hilltops.

Trey Reider piled up the individual awards in the 2024 campaign, so it was no surprise he claimed one last big honour from his Saskatoon Hilltops.

On Saturday, the Hilltops hosted the Saskatoon Hilltops Football Club Honours at the Roxy Theatre. For the second straight year, the Hilltops held an awards show similar in nature to awards shows hosted by the NFL and NHL.

Reider, who is the team’s star 22-year-old quarterback, was named the winner of the Drs. Landa-Doig Award as the team’s most outstanding graduate. In 2024, Reider also claimed honours as a CJFL first team all-Canadian all-star, a PFC all-star, the PFC’s most outstanding quarterback, offensive player of the year and most valuable player.

During the regular season, Reider completed 119 of 185 passes for 1,685 yards and 17 touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions. His 119.8 quarterback rating topped the PFC.

In the Hilltops 24-19 loss to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder on October 20 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Reider did his best to push the Saskatoon side to victory. He completed 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.

Reider threw up a final Hail Mary jump ball pass on the final play of the game into the Thunder end zone from 22 yards out attempting to win the contest. His final pass was knocked down by Thunder safety Adam King.

Graduating right tackle, Cody Shumanski claimed the Ray Syrnyk Trophy as the team’s top lineman. He was a CJFL first team all-Canadian all-star, a PFC all-star and the PFC’s Most Outstanding Lineman.

The Don and Jim Seaman Memorial Award for the top linebacker went to graduating outside linebacker Noah Gedir. Gedir finished in the top eight for defensive points in the PFC with 92 points coming off of 22 defensive solo tackles, 16 defensive tackle assists, five special teams solo tackles, two special teams tackle assists, six pass knockdowns, two fumble recoveries and one interception in regular season play.

Graduating left guard Erik Barsness claimed the Ron Atchison True Grit Award. Barsness has been the model of consistency for the past two seasons with the Hilltops.

The Jim Courtice Inspiration Award was taken by graduating receiver Drake Douglas. Douglas was a CJFL first team all-Canadian all-star, a PFC all-star and the PFC’s Most Outstanding Receiver. The sure-handed pass catcher picked up nods as a PFC all-star on special teams and the PFC’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.

Justin Adamko, who is a graduating defensive back, claimed The Blue and Gold Award for dedication and commitment. Adamko had five pass knockdowns, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in the regular season.

The Past President’s Trophy as the team’s rookie of the year went to running back Brody Komarnicki. Komarnicki was named to the PFC’s all-rookie team.

Argos Grey Cup run impressive, other notes

The Toronto Argonauts are the holders of one of the most unique and amazing runs in the history of sports.

On Sunday, the Argonauts downed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41-22 in the 111^th Grey Cup game to become CFL champions playing before 52,349 spectators at B.C. Place in Vancouver, B.C. With the win, the Argonauts have won their last eight straight Grey Cup appearances spaced out over the last 33 yards.

During that run, they won the storied trophy in 1991, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2012, 2017, 2022 and 2024. The last time the Argonauts lost the CFL’s big game was in the 75^th Grey Cup played at B.C. Place. They fell 38-36 to the Edmonton Eskimos in an all-time classic that saw Eskimos icon Henry “Gizmo” Williams return a missed field goal 112 yards for a touchdown.

Speaking of icons, Argonauts icon Michael “Pinball” Clemons has been part of the Argonauts for all of their last eight straight Grey Cup winners. He was a player in 1991, 1996 and 1997, the head coach in 2004 and held an executive position in 2012, 2017, 2022 and 2024.

In Sunday’s win over the Bombers, the Argonauts held a slim 17-16 lead after Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo hit a 23-yard field goal with 12:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.

From that point, Argonauts went on a roll and the wheels fell off for Winnipeg. Toronto scored 24 straight points to jump out front 41-16. The Bombers got a rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion from the CFL’s George Reed Most Outstanding Player Award winner in running back Brady Oliveira in “garbage time” to round out the final score.

Argonauts journeyman quarterback Nick Arbuckle was named the MVP of the Grey Cup game. Arbuckle completed 26-of-37 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions. He was starting in place of Chad Kelly, who broke his ankle in the Argonauts East final win.

Argonauts receiver Dejon Brissett was named the game’s Most Outstanding Canadian. He caught three passes for 45 yards and one touchdown. Brissett was one of nine receivers Arbuckle completes passes to.

Bombers have played in the last five consecutive Grey Cups winning in their first two appearances and falling in the past three contests. At the moment, it seems like the majority of CFL followers are remembering the Bombers three straight losses more than their two wins at the start of their current run.

Still, the Argonauts are deserving of the spoils of victory. They have won more Grey Cups than another other team at 19 and have a 19-6 record in the biggest annual football contest played in Canada.

They are the sports team from Toronto that always wins. When the Argonauts make the Grey Cup game, you can almost start engraving their name on the trophy.

• On Thursday, U of Regina Rams graduating defensive back Jackson Sombach was named a second team all-Canadian all-star for U Sports football. Sombach played a key role helping the Rams win their second Canada West Conference title in team history and advance to the Mitchell Bowl, which is a U Sports semifinal game.
• On Thursday, U of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team senior advisor Jerry Friesen was named the winner of the Gino Fracas Award given to the volunteer assistant coach of the year in U Sports. Friesen has a long and storied history with U Sports football and the Huskies.
•  On Thursday, U of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team star running back Ryker Frank claimed the Russ Jackson Award. It is given to a player across U Sports football who best exemplifies the attributes of academic achievement, football skill and citizenship within the community. Frank also captured honours as a U Sports second-team all-Canadian all-star. Huskies linebacker Seth Hundeby and receiver Daniel Wiebe were both named first team all-Canadian all-stars in U Sports.
• Remember a year ago when it seemed like NHL superstar left-winger Alexander Ovechkin was done? The Washington Capitals captain struggled bad at the start of the 2023-24 campaign and finish the campaign with his lowest goal total for a complete NHL regular season at 31 and a tie for his lowest point total for a complete regular season at 65. He failed to record a point in the 2024 NHL Playoffs as the Capitals were swept in four games in the first round by the New York Rangers. This season the 39-year-old shot out of the gate recording 15 goals and 10 assists in his first 18 games. Unfortunately, Ovechkin’s momentum was stopped when he suffered a fractured left fibula that will keep him out four-to-six in the Capitals 6-2 victory over the host Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City. Ovechkin has 868 career regular season goals and he is attempting to Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894 goals.

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 2024 – A season with an unfulfilled finish

The Hilltops react to losing in the PFC final.

There are times the Saskatoon Hilltops are trapped by their own success.

Since the current modern version of the Hilltops were founded in 1947, they have won 23 CJFL championships. When don’t win a CJFL championship, it feels like the season was unfulfilled.

Legendary head coach Tom Sargeant has repeatedly said the standard is the standard. With that level of expectations, it seems like the regular season is something to just get through as ultimate barometer of success comes in the playoffs.

With that noted, the Hilltops coaches have been able to create a day-to-day value in the journey of the happenings of practice days and game days. The Hilltops advanced through the regular season posting an 8-0 record and piling up individual honours.

Sargeant was named the coach of the year for the Prairie Football Conference. Star fifth-year quarterback Trey Reider claimed honours as a PFC all-star, the PFC’s most valuable player, the PFC’s most outstanding offensive player and the PFC’s most outstanding quarterback.

Drake Douglas was the PFC’s most outstanding receiver, the PFC’s most outstanding special teams’ player, a PFC all-star receiver and the PFC’s all-star return specialist.

Right tackle Cody Shumanski was the PFC’s most outstanding offensive lineman and a PFC all-star.

Third-year middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk led the PFC in defensive points and third-year defensive end Kai Kukurudza topped the PFC with seven quarterback sacks. Both were named PFC all-stars.

The biggest challenges came in the post-season. In the PFC semifinal on October 13 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops found themselves locked in an 18-18 tie with the Edmonton Huskies in the fourth quarter.

Charles Sawi returns a missed field goal for a touchdown on Oct. 13.

Hilltops third-year running back Charles Sawi returned a missed field goal 112 yards for a touchdown to put Saskatoon up 25-18 with 7:32 to play in the fourth quarter. Saskatoon would post a 33-18 victory.

Next came the PFC final, and the Hilltops fell to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 24-19 this past Sunday at SMF Field. The Thunder piled up 321 yards rushing as a team on 49 carries for an average of 6.6 yards per rush attempt.

Now we get to the elephant in the room being the head hit Thunder star middle linebacker Stephen Smith threw on Reider on the second last play of the game, when the Hilltops ran a gadget play. The facts are the hit happened and the officials missed it.

On that play, the Hilltops ran their version of the “Philly Special.” Reider passed the ball laterally in the right flat to star power running back Corbin Ebben.

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 Smith at the Thunder 22 yard line. Smith, who is a 21-year-old veteran, made a head first driving tackle striking the crown of his helmet into the head of Reider dropping the signal caller to the turf.

With the no penalty call, 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. The final play was a Reider pass to the Thunder end zone that was knocked down.

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 to try and win the game.

First, it should be noted that Smith is a good guy. 

The head hit play. (Photo courtesy Shane Clausing at 650 CKOM).

With the Hilltops running a gadget play, it is conceivable that a panic adrenaline rush took over for Smith on the misdirection play, and in the moment, he might not have realized what he was doing when he got Reider to the ground. Unfortunately, the hit played out the way it did.

Football has changed and the maniac linebacker and head hunting free safety that existed in the game’s past main from the 1950s up to about 2010 have been cycled out of the sport.

Second, it should also be noted the official crew for the PFC final did an outstanding job working that contest. They missed that call, and that is part of the human element of the game. With the misdirection of the “Philly Special” play and the fact the Hilltops were in a two-minute drill, there is a good chance the officials weren’t in the best position to see Smith’s hit on Reider.

Still, there were lots of points the Hilltops could have made plays in that contest that could have changed the outcome. In the first quarter, receiver Datiel Fountaine had a pass in the end zone slip through his hands and the Hilltops settled for a 22-yard field goal by Teijon Abel-Douglas.

Abel-Douglas hit the post on a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter. At the start of the fourth quarter, Douglas muffed a punt return that the Thunder recovered. The Thunder turned that gift into a touchdown for a 24-12 lead with 11:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Despite the miscues by the Hilltops, Reider had a heroic last game trying to carry his side to victory. He completed 23-of-41 passes for 305 yards and one touchdown, while throwing one interception. Reider ran the ball nine times for 102 yards.

Hilltops long snapper Colton Zimmer was named the special teams player of the game of the PFC final by the CJFL. The CJFL tabbed Thunder left guard Caleb Barajas as the offensive player of the game and Thunder defensive back Tristan Bergquist as the defensive player of the game.

Trey Reider won a number of individual awards in 2024.

The Hilltops entered the 2024 campaign as defending CJFL champions and finished the season wondering what might have been. With how the PFC final played out, those with the team will likely be processing that contest still in the coming weeks of the near future.

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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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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Hilltops set to rock ’n’ roll in PFC final against Thunder

Saskatoon aims to shine on big game stage again

Drake Douglas, left, holds on to a deep pass for the Hilltops.

The Saskatoon Hilltops we built for the bright lights of the big game.

Their 23 CJFL championships and 35 conference titles since the modern day version of the club hit the field in 1947 is testament to that. On Sunday, the Hilltops will be playing for their 24^th Prairie Football Conference title and 36^th conference crown overall.

They will host their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in the PFC final.

The Hilltops first conference title came in their inaugural 1947 campaign when they claimed the Saskatchewan Junior Football Rugby Union championship. They proceeded to win the Saskatchewan Junior Football League four times and claim the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Junior Football League crown seven times. From there, 23 PFC titles followed.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said his storied squad is always up for these huge moments.

“It is why we have the tradition that we have,” said Sargeant. “We win big games.

“We’re in a lot of big games. We take advantage of the opportunities. It is who we are.

“These moments aren’t too big for us. We embrace that, we’re excited for it, and we expect to be in them. It is nothing bigger than that.”

The defending CJFL champion Hilltops head into Sunday’s contest sporting a 9-0 overall record and having won their last 21 games overall. The Thunder have a 7-2 overall record and fell to the Hilltops in last year’s PFC final at SMF Field 21-13.

Hilltops QB Trey Reider is the MVP of the PFC.

Saskatoon goes into this year’s PFC final with their 2024 version of “The Triplets” in fifth-year quarterback Trey Reider, fifth-year receiver Drake Douglas and third-year power running back Corbin Ebben. All three were PFC all-stars.

During the regular season, Reider completed 119 of 185 passes for 1,685 yards and 17 touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions. His 119.8 quarterback rating topped the PFC. He picked up honours as the PFC’s most outstanding quarterback, most valuable player and offensive player of the year.

Douglas led the PFC in receptions (58), receiving yards (955) and receiving touchdowns (eight) during the regular season. Over the Hilltops eight regular season contests, he returned 38 punts for a PFC leading 342 yards. The consistent pass catcher claimed honours as the PFC’s most outstanding receiver and most outstanding special teams player.

Ebben ran the ball 157 times for 964 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season, and he got better as the campaign moved on. His rushing yardage total topped the PFC.

Reider enjoys hitting the field with both Douglas and Ebben by his side.

“It obviously helps me out a lot when Drake (Douglas) is catching every ball I’m throwing at him,” said Reider. “When Ebben is running for 10 yards a carry, it really helps us out.

“Corbin (Ebben) has been working hard. Drake (Douglas) has been working hard. That stuff just doesn’t happen overnight.

“It starts at the practice field.”

Corbin Ebben led the PFC with 964 yards rushing.

In the Hilltops two regular season wins over the Thunder, Reider said the team’s offensive line was the reason the venerable club put up the points that allowed victory to be possible. The Hilltops will be looking to their starting offensive line of left tackle Davin Johnson, left guard Erik Barsness, centre Matthew Noble, right guard Jack Erlandson and right tackle Cody Schumanski to have another big outing.

“We’ve been able to control the line of scrimmage,” said Reider. “Our O-line has been doing a great job, and that has been opening up everything else for us.

“I just have to give a big shout out to our O-line for everything they’ve been doing. They’re working hard.”

This will mark the fourth straight year the Hilltops and Thunder have gone at it in the PFC final. Saskatoon claimed two of the previous three meetings.

Hilltops safety Dalton Urban, who picked a PFC all-star selection in 2024, said it is pretty easy to get motivated to play the Thunder in the post-season.

“It is a big tradition,” said Urban. “We always expect to see them at the end of the year.

“It is a long season, but they’re always the team that we have kind of a target on at the end of the year. We’re at this point now. We just have to finish and show up and get the job done.

“They’re always going to be physical. We have to match that, bring our energy, and I think we’ll be good to go.”

Sargeant said both teams have earned their way to get to this point in the campaign. He added the club that plays the best on Sunday will earn the PFC title.

Hilltops RG Jack Erlandson, left, faces Thunder MLB Stephen Smith.

“It is what it is,” said Sargeant. “We’re in the league that we’re in, and we’ve worked hard to finish first.

“They’ve worked hard to finish second, so the best part of all that is we get to host at home. We love home field advantage. We know we have to come out and play our best game of the year, because they’re very well coached and have good players.

“They’re going to come out and play their best game of the year, so we have to match their intensity. We have to match their physicality, and it is just going to come down to who makes more plays that is all it is. That is what it has been the first few times we face each other this year.”

Sun win Cullen Cup to become BCFC champs, other notes

The Okanagan Sun are going to Saskatchewan.

On Saturday at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, B.C., the host Okanagan Sun raised the Cullen Cup as British Columbia Football Conference champions for the second time in three years. In the latest BCFC final, they downed the Westshore Rebels from Langford, B.C., 23-17.

The Rebels entered the contest as the defending BCFC champions. This was also the third straight year the Sun and Rebels met in the BCFC final.

In Saturday’s encounter, the Sun took a 17-3 lead into halftime of their clash with the Rebels. The Rebels got a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter to even the score 17-17 heading into the fourth quarter.

Sun kicker Liam Attwood hit field goals from 31 and 26 yards out in the fourth quarter to push the Sun out to their six-point win. He made all three of his field goals on the day.

Sun defensive back Easton Fenske picked off Rebels quarterback Ethan Pickard on the final play of the contest to preserve victory for the host side.

Backup Liam Kroeger started at quarterback for the Sun in place of Marek Filipek.

Okanagan improved to 12-0 with the win, while Westshore finished out with a 6-6 overall mark.

With the win, the Sun advance to play in a CJFL semifinal against the winner of the PFC final to be played between the defending CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops and the Regina Thunder at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The CJFL semifinal between the Sun and the PFC champion will be played on Sunday, October 27.

The last time the Sun won the BCFC title in 2022 they advanced on to capture the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions.

·         A website called Castanet had a game story of the Okanagan Sun’s Cullen Cup victory over the Westshore Rebels to take the BCFC title. That piece can be found by clicking right here.

·         On Saturday in London, Ont., the host London Beefeaters hammered the Quinte Skyhawks from Belleville, Ont., in an Ontario Football Conference semifinal 65-7.  The Beefeaters improved to 7-2 overall with the win, while the Skyhawks finished at 6-4 overall.

·         On Sunday at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont., the St. Clair Saints (8-0) host the Ottawa Sooners (5-4) in a second Ontario Football Conference semifinal at 7 p.m. local time.

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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