Hilltops aim to lock up home playoff game

Saskatoon to battle Huskies in Edmonton on Sunday

The Hilltops defence has caused tonnes of troubles for opponents.

How will the youthful Saskatoon Hilltops perform in a regular season game when there is something extra on the line?

That is the upcoming challenge the squad’s legendary head coach Tom Sargeant is looking to see how his players tackle it. On Sunday, the Hilltops (5-0) travel to Edmonton to take on the Huskies (3-2) in a CJFL regular season contest at 1 p.m. local time at the Jasper Place Bowl.

If the Hilltops win that game, they will lock up the right to open the CJFL post-season at home hosting a Prairie Football Conference semifinal game. In each of the past two years, the Hilltops locked up the right to host a home playoff game late in the season thanks to the combination of pulling out a win with the fact the Huskies lost to the Regina Thunder in another contest that same day.

Sargeant said the opportunity his Hilltops have in front of them is exciting. For most of the roster, this will be the first time they’ve encountered a situation in the CJFL regular season where they control their own fate when it comes to getting a home playoff game.

“At the end of the day, we love playing at home in front of our Saskatoon fans and family,” said Sargeant. “There is nothing more than we want to do.

“That’s certainly a motivator. The last couple of years we haven’t been in this situation. I want to see how we respond.

“Our first five games, I’ve certainly been happy with where we are at. I think Edmonton Huskies are going to be as tough as a test as anyone we’ve played.”

The Hilltops enter this weekend’s action leading the PFC for points scored at 237 and total offensive yards at 2,332. On a bit of a more overlooked side, the Hilltops on defence tops the PFC for the fewest points allowed at 33 and fewest yards allowed at 1,163.

“The ‘D’ has been awesome,” said Sargeant. “They’re working hard every night.

Safety Dalton Urban makes a big hit for the Hilltops.

“They’re working hard in the film room. They’re working hard on the practice field. When game day shows up, they’re just showing up with a lot of passion and a lot of love for each other and they’re flying around.

“When you get that combination, it is amazing what it becomes, and we’ve been very impressed with where they’re at. We know they can improve and get better, because it is still a pretty young crew. Son of a gun, they want to get better.”

Looking ahead to the Huskies, Hilltops safety Dalton Urban said his team has to key on running back Ife Adebogun and quarterback Carson Neitz. Adebogun, who is a 22-year-old veteran who played last season with the Thunder, has carried the ball 51 times for 317 yards and two touchdowns, and his rushing yardage total is third best in the PFC.

Neitz, who is a 22-year-old veteran, has completed 55-of-102 passes for 933 yards and eight touchdowns, while throwing one interception. His 107.2 quarterback efficiency rating ranks second in the PFC.

“They have a big running back, so he is going to bring physicality when he runs on the field,” said Urban, who is in his third season with the Hilltops and first campaign as a starter. “Their quarterback looks mobile, and he is able to make plays outside the pocket.

“I think he has a pretty decent arm, so it will be a good challenge for us defensively.”

Hilltops star 22-year-old power running back Boston Davidsen continues to lead the PFC in rushing with 709 yards coming on 93 carries. He also tops the PFC with six rushing touchdowns.

Hilltops 21-year-old quarterback Trey Reider has completed 77-of-118 passes for 1,140 yards and 13 touchdowns, while throwing one interception. His 129.9 quarterback efficiency rating leads the PFC.

Urban, who has two interceptions and one fumble recovery on the season, said the players weren’t trying to think too much about the chance to lock up a home playoff date, but with that said, he added his team likes playing at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

“It is just a regular like regular season game, but it is important for us to be able to play at home just the support we get from friends and family and the extra motivation helps a lot when they come out and support,” said Urban. “I think that factors into things.”

The Hilltops defence has enjoyed making lots of big plays in 2023.

Sargeant said another key to Sunday’s game will come down to which club takes care of the ball better. The Huskies sit second in the PFC with 20 total takeaways and top the PFC in fewest giveaways at five. The Hilltops lead the PFC with 24 total takeaways and sit second in the PFC in fewest giveaways at six.

“When you look at what they do defensively, they’ve had like 20 takeaways this year,” said Sargeant. “They have a pretty opportunistic defence.

“They fly around and play physical. We have to get on point and get ready for what they’re going to bring. Right now, we’re just hunting two points.

“You stack two points one after the other then you end up hosting playoff games, so that’s how we are approaching it.”

Hilltops End Zone Dinner set for Sept. 30

Jorgen Hus sets to snap the ball for the Roughriders in 2019.

The Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner is returning with a quartet of guest speakers.

The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 30 in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. Doors for the dinner open at 4:15 p.m. and dinner follows at 5 p.m.

A ticket to the dinner also includes a ticket to that night’s CJFL regular season game between the Hilltops and Regina Thunder set for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The guest speakers include a pair of alumni from the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in Al Johns and Carm Carteri along with current Roughriders players Jorgen Hus and Derrick Moncrief. Johns was a defensive tackle for the Roughriders from 1980 to 1987 and played for the Hilltops in the 1970s. Carteri played linebacker for the Roughriders in 1979, 1980 and 1985, and he had a long run as a colour analyst on Roughriders radio broadcasts that concluded following the 2016 campaign.

Hus is the Roughriders veteran long snapper and he played linebacker with the Hilltops from 2007 to 2009. He helped the Hilltops win a CJFL title in 2007 after graduating from St. Joseph High School.

Moncrief is a veteran linebacker with the Roughriders. He often comes out to Saskatoon to help coach with Saskatoon Minor Football’s Playground To Pros Camp that is held annually in April.

All proceeds from the End Zone Dinner will go towards the Saskatoon Hilltops Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $100 per single person or $725 for a table of eight. Tickets for the End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

Rebels’ Jessie living up to top player rating

Te Jessie in a CJFL promo graphic.

Te Jessie continues to pile up the accolades.

The veteran quarterback of the Westshore Rebels was named the British Columbia Football Conference’s offensive player of the week on Tuesday for his performance this past Saturday when the Rebels crushed the visiting Vancouver Island Raiders 95-14 in Langford, B.C.

Jessie completed 15-of-20 passes for 358 yards and six touchdowns, while throwing one interception. The 21-year-old also carried the ball once for 17 yards.

This marked the third time Jessie has been named the BCFC’s offensive player of the week. In helping the Rebels top the BCFC standings with a 7-0 mark, Jessie has completed 117-of-162 passes for 1,894 yards and 31 touchdowns, while throwing six interceptions. He has carried the ball 24 times for 130 yards and three major scores.

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.

The PFC’s players of the week were announced on Tuesday. Calgary Colts quarterback Liam Oczkowski was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week for his efforts in his club’s 48-40 victory over the visiting Edmonton Huskies this past Sunday.

Oczkowski completed 32-of-43 passes for 369 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing one interception. He carried the ball five times for 61 yards and two major scores.

Huskies defensive back Cedric McCallum was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week for his efforts in that setback to the Colts. McCallum made 11 total solo tackles in the loss to the Colts.

Edmonton Wildcats defensive lineman Steven Groves was named the PFC’s special teams play of the week for his efforts in a 52-7 loss to the visiting Saskatoon Hilltops at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. Groves made four special teams solo tackles in that contest.

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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Flaman morphs into “TD Noah” for Hilltops

Saskatoon improves to 5-0, locks up CJFL playoff berth

Noah Flaman has six TD catches for the Hilltops this season.

The end zone has become Noah Flaman’s zone.

In his first four games with the Saskatoon Hilltops this season, Flaman has caught 12 passes with six of those catches going for touchdowns. Those efforts saw “TD Noah” jump to the top of the Prairie Football Conference for touchdown catches.

Coming into his third year with the Hilltops in 2023, Flaman figured he would have extra opportunities to make plays. The 20-year-old said he has had success because everyone around him on offence is playing well.

“We lost six guys last year just in our receiving group,” said Flaman. “We had a lot of spots to fill.

“The message was next man up. We have lots of young guys, but we felt like we had the talent, we had the work ethic, and we do. We’re a young team, but we’re going to come out and we’re going to fight.”

On Sunday, the Hilltops didn’t need Flaman to catch any touchdowns as they improved to 5-0 wiping out the Edmonton Wildcats 52-7 in a CJFL regular season clash at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. The Wildcats fell to 0-5 with Sunday’s result.

Star power running back Boston Davidsen ran for two touchdowns for the Hilltops, while Charles Sawi had a major on the ground. Trystan Ginther, Evan Ward and Drake Douglas all had touchdown catches for Saskatoon. Teijon Abel-Douglas hit a pair of field goals for the ’Toppers in the win.

Combined with the fact the Regina Thunder downed the Rifles in Winnipeg 23-11, the Hilltops officially clinched a berth in the CJFL playoffs. If the Hilltops beat the Huskies (3-2) this coming Sunday at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton, the Saskatoon side will lock up the right to host a Prairie Football Conference semifinal game to open the post-season.

Noah Flaman makes one of his six TD catches this season on Aug. 13.

So far this season, Flaman said one of biggest memories will be hauling in three touchdowns to help the Hilltops down the Thunder 36-6 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on September 9. In that contest, Flaman finished with four catches for 84 yards to go with his three major scores.

“It was cool,” said Flaman, who stands 6-feet and weighs 170 pounds. “Playing in Mosaic (Stadium) is always awesome.

“Coach (offensive coordinator Shane Reider) is calling good plays and (quarterback) Trey (Reider) putting the ball in good spots makes my job easy. It was good to get a good team win.”

Hilltops legendary head coach Tom Sargeant said Flaman has found a comfort zone with the red zone. The sideline boss said the veteran receiver has been getting good looks when the team is in the red zone which has allowed the sure handed pass catcher to haul in multiple touchdown grabs during the club’s first four games.

“He’s a red zone threat,” said Sargeant. “When we get in red zone situations and a team thinks we are running the ball, we know we are going to get zero one.

“Noah and Trey (Reider) have such a good chemistry together that they know what each other is doing and it has resulted in some might nice touchdowns plays. We know that teams are going to creep up and play a little bit more man-to-man. Noah is a man beater.

“He has a multitude of different patterns that make a big difference. We just make sure that we take advantage of what is in front of us. Coach (Shane Reider) makes some good play calls, and they execute it, so it is fun to watch.”

Noah Flaman caught three TDs against the Thunder on Sept. 9.

Flaman said he got into football early in life when his father, Cory, enrolled him in flag football. The pass catcher’s love for the game grew, and he ended up suiting up for the Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High Crusaders Football Team guided by long time head coach Scott Hundseth, who is a Hilltops alumnus.

“The Holy Cross tradition of excellence, there has always been a good team there,” said Flaman. “The coaching staff is awesome.

“There are lots of great players. Mitch Hillis is a physio here. He was a great receiver there.

“I look up to a lot of those guys. Just the tradition, you kind of see that here. It started at Holy Cross and then seeing the winning here just flew right in.”

When it came to joining the Hilltops, Flaman said it meant a lot when Hilltops receivers coach Barclay Schlosser called his place asking if he wanted to play. Flaman felt he really hit things off well with Schlosser.

The talented receiver also met a lot of players from across Saskatoon playing for Saskatoon Minor Football’s North Sask Academy program. A number of those friends were electing to join the Hilltops, which added to Flaman’s decision to stay home.

“I met a good group of guys here, and that really kept me home,” said Flaman. “You meet all these guys through high school and all the camps.

“That played a huge decision. It is a great group of guys and being home. It is a great team, and there is lots of winning.”

During his first two seasons with the Hilltops, Flaman said he learned a lot watching veteran receiver Dillan Heintz, who was playing his final two campaigns of CJFL eligibility, go about his craft. Flaman said Heintz did so many little things well and was awestruck by how well Heintz could block.

Noah Flaman can haul in those challenging catches.

“Being a receiver who doesn’t really like to block coming into this team, seeing him (Heintz) go out and work his butt off and feeling that throughout the whole team I think really just motivates everyone and pushes everyone else,” said Flaman. “Being a young guy and then trying to replicate that this year has been something I’m trying to work on.

“I think as a group we’re going to get more physical and kick butt throughout the rest of the year.”

As a sophomore receiver in 2022, Sargeant said Flaman started to come into his own and elevated up the Hilltops depth chart.

“Last year, we had a real deep receiving corps,” said Sargeant. “Noah worked his way into that mix and became very, very productive.

“During the off-season and with him and Trey, they’ve been together these three years. It was neat to see how they developed it together. Now, it is just a real natural feel with the way they play.

“Noah, he had a real good off-season. He trained real hard, and we’re benefitting with his results.”

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Flaman said the Hilltops are just living in the moment taking things day by day. With that said, he said the team is trying to build up to another gear as post-season play draws near.

“We’re really excited,” said Flaman. “We have lots of young guys, so we feel like we can make it through the whole season healthy.

“That next day, one day mentality, take it one day at a time. It is not all going to be there at once. Once we do get further in the season, we have to tighten up and lock down, because that is when it starts to get cold, it starts to get tough.

Noah Flaman and the Hilltops look to have more end zone visits.

“We have to focus up and play hard for the guy next to you.”

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Hilltops on to the Wildcats

Saskatoon aims to stay even keel after win over Thunder

Ben Marce returns a fumble for the Hilltops.

Tom Sargeant is facing a welcomed challenge.

The legendary head coach’s young Saskatoon Hilltops went into this practice week sporting a 4-0 record after downing their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 36-6 at Mosaic Stadium in “The Queen City” this past Saturday. The CJFL regular season clash was the Hilltops biggest contest up to this point of the 2023 campaign, and they gave the Thunder their first setback as the Regina side fell to 3-1. The Hilltops now sit alone in first place in the Prairie Football Conference.

Sargeant was good with everyone on the team enjoying that win for the night. The aim going into the practice week was to ensure the team stayed humble and players didn’t think they had it made for the rest of the 2023 CJFL season.

The message to the team was there was still a lot to improve on. Parts of the team’s film sessions were spent going over errors that were made in the win over Regina as the Thunder still made their share of splash plays.

“We’re excited and proud of the win,” said Sargeant. “To go into Regina, that is not an easy task to do.

“To perform the way we’ve performed, I’m very appreciative of the coaches’ effort and game planning and the players’ work ethic and desire. Ultimately, we’re striving for perfection. We’re not even close to the game plans that I need us to play with and that we’ll need to play with at the end of the year.”

Noah Flaman (#85) excepts the Wildcats to play desperate.

The Hilltops next task is to smooth out the errors they made heading into their next contest this coming Sunday when they take on the Edmonton Wildcats (0-4) at 1 p.m. at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. The ’Toppers romped over the Wildcats 50-2 back on August 13 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in the regular season opener for both sides.

“We’re on to the Edmonton Wildcats,” said Sargeant. “We know that they’re 0-4, and they’re desperate.

“We have to come out and continue to build on the things we are doing.”

Hilltops third receiver Noah Flaman said his squad is aware the Wildcats are improving. His club is gearing up to be on task once again.

“They’ve gotten way better, and we saw that on film,” said Flaman. “They have a lot of talent and good players and new coaching staff, so we have to be ready for whatever they could throw out.

“They’re 0-4, so they are going to be desperate. We have to come out and be ready for whatever they’re going to throw at us.”

Going into Sunday’s game, Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen is putting together an outstanding final CJFL campaign. He tops the PFC with 578 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns coming on 73 carries.

Wildcats 20-year-old linebacker Kieran Harris sits tied with Thunder linebacker Kenten Effa for second in defensive points in the PFC at 46. Harris has collected his points from 20 solo defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists, and two special teams solo tackles.

Besides worrying about offensive and defensive schemes on Sunday, Flaman said his team wants to be better in one basic department of playing tougher physically.

Boston Davidsen leads PFC with 578 yards rushing.

“Talking back about the Regina game, we felt like even though we had a good game we got pushed around a bit and our blocking on run plays wasn’t up to where we want it to be,” said Flaman. “We’re always striving to be the best we can be.

“Whether that is backs, receivers, O-line, we all feel like we have to be better as a unit, and we will.”

Sargeant said the big focus for his team this week will be blocking and tackling. He said those were two areas his club had a drop off in the win over the Thunder.

“We need to see improvement,” said Sargeant. “I need to see improvement.

“It comes down to blocking and tackling. The focus this week is I need a team that is going to block and tackle better than what I saw last week.”

Hilltops End Zone Dinner set for Sept. 30

Jorgen Hus sets to snap the ball for the Roughriders in 2019.

The Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner is returning with a quartet of guest speakers.

The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 30 in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. Doors for the dinner open at 4:15 p.m. and dinner follows at 5 p.m.

A ticket to the dinner also includes a ticket to that night’s CJFL regular season game between the Hilltops and Regina Thunder set for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The guest speakers include a pair of alumni from the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in Al Johns and Carm Carteri along with current Roughriders players Jorgen Hus and Derrick Moncrief. Johns was a defensive tackle for the Roughriders from 1980 to 1987 and played for the Hilltops in the 1970s. Carteri played linebacker for the Roughriders in 1979, 1980 and 1985, and he had a long run as a colour analyst on Roughriders radio broadcasts that concluded following the 2016 campaign.

Hus is the Roughriders veteran long snapper and he played linebacker with the Hilltops from 2007 to 2009. He helped the Hilltops win a CJFL title in 2007 after graduating from St. Joseph High School.

Moncrief is a veteran linebacker with the Roughriders. He often comes out to Saskatoon to help coach with Saskatoon Minor Football’s Playground To Pros Camp that is held annually in April.

All proceeds from the End Zone Dinner will go towards the Saskatoon Hilltops Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $100 per single person or $725 for a table of eight. Tickets for the End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

’Toppers Wist player of the week, other notes

Matt Wist was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week.

Timely big players resulted in Saskatoon Hilltops middle Matt Wist getting a player of the week nod.

Wist was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week on Wednesday for his efforts in the Hilltops 36-6 over the Thunder at Mosaic Stadium in Regina this past Saturday. In helping the Hilltops improve to 4-0 on the campaign, Wist had two defensive solo tackles, one defensive tackle assist, one pass knockdown and one interception.

On the season, Wist sits in the top five in the PFC in defensive points at 44. He has collected his defensive points off of nine defensive solo tackles, 12 defensive tackle assists, one pass knockdown, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Calgary Colts receiver Nicholas Sirleaf was the PFC’s offensive player of the week on Wednesday. This past Sunday, Sirleaf caught 11 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown as the Colts downed the visiting Winnipeg Rifles 33-21 at Hellard Field.

Rifles linebacker Kyler Banfield took honours as the PFC’s special teams player of the week on Wednesday for his efforts in the setback this past Sunday to the Colts. Banfield blocked a kick and recovered it to go with three special teams solo tackles and one special teams tackle assist.

Banfield also recorded one solo defensive tackle, two defensive tackle assists, one quarterback sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in the loss to the Colts.

• Saskatoon Hilltops 21-year-old quarterback Trey Reider tops the PFC with a 127.6 quarterback efficiency rating after four games. Reider has completed 64-of-100 passes for 953 yards and 11 touchdowns, while throwing one interception. Reider’s touchdown pass total also leads the PFC.
• Calgary Colts 19-year-old quarterback Liam Oczkowski leads the PFC with 1,169 yards passing after four contests. On the season, Oczkowski has completed 87-of-137 passes including seven touchdown passes, while throwing two interceptions.
• The Westshore Rebels and their ultra-talented quarterback Te Jessie lead the BCFC with a 6-0 record. Heading into the 2023 campaign, Jessie topped the CJFL’s annual Top 50 players to watch list. The St. Clair Saints lead the OFC standings with a 4-0 mark.
• On September 9, I had new content appear on the Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I put together a piece on the University of Saskatchewan Women’s Softball Program focusing on how important it has become to the sports scene in Saskatoon and province. The piece on the U of S Softball team can be found by clicking right here. I also put together a photo roundup that shows the summer season ending hot and the fall season starting with a roar. 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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Douglas big catch for Hilltops

Flaman shines in romp over Thunder in Regina

Drake Douglas has emerged as one of the Hilltops to receivers.

Once a highly touted pass catcher coming out of Saskatchewan’s high school scene, Drake Douglas thought at one time his post-secondary football days ended even before they began.

When almost all sports in North American were halted due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had gripped the world, Douglas committed to join the CJFL’s Regina Thunder on June 1, 2020. One his two older brothers, Ethan, played for the Thunder in 2018 and 2019.

Having played his final season with the Balfour Collegiate Bears Football Team in 2019, Drake Douglas practiced with the Thunder in the fall of 2020, but never played a down with the Regina CJFL side.

As there was no certainly when the sports world resume action, Douglas elected to move to Saskatoon for an opportunity in the working world. Another one of his older brothers, Braydan, had already relocated to “The Bridge City” along with his two sisters. He hadn’t even been looking for any post-secondary team to join when he got a call from legendary Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant in the fall of 2022.

“I had kind of just been taking a break from football,” said Douglas. “My brother (Braydan) ended up emailing ‘Sarge’ (Tom Sargeant) and sent him my highlight tape from high school, and ‘Sarge’ game me a call.

“It was three weeks or four weeks into the season. I just joined the team on the bye week that year and kind of went from there.”

Douglas was on the Hilltops roster when they went into their fourth game of the 2022 campaign. He made his debut with the storied CJFL club in their 35-17 victory over the Colts in Calgary on September 25, 2022 catching four passes for 29 yards.

The skilled pass catcher was happy his brother sent his high school highlights to Sargeant. The urge to get back into the game was there.

“I loved playing football and watching football,” said Douglas, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 170 pounds. “I always had it in the back of my mind, but I was definitely ready to have the cleats hung up and be moving on to the next stage of life.

“I got that call from ‘Sarge,’ and I just got into there. I got to practice, and it was like I never left it.”

Now in his second season with the Hilltops, Douglas has emerged as one of the team’s star receivers. Taking on the Thunder at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Saturday night, Douglas saw one of his teammates have a big outing.

Drake Douglas joined the Hilltops part way through 2022.

Noah Flaman, a sure handed third-year receiver, caught three touchdowns as the Hilltops roared past the Thunder 36-6 in a CJFL regular season clash. With the win, the Hilltops improved to 4-0 to sit alone in first place in the Prairie Football Conference, while the Thunder fell to 3-1. The Thunder had won the three previous meetings between the two sides including action in the regular season and post-season.

While Douglas said it felt like he never left the game once he started playing for the Hilltops, he did feel like he wasn’t in football shape.

“I had played flag football that winter,” said Douglas. “I think I was in decent shape.

“You think you are in good shape, but then you go play a full football game in plus-25 weather. It is kind of different. It is hard to get right back into it.

“It took me a little bit to adjust to the physicality. The guys are definitely a lot stronger in the CJFL, and you have to adjust to stuff like that. At the same time when you play football all your life, you just do what you’ve always been doing.”

Douglas said he came into the 2023 campaign at a different level after taking part in the team’s off-season workouts with Ignite Athletics, winter practices, spring camp and getting a full training camp in.

“It is a night and day difference,” said Douglas, who had 18 catches for 254 yards and one touchdown in the Hilltops first three game. “I did all the Ignite workouts, so I was definitely coming in way better shape.

“That made it a lot easier. I felt way more ready to go. I feel a lot stronger and faster than I was last season just jumping in halfway through.”

Sargeant was quite pleased he was able to get Douglas in the Hilltops fold.

“Drake (Douglas) has been magnificent,” said Sargeant. “For him to come to us sort of middle of the year last year and by the end of the year he is a key offensive contributor.

“He is a punt returner, and he is a holder on our field goal team. Drake has multiple roles. He is a talented kid, and he loves football.

Drake Douglas has made some highlight catches for the Hilltops.

“He has come in here in a short period of time and established himself as a leader and as a player as a go-to guy. We make sure a lot of our offensive plays and systems go through him. We are proud of what he is about.”

Sargeant noted that Douglas’s playing style on the field kind of mirrors that of a former great of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in Weston Dressler.

“There are certainly some similarities,” said Sargeant. “He is just a multiuse player.

“He has a lot of different skill sets. He is great after he catches the ball. He is great when the ball is in flight.

“He knows how to use his body and how to get in the way to make the plays basically is how it looks.”

Douglas said he watched various receivers growing up, but he has a special affinity for Roughriders pass catchers.

“I have a lot of especially ’Riders receivers that I look up to,” said Douglas. “Weston Dressler is definitely size wise is a good comparison to me.

“Other guys, I really liked Naaman Roosevelt growing up and guys like that. I think I’m definitely similar to their style of play. I think the coaches kind of use me in similar ways.”

In the Hilltops 50-2 regular season opening win against the Edmonton Wildcats on August 13 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Douglas got out of the gates with a big game. He caught nine passes for 171 yards and one touchdown, which helped him get an extra jump in his step.

“The coaches and Trey (Reider) made it easy for me,” said Douglas. “The coach was calling the right plays, and Trey (Reider) was just putting it on me, and I’m just trying to do my job and catch the balls that come my way.

“It was definitely huge for the confidence, and I think it was huge for the whole team getting that win early.”

Against the Thunder on Saturday, the Hilltops led 12-0 after the first quarter and 22-4 at halftime. The Hilltops got a touchdown from star power running back Boston Davidsen, two field goals from Teijon Abel-Douglas and a conceded safety by the Thunder.

The Thunder got their points from a punt single and a field goal from kicker Shawn Green and a conceded safety by Saskatoon.

Drake Douglas (#86) wants to enjoy more fun with his teammates.

The Hilltops return to action on Sunday, September 17, when they hit the road again to face the Edmonton Wildcats at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta.

Looking forward to the rest of the CJFL campaign, Douglas said he and the Hilltops are focusing on things as they come.

“It is great just hanging out with guys and getting to come out to practice every day and just work with everybody,” said Douglas. “I’m really excited for the rest of this season.

“We have a long way to go. I think we’re just trying to build every week. I think ‘Sarge’ compared it to a pyramid the one day in meetings.

“We’re just trying to build that pyramid and give it a good foundation right now and just keep building on that.”

Hilltops End Zone Dinner set for Sept. 30

Jorgen Hus sets to snap the ball for the Roughriders in 2019.

The Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner is returning with a quartet of guest speakers.

The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 30 in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. Doors for the dinner open at 4:15 p.m. and dinner follows at 5 p.m.

A ticket to the dinner also includes a ticket to that night’s CJFL regular season game between the Hilltops and Regina Thunder set for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The guest speakers include a pair of alumni from the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in Al Johns and Carm Carteri along with current Roughriders players Jorgen Hus and Derrick Moncrief. Johns was a defensive tackle for the Roughriders from 1980 to 1987 and played for the Hilltops in the 1970s. Carteri played linebacker for the Roughriders in 1979, 1980 and 1985, and he had a long run as a colour analyst on Roughriders radio broadcasts that concluded following the 2016 campaign.

Hus is the Roughriders veteran long snapper and he played linebacker with the Hilltops from 2007 to 2009. He helped the Hilltops win a CJFL title in 2007 after graduating from St. Joseph High School.

Moncrief is a veteran linebacker with the Roughriders. He often comes out to Saskatoon to help coach with Saskatoon Minor Football’s Playground To Pros Camp that is held annually in April.

All proceeds from the End Zone Dinner will go towards the Saskatoon Hilltops Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $100 per single person or $725 for a table of eight. Tickets for the End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

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Hilltops pumped for big time bout with Thunder

First place PFC battle a test to see where Saskatoon stands

Boston Davidsen leads the PFC with 458 yards rushing.

The Saskatoon Hilltops will never have a problem getting up for rivalry week, especially when first place is on the line too.

On Saturday, the Hilltops travel to Regina to take on their provincial rivals in the Thunder (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium). Both teams sport identical 3-0 records heading into their first CJFL regular season clash of the 2023 campaign and are tied for first in the Prairie Football Conference.

The Hilltops have outscored their opponents 149-20 over three games, while the Thunder have beaten their three foes this season by a combined score of 134-55.

“We’re excited,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “They’re 3-0, and we’re 3-0.

“It is two good football teams. Something is going to happen. We both want to be in first place by the end of Saturday night.

“That is why we are out here grinding, coaching hard and practicing hard. As I’ve said, they’ve gotten off to a good start, and so have we. We’re excited for what is in front of us.”

After the 2020 CJFL season was lost due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world, the Thunder are 5-1 against the Hilltops in the regular season and playoffs when the CJFL resumed play in 2021. The Hilltops lone victory in that stretch came on November 14, 2021, when they downed the Thunder 29-9 in that year’s PFC final played at Mosaic Stadium.

The Thunder won all three encounters between the two sides in 2022. The last win came on October 30, 2022, when the Thunders downed the Hilltops 39-21 in the PFC final.

Ryland Leichert has 373 yards rushing this season.

Hilltops emerging star receiver Drake Douglas said a big game vibe has been going around the team at practice this week. A graduate of Regina’s Balfour Collegiate Bears Football Team, Douglas got to play for Team South in Team South versus Team North all-star encounters put together by Football Saskatchewan.

He said the Saskatoon versus Regina rivalry mirrors those Team North versus Team South contests, so there is extra excitement and focus on the Hilltops side this week as they prepare to face the Thunder.

“I think the boys are definitely locked in,” said Douglas. “We know that this week is a little different than the other weeks.

“We have the two top teams in the division definitely. Regardless, Regina versus Saskatoon has always been a rivalry even since I played U16 South playing the North. It has always been a rivalry.

“I think everybody is locked in. We’re all excited for it.”

During the off-season, both squads had significant turnover. As a result, the top performers on both teams see some familiar names come to the surface, while players stepping into new and bigger roles are making noise too.

Star fifth year power running back Boston Davidsen is a familiar name that is having another stellar season for the Hilltops. Davidsen has carried the ball 49 times for 458 yards and three touchdowns, and his rushing yardage total tops the PFC.

Douglas leads the PFC in receptions at 18 and piled up 254 receiving yards to go with one receiving touchdown. Quarterback Trey Reider has completed 45-of-68 passes for 716 yards and eight touchdowns, while throwing one interception. The Hilltops signal caller’s completion percentage of 66.2 per cent is first in the PFC.

Drake Douglas, right, muscles his way past two defenders.

Hilltops defensive ends Riece Kack and Kai Kukurudza have 4.5 and three quarterback sacks respectively. Matt Wist, Wade Keating, Justin Adamko, Andy Scrivens, Dalton Urban and Denym Mantyka all have single interceptions for Saskatoon this season.

For the Thunder, they have a pair of familiar veteran star players piling up big statistics once again in running back Ryland Leichert and receiver Isaiah Woodley. Leichert has carried the ball 51 times for 373 yards and two touchdowns.

Woodley, who was a second team CJFL all-Canadian all-star in 2022, has caught 14 passes for 383 yards and three touchdowns, and his receiving yardage total leads the PFC.

“They are high end football players,” said Sargeant about Leichert and Woodley. “You know what you are going to get out of them game in and game out.

“You know that with Regina they’re going to get a lot of touches. I think 30 per cent of their throws have gone to Woodley and Leichert has had over 50 carries. They are high end football players and productive football players, and their schemes centre around them.

“We have to be on point. We have to know where they are at all times, and we have to have good game plans to defend them. We’re excited for that chess match that is in front of us.”

Quarterback Carter Moberg, who is a first-year starter and more of a fresh face for the Thunder, has completed 51-of-91 passes for 1,025 yards and 10 touchdowns while throwing two interceptions this season. His passing yard and touchdown pass totals sit first in the PFC.

Isaiah Woodley lead the PFC with 383 receiving yards. 

Regina Thunder linebacker Stephen Smith leads the PFC with 48 defensive points coming on 14 solo defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, one solo special teams tackle, one quarterback sack and one blocked kick. 

He is following up on a strong 2022 campaign where he was named a second team CJFL all-Canadian all-star.

Along with the hype, Douglas gets extra pumped to go back and play in Regina, because it was his old stomping grounds. 

After finishing his final high school season in 2019, Douglas originally committed to joining the Thunder on June 1, 2020, when most of society was facing various government imposed restrictions.

After those restrictions had been in place for a lengthy stretch leaving uncertainly when most sports would get going in Canada, Douglas actually hung up the cleats and left football to move to Saskatoon for a work opportunity. He resurrected his playing career joining the Hilltops part way through the 2022 campaign.

Douglas said it is special for him to play in Mosaic Stadium.

“It is exciting,” said Douglas. “A lot of my family is going to be there.

“I’ll see some familiar faces there. Even when I look across the line of scrimmage, I see some faces that I played with before, and I’ve played against in high school. It is definitely exciting.

The Hilltops aim to be celebrating a win on Saturday.

“It always fun when you get to play in Mosaic Stadium. I remember doing that for the first time in high school, and now it is just surreal playing in there. It is just a whole different thing.”

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Hilltops have unique vibe so far in 2023 campaign

In season experiences feel new for young squad

The Hilltops charge on to the field to start their season on August 13.

Winning feels new again for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

Actually, all the experiences that go into a football season feel new for a mainly youthful squad. That might sound strange for a Hilltops program that has won 22 CJFL championships in the club’s storied history.

The Hilltops have started 3-0 in the current CJFL regular season and everyone has kind of lived in the moment.

Right now, the focus for this practice week is to get better in order to prepare to face the Regina Thunder this coming Saturday at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium. Both squads head into that contest with identical 3-0 records, and the clash is already getting the vibe of a heavyweight tilt.

The two clubs last met in the PFC final on October 30, 2022 at Mosaic Stadium, where the Thunder pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 39-21 victory. Regina hosted the CJFL championship game on November 12, 2022 and fell 21-19 to the Kelowna, B.C., based Okanagan Sun.

Both the Hilltops and Thunder experienced significant turnover when their respective 2022 campaigns came to a conclusion.

For the Hilltops, a little more time has passed since their last CJFL championship season in 2019. Saskatoon’s CJFL title win in that campaign capped a run of six straight championship wins and also closed a stretch where the Hilltops won nine CJFL championships over a 10 year period.

Riece Kack has 4.5 sacks in three games.

The Hilltops roster in 2023 contains seven players in their fifth and final campaigns of CJFL eligibility, and five of those players were with the team in 2019. The five holdovers from that 2019 Hilltops club that posted a 12-0 record to win the CJFL title include middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert, running back Boston Davidsen and defensive lineman Craig Torgerson.

Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker round out the group of seven playing out their final CJFL campaigns.

Unlike pass seasons in recent times, the Hilltops don’t have a sizable group of fourth and fifth year players who already sport three of four CJFL championship rings. 

Hilltops teams in those seasons did an admirable job of staying in the moment, but there was a feeling back in everyone’s mind that the team would make it to the CJFL title game and capture the Canadian Bowl trophy as CJFL champs.

There was a feeling that no matter what happened with the ups and downs of the season the Hilltops were going to be in the CJFL title game. The focus on being in the presence came from a place where the players wanted to embrace each moment of the campaign knowing time was going to fly by way to fast.

In 2023, Wist, Keating, Wingert, Davidsen and Torgerson are the only Hilltops players who have CJFL championship rings. No one has really thought about being in the Canadian Bowl to play for a CJFL title.

Before the current CJFL campaign got underway, the 2023 Hilltops were hit with a reality check. In the Hilltops Alumni Game played on August 3 at Ron Atchison Field, the current Hilltops were hammered 32-1 by the Alumni Team.

Trey Reider has 716 yards passing in three games.

While the PFC as a conference is going through a “great reset” this season, there was early concern about how 2023 could possibly go for the Hilltops. Over their first three games, they’ve outscored the opposition 149-20.

They wiped out the Edmonton Wildcats 50-2 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on August 13. The Hilltops then traveled to Winnipeg and ran over the Rifles 49-0 on August 20. Back at SMF Field on August 27, the Hilltops corralled the Calgary Colts 50-18.

Davidsen tops the PFC with 458 yards rushing coming on 49 carries and scoring three touchdowns along the ground. He is on track to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in the regular season for a second straight year. In 2022, Davidsen topped the PFC in rushing piling up 1,037 yards on 149 carries to go with seven touchdowns.

Hilltops receiver Drake Douglas sits second in the PFC so far this season with 254 yards receiving having caught 18 passes with one of those going for a touchdown.

Quarterback Trey Reider has been an outstanding signal caller for the Hilltops so far in 2023 completing 45-of-68 passes for 716 yards and eight touchdowns, while throwing one interception.

Hilltops defensive ends Riece Kack and Kai Kukurudza have 4.5 and three quarterback sacks respectively. Wist, Keating, Justin Adamko, Andy Scrivens, Dalton Urban and Denym Mantyka all have single interceptions for Saskatoon this season.

Place kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas has made 9-of-10 field goal attempts for the Hilltops this season. Wist have averaged 39.5 yards per punt on 15 punt attempts.

Xavier Sabo jets upfield on a 33-yard TD run on August 13.

Hilltops legendary head coach Tom Sargeant and his veteran coaching staff seems to be enjoying tackling the type of challenge they haven’t had in about 13 years. They likely revisited how they handled the team in the past when CJFL title didn’t pile up in consecutive years in order to help guide the current squad.

For the coaches, it seems like coaching a more youthful team has become new again.

As the campaign goes on, the Hilltops focus on allowing their graduating players to go out on a high note, which has been a continuing theme for the club certainly since Sargeant became head coach in early December of 1997.

Still, it is cool that the grind of a season can feel new again even for a storied, historic and venerable team like the Hilltops.

’Toppers Davidsen gets player of the week nod, other notes

Boston Davidsen has 458 yards rushing in three games.

This past Wednesday Saskatoon Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen picked up his first PFC player of the week honour for the 2023 campaign.

Davidsen was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week for his efforts in his team’s 50-18 win over the visiting Calgary Colts on August 27 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. In that contest, Davidsen carried the ball 15 times for 190 yards and one touchdown.

A graduate of the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints Football Team, Davidsen is playing out his final season of CJFL eligibility for the Hilltops. He is on pace to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in the regular season for a second straight year.

Regina Thunder linebacker Stephen Smith was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week this past Wednesday for his efforts in his club’s 45-21 victory over the visiting Winnipeg Rifles on August 27 at Leibel Field in Regina. Smith had five solo defensive tackles and nine defensive tackle assists in his team’s win.

He leads the PFC with 48 defensive points coming on 14 solo defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, one solo special teams tackle, one quarterback sack and one blocked kick.

Thunder kicker Shawn Green took honours as the PFC’s special teams player of the week this past Wednesday for his efforts in the August 27 win over the Rifles. Green made all three of his field goal attempts coming from 32, 31 and 17 yards out, and he hit on all five of his convert attempts.

He kicked off five times for 307 yards for an average of 61.4 yards per kick and recorded a rouge on an 80-yard kick. Green punted the ball nine times for 249 yards for an average of 27.7 yards per punt.

• Thunder receiver Isaiah Woodley leads the PFC with 383 receiving yards. Woodley has piled up his yardage on 14 catches and has scored three touchdowns.
• Thunder quarterback Carter Moberg has completed 51-of-91 passes for 1,025 yards and 10 touchdowns while throwing two interceptions this season. His passing yard and touchdown pass totals sit first in the PFC.
• It appears Gregg Drinnan is walking away from the sports writing game after about 52 years and this time it might be for good. He had taken breaks before and cut down on writing only to fire up full steam like he did before those breaks. On a post this past Wednesday on his Taking Note blog, Drinnan wrote he was stepping away from his blog and didn’t know when or even if he would return. He wrote he wanted to get away from social media in the worst way and was looking forward to not turning on a computer. On Sunday, Drinnan posted a picture of a typewriter on his blog that has just finished typing out the phrase, “The end.” Drinnan has been in the sports writing game since 1971 having worked with the Brandon Sun, the Winnipeg Tribune, Regina Leader-Post and Kamloops Daily News. He was a sports editor at both the Leader-Post and the Daily News. After the Daily News folded in January of 2014, Drinnan had mainly produced pieces for his blog. He is best known for his coverage of the WHL, but he has covered sports of all sorts during his career. Here is hoping he can get out and enjoy more time with family and friends.

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Sophomore Johnson becomes cornerstone of Hilltops O-line

Left tackle works like he still needs to earn spot

Davin Johnson (#71) sets up a block for an outside run play.

The Saskatoon Hilltops blindside protector on the offensive line doesn’t believe he has done enough to earn any extra attention.

When Davin Johnson was approached about doing an interview for a feature story on himself, he gave the “who me” look.

The 19-year-old Hilltops sophomore then said he hadn’t done anything special. The words downplayed the fact he became a starter at right tackle last season in the team’s sixth game. Playing alongside four other starters in their respective final campaigns of CJFL eligibility, Johnson held the right tackle starting spot for the rest of the season and won the Hilltops team award for rookie of the year.

This season, Johnson is the starter at left tackle on a Hilltops offensive line that had to be revamped due to graduations that occurred at the end of the 2022 campaign. Along with Johnson, right guard Victoire Bikulo is the only other current player that had previous experience starting experience with the Hilltops offensive line entering 2023.

The work of Johnson, Bikulo, left guard Erik Barsness, centre Matt Noble and right tackle Cody Shumanski have allowed the Hilltops to get out to a 3-0 start. With all the teams in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference having a bye this weekend, the Hilltops get back at it on Saturday, September 9 when they travel to Regina to face the 3-0 Thunder (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium) in a heavyweight tilt.

Johnson said one of the things he likes most about playing offensive line is it seems the guys in that position always seem to form their own brotherhood. He believes that has helped the Hilltops offensive line in the early part of the campaign.

“We’re so close, because we need to be so close to have a perfect play,” said Johnson. “We’re very close with all of our guys, and it is great to be close with everybody.”

Still, the graduate of Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders football still gets surprised when any individual accolades or attention comes his way. Being named the rookie of the year for the Hilltops last season was something Johnson was not expecting.

Davin Johnson, right, has started at left tackle this season.

“I was a bit surprised, because (running back) Charles (Sawi) was the rookie of the year for the CJFL,” said Johnson, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 275 pounds. “I didn’t expect it.

“I thought Charles might have got it. I guess ‘Sarge’ liked what he saw. I guess that I improved.

“I was just surprised.”

Johnson grew up playing hockey for most of his years in his youth growing up. From those hockey roots, he is still closely follows the exploits of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades.

He took up football playing in Saskatoon Minor Football’s North Sask Academy in Grade 8 after being encouraged to try the sport by one of his junior high teachers in Dan Houle, who is a running backs coach with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football team in the U Sports ranks.

At Walter Murray Collegiate, Johnson learned more about playing his position from Marauders offensive line coach Jack Sloboda. Sloboda was the starting right guard on the Hilltops 2016 CJFL championship team and starting left guard on their 2017 CJFL title winner.

During his high school years, Johnson also caught the attention of legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, who is also the principal at Walter Murray.

“He (Sargeant) had a bit of an early read,” said Johnson. “I remember he pulled me out of a class to come talk to me about football.

“My O-line coach (Sloboda) was also a Hilltop. He really recommended to come to this program with how well all the coaching is. That is what led me here.”

As an 18-year-old rookie last season, Johnson said it was an eye-opener, when he first started to train with the Hilltops. He remembers that he got pushed around quite a bit early in training camp in 2022.

Davin Johnson claimed the Hilltops team rookie of the year award in 2022.

With that experience, Johnson got acclimatized to the CJFL game quickly. He made his first start with the Hilltops in a 35-17 win over the Colts in Calgary on September 25, 2022.

“I was just a little bit more confident with myself,” said Johnson. “It was still not to what I needed to be, but I just got a little bit more confident and just kind of got thrown in that Calgary game.

“I played good enough where ‘Sarge’ didn’t notice me, and then he had confidence in me from then on.”

Johnson said the starting players on the offensive line who were in their final campaigns of CJFL eligibility in 2022 in centre Luciano Jolly, left tackle Jayson Kehler, left guard Jordan Bisson and right guard Ethan Paslowski were huge in helping him out.

“All the fifth years were amazing, because they would coach me up,” said Johnson. “It was like we had five or six different coaches on the field.

“They’d always have their little tips that they would give to help you get better.”

With the graduations of Jolly, Kehler, Bisson and Paslowski, Johnson said things were challenging on the Hilltops offensive line heading into the 2023 campaign.

“The winter practices were a little rough,” said Johnson. “We had guys getting through.

Davin Johnson (#71) and a revamped O-line helped get the Hilltops to 3-0.

“Even into camp, we had guys getting through. We had linebackers that we didn’t pick up. We’ve gotten better.

“As we’ve started to come together we are definitely looking pretty good now. We were a little worried at the start.”

Johnson welcomed being moved from right tackle to left tackle heading into the 2023 season. He played left tackle all through his North Sask Academy and high school days, so he has a lot of comfort taking up that spot on the offensive line.

On top of being comfortable at left tackle, Johnson has found that the Hilltops have done a little better job of focusing in on the present this year compared to last year. He believes that his likely due to the fact a little more time has passed since the Hilltops last won the CJFL title back in 2019 on top of the fact the team is more youthful than it has been in the past.

“This year we are definitely more focused on getting better every day knowing that we have to work harder to try and get to that national championship spot,” said Johnson. “Last year, we kind of had the idea that we were already going to be there.

“In our winter practices, ‘Sarge’ would say he thought of us as like we could be a national championship team. Whereas this year it was you guys aren’t good enough. We are going to work harder and maybe we can get to that national championship.

“It is just more focusing on the everyday trying to get better and just see how far we can go with it.”

Looking forward to the rest of the 2023 campaign, Johnson has more modest outlooks.

Davin Johnson and the Hilltops are truly focused on the present.

“I hope that we become one of the best blocking O-lines in the league,” said Johnson. “I hope we can all work together really well and have fun.”

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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