Turple making plays and soaking in final sprint with Hilltops

Ryan Turple has become a big time playmaker for the Hilltops.

    Ryan Turple is relishing every chance he gets to make a big play with the Saskatoon Hilltops, because he knows those opportunities are finite.

    The 22-year-old fifth-year receiver is playing out the final weeks of his career with the Hilltops and will exhaust his Canadian Junior Football League eligibility once the team’s playoff run wraps up. On Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Turple hauled in a 74 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jordan Walls late in the first quarter to spark the Hilltops out to a 15-0 lead on the visiting Edmonton Wildcats.

    Turple’s touchdown ultimately triggered a romp that saw the Hilltops hammer the Wildcats 51-0. The graduate of Saskatoon’s Tommy Douglas Collegiate took time to soak in the day.

    “Weather wise, it was absolutely beautiful,” said Turple, who Hilltops improved to 6-1. “In terms of the game, we played well. We executed.

Ryan Turple hauls in 74-yard TD catch.

    “We didn’t have that many punts and two-and-outs. I’m happy with our performance today. We are always looking to improve and get better.”

    Turple finished the game hauling three passes for 89 yards and returning four punts for 23 yards. He is having by far his best season with the team setting regular season career highs for receptions (32) and yards (520). His reception and receiving yard totals lead the team.

    Turple’s three touchdown catches matches his career high set a season ago. Besides having a huge impact on the Hilltops receiving corps, Turple has returned 24 punts for 198 yards in the current campaign.

    Like most players when they come to the Hilltops, Turple spent his first three seasons playing behind a talented group of veterans. He kept working to be ready for the day when he would assume a bigger role with the club, which occurred last season when he became a starter.

    “It has been awesome, a dream come true,” said Turple, who has helped the Hilltops win the last three straight CJFL titles. “We knew how deep we were in these last couple of championship years.

    “You wait your turn, and now your time is here. You just have to make the most of those opportunities. I am having a good season so far, and we’re just looking to keep getting better.”

    Turple spent his first three seasons playing behind and learning from a host of talented receivers including Chad Brawn, Evan Kopchynski, Davis Mitchell, Tyson Sawatzky and Evan Turkington.

Ryan Turple heads upfield on a punt return.

    Brawn, Kopchynski, Mitchell and Turkington graduated following the 2015 CJFL championship win and Sawatzky exhausted his eligibility following last season’s CJFL championship win.

    “They are really good guys,” said Turple, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 180 pounds. “I have a lot of great relationships built with them.

    “They’re great mentors. They show you how to do things the right way. Now that I am in my fifth year, I am continuing to share that tradition on with the younger guys.

    “It is an awesome cycle. It is good to continue that.”

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant couldn’t stress enough how key Turple has been for the team this season.

    “Ryan (Turple) has just been a lights out football player for us this year,” said Sargeant. “His receiving play, his special teams play, he is a fifth-year leader that is playing high end football that is making a massive difference for us.

    “I am proud to have him having the impact that he is doing.”

    When it comes to mentoring the Hilltops young receivers, Turple has a blood family connection in that department due to the fact his younger brother Matthew is a rookie receiver with the team this season. Ryan said the players’ parents in father, Tim, and mother, Joely Larson, were really excited about that fact. Ryan has enjoyed what has been a rare chance to play on the same team as Matthew.

Adam Machart piles up 221 yards rushing on 12 carries.

    “It has been something pretty special,” said Ryan Turple. “We have never really had the chance to play together, because high school I was just a year too old.

    “With the fifth year Hilltops eligibility having him on the team, it has been awesome so far. I am really excited. My parents are obviously pretty proud.

    “It has been very special. It is going to be something I look back on my whole life and cherish.”

    As for Sunday’s game, the Hilltops went ahead 8-0 on a one-yard touchdown run from running back Logan Fischer and a 31-yard missed field goal single from safety/kicker James Vause.

    After Turple’s long touchdown reception, the Wildcats conceded a safety to give the Hilltops a 17-0 lead, and Vause hit an 11-yard field goal to push the edge out to 20-0. With 52.6 seconds to play in the first half, Walls hit sophomore receiver Tanner Rhode with a 31-yard touchdown toss to put the Hilltops up 27-0.

    Just 65 seconds into the third quarter, Adam Machart ran home a major from 73 yards out to extend the Hilltops lead to 34-0.

    Walls hit fourth-year veteran receiver Sam Mike with a nine-yard touchdown toss and Vause hit a 36-yard field goal before the third quarter expired to put the Hilltops up 44-0. Sophomore running back Ben Abrook rounded out the game’s scoring running in a touchdown from 18 yards out for the Hilltops.

Evan Kretzer returns an interception for the Hilltops.

    Machart ran the ball 12 times for 221 yards to lead all ground gainers on Sunday. Walls connected on 10-of-19 passes for 213 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions before giving way to the Hilltops backup quarterbacks.

    Defensive lineman Riley Pickett had three tackles and a quarterback sack for the Hilltops. Pickett leads the Hilltops with nine sacks this season. Rookie defensive back Evan Kretzer had an interception for Saskatoon.

    Backup quarterback Cody Olson had the Wildcats best performance offensively completing 8-of-19 passes for 70 yards and one interception, while carrying the ball nine times for 108 yards. Defensive back Jayden Dalke topped the Wildcats with seven tackles.

    Sunday’s win ensures the Hilltops will host one of the Prairie Football Conference’s two semifinal playoff contests. They close the regular season with a heavyweight battle against the 7-0 Edmonton Huskies this coming Saturday in Edmonton at 7 p.m. local time at Clarke Park.

Ben Abrook runs in a rushing major from 18 yards out for the Hilltops.

    The winner of that contest will finish first in the PFC. The Huskies thumped the Rifles (3-4) in Winnipeg 44-7 last Saturday.

    In Regina on Sunday, the host Thunder improved to 5-2 downing the visiting Calgary Colts 33-15. The Colts, who lost the last three straight PFC finals to the Hilltops, fell to 2-5 and were eliminated from playoff contention.
    The Thunder will finish third in the PFC, while the Rifles are guaranteed a fourth place finish.

    “I am getting anxious now,” said Turple. “We are coming around playoff time.

    “We know what is on the line. We know what our goal is. It is just time to lock in and go to work and see what we can do.”

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