Hering has signature moment, aims for another in final playoff run with Hilltops

Hilltops DE Tristan Hering, right, sacks Rams QB Duncan Little in 2018.

    Tristan Hering will always be cemented in Saskatoon Hilltops lore, but he still aims to create one last sequel.

    The fifth-year defensive end has helped the Hilltops win the last four of their current run of capturing five straight CJFL championships. In last year’s CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl, Hering had his signature moment with the team.

    On the second play of the clash with the Langley Rams on Nov. 17, 2018 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Hering broke through and levelled Rams quarterback Duncan Little. That seemed the set the tone in the contest as the Hilltops proceeded to roll to a 24-0 lead and ultimately claimed a 58-21 victory over the visitors from British Columbia.

Tristan Hering gets set to rush the quarterback.

    Hering, who is a graduate of the Humboldt Collegiate Institute Mohawks nine-man football team, has fond memories of the sack that started the Hilltops romp in last year’s CJFL final.

    “It was good, because it made a big statement against obviously a team we haven’t seen before,” said Hering. “It was a nice way to start the game and let them know where they were.

    “I think it set the tone, because when they came in, they were shivering and cold. We could see they were used to their B.C. weather, and us coming out that hard really scared them.”

    The 22-year-old would like to have another signature moment in helping the Hilltops win an unprecedented sixth straight CJFL championship. Saskatoon is the only team in the history of the CJFL to win five straight national titles.

    The Hilltops (8-0) begin their march through the CJFL post-season on Sunday, when they host the Edmonton Wildcats (2-6) in a Prairie Football Conference semifinal contest at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

Tristan Hering (#65) gets one of his four sacks this season.

    Saskatoon enters that contest having won its last 27 straight games in a row including action in the regular season and playoffs. Due to winning the last five straight CJFL titles, the Hilltops are looking to extend their CJFL record post-game winning streak that currently sits at 16 straight games.

    Last year’s Canadian Bowl ended with the Hilltops taking a knee to end the game, and the club’s eight fifth-year players that season were on the field for that final snap. Having watched Adam Benkic, Bobby Ehman, Adam Ewanchyna, Connor Guillet, Cody Peters, Jason Price, Kirk Simonsen and Jordan Walls all graduate from the team having each won their fifth CJFL championship ring, Hering would like to have that experience as well.

Tristan Hering (#65) makes a sack on a Winnipeg Rifles quarterback.

    “That is the goal anyway,” said Hering, who stands 6-feet and weighs 220 pounds. “Seeing them do it makes it that much more realistic to get five years and five rings.”

    In helping the Hilltops post an 8-0 record for the second straight regular season, Hering had a solid final regular season for the Saskatoon side piling up a team high four sacks, while adding in 18 total tackles.

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant remembers Hering playing well in the club’s spring camp back in 2015 and noted that likely foreshadowed what was to come.

    “To start off, he was our rookie of the camp out of Humboldt right off the bat and was our top player we identified,” said Sargeant. “He’s played a lot of football for the Hilltops.

Tristan Hering springs into action on the defensive line.

    “He’s been a great special teamer. In the last couple of years, he has been our rusher and boundary end player and led our team in sacks this year. Tristan (Hering) is just who he is.

    “He is unsung. He just does his job. He works hard during the day, and he works hard at night. He probably gets more out of a 24-hour day than most players on my team.”

    Sargeant has great memories of Hering’s early sack in last year’s Canadian Bowl during that frigid November day game played in front of 1,465 spectators.

    “It brought great energy,” said Sargeant. “I remember the crowd and the fans and it just turned electric.

    “Look at us last week (in a 48-8 regular season win over the Wildcats last Sunday). We got six sacks, and he (Hering) was part of the sack brigade and that just brings energy to the crowd, to the defence, to the other players and the coaching staff. We’re going to need a lot of sacks moving forward, if we are going to keep moving this team in the right direction.

Tristan Hering (#65) is all pumped up after making a sack.

    “As a fifth-year player, we always expect our fifth-year players to come out and step up and do their best and play their best. That is what we anticipate to happen in each game we play. We expect them to be the best, and if they are, we’re going to be in good shape.”

    Hering has enjoyed playing on the Hilltops defensive line this season along with tackles Jesse McNabb and Jaxon Funk and end Caleb Haight. Hering and McNabb were the two returning starters on that unit.

    “We came along ways,” said Hering. “(Jaxon) Funk is having an unreal year.

Tristan Hering sizes up an offensive formation.

    “(Caleb) Haight has been playing good. Everyone is just coming together. It has been great.”

    Along with the success on the field, Hering was able to experience some special family moments with the Hilltops. He joined the venerable Saskatoon junior club in 2015 due to the fact his older brother, Tyrell, was on the team as a standout defensive lineman.

    Tyrell graduated from the Hilltops following the 2015 CJFL championship campaign.

    This year, Tristan’s younger brother, Dawson, is a rookie linebacker playing on the team’s practice roster.

    Tristan said those opportunities to play alongside his siblings with the Hilltops was something you could never put a price on.

    “It was awesome,” said Hering. “I got to play with my older brother one year in high school, but I never did get to play on the same team with my younger brother.

 

Tristan Hering (#65) enter SMF Field with his parents.

  “It is a good way to finish my last year of football.”

    The Hilltops and Wildcats will meet for the third time in four weeks and will be going at it in their first playoff encounter since 2013. Back in 2013, the Hilltops thumped the Wildcats 41-10 in a PFC semifinal clash.

    Sargeant said this is the time every year the Hilltops look forward to.

    “It is a different season,” said Sargeant. “Here we go.

    “This is why you play the eight games to try and get in a good spot. We’re in first place, so now we have to defend our dirt. At the end of the day, they are coming into our place, so we have to make sure this isn’t a good place; it is an uncomfortable place to play.

    “We need great energy from our fans, and more importantly great energy from our players to give to the fans. As I’ve said, we just need to come out and execute a great game plan, play fast and play physical and get the job done and move on to the next week. That is all it is.”

Hermann takes PFC offensive player of the week nod

Tyler Hermann (#12) was the PFC’s offensive player of the week.

    Tyler Hermann earned a league tip of the cap for surpassing 300 yards passing in a game for the first time in his CJFL career.

    On Wednesday, the fifth-year quarterback for the Saskatoon Hilltops was named the offensive player of the week for the PFC. 
    Last Sunday against the Edmonton Wildcats, Hermann, who is in his first season as the Hilltops starting signal caller, completed 20-of-26 passes for 364 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.

    Powered by Hermann’s efforts, the Hilltops thumped the Wildcats 48-8 to finish the CJFL regular season with an 8-0 record for the second straight year.

    On the season, Hermann started all of the Hilltops eight regular season games completing 123-of-192 passes for 1,908 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He had the best completion percentage in the PFC at 64.1 per cent and his 17 touchdown passed equaled Regina Thunder quarterback Blake Scherle for tops in the conference.

McNabb lands PFC defensive player of the week honours

Jesse McNabb was the PFC’s defensive player of the week.

    Jesse McNabb made a loud lasting impression during his final CJFL regular season game resulting in a weekly league honour.

    On Wednesday, the veteran defensive tackle, who is in his final campaign of CJFL eligibility, was named the defensive player of the week for the PFC. Last Sunday against the Edmonton Wildcats, McNabb piled up three sacks and 6.5 total tackles.

    With McNabb anchoring the defence, the Hilltops hammered the Wildcats 48-8 to conclude the CJFL regular season with an 8-0 record for the second straight year.

    On the season, McNabb posted three sacks and 26.5 total tackles.

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