Jolly centre of focus and fun on Hilltops offensive line

Luciano Jolly has had a standout season as the Hilltops centre.

As a backup centre, Luciano Jolly created the signature fun off-field moment that will be remembered forever by the Saskatoon Hilltops 2019 CJFL championship winning team.

Following a 49-22 victory over the Winnipeg Rifles on October 6, 2019 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, a photo I took of then fifth-year right guard Taylon Elderkin running the ball for a 13 yard gain ran with the game story posted on this blog. The picture was placed as a solo post on my Twitter account.

Jolly and Elderkin are long time best friends having played football together during their high school days with the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings. When Jolly discovered the photo, he sent it to a site called Linemanprobs.com.

Linemanprobs.com ran the photo on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds and the picture went viral racking up views.

“Seeing him run for 13 yards, it could have been a touchdown in my opinion, but it is what it is,” said Jolly. “I saved it immediately, sent it into that linemen page and it kind of just blew up from there.”

Jolly said it is the dream of every offensive lineman to touch the ball. Now as the Hilltops starting centre this season, Jolly touches the ball on every play as he snaps it back to the quarterback.

Still, the other four members of the offensive line might touch the ball the rare time on a trick play or recovering a fumble.

Looking back on that moment of Elderkin’s photo from 2019, Jolly thought that helped keep things fun and in a positive groove for the offensive line and team.

Luciano Jolly, right, opens a hole for Boston Davidsen.

“We were already like a tight brotherhood I guess you could say,” said Jolly, who stands 6-feet and weighs 260 pounds. “Seeing one of us make it up higher and getting the recognition we finally wanted, that just made it 10 times better.”

This season, Jolly is doing a little more than helping provide levity off the field. As the starting centre, Jolly is looked upon to be the leader on the offensive line, and he is responsible for calling out blocking adjustments.

The 22-year-old has played centre on the offensive line since Grade 9. With the Hilltops, he toiled as backup for his first three seasons helping the Hilltops win CJFL championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019. After the 2020 season was lost due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, Jolly was elated to move into the starter’s role this season.

“I don’t know how to put this,” said Jolly, whose Hilltops (3-2) host the Edmonton Huskies (4-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at SMF Field. “It feels like I’m just finally earning my place like I’ve been riding the bench for so long.

“Finally, I’ve moved up and this is my spot now.”

Jolly said he was ready to take on the starter’s role and believes the Hilltops offensive line has been communicating and working together well as a unit. It seemed natural for him to step in and call out the adjustments on the offensive line.

“I’ve kind of been in that position since Grade 9, so it is nothing really new for me,” said Jolly. “It is nice being able to have the guys communicate.

The viral Taylon Elderkin run on Instagram from 2019.

“I need to say something to them, and they say it right back. We automatically know what we are doing on that play or just getting people riled up.”

Jolly’s play has pleased legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. Sargeant said Jolly put in the work to be ready to become the starting centre, and the hard work is paying off.

“First thing first, Luciano paid the price in his first three years in terms of just being on the practice roster and being a backup and developing,” said Sargeant. “We thrust him into the starting lineup, and he has been one of our more consistent football players.

“Our centre position is something we were concerned about. Luciano has come and erased those question marks or doubts. He has been an outstanding performer.

“As I said, he has been a real difference maker this year, very proud of him.”

Sargeant admitted that Jolly could have started in the 2019 campaign, if then fifth-year centre Patrick Arno had gone down to injury. Arno was in his fourth full season as the Hilltops starting centre in 2019 and had a big edge over Jolly in the experience department.

This season, Sargeant said only three-time all-Canadian all-star left tackle Mason Ochs has performed better on the offensive line than Jolly has.

“Luciano is probably performing at the second highest level right now in terms of doing his job and doing it with physicality and understanding and executing his assignments,” said Sargeant. “I’m very impressed and very happy with how he is playing.”

Luciano Jolly, with hand on ball, calls adjustments on the O-line.

Jolly said he enjoyed learning and playing behind Arno and the other veterans he was teammates with on the offensive line who have since graduated from the program. From the veterans, Jolly learned about the focused and fun vibe the offensive line has and works to pass that down to the younger offensive linemen on the team.

“It is a great group of guys,” said Jolly. “We always like to say that we’re like a pod of dolphins, because dolphins are smart and they always communicate with each other and everything.

“We always like to say we are a pod of dolphins just to keep us like together.”

After last season was nixed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jolly has enjoyed playing games that much more this season. Going into Sunday’s clash with the Huskies, he has that big game excited feel.

The winner of that CJFL regular season clash will hold second place in the Prairie Football Conference. The Hilltops claimed the first encounter between the two sides 18-17 on August 22 at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton.

A win by Saskatoon on Sunday would allow the Hilltops to sweep the season series 2-0 and give them the standings tiebreaker with the Huskies.

Jolly said his Hilltops still have to show how good they really can be and the encounter with the Huskies provides a chance to do that.

Luciano Jolly (#58) is looking forward to big game days with the Hilltops.

“We’re just trying to prove ourselves,” said Jolly. “That is our second place spot, and we want it.

“We want to go get it.”

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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