Kicker Abel-Douglas starts hot for Hilltops

Teijon Abel-Douglas boots a field goal for the Hilltops.

Teijon Abel-Douglas embraces the pressure that place kickers face in the sport of football.

The 18-year-old Humboldt, Sask., product has had ice in his veins at the start of his CJFL career with the Saskatoon Hilltops when it comes to kicking field goals. Abel-Douglas had made all five of his field goal attempts during the Hilltops first four games, and he just graduated from high school this past June at Humboldt Collegiate Institute.

His first practices in training camp with the Hilltops were a little rough, but things soon skyrocketed in an upward direction.

“I think a lot of it is just trust from the coaches and trust from the team,” said Abel-Douglas. “In practices, I gained quite a bit of momentum.

“Misses were becoming less of a thing as I got used to doing my job. Once you can leave the aspect of all the pressure that is built up from the crowd, you have to trust what you’ve done.”

Abel-Douglas and the Hilltops (2-2) are looking to end a two game losing streak when they host the Winnipeg Rifles (1-3) this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Saskatoon’s two losses have both been heartbreakers to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder. Thunder claimed a 16-13 victory Sept. 11 at SMF Field and took the return match 30-27 this past Saturday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

In those encounters against the Thunder, Abel-Douglas was tabbed with going head-to-head against veteran Regina kicker Eric Maximuik, who is in his fourth full CJFL season. Abel-Douglas went 2-for-2 in the field goal department for the Hilltops in each of those outings against the Thunder.

Ultimately, Maximuik had more opportunities in those contests than Abel-Douglas did. In the Sept. 11 game at SMF Field, Maximuik connected on 3-of-4 field goals including a 51-yarder winner on the game’s last play.

In the game this past Saturday at Mosaic Stadium, the 22-year-old went 3-for-3 in the field goal department.

“Of course, you want to be the best,” said Abel-Douglas, who stands 6-feet and weighs 145 pounds. “Watching him (Maximuik) kick a 51-yarder, all you can do is applaud it.

Teijon Abel-Douglas is 5-for-5 in field goals this season.

“It is something everyone dreams about especially as a kicker. Of course, I want to be the best. I don’t like to compare myself all the time.

“There is a moment where you are like, ‘Oh, I wish that was me.’ Of course, I wish that was me kicking that one for the win.”

After those encounters, Abel-Douglas visited with Maximuik and came away feeling enthusiastic.

“He (Maximuik) is a great kicker,” said Abel-Douglas. “I’ve talked to him after both games.

“He is a great guy and very humble. You can never go wrong with a guy like that. He works hard on his craft.

“All I can do is respect that and learn from him.”

Abel-Douglas’ performance in the early going has impressed legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, especially the fact the 18-year-old rookie hit pressure kicks for the Hilltops in those tight setbacks against the Thunder.

“He (Abel-Douglas) has done a real good job,” said Sargeant. “He has come in here and he’s worked real hard.

“He has taken advantage of his opportunities. He is five-for-five and doing what we want him to do. There is a young kid taking advantage of opportunities and moments.

“We’re happy he is here. He is a kid out of Humboldt that has just got a bright, bright future here.”

Growing up in Humboldt, Abel-Douglas focused heavily on playing soccer, and he also competed seriously in track and field.

In Grade 10, Abel-Douglas left soccer and track and field behind to take up football becoming a receiver and kicker for the Mohawks football team at Humboldt Collegiate Institute.

He said it was a bit of an adjustment going from kicking a soccer ball to a football.

“The big difference was just honestly the shape of the ball,” said Abel-Douglas. “The shape of the ball and your steps they are a lot more precise when you are kicking a football.

Teijon Abel-Douglas made four key field goals against the Thunder.

“You have to be a lot more hit the ball in a place where that ball is going to fly straight. On a soccer ball, it is just all round. You have to find that sweet spot on a football, and it did take me awhile to get used to.

“I struggled in Grade 10 for sure. Great coaching, and I am learning every day even here. All these little tips you go into a game and even in practice they make me a lot better of a kicker and more accurate.”

He also had highlights playing receiver too in his high school years.

“I think the track speed really helped,” said Abel-Douglas. “On short passes and when we could get the ball over the top, I was pretty good.

“I didn’t really return punts, but I got one chance in a game and took it back. I think it was pretty successful. Our quarterback would throw perfect balls and just being in the right spot at the right time and it came together.”

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, Abel-Douglas only played one game in his Grade 12 year in the 2020 campaign. He wanted to play sports after high school but wasn’t sure if that would happen due to the pandemic’s impact on the world.

When receiver/kicker Rylan Kleiter elected to join the University of Regina Rams in the U Sports ranks instead of rejoining the Hilltops for one last CJFL campaign, the Hilltops were looking for a kicker. Abel-Douglas was approached by one of his high school coaches about going after the Hilltops open kicking spot.

Following that talk, Abel-Douglas made a video recording and sent it in to Sargeant. Sargeant invited Abel-Douglas to the Hilltops spring camp.

He came to main camp and joined with main roster with fellow new kicker in Saskatoon product Carter Sirman, who made his only field goal attempt in the Hilltops 18-17 regular season opening win against the Huskies in Edmonton on August 22.

Abel-Douglas has enjoyed practising with Sirman. As the Hilltops head into the second half of the regular season, Abel-Douglas’s confidence is high, and he is looking to tackle kicking in cold weather games.

“You have to stay in there and believe in yourself,” said Abel-Douglas. “With all the trust from these guys, it has been smooth sailing so far.

Teijon Abel-Douglas has high confidence for the rest of the season.

“Come winter, it is going to be a new challenge. I have to be ready for that mentally, and that is also a big thing. You can’t say you’re going miss, or else that is that outcome.

“It is all about what you believe and how strong mentally you are when these November games come along.”

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