Ochs is a Hilltops all-time great

Left tackle named top offensive lineman for PFC

Mason Ochs, left, was named the PFC’s top O-lineman.

Mason Ochs finally got a big individual honour that had eluded him for the first four years of his CJFL career.

On Friday, Ochs, who helped the Hilltops win four CJFL championships from 2016 to 2019, was named the PFC’s most outstanding offensive lineman. One day earlier, the Saskatoon Hilltops left tackle was named a PFC all-star for the fourth consecutive season, but he finally captured the most outstanding offensive lineman award in his final season of eligibility.

With the Hilltops, newcomers usually spend two seasons as a backup or practicing and don’t usually move into a starting position until at least their third year.

Ochs, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 280 pounds, became a starter at left tackle in his sophomore season in 2017. A PFC all-star and a CJFL all-Canadian all-star nod came during that campaign.

The graduate of Saskatoon’s Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers football team earned both PFC all-star and CJFL all-Canadian all-star accolades again in 2018 and 2019.

Ochs also earned an invite to the training camp of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2019.

While he piled up honours, the PFC’s most outstanding offensive lineman award eluded him. It should be noted that Ochs had stiff competition for that award, when he became a Hilltops starter.

In 2017 that honour was taken by Ochs’ then fourth-year teammate in right tackle Kirk Simonsen.

In 2018 and 2019, Regina Thunder left tackle Logan Ferland claimed the PFC’s most outstanding offensive lineman award. Ferland now plays for the Roughriders and is the team’s starting left guard.

Had Ochs been named the PFC’s most outstanding offensive lineman before the current campaign, he would have been deserving of that honour.

Mason Ochs (#73) walks out to the field with his parents on Oct. 17

With all that said, the fact Ochs got that award this year was extra special due to the fact the 2020 CJFL campaign was lost due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had gripped the world.

The Hilltops practiced together for six weeks in September and October of 2020, but did not take part in any game action. Ochs took part in those sessions hoping he would get a chance to play his final season of eligibility in 2021.

On September 8 of 2020, the CJFL announced players that were slated to turn 22-years-old and 21-years-old for the 2020 campaign would be granted an extra year of eligibility. Those players that would have been 22-years-old in 2020 could play in 2021, and players that would have been 21-years-old in 2020 could play through to 2022.

Ochs was pumped world events broke that he could return to play out his final season of CJFL eligibility in 2021 as a 23-year-old. When the Hilltops were in training camp in August, Ochs said it felt like Christmas to be back playing the game he loved.

He was just one of three players that remained with the Hilltops from the club’s 2016 roster along with right tackle Jonathan Chisholm and boundary corner Jared Giddings.

While this big award finally came, Ochs is honestly one of those players that views team accomplishments as being more important than individual ones.

He helped the Hilltops post a 6-2 regular season record to finish second in the PFC. The Hilltops have won the CJFL title the last six straight times it was contested.

The storied CJFL club will take on the Edmonton Huskies (5-3 regular season, 6-3 overall) in a PFC semifinal on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The Hilltops are aiming to continue on to try and claim another CJFL title. It would write the ultimate ending for the CJFL careers of Ochs, Chisholm, Giddings and linebacker Emmarae Dale if they could graduate as league champions.

Ochs was the only Hilltops player to capture a major PFC award this year.

Konner Johnson (#42) was named a PFC all-star at linebacker.

He was joined by three teammates on the PFC all-star team on Thursday along with another teammate on the PFC’s all-rookie team.

The three other Hilltops players named to the PFC all-star team included defensive tackle Jaxon Funk, outside linebacker Konner Johnson and safety Brant Morrow.

Hilltops defensive end Riece Kack made the PFC’s all-rookie team.

The Huskies had two players pick up major PFC awards. Alex Gayle was named the most outstanding running back and Cheyvez Campbell took honours as the most outstanding defensive back.

The Huskies had eight players named PFC all-stars including offensive lineman Carson Lethbridge, Gayle, receivers Adner St Hilaire and De Shawn Le Jour, quarterback Declan O’Flaherty, defensive lineman Josh Lenz, Campbell and defensive back Maurice Dubois.

Huskies kicker Liane Santos made the all-rookie team.

The Thunder took seven of the PFC’s major awards.

Rylan Sokul claimed honours as the PFC’s most outstanding receiver, most outstanding offensive player and most valuable player.

Carter Shewchuk was named the PFC’s most outstanding quarterback, kicker Eric Maximuik claimed the PFC’s most outstanding special teams player award and defensive lineman Reece McCormick captured PFC rookie of the year honours.

Thunder head coach Scott MacAulay was named the PFC’s coach of the year with the Thunder posting a perfect 8-0 regular season record.

Sokul, Shewchuk, Maximuik and McCormick were all named to the PFC all-star team. Maximuik claimed his all-star nod at place kicker.

Also named to the PFC all-star team from the Thunder were a trio of offensive linemen in Riley Schick, Logan Hubick and Connor Klassen. Joining them from the Thunder on the PFC all-star team are receiver Issac Ford, linebacker Ryan Mills and defensive back Justin McKerracher.

Alex Gayle (#33) was named the PFC’s top running back.

McCormick made the PFC all-rookie team from the Thunder along with Running back Ryland Leichert, receiver Tristan Bergquist and linebacker Stephen Smith.

The Thunder host the Winnipeg Rifles (2-6 regular season, 3-6 overall) in a PFC semifinal contest slated for Sunday at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field in Regina.

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