Head coach wants
more consistency from team
 |
| Tom Sargeant didn’t like what he saw on video from the Hilltops last game. |
When the team’s long time legendary head coach checks out the video of his club’s 19-16 CJFL regular season loss this past Sunday to the Rifles in Winnipeg, he was dismayed. Sargeant wondered if the visiting team he was watching on video was really the squad he was coaches.
“When you watch the film, at times I didn’t recognize what this football team was,” said Sargeant. “Even though it was a 19-16 game, I wasn’t happy with our offence.
“I wasn’t happy with our defence and special teams at times. We’re just inconsistent. We’re not playing with the urgency, the intensity that needs to happen consistently for you to try and be at a great level.”
The
Hilltops dropped to 2-1 with the loss to the Rifles, while the Winnipeg side
improved to 1-2. In the contest itself, the Hilltops turned the ball over four
times, while the Rifles gave up the ball three times.
Winnipeg
outgained Saskatoon in net offensive yards 383 to 345. Those little differences
ultimately helped the Rifles exit the contest with a three-point win.
“At the end of the day, you just see on the film and you learn from what you made your mistakes on,” said Sargeant. “Obviously, what you see is what you coach.
“We have to coach better. They have to play better. The performance is unacceptable for a Hilltops standard, and it doesn’t get more clearer than that.”
 |
| Bryson McNeil (#9) threw for 295 yards last Sunday. |
Still, the Hilltops found themselves having a number of stops and starts in that contest.
“We have a long ways to go to get this team playing at a level that I thought we’d be at by now, but we’re not,” said Sargeant. “I own that.
“I want to get this right.”
Hilltops right tackle Victoire Bikulo, who earned a starting role this season in his second campaign with the team, said the bus ride home from Winnipeg was the most quiet bus ride he’d ever been on. Bikulo said he wasn’t happy with how he played in that contest.
After the Hilltops arrived back home to Saskatoon, Bikulo began watching film at 4 a.m. on Monday to do his part in self-examining what he did wrong.
With entire Prairie Football Conference the Hilltops play out of on a bye week, they will return to action on Saturday, September 10, when they host their provincial rivals the 3-0 Regina Thunder at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Bikulo said everyone with the Hilltops will be more dialed in during practices as that contest approaches.
“Going into the next game, it is just practice hard and physical,” said Bikulo. “You have something to prove no matter whether you are a fifth year, a first year, you always have something to prove.
“There is always somebody that can take your spot. You just have to work hard, show up to practice, be ready to learn, be very attentive, stay focused and focus on your game and your craft. Everything else can come after practice.
“Once you hit the field, it is all about football, and there are no more distractions from there on out. It is just all seriousness and toughness the whole practice.”
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| Boston Davidsen, left, piled up 168 yards rushing last Sunday. |
“Anytime we show up, people are excited to play us,” said Sargeant. “We’re going to get their best.
“When you don’t bring your best, then you lose games. That is what took place. Now, we have no time to feel sorry for ourselves, because now we have to get ready for Regina Thunder.
“The tape they’re putting out I’m jealous of. That is good tape they are putting out, and we aren’t putting out that same tape.”
Johnson captures
second PFC player of the week nod
 |
| Konner Johnson was named the PFC defensive player of the week. |
On Wednesday, Johnson was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week for his effort this past Sunday, when the Hilltops dropped a 19-16 heartbreaker to the Rifles in Winnipeg. In that contest, Johnson piled up eight total tackles and returned an interception 11 yards.
Johnson, who is playing out his final season of CJFL eligibility, took home PFC defensive player of the week honours after Week 1 for his performance in helping the Hilltops down the visiting Rifles 19-10 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on August 14.
In the Hilltops three games this season, Johnson has 15.5 total tackles, one sack, two interceptions and two pass knockdowns to sit second in the PFC in defensive points with 46 points.
Rifles kicker Donovan Downing was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week. In his team’s win over the Hilltops, Downing made all four of his field goal attempts including the game-winning kick from 10 yards out with 36 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Downing made his one conversion attempt and kicked off once for 51 yards. He punted the eight times for 299 yards for an average of 37.4 yards per kick.
Regina Thunder star quarterback Carter Shewchuk was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week helping his squad thump the Huskies in Edmonton 43-14 this past Sunday. In that game, Shewchuk completed 26-of-33 passes for 367 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran the ball three times for 38 yards.
Roughriders alum
Hughes coming to End Zone Dinner
 |
| A Neal Hughes card. |
The End Zone Dinner will be held on Saturday, September 10 at the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. Doors open for the dinner at 4:15 p.m. with food to be served at 5:15 p.m. The funds raised at the dinner go towards the Hilltops scholarship fund.
Hughes, who is from Regina, played 11 CFL seasons at fullback for the Roughriders from 2004 to 2014 helping the team to Grey Cup wins in 2007 and 2013. The 2013 championship was won at the Roughriders historic home park in Taylor Field.
During his time with the Roughriders, Hughes mainly focused on blocking duties as a fullback or from a tight end position and covered kicks on special teams. He also showed his versatility in being able to make big plays running the football, catching it out of the backfield or punting it when required.
Before joining the Roughriders, Hughes played six seasons with the Regina Rams as their star running back. He suited up for the Rams as a rookie in 1998, when they played their final season in the CJFL capturing their 15th and final CJFL championship.
Hughes suited up with the Rams during their first five seasons in the U Sports ranks as the University of Regina Rams helping them advance to the U Sports championship game – the Vanier Cup – in 2000. The Rams fell 42-39 in that contest to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.
Following the End Zone Dinner, the Hilltops will face their provincial rivals in the Regina Thunder at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, which is right next to the Gordie Howe Sports Centre on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.
Single tickets for the dinner are $100 or a table of eight can be bought for $725.
Tickets can be purchased online by clicking on a link right here.
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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