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| The Hilltops get set to make a short yardage play. |
The skid is the rear view mirror, but it has not been forgotten by the Saskatoon Hilltops.
Actually,
it is a constant reminder for the current members of the team to put in the
work and focus on getting better. As far as the 2022 CJFL season is concerned,
the Hilltops aren’t going to be able to show up on game day and overwhelm an opponent
with their storied history that has seen them win 22 CJFL championships since
the modern version of the team was formed in 1947.
CJFL foes
take the field in 2022 with the belief that they can beat the Hilltops. They
have visions of being able to get past the Hilltops and go all the way.
With all
that in mind, it is still possible the Hilltops could ultimately exit the 2022
season with a 23rd CJFL title. While the veer of invincibility isn’t
there to seemingly give the Hilltops an advantage on the scoreboard before even
taking the field, they still have the players to get it done when the dust
settles.
When the Hilltops
started the 2022 season winning their first two games, there was a feeling the
campaign could be like the remarkable dominant campaigns like the venerable
CJFL squad has had in the past.
That came
crashing down after the Hilltops lost three straight to fall to 2-3. Up until
that time, the Hilltops hadn’t lost three games in the regular season since the
1993 campaign, when they posted a 5-3 mark and fell in the PFC final to the
Regina Rams, who moved to the U Sports ranks as the University of Regina Rams
in 1999.
This was
the first time the Hilltops had lost three games in a regular season along with
three in a row under legendary head coach Tom Sargeant, who is the all-time
wins leader for post-secondary amateur football in Canada. Sargeant became Hilltops
head coach before the start of the 1998 campaign.
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| Carter McLean runs downfield for the Hilltops. |
The first
two losses in the streak were heartbreakers. The Hilltops fell 19-16 to the
Rifles in Winnipeg on August 28 after the Rifles kicked the winning field goal
with 36 seconds remaining to play in the fourth quarter.
Following
that contest, the Hilltops proceeded to drop a 29-21 overtime decision to the
Regina Thunder at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on September 10. The Hilltops
were leading that game 21-14, and the Rifles scored the tying touchdown with
16.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to force overtime on a
third-and-eight play from the Saskatoon 31 yard line.
While those
two contests could have easily gone the Hilltops way with the change of one or
two plays, there were no “what ifs” on September 17, when they dropped a 23-7
decision to the Thunder at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. The Thunder outperformed
the Hilltops on offence, defence and special teams in that encounter.
After three
straight losses with the third setback being a bad one, legitimate doubt
started to creep in with how the 2022 season could ultimately play out for the
Hilltops. They looked like their 2-3 record at that point in time.
Now, the Hilltops have bounced back from that skid with two straight wins. On September 25, they dumped the Colts in Calgary 35-17 and this past Sunday they bombed the Edmonton Wildcats 64-7 at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta.
The Hilltops have a CJFL playoff berth clinched with a 4-3 mark. They could potentially host a PFC semifinal contest with the combination of two results.
The Hilltops need to win their final regular season game on Sunday, October 16, when they host the Colts (2-5) at 1 p.m. at SMF Field. Also on that day, the Hilltops need the Edmonton Huskies (5-2) to fall to the Thunder (7-0) in Regina to be able to move to second in the PFC standings to host a PFC semifinal.
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| Riece Kack leads the PFC with 6.5 sacks. |
The lone head-to-head encounter between the Hilltops and Huskies was taken by the Saskatoon side 38-10 on August 21 at SMF Field, which gives the standing tiebreaker to the ’Toppers.
Saskatoon has won two straight due to getting more consistent play at quarterback and piling up big yards on the ground. The Hilltops coaches elected to start 20-year-old Trey Reider for the past two games over 22-year-old veteran Damon Dutton.
In the September 25 win over the Colts, Reider completed 16-of-24 passes for 191 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Saskatoon also piled up 269 yards rushing as a team in that contest.
During the victory this past Sunday over the Wildcats, Reider completed 16-of-20 passes for 207 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. The Hilltops piled up 303 yards rushing along the ground as a team.
While Reider is the starter at the moment, the Hilltops may still need Dutton to come up with solid performances like he has in the past before the losing skid, if Reider gets injured or he struggles. During eight regular season games in 2021, Dutton put up solid numbers completing 127-of-183 passes for 1,528 yards and 12 touchdowns, while throwing six interceptions.
Dutton came up clutch in the Hilltops 33-31 PFC semifinal win over the Huskies completing 21-of-39 passes for 285 yards and one touchdown, while throwing one interception. He hit veteran receiver Dillon Heintz with a five-yard touchdown toss with 21.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to win that contest, which goes down as a CJFL classic.
The Hilltops lead the PFC in rushing with 1,463 yards. Star power running back Boston Davidsen is the PFC’s top ground gainer carrying the ball 133 times for 891 yards and five touchdowns.
On defence, the Hilltops have given up the fewest points in the PFC at 115 and the second fewest yards in the conference at 2,594.
Hilltops outside
linebacker Konner Johnson leads the PFC in defensive points with 108 points coming
on 28 solo defensive tackles, 12 defensive tackle assists, three solo special
teams tackles, two special teams tackle assists, two quarterback sacks, five
pass deflections and four interceptions.
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| The Hilltops aim to build on their run of two straight wins. |
’Toppers
middle linebacker Matt Wist sits fourth in the PFC in defensive points with
93.5 points coming on 35 solo defensive tackles, 18 defensive tackle assists, a
half quarterback sack and an interception.
Saskatoon defensive
end Riece Kack leads the PFC with 6.5 quarterback sacks.
On special
teams, Hilltops 17-year-old rookie running back and kick return Charles Sawi
has become a threat that could run the ball back on any play.
The
Hilltops have playmakers all over the place. The idea that the CJFL
championship trophy - Canadian Bowl - could return to reside in the team’s
clubhouse on Kilburn Avenue in November is not out the realm of possibilities.
Davidsen gets PFC offensive
player of the week nod
 |
| Boston Davidsen took home a player of the week award. |
Boston Davidsen ripped off some big runs which resulted in his first conference player of the week nod for the 2022 campaign.
On Wednesday, the Hilltops 21-year-old star power running back was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week for his work in his team’s 64-7 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta., this past Sunday. In that contest, Davidsen carried the ball 12 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
He had a season-long 74 yard run in that contest and ran in one of his major scores from 32 yards out.
Davidsen leads the PFC in rushing carrying the ball 133 times for 891 yards and five touchdowns.
Last season, Davidsen finished second in the PFC in rushing carrying the ball 98 times for 634 yards and six touchdowns.
On Wednesday night, Davidsen won the fan vote as the Fan’s Choice for CJFL player of the week.
Sawi nabs second
special teams player of the week award
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| Charle Sawi picked up his second player of the week honour this season. |
Charles Sawi seemingly makes big plays every time he touches the football, and it has resulted in second PFC player of the week award for the 2022 campaign.
On Wednesday, the Hilltops 17-year-old rookie running back was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week for his role in his club’s 64-7 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta., this past Sunday.
Sawi returned the opening kickoff of the second half 96 yards for a touchdown. He also returned a missed field goal 32 yards.
On offence, Sawi carried the ball five times for 60 yards, which included a 34-yard run. Against the Wildcats, Sawi piled up 188 all-purpose yards.
This marked the second time this season that Sawi was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week.
Edmonton Huskies defensive back Paul Loggale was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week. He had two interceptions, two pass knockdowns and blocked a kick in his team’s 33-8 home victory over the Winnipeg Rifles this past Sunday.
PFC semifinal
matchups have been determined
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| The Thunder are the top playoff seed in the PFC. |
The matchups for the PFC semifinals have been determined for the 2022 CJFL post-season, and only the location for one of those contests needs to be determined.
With all PFC teams still having one regular season game left to play, the conference semifinals will see the Regina Thunder take on the Winnipeg Rifles and the Edmonton Huskies face the Saskatoon Hilltops. Those games are slated to be held on Sunday, October 23 with the times still to be determined.
The Thunder have locked up first place in the PFC with a 7-0 record, and they will host the Rifles. The Rifles, who are 3-4, are locked into fourth place in the PFC thanks to winning their lone head-to-head encounter 31-28 with the 2-5 Calgary Colts.
The Huskies, who are 5-2, will face the Hilltops, who are 4-3, but it is still up in the air if that contest will be in Edmonton or Saskatoon. The Hilltops hold the standings tiebreaker between the two sides due to winning the lone head-to-head encounter between the two clubs 38-10 on August 21 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
In order to have a chance to host the PFC semifinal, the Hilltops need to win their final regular season game on Sunday, October 16, when they host the Colts (2-5) at 1 p.m. at SMF Field. Also on that day if they have beaten the Colts, the Hilltops need the Edmonton Huskies (5-2) to fall to the Thunder (7-0) in Regina to be able to move to second in the PFC standings to host a PFC semifinal.
The Rifles can’t catch the Hilltops for third place due to Saskatoon holding the head-to-head standings tiebreaker between the two squads. The two sides split their two regular season encounters, but the Hilltops took the season series outscoring the Rifles 35-29 in those head-to-head meetings.
The Colts and the Edmonton Wildcats (0-7) have been eliminated from post-season contention.
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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