Wist becomes force at middle linebacker for Hilltops

Saskatoon routes Wildcats on road 64-7

Matt Wist has been a playmaker at MLB for the Hilltops.

A highlight play in his first post-season game as a rookie might have foreshadowed Matt Wist’s future campaigns with the Saskatoon Hilltops.

In 2019, Wist was a fresh faced newcomer middle linebacker with the Hilltops having graduated from Bethlehem Catholic High School. In a PFC semifinal playoff game on Oct. 20 of that year, Wist entered the game on defence as the Hilltops were closing out a 31-7 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

A Wildcats ball carrier got caught in the clutches of three Hilltops defenders, who caused the ball to shoot straight up into the air. Wist was pursuing in on the play and plucked the ball out of the air for a fumble recovery.

He charged downfield with the hopes of adding a defensive score, but the Wildcats were able to track him down to prevent the Saskatoon side from getting another major. Still, memories of that play bring a smile to Wist’s face.

“It got striped, and it popped right into me,” said Wist. “It came right to me, and I started running.”

That was Wist’s biggest personal highlight in a 2019 campaign that saw the Hilltops post a perfect 12-0 record in winning the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions for a sixth straight year.

On Sunday at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta., Wist and the Hilltops were making all sorts of big plays in a CJFL regular season clash with the host Edmonton Wildcats. The Hilltops romped to a 64-7 victory to win their second straight game and improve to 4-3 to sit third in the PFC regular season standings.

The Wildcats led the contest 3-2 after the first quarter, but the Hilltops hit high gear in the second quarter scoring 35 points to hold a 37-6 advantage at halftime. Saskatoon cruised to victory from there dropping the Wildcats to 0-7.

Matt Wist returns a fumble in the 2019 CJFL post-season.

Out in Calgary on Sunday, the Colts dropped a 39-14 decision to the visiting Regina Thunder to fall to 2-5, which meant the Hilltops officially clinched a berth in the CJFL playoffs. The Thunder improved to 7-0 to lock up first place in the PFC and homefield advantage through the entire CJFL playoffs.

Also on Sunday at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton, the host Huskies won their fourth straight downing the visiting Winnipeg Rifles 33-8. 

The Huskies improved to 5-2 to lock up a playoff berth and sit second in the PFC, while the Rifles fell to 3-4 to remain fourth in the PFC.

The Rifles clinched the final playoff spot in the PFC due to the fact they won their lone head-to-head meeting with the Colts 31-28 back on Sept. 11 in Winnipeg.

With each team in the PFC having one regular season game left on their schedule, the lowest the Hilltops can finish is third due to the fact they hold the head-to-head standings tiebreaker with the Rifles. 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 Hilltops could finish second in the PFC, if they win their last regular season game and the Huskies lose their last regular season outing. Saskatoon holds the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Huskies taking the lone regular season clash between the two sides 38-10 back on August 21 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The Hilltops close their regular season schedule on Sunday, October 16, when they host the Colts at 1 p.m. at SMF Field. The Huskies conclude their regular season schedule also on Sunday, October 16, when they travel to Regina to face the Thunder.

Looking back on his rookie season, Wist said being part of that campaign still gives him motivation to carry on the Hilltops legacy and tradition that has seen the storied club win 22 CJFL championships dating back to when the team was formed in 1947.

Matt Wist (#44) helps chase down a ball carrier.

Having played with the Stars football program during his time at Bethlehem Catholic High School, Wist had his sights set on joining the Hilltops.

“They’re the best organization in the CJFL,” said Wist, who had two punt singles in the Hilltops win on Sunday. “Of course, I want to be part of them.

“As soon as I came out of high school, I wasn’t ready to go to school, and I wanted to play junior football.”

After the 2020 CJFL season was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Wist found out he had earned the starting role at middle linebacker going into the 2021 campaign.

“I was surprised,” said Wist, who had 41.5 total tackles, three quarterback sacks and one fumble recovery in the Hilltops eight regular season games in 2021. “I was excited.

“It was an opportunity for me to show what I could do. It was great.”

Going into Sunday’s game, Wist sat fourth in defensive points in the PFC with 30 solo tackles, 17 tackle assists and one interception.

“We’re seeing the evolution as each game goes along,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant about Wist. “He has always been in the top 10 of defensive points.

“He has become a real quality run stopper and a good special teamer, and he adds a role as a punter as well. He gives you a lot of good things. He came out of high school as a heralded middle linebacker.

Matt Wist (#44) helps made a stop in the 2021 CJFL post-season.

“He has come as advertised, and he is only a fourth-year player. We think he will be stepping up his leadership as we move forward.”

Away from the football field, Wist is a high level lacrosse player, who has played the last three seasons for the Saskatchewan SWAT junior A program. Wist took up football first, but he has been playing lacrosse since Grade 7.

Sargeant said the experience of the physicality with lacrosse does transfer over and help Wist with football.

“Any time you get into physical sports like hockey, lacrosse or whatever, you just have that edge,” said Sargeant. “Football is a physical contact sport.

“When you show up with that edge, it certainly makes things a lot better. We’re happy with everything that he does inside and outside the football team. We’re blessed to have him.”

Going forward, Wist said he is focused on the present but believes the Hilltops can do big things in the rest of the current campaign. 

Stepping back and looking at the big picture, Wist is pumped he still has the rest of this season and all of next season to play with the Hilltops before his CJFL eligibility comes to an end.

He embraces every day he gets to suit up with the storied team.

Matt Wist cherishes every day he gets to suit up for the Hilltops.

“My first couple of years flew by that is for sure,” said Wist. “The rest of this year and next year, I’m really going to cherish being with all the guys and just being with this organization.”

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