Hilltops smash Saints 43-0, advance to CJFL title game

Kack sets sack record in CJFL semifinal victory

The Hilltops celebrate their CJFL semifinal win.

Riece Kack was thinking about paying off some debts to his teammates on a CJFL record breaking day.

On Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Kack’s PFC champion Saskatoon Hilltops led the visiting OFC champion St. Clair Saints 21-0 just 33 seconds into the second quarter thanks to three touchdown passes by star quarterback Trey Reider. 

At that point, Kack would go on to steal the show piling up six quarterback sacks from his defensive end position as the Hilltops rolled to a 43-0 victory in the CJFL semifinal clash between the two sides.

Riece Kack makes his CJFL record sixth sack of Sunday’s game.

With the win played before 1,007 spectators, the Hilltops, who improved to 11-0 overall, advance to the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl. That contest will be played on Saturday, November 11 at 3 p.m. local time or 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time against the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) at Starlight Stadium, in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria.

The Saints, who are based in Windsor, finished out at 10-1 overall.

While the celebration was on for the Hilltops who will get to play in the CJFL title game since last winning it in 2019, Kack made history as his six sacks were a new record for a CJFL playoff game. The old record of five sacks was set by Roger Rourke of the Richmond Raiders on October 12, 1985.

Riece Kack reacts to making his CJFL record sixth sack in one game.

Kack said the majority of his sacks were coverage sacks. The Saints rotated quarterbacks Maurice Sodja and Matthew Guenette throughout Sunday’s game and both often held on to the ball as they didn’t see what they liked downfield.

That allowed Kack to pile up his sacks, and he admitted he owed the Hilltops defensive backs a bit of a debt.

“Their quarterbacks weren’t liking it a lot of times,” said Kack, who also had six total tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to go with his sacks. “They were holding on to it real long.

“It lot of the sacks weren’t two second pressures. They were like seven or eight seconds, so it was just spectacular. I definitely owe those guys (the Hilltops defensive backs) a case of beer.

Riece Kack (#47) closes in on a sack for a safety.

“I’m just thrilled.”

Kack, who was named the defensive player of the game on Sunday, actually recorded the most sacks in any CJFL contest be it the regular season, playoffs or the CJFL championship game. The CJFL record for most sacks in a regular season game is five, which had been achieved on six occasions.

Ron Zammit of the Hamilton Hurricanes was the first to record five sacks in a CJFL regular season game on October 2, 1982 and Evan Foster of the Langley Rams was the last to pull of that feat on September 9, 2012.

Tyler Eckert of the Langley Rams recorded the most sacks in a CJFL championship at 3.5 coming in his squad’s 37-0 victory over the Beefeaters in London, Ont., in the Canadian Bowl played on December 4, 2021.

Riece Kack gets a sack on the last play before halftime.

While Kack’s record will stand for the most sacks by an individual in a CJFL playoff game, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was pumped his 21-year-old veteran had a record day in an important post-season outing.

“It is unbelievable,” said Sargeant. “He is one of our lifelines out here.

“He is the energy guy. He is a motivator. He loves the game, and we feed off him.

“For him to have that type of play today in the biggest game of our season so far, that just speaks volumes of who he is and what he means to us.”

After the Hilltops went ahead 21-0 just 33 seconds into the second quarter, Kack went to work and proceeded to record four of his sacks in that frame. Kack’s second sack caused a turnover on downs, his third sack resulted in a safety and his fourth sack came on the final play before halftime.

Riece Kack got to break out a number of sack celebrations.

In third quarter, Kack recorded his fifth sack to tie the CJFL record. His record equaling accomplishment at the time was announced over the public address system at SMF Field.

“I heard it, and then I was just kind of like you know I am just going to keep doing my thing,” said Kack, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 230 pounds. “I’m not going to over do it, and it should come.

“There was a lot of time left in still the third quarter, so I figured that it was quite possible.”

After the Hilltops went ahead 35-0 in the fourth quarter, Kack took down Sodja for the record breaking sixth sack.

“Crazy. I can’t describe it,” said Kack about the record. “It is just awesome coaching, awesome team.

Noah Flaman jets home on a 51-yard touchdown reception.

“It is just spectacular. I’m glad that we could come out and put up the performance that we did.”

The Hilltops opened the game’s scoring in the first quarter when Reider hit “TD Noah” in receiver Noah Flaman for touchdown passes from 10 and 51 yards out to give the host side a 14-0 lead.

On the second score in the 51-yard toss, Reider did a play action fake to star power running back Boston Davidsen before connecting with a wide open Flaman on an intermediate route. Flaman weaved the rest of the way taking the ball to the end zone for the major score.

The Hilltops had good success on play action pass plays as the Saints defensive players seemed to be too locked in on Davidsen. Flaman said the Hilltops plan was to use the play action pass to get some chunk plays in the passing game.

Drake Douglas hauls in a 27 yard touchdown catch.

“We have a great running game, a great running back and a great O-line,” said Flaman. “It is just part of everyone doing their own job.

“When your chance comes, you make the play. The receivers did that today.”

 Just 33 seconds into the second quarter, Reider connected with sure handed pass catcher Drake Douglas on a 27-yard touchdown strike to push the Hilltops advantage out to 21-0. The Hilltops proceeded to get a 38-yard punt single from middle linebacker/punter Matt Wist and Kack followed up with his safety to send the Hilltops into the halftime break with a 24-0 edge.

In the third quarter, the Hilltops assumed a 28-0 advantage thanks to a single from a 22 yard missed field goal and a 20 yard field goal from kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas.

Wade Keating (#20) closes in on a sack for the Hilltops.

At the 3:13 mark of the fourth quarter, star running back Charles Sawi ran home a major from 18 yards out to put the Hilltops up 35-0. Saskatoon began to substitute in various backups after that score including quarterback Brexton Elias, who relieved Reider for the rest of the contest.

The Hilltops then rounded out the scoring with a single from missed field goal by Abel-Douglas and major score from a quarterback sneak by Elias.

Sargeant was pleased with the chunk plays the Hilltops were able to make on offence.

“You know what, we’ve been tough on this offence a little bit,” said Sargeant. “Our defence has sort of been the team in front of us.

Trey Reider (#3) threw three TD passes for the Hilltops on Sunday.

“Offensively, we sometimes get in our own way. Trey (Reider) was making the reads early and was on point, and our receivers were on point. Hey, it is nice to see a game where we put up 43 where Boston (Davidsen) is not dragging his butt, because we gave him the ball 25 times.

“We were actually pretty strategic and smart today and used him as a bit of a decoy. Guys were open and Trey (Reider) made the plays.”

Reider completed 7-of-17 passes for 200 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions before giving way to Elias. Flaman had three catches for 86 yards to go with his two touchdowns in being named the offensive player of the game. Douglas had two catches for 72 yards to go with his major score.

The faithful at SMF Field cheer on the Hilltops on Sunday.

Davidsen led the Hilltops in rushing with 62 yards on 13 carries.

Sodja completed 9-of-17 passes for 123 yards, while throwing one interception for the Saints. Guenette completed 16-of-25 passes for 173 yards during his shifts on the field for the St. Clair side.

Receiver Darius France had a big game for the Saints making seven catches for 110 yards.

The Hilltops had nine total sacks as a team which was a new club record for a CJFL playoff game. Saskatoon previously recorded a team record seven sacks in CJFL playoff games on November 2, 2002 and October 29, 2017.

The ’Toppers nine sacks for a playoff game equals the most sacks recorded in a playoff game by a team from the PFC. The Regina Rams recorded nine sacks in a CJFL playoff game on October 24, 1981 on their way to winning a CJFL title.

Charles Sawi runs in a touchdown from 18 yards out.

Outside linebacker Wade Keating had seven total tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for the Hilltops. Defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens had two total tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for the Saskatoon. Defensive end Kai Kukurudza had a sack for the ’Toppers.

Defensive end Ben Marce had three total tackles, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries for the host side. Hilltops safety Dalton Urban had the game’s lone interception.

Defensive back Billy Patterson Jr. led the Saints with five total tackles, while defensive end Carl Fabre had a sack for the visitors.

Running back Boriz Wright of the Saints was named the special teams player of the game returning five kickoffs for 72 yards and one punt for one yard.

The Hilltop Cheer Team celebrates the Hilltops victory on Sunday.

The Hilltops didn’t have a single turnover in Sunday’s game, while the Saints turned the ball over 11 times including five times on fumbles, five times on downs and on one interception.

Now, the Hilltops will turn their attention to the Rebels in two weeks time. The two sides met in the 2016 CJFL title game at Starlight Stadium, which was then known as Westhills Stadium. Saskatoon pulled out a 37-25 victory in that encounter to capture the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions.

The Hilltops have won 22 CJFL titles in their history. Kack is looking forward to the opportunity to try and help the storied squad capture a 23^rd CJFL crown against the Rebels.

The Hilltops raise the trophy given to the CJFL semifinal winner.

“It is going to be great,” said Kack. “I’m excited to go out there.

“I’ve been watching a bit of their games. It looks like they have a pretty good team, so it is definitely a tough test. We just have to get into film and on to the next game.”

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

-------

If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.