Hilltops see improvement, aim for better against Colts

The Hilltops defence gangs up on a tackle in a 2023 PFC semifinal.

For legendary Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, Week 2 was better than Week 1, and he is expecting better in Week 3.

In Week 1 on August 11 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops downed the Edmonton Huskies 38-13 in an opening contest that was flat on seemingly all fronts. 

In Week 2 this past Sunday at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg, the Hilltops romped past the host Rifles 47-1 in an outing where Sargeant thought his club played to the level of where they should be at in this point in the campaign.

“I felt I certainly gave some challenges during the week to players and coaches,” said Sargeant. “I felt that at the end of the day the growth that took place is right now we’re more on course to where I feel this team can be playing.

“I still expect more and want more, but I saw some real positive strides that got us excited. Now, we’ve got to build on that.”

Now the Hilltops travel to Calgary to face the Colts (1-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. local time at Shouldice Athletic Park. The Hilltops are rated first in the CJFL’s Top 10 Power Rankings, while the Colts come in at ninth. Last season, the Hilltops had a couple of their best games in their two meetings with the Colts.

Kai Kukurudza (#73) had three sacks on Aug. 27, 2023 versus the Colts.

In a Week 3 meeting in the 2023 regular season, the Hilltops stampeded over the Colts 50-18 at SMF Field. The two sides went head-to-head in a PFC semifinal, where Saskatoon hammed the Calgary side 53-2 again at SMF Field. The 18 points the Hilltops gave up in the first encounter with the Colts was the most points they would allow in a game in the 2023 campaign.

In the regular season meeting last year, Hilltops defensive end Kai Kukurudza had a breakout game. Kukurudza recorded three sacks to go with three total tackles.

“You always tell yourself you can have big games and like breakthrough games,” said Kukurudza, who is now in his third season with the Hilltops. “When it finally happens, it really feels like that hard work paid off.

“It is euphoric after that. It kind of felt like I belonged, and it felt really good.”

Kukurudza is starting for the Hilltops this season. Over the team’s first two contests, he has recorded 10.5 total tackles, two quarterback sacks and an interception.

A graduate of the Monsignor McCoy High School Colts Football Team in Medicine Hat, Alta., Kukurudza is looking forward to team’s upcoming clash with the Colts for a number of reasons.

Caine Harrison throws a pass for the Colts in a 2023 PFC semifinal.

“I actually have a couple of friends on the Colts too, which is kind of interesting,” said Kukurudza. “I didn’t have to play against them last year, but it’ll be fun.

“I’m excited. I have my friends coming to the game too and lots of family. It is close to home, which is good.

“You just want to perform. It should be good.”

The Colts have some strong talent on offense this season like they did in 2023. They have two capable quarterbacks in Isaiah Klein and Caine Harrison. Tailback Zion Dogbe-Brown has made big plays in the running game, while receivers Blaise Newberry, Sam Duerr and Quinn Fedoroff are all sound target through the air.

Sargeant said he will be looking to Kukurudza and defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens to lead the charge to disrupt the Colts.

“We’re playing the Calgary Colts this weekend, and they’re a team that likes to throw the ball,” said Sargeant. “They’re more of a 60-40 throw team, so he (Kukurudza) is going to get a lot more opportunities, and we need him to step up.

“We need him to get in the way of the quarterback and just sort of get them off their launch pads and throw points. Kai is a big part of that. With John Stevens pressure from the inside, we feel we’ve got two guys that really provide that energy of going to the quarterback, and we’re looking for more.

Johnathon Stevens has been a rock at DT for the Hilltops.

“We want more willing participants stepping up to help us in this sack attack.”

Overall, Sargeant said his Hilltops need to be aware of the Calgary side, and he is looking for his squad to keep their current progression going.

“It is game three,” said Sargeant. “Let’s come out and play a better game against Calgary, because Calgary is a good football team.

“They’ve got a quarterback that can make plays and some skilled guys that certainly got us under great concern. We’re excited for the next challenge. We’re 2-0 and happy to be there.”

Kukurudza tabbed as a PFC player of the week, other notes

Kai Kukurudza (#73) had two sacks last Sunday against the Rifles.

A dominant effort by the Saskatoon Hilltops defence has resulted in another PFC play of the week nod.

On Tuesday, Hilltops third year defensive end Kai Kukurudza was named the defensive player of the week for the PFC. In the Hilltops 47-1 victory over the Rifles at Maple Grove Rugby Park last Sunday in Winnipeg, Kukurudza recorded five solo defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists, one special teams tackle assist and two quarterback sacks.

Kukurudza played a key part in limiting the Rifles to 68 yards rushing and 123 yards passing as a team. After adding in team losses, the Rifles posted just 123 yards of net offence against Saskatoon.

The Hilltops have collected defensive player of the week honours in both weeks of regular season action held by the PFC in 2024. Last week, Hilltops defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens took the PFC’s defensive player of the week award.

Also on Tuesday, Regina Thunder running back Sadik Sadik claimed honours as the PFC’s offensive player of the week. In the Thunder’s 36-0 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats last Sunday at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta., Sadik ran the ball 15 times for 194 yards and one touchdown. He also caught two passes for five yards.

Thunder place kicker Shawn Green took honours as the PFC’s special teams player of the week for his efforts in that win over the Wildcats. Green made all five of his field goals with a long kick from 38 yards out along with all three of his one-point converts.

He kicked the ball off four times for 191 yards for an average of 47.8 yards per kick and punted the ball eight times for 286 yards for an average of 35.8 yards per kick.

• Saskatoon Hilltops star receiver Drake Douglas tops the PFC in receptions (14), receiving yards (277) and receiving touchdowns (four) after two games. He also sits first in the PFC with 170 yards on punt returns coming off 14 run backs.
• Edmonton Huskies running back Carson Eddy leads the PFC with 246 yards rushing coming off 45 carries after two games.
• Regina Thunder quarterback Carter Moberg is the only player with over 400 yards passing in the PFC after two games. Moberg has completed 28-of-55 passes for 458 yards and five touchdowns, while throwing three interceptions.
• Winnipeg Rifles linebacker Kyler Banfield leads the PFC with 43 defensive points coming from 17 solo defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists, one special teams tackle, one special teams tackle assist and one interception after two games.
• Rob Vanstone, who is the senior journalist and team historian of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, put together a great story on Saskatoon Hilltops star receiver Drake Douglas. That piece can be found by clicking 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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