Saskatoon crushes Colts in Calgary 52-19
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| Kai Kukurudza (#73) is a mainstay at DE for the Hilltops. |
Growing up in Medicine Hat, Alta., Kukurudza first found his love of sport out on the ice surface with hockey. When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic gripped the world starting in March of 2020, Kukurudza decided to see what life would be like on the football field and suited up for the Monsignor McCoy High School Colts in 2021.
“I didn’t play until Grade 12,” said Kukurudza, who has become a standout defensive end for the Hilltops. “I played hockey my whole life.
“COVID hit, so I
kind of took a break from sports and thought I’d try football out, and it went
really well. I sent my film to ‘Sarge,’ and now, I’m here.”
Kukurudza enjoyed his one season of football so much that he didn’t want to give the sport up. He received some positive feedback which encouraged him to try to find a way to continue in the sport.
He knew about the Hilltops and their storied tradition in the CJFL. Kukurudza put together a highlight package of his rookie Grade 12 campaign and sent it off to legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant.
“I just want to
go to a good program,” said Kukurudza, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 225
pounds. “I knew the Hilltops are good, so I’d give it a try.”
Kukurudza remembered how much he enjoyed playing his one season for the Colts, but he was hoping his lack of experience playing the game wouldn’t be a drawback to keep him from playing at the post-secondary level. He said he got into the sport for simple reasons and didn’t think things would grow from there.
“It was mostly
just for fun, you know, hang out with my friends,” said Kukurudza. “I really
kicked things off.
“I felt really
good playing the sport and really comfortable. I had really good film. I
remember ‘Sarge’ saying he didn’t know how good my opponents were, so he wanted
me to come out and see how good I really was.
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| Kai Kukurudza (#73) only played one high school football season. |
Traditionally, the Hilltops haven’t recruited a whole lot outside of the province of Saskatchewan. Sargeant appreciated the initiative Kukurudza showed in emailing off his game film. The longtime Hilltops sideline boss was impressed with the raw ability Kukurudza showed on the footage that an invite was made to bring him to Saskatoon.
“We haven’t had a
lot of players from Medicine Hat,” said Sargeant. “He sort of reached out to
us, and I went through it (Kukurudza’s game film) and liked what I saw.
“I talked to his high school coach, and then he came out to a couple of our practices. I said, ‘You’ve got a spot on the team.’ I saw potential in him.
“Two and a half
years later, he is in his third year now, we’re seeing the fruits of his labour
in terms of how hard he’s worked, how well he’s learned from others and the
good coaching he’s received from (defensive line) coach (Dave) Fisher. Now the
sky is the limit, so let’s keep moving him forward.”
On Sunday at
Shouldice Athletic Park in Calgary, the defending CJFL champion Hilltops jumped out to a 24-0 lead at
halftime and crushed the host Colts 52-19 in a CJFL regular season clash. The
win allows the Hilltops to improve to 3-0, while the Colts fell to 1-2.
When Kukurudza
joined the Hilltops in 2022, he said he felt nervous mainly due to being on a
team where he was surrounded by older athletes. In limited playing time, he
recorded his first career quarterback sack in regular season play and was
motivated to get bigger, stronger and faster for his second campaign.
Going into his
second season with the Hilltops in 2023, Kukurudza said he had more confidence
than he did going into his rookie campaign.
“It was a lot
different,” said Kukurudza, who is studying commerce at the University of Saskatchewan. “I put on lots of size, probably 30 pounds or 40
pounds on.
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| Kai Kukurudza (#73) comes into to finish off a play in 2023. |
“I was way
better.”
On August 27, 2023, Kukurudza had his breakthrough game with the Hilltops recording three sacks and three total tackles in 50-18 victory over the Calgary Colts at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. He finished the 2023 regular season with 13.5 total tackles, four sacks and a pass knockdown playing as part of the team’s defensive line rotation
In the Hilltops 53-2 victory over the Colts in the PFC semifinal on October 15, 2023 at SMF Field, Kukurudza showed he has the skills to be on the Hilltops hands team. When the Colts attempted a high and short onside kick to start the second half of that contest, Kukurudza astutely jumped up and secured the ball for the Hilltops.
“At the end of
the day, the growth of Kai (Kukurudza) has been exceptional,” said Sargeant.
“He’s worked real hard.
“He’s got himself
bigger, stronger and faster. He has learned our systems real well. We’re excited
to see him continue to grow and become more explosive with his playmaking.”
Kukurudza added
it was pretty surreal to help the Hilltops win their 23rd CJFL
championship in team history in 2023 and be part of a defence that gave up the
team’s lowest points against total for the regular season and overall between
the regular season and post-season since 1949.
Kukurudza came
into the current campaign as one of the Hilltops starters. Over the team’s
first two contests, he has recorded 10.5 total tackles, two quarterback sacks
and an interception.
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| Kai Kukurudza (#73) field a short kickoff in the 2023 PFC semifinal. |
“It is so nice,
because I know the guys beside me are also working just as hard, and it makes
my job a lot easier,” said Kukurudza. “If I mess up, I know guys have my back.
“On that interior
line with Nahom (Menghestab) and Johnathon Stevens, they’re pushing
quarterbacks right back to me for sacks. Sometimes, I don’t have to work hard.
My teammates really, really help me out.”
This season has
been a little extra special for Kukurudza, because his younger brother Kash is
a rookie defensive lineman with the team. Kash came to the Hilltops after
graduating from the Medicine Hat High School Hawks Football Team, who are
guided by their local legend head coach Quinn Skelton.
“I can’t be too
hard on him (Kash), but I can’t cater to him either,” said Kukurudza. “I have
to treat him like everyone else, but it’s good.
“I think he is
lucky. He has a guy to learn from like me. I just want him to be as good as me
or better.
“I just have to
teach him right.”
In Sunday’s clash
with the Colts, the Hilltops opened the game’s scoring with a 35-yard field
goal from kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas in the first quarter. Before the opening
quarter ended, Hilltops went up 17-0 thanks to a touchdown reception from
receiver Datiel Fountaine and a receiving major from Corbin Ebben.
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| Kai Kukurudza (#73) has made big plays for the Hilltops in 2024. |
The Colts hit a
27-yard field goal before the third quarter ended to make the Hilltops
advantage sit at 38-3.
Saskatoon got
majors from an interception return touchdown from defensive back Nathan Young
and 70-yard touchdown hookup through the air between third string rookie
quarterback Charlie Molder and rookie receiver Hayden Day.
Veteran star
starter Trey Reider and veteran backup Brexton Elias we well on the sidelines
helping Molder out, when the first-year signal caller entered the contest.
Calgary got two touchdowns with a pair of two point conversions to round out their scoring for the contest in the fourth quarter.
The entire Prairie Football Conference that the Hilltops play out of now heads out on a bye week. The Hilltops return to action on Saturday, September 7, when they travel to Regina to face the Thunder (3-0) at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.
Looking forward to the rest of the campaign, Kukurudza believes his club can make a run to another CJFL title, but noted the Thunder and the Okanagan Sun, who are leading the British Columbia Football Conference with a 5-0 record, are having impressive campaigns.
“I think we have
another shot for sure,” said Kukurudza. “Regina is definitely good.
“Okanagan is
looking good too, but I think it is nothing we can’t handle. The offence is
definitely stepping their game up. I think our defence is solid.
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| Kai Kukurudza (#73) with the D-line crew and the PFC title trophy in 2023. |
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