Second half surge powers Hilltops on “Opening Day”

Saskatoon claims 38-13 victory in lackluster game

Drake Douglas returned six punts for 113 yards.

It was a great afternoon to look upon Saskatoon Minor Football Field in a stunned fashion.

The Saskatoon Hilltops and Edmonton Huskies have played many classic games, but Sunday’s CJFL regular season opener for both clubs played in perfect weather conditions wasn’t one of them. The defending CJFL champion Hilltops piled up 28 second half points to claim a 38-13 victory.

When one looks at the final score, you would think it was a dominating victory by the storied Saskatoon side. The final score covered up how lackluster the contest actually was.

For a lot of the game and especially the first half where the hosts held a 10-5 edge, the Hilltops felt flat. The Huskies felt flat and officiating crew on the field felt flat. With respect to the officials, they were likely the least flat out of the three groups on the field.

Isaac Michayluk had seven total tackles and an interception.

Sunday’s game was the mixed bag of what can happen on an “Open Day” in football. On “Opening Day,” it seems like every crazy thing that can occur does occur.

In the turnover department, the Hilltops gave away the ball twice on fumbles. The Huskies also had possessions end twice on fumbles, and they were also intercepted twice and turned the ball over on downs once.

Even more prevailing was the significant number of dropped passes by both teams and missed blocking assignments. Both teams also took penalties at inopportune times, and it seemed at times the officials had moments where they were as haphazard as the players.

Hilltops DE Kai Kukurudza chases Huskies QB Kieran Beeler.

Still, most of the 1,003 in attendance at SMF Field came away happy with seeing the Hilltops win. For the fans, how the game unfolded was likely lost to a certain extent due to the outcome being soundly in favour of the host side.

The Hilltops defensive unit has to be given credit for being the exception on Sunday for not having an off day. Even with the graduation of a number of key veterans last season, the Hilltops defence only allowed only four points.

The Huskies got the first score of the game going up 2-0, when the Hilltops conceded a safety on the final play of the first quarter due to bad field position. With 6:25 remaining in the third quarter, the Huskies got their only touchdown of the contest when safety Tanner Berezowski returned a fumble 24 yards for a major to make the score of the contest at that point in time 24-12 in favour of the Hilltops.

Hilltops CB Justin Adamko (#12) defends against Huskies receiver.

Veteran Hilltops defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens was a beast recording two quarterback sacks and six total tackles. Middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk recorded 6.5 total tackles and an interception. Defensive end Kai Kukurudza posted four total tackles, one quarterback sack and one interception.

Linebackers Noah Gedir and Rudolph Osborne each had one fumble recovery for Saskatoon. The Hilltops limited the Huskies to 138 yards on the ground and 66 yards through the air.

After an opening quarter where the offences of both teams were stuck in quicksand, the Hilltops looked to have broken through on the scoreboard early in the second quarter. Star quarterback Trey Reider hit star receiver Drake Douglas with a 31-yard pass for a touchdown on a go route, but the score was nullified by a holding penalty.

Trey Reider runs into the end zone for a second quarter TD.

On the very next play, Reider took off with the ball on a scramble and ran to pay dirt from 41 yards out to put the Hilltops in front 7-2.

The Huskies responded a short time later with a 41-yard field goal from veteran kicker Laine Santos to trim the Hilltops edge to 7-5. The hosts proceeded to push their lead out to 10-5 at halftime forcing the Huskies to concede a safety due to bad field position and getting a rouge from a 31-yard missed field goal from kicker Ryden Gratton.

Saskatoon came out on fire in the second half going up 24-5 at the 4:35 mark of the third quarter on a one-yard rushing touchdown by power running back Corbin Ebben and a six-yard run by Reider.

Drake Douglas had seven catchers for 122 yards and two TDs.

The Huskies responded with Berezowski’s fumble return for a touchdown. Santos added a single from a 39 yard missed field goal to further cut the Hilltops lead to 24-13 with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter.

Just before the third quarter ended, Reider connected with Douglas on a 20-yard touchdown toss to push the Hilltops advantage out to 31-13. The Huskies weren’t able to continue with a comeback push after that score.

Fourth-year quarterback Brexton Elias entered the contest near the end of the fourth quarter for mop up action. He hit Douglas for a seven-yard touchdown pass with 2:27 remaining in the fourth quarter to round out the 38-13 final in favour of the Hilltops.

Carson Eddy ran the ball 23 times for 92 yards for the Huskies.

Douglas, who is playing out his final season of CJFL eligibility, was on and had a huge game for the Hilltops. He caught seven passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. On special teams, Douglas returned six punts for 113 yards.

Reider completed 14-of-26 passes for 168 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Ebben led the Hilltops with 60 yards on 13 carries to go with his major score on the ground.

Veteran Jackson Harnett started the game at quarterback for the Huskies completing 5-of-9 passes for 45 yards. He was replaced by Kieran Beeler in the second quarter. Beeler completed 4-of-15 passes for 21 yards while throwing two interceptions.

Part of the crowd of 1,003 that came to see Sunday’s game.

Running back Carson Eddy, who is playing out his final campaign of CJFL eligibility, carried the ball 23 times for 92 yards.

Linebacker Matthew Alloway led the Huskies with 7.5 total tackles. Defensive back Camden Collett had a fumble recovery for Edmonton.

While the Hilltops improved their overall winning streak to 13 games, Sunday’s outing gave legendary head coach Tom Sargeant, his staff and players plenty of things to work on. The Hilltops get back at it this coming Sunday when they travel to Winnipeg to face the Rifles (0-1) at 1 p.m. local time at Maple Grove Rugby Park.

HC Tom Sargeant, centre, knows his Hilltops need to keep improving.

As the 2024 campaign goes on, you can expect the flat effort in the win over the Huskies to be an abnormality, because the Hilltops will do everything they can to play to their expected high standard. Still, how the win over the Huskies played out will ensure the Hilltops stay humble as they get refocused.

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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