Power running back Ebben energized by Hilltops family

Third-year ground gainer fuels Saskatoon’s route of Wildcats

Corbin Ebben jets into the open field for the Hilltops.

Corbin Ebben will never doubt how real the term “Hilltops family” is.

Last year as a second year player with the storied Saskatoon Hilltops, Ebben suffered an injury that caused him to miss the last four games of the regular season. While the power running back was down at first about missing time, he was surprised how much the team’s coaches and players were crushed that he was going to be out of the lineup.

To Ebben, it seemed like everyone with the squad was empathetic. It helped motivate the Delisle, Sask., product to get back.

“When I went out, I could tell especially running back coach Andre Lalonde and ‘Sarge’ (Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant) and coach (Shane) Reider, they seemed like a little down,” said Ebben. “I was definitely down for sure, but they helped pick me up.

Corbin Ebben cuts past a Wildcats defender.

“My goal was just to get back on the field as soon as possible for sure.”

Ebben could feel the support from Lalonde, Sargeant and Reider, who is the Hilltops offensive coordinator. The graduate of the Delisle Composite High School Rebels nine-a-side football program made it back to the Hilltops lineup for the start of the post-season.

He played all four of the Hilltops post-season games as they won the Canadian Bowl to become CJFL champions for a 23^rd time in team history. While Ebben was playing, he didn’t feel like he did on the field before he got injured.

“It was just kind of a hit to the confidence when I got hurt last year and then had to take I think it was four games off,” said Ebben. “It was nice getting back to it, but it wasn’t the same for sure.”

Corbin Ebben, right, makes an acrobatic TD catch.

Going into the 2024 campaign in his third year with the team, Ebben earned the starting job at tailback with the Hilltops having graduated Boston Davidsen after winning the CJFL title in 2023. Ebben said his confidence has improved as the season had gone on.

On Sunday, Ebben looked like he fit the role of star running back. The 20-year-old was powering through tacklers, high hurdling defenders and make sweet cuts in the open field.

He would carry the ball 16 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns. As a receiver, Ebben hauled in three catches for 58 yards and a major score. Ebben’s efforts helped power the Hilltops past the visiting Edmonton Wildcats 45-19 in a CJFL regular season clash.

Corbin Ebben caught three passes for 58 yards.

“It felt great,” said Ebben, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 205 pounds. “Every game we’re just getting better.

“We’re on the same page. It was just a great team effort today for sure.”

The win allowed the Hilltops to improve to 6-0 and guaranteed the venerable CJFL club would host a Prairie Football Conference semifinal contest. The Wildcats fell to 0-6 and were eliminated from post-season contention.

Ebben made sure to give a plug to the massive crowd that came out to support the Hilltops on Sunday. Sunday’s contest was the Hilltops’ Kinsmen Family Day/Young Hilltops Day game, and a crowd of 3,534 spectators came to check out the contest and take part in various fun promotions that took place around the game. Sunday’s contest was the Hilltops highest attended regular season game in at least over a decade.

Corbin Ebben ran the ball 16 times for 108 yards and two TDs.

“It was awesome,” said Ebben. “There were just so many fans in the stadium.

“I had never seen that many. It has to be record or something. The energy was high.

“It was loud. It was great. It was just an overall great day.”

Sargeant said the team’s coaches believed Ebben could do big things. While Ebben did win the starting job, Sargeant said there was concern the games the young ball carrier missed in 2023 could hamper coming into the current campaign.

“You’ve got to get reps and you’ve got to play, and so that is a thing,” said Sargeant. “His (Ebben’s) confidence has absolutely grown with each game, and it is just looking so natural for him now his decision making and how decisive he has been.

Corbin Ebben (#34) celebrates a TD with Drake Douglas.

“It has rallied the offence. This was his best game of the year, and I’m looking forward to many, many more. He is only a third-year player, so we’ve got lots of opportunity to grow and develop him.”

While Davidsen took up the bulk of the carries for the Hilltops last season, Sargeant said the coaches had plans and plays designed to get Ebben the ball had he not gotten injured.

“The one thing with Corbin (Ebben) he has got excellent hands,” said Sargeant. “He is a great receiver out of the backfield too.

“He got a touchdown today on another big catch. He is a player that gives you a lot of different varieties. We’re going to keep showcasing that.”

The Hilltops drew 3,534 spectators to their game on Sunday.

Ebben came into the campaign having to fill Davidsen’s big shoes. Davidsen concluded his career with the Hilltops breaking the 1,000-yard barrier in rushing in each of his final two regular seasons. For Ebben, it was big getting to be teammates with Davidsen for two seasons.

“It was just great to learn from Boston (Davidsen),” said Ebben. “If I could, you know, get any part of his game and play like him, I think that would just be a great season.”

Looking ahead for the rest of the 2024 campaign, Ebben said it was important to keep focused on the present and continuing to improve.

The Hilltops Cheer Team members get pictured with two young fans.

“I think the expectations are, as ‘Sarge’ says, just get better one per cent every day,” said Ebben. “As long as we just keep going up and up, I think we’ll all be happy with that.”

As for Sunday’s game, the Hilltops got a single on the opening kickoff from kicker Ryden Gratton to go ahead 1-0. The Wildcats put together a long opening offensive series that culminated in a 12-yard field goal from kicker Nik Dokken to jump in front 3-1.

The Hilltops responded before the first quarter ended, when star quarterback Trey Reider hit star receiver Drake Douglas with a seven-yard touchdown pass to put the host side back in front 8-3. In the second quarter, the ’Toppers pushed their advantage out to 22-3 on a four-yard rushing major from Ebben and Reider hitting Douglas with a five-yard touchdown pass.

Drake Douglas caught seven passes for 109 yards and three TDs.

With 1:24 remaining before halftime, Dokken hit a 15-yard field goal for the Wildcats to trim the Hilltops lead to 22-6. With 46.7 seconds remaining before halftime, Ebben plunged into the end zone for a one-yard rushing major to give the Hilltops a 29-6 lead at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, Ebben made an acrobatic one-yard touchdown catch on a toss from Reider to push Saskatoon’s edge out to 36-6. Reider proceeded to hit Douglas with a 17-yard touchdown pass to give the Hilltops a 43-6 advantage. Before the third quarter expired, the Wildcats conceded a safety to make the score stand at 45-6 in favour of the Hilltops.

The Wildcats rounded out the game’s scoring in the fourth quarter with a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Marcos Soltero. He hit receivers Mekhi Tyrell with a 15-yard scoring toss and Gabe Hiebert with a nine-yard pass for a major. Edmonton was unsuccessful in going for a two-point conversion after Tyrell’s touchdown catch.

Kai Kukurudza forces a fumble for the Hilltops.

“The Wildcats came out, and they had a good game plan, and they exposed us in certain areas,” said Sargeant. “The coaches did a good job.

“We started a little slow. Then, we hunkered down, and we went out there and played good hard-nosed football.”

Reider completed 15-of-22 passes for 278 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Douglas hauled in seven passes for 109 yards to go with his three receiving scores. Xander Pierce caught three passes for 90 yards for the Hilltops.

Soltero completed 27-of-38 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions. Tyrell caught nine passes for 125 yards to go with his major score. Mark Mryglod caught six passes for 105 yards for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats posted just 25 yards rushing as a team in the game.

Justin Adamko returns an interception for the Hilltops.

Linebackers Isaac Michayluk and Noah Gedir each had 5.5 total tackles for the Hilltops. Gedir also recovered one fumble. Defensive end Kai Kukurudza 3.5 total tackles, one quarterback sack, one pass knockdown and one forced fumble.

Defensive end Ryan Adamko had one quarterback sack, while defensive backs Justin Adamko and Nate Gallant each had one interception.

Hilltops kicker/punter Teijon Abel-Douglas recovered one of his own punts to keep a series alive.

Linebacker Tyson Krushelniski led the Wildcats with 8.5 total tackles and forced one fumble. Defensive back Aidan Bonnet had a fumble recovery for Edmonton.

The Hilltops return to action this coming Saturday when they host their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder (5-1) at 7 p.m. at SMF Field. If the Hilltops win that contest, they clinch first place in the PFC and home field advantage through the CJFL playoffs until reaching the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl.

The Adamko family poses for a picture after Sunday’s game.

“We’re not worried about that,” said Sargeant. “We’re just worried about coming out next week and playing our best game of the year.

“It will be game seven. What is Regina? It is our archrival, so we’re not going to get worked up about first place or any of that stuff.

“We just want to come out and play better than what we played this week. That is the bottom line. One day at a time.”

Clark to appear at End Zone Scholarship Dinner

Dan Clark calls signals for the Roughriders in 2019.

Dan Clark will be the special guest at the Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner set for September 28.

Clark was a star centre for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2009 to 2022. He was on the Roughriders practice roster in 2009 and 2010 and was on the main roster from 2011 to 2022 appearing in 131 games. During his years on the Roughriders practice roster, Clark was playing for the CJFL’s Regina Thunder.

Clark gained fame catching an eight-yard touchdown pass from legendary Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant in a 37-0 romp over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a game played at historic Taylor Field on July 21, 2013. Following that contest, Clark and the Roughriders would later win the Grey Cup with a 45-23 victory over the Tigers-Cats on November 24, 2013 at Taylor Field.

In 2019, Clark was the unanimous selection as the Saskatchewan Roughriders Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. He was also named a CFL all-star.

The Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner will be held in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located at the south end of Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The doors for the dinner will open at 4:15 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5 p.m.

The presenting sponsors of the event are TCU Financial and SaskTel. It is hosted in conjunction with the Hilltops community partners in the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation. The official beverage sponsor is the Crossmount Cider Company.

All proceeds of the event go towards the Saskatoon Hilltop Scholarship Fund.

Single tickets for the event are $100, and a table of eight goes for $725. Ticket purchases include admission to that night’s CJFL regular season contest between the Hilltops and the Regina Thunder set for 7 p.m. at SMF Field. Tickets for the End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

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