Hilltops lock up first in PFC, improve to 7-0

Saskatoon thumps Thunder 36-11 at SMF Field

Datiel Fountaine makes a 26-yard TD catch for the Hilltops.

It was seemingly a perfect night under the “Saturday night lights” for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

On Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops dumped their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 36-11 in a CJFL regular season clash played before 2,266 spectators. The host side jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and continued to methodically pull away from there.

The win allowed the defending CJFL champion Hilltops to improve to 7-0 and lock up first place in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference. The Hilltops will also have homefield throughout the CJFL playoffs up to the league championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The Canadian Bowl will be hosted by the champion of the Ontario Football Conference.

Hilltops LB Noah Gedir tackles Thunder RB Ryland Leichert.

“Our line of scrimmage, our offensive line played outstanding today,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, whose team has won 19 straight overall. “Our defensive line, it just came together tonight.

“This is the best we’ve played all year. Obviously, Regina is a formidable opponent. They’re well coached, and they know us well and they play hard.

“We had to come out and play hard and play aggressive, and that is what we did today. I am super happy with what took place, and now, we’ve got to keep building.”

At that point, Sargeant took a quick pause before looking to the future.

Trey Reider (#3) throws a pass behind sound protection.

“We clinched first. Good. Who cares?” said Sargeant. “Now, we’ve got to keep moving.”

The Thunder fell to 5-2 with the result of Saturday’s contest. They have lost their last five straight head-to-head encounters including action in the regular season and post-season to the Hilltops.

On offence, all the Hilltops big players had big games. Star fifth-year quarterback Trey Reider completed 14-of-25 passes for 272 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He ran the ball four times for 26 yards too.

Star fifth-year receiver Drake Douglas hauled in five passes for 132 yards. Breakout second-year receiver Datiel Fountaine caught six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

Drake Douglas, left, caught five passes for 132 yards.

Emerging star third-year power running back Corbin Ebben ran the ball 29 times for 196 yards and one touchdown.

The Hilltops starting offensive line in right tackle Cody Shumanski, right guard Jack Erlandson, centre Matthew Noble, left guard Erik Barsness and left tackle Davin Johnson all had banner days.

“Our O-line played great today,” said Reider. “They controlled the line of scrimmage.

“I have to shout out to Corbin Ebben. He ran the ball great. Drake Douglas came down with every ball.

“Obviously, two touchdown catches is great for Datiel (Fountaine) coming down with those.”

On defence, the Hilltops got big contributions from a number of players in limiting the Thunder to 307 total yards of offence. Star defensive end Kai Kukurudza record two sacks and 3.5 total tackles.

Corbin Ebben ran the ball 29 times for 196 yards.

Star defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens had one sack and 2.5 total tackles. Defensive tackle Nahom Menghestab and defensive end Noah Chelsom shared a sack. Second-year outside linebacker Zaden Taylor had eight solo defensive tackles, one special teams tackle assist and one interception.

Middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk had 7.5 total tackles. Outside linebacker Noah Gedir had 5.5 total tackles and two pass knockdowns. Safetly Dalton Urban had 3.5 total tackles and one interception.

“A big focus was stopping the run, so I think really early on we stopped that,” said Kukurudza. “Our interior guys in Nahom (Menghestab) and (Johnathon) Stevens, they really did their job.

“Noah (Chelsom) on the weak side didn’t let anything up either. Our DBs were locked down. All our sacks are really DB covered sacks, so it was good.”

Zaden Taylor (#10) reacts to making an interception.

The Hilltops opened the game’s scoring on their first offensive series, which culminated with Reider hitting Fountaine with an eight-yard touchdown pass to give the hosts a 7-0 lead. Before the first quarter expired, Hilltops veteran kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas hit a field goal from 18 yards out to push the Hilltops edge out to 10-0. That marked the first of five field goals Abel-Douglas would hit on the day.

At the 8:55 mark of the second quarter, Thunder kicker Shawn Green nailed a 35-yard field goal for the visitors to trim the Hilltops lead to 10-3.

The Hilltops closed out the first half getting field goals from Abel-Douglas from 13 and 30 yards out to hold a 16-3 lead.

The Hilltop Cheerleading Team performs at halftime.

Green recorded a rouge for the Thunder on the opening kickoff to start the second half to make the Hilltops lead stand at 16-4.

On that first offensive series of the half, the Hilltops got another major score as Reider hit Fountaine with a 26-yard touchdown strike to put the host side up 23-4. Ebben would run in a major from three yards out to push the Hilltops lead out to 30-4.

While the Hilltops offence was rolling on Saturday, Reider said his team will be focusing on fixing the mistakes they did make.

“I feel it was a good game, but at the end of the day, we can always do better,” said Reider. “Every day, every week, we’re trying to get better.

“I feel like that was one of our best games of the season for sure.”

Kai Kukurudza (#73) celebrates making a sack on Saturday.

Just 10 seconds into the fourth quarter, Thunder star quarterback Carter Moberg hit receiver Benjamin Walz with a 15-yard touchdown toss to trim the Hilltops lead to 30-11.

Abel-Douglas proceeded to hit field goals from 15 and 22 yards out to round out the 36-11 final score in favour of Saskatoon.

Also in the fourth quarter, Kukurudza recorded both of his sacks on third down gambles by the Thunder.

“It just feels good when you go all game like doing your job, and then finally, you can really do what you need to do at the end when it matters most on those third downs,” said Kukurudza. “It is good.”

Moberg completed 17-of-31 passes for 156 yards and one touchdown, while throwing two interceptions for the Thunder. Star veteran running back Ryland Leichert topped Regina with 88 yards rushing on 15 carries. Walz had record 55 yards receiving on six catches to go with his touchdown through the air.

Dalton Urban (#17) returns an interception for the Hilltops.

Star middle linebacker Stephen Smith led the Thunder with 9.5 total tackles.

The Thunder return home to close out their regular season schedule on Sunday, October 6, when they host the Calgary Colts at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field.

The Hilltops will also conclude their regular season schedule on Sunday, October 6. They will travel to Edmonton to face the Huskies at 1 p.m. local time at Jasper Place Bowl.

Looking forward to the rest of the season, Sargeant is pumped his squad will have homefield advantage through the CJFL playoffs until reaching the Canadian Bowl. With that noted, he wants his team to focus on playing well in their final regular season contest first.

“We love playing at home,” said Sargeant. “We’ve worked hard to be in the spot we’re in, and now, we’ve got to take advantage.

“We’re off to the Edmonton Huskies next week. We could be playing them two weeks in a row. You know what?

The Hilltops do a breakdown cheer after Saturday’s win.

“We just can’t give an inch to anything or anyone. This is the type of group that they’re pretty locked and loaded right now. I’m very pleased with the performance of all 65 players that we dressed tonight.”

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