Sawi saves Hilltops season

Saskatoon wins ugly, takes PFC semifinal over Huskies

Charles Sawi begins to return a missed field goal for a touchdown.

Charles Sawi came to the rescue for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

On Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the defending CJFL champion Hilltops found themselves locked in an 18-18 tie with the Edmonton Huskies in a PFC semifinal match with under eight minutes to play. Huskies PFC all-star kicker Laine Santos was lined up for a 46-yard field goal attempt to try and put the visitors ahead.

Santos was just wide, but that allowed Sawi his opportunity. The third-year running back returned the ball out of the Hilltops end zone.

Sawi continued his return down the left sideline, he turned toward the centre of the field at the Hilltops 40 yard line, and cut upfield down the right sideline to the Huskies end zone for a touchdown. Sawi’s 112-yard missed field goal return for a major put the Hilltops in front 25-18 with 7:32 to play in the fourth quarter.

Laine Santos attempts a 46-yard field goal he would miss.

That played sparked the Hilltops to a 33-18 victory before a crowd of 818 spectators as they improved to 9-0 overall. The Huskies would finish the 2024 campaign with a 3-6 overall mark.

“It was a very big return for myself,” said Sawi. “I wanted another week of football, and there were guys that were struggling and were stressing on the sidelines.

“You know what? I thought I had to return it all the way back to the crib.”

The 19-year-old said he was happy to reach the end zone when he did on his return.

“I was running out of gas as soon as I got to the end,” said Sawi. “It was a very far run, if I can say so myself.”

Charles Sawi jets his way downfield for the winning touchdown.

The win allows the Hilltops to advance to host the PFC final expected to be held this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at SMF Field. They will play their provincial rivals in the Regina Thunder (7-2), who thumped the visiting Calgary Colts (4-5) by a 64-7 outcome in the other PFC semifinal played at Leibel Field on Sunday.

When the dust settled in the clash between the Hilltops and Huskies on Sunday, Sawi gave a determined foe their due.

“It was a very physical match I’ll say that,” said Sawi. “The Huskies brought their guys, their star players, and we struggled at times.

“We did overcome it once again, and we are now in the (PFC) final.”

The Hilltops celebrate Charles Sawi’s fourth quarter touchdown.

After the host side went ahead on Sawi’s major, the Hilltops defence ensured the Huskies wouldn’t hit the scoreboard again. A short time after Sawi’s score, Hilltops star third-year middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk came up with an interception to snuff out one Huskies drive.

With under three minutes to play in the fourth quarter, the Huskies gambled on a third-and-10 on their own five yard line. An incomplete pass caused a turnover on downs.

At that point, Hilltops star power running back Corbin Ebben ran and dove home for five-yard touchdown run that put the Hilltops up 32-18 with 2:39 remaining in the fourth quarter. Ebben finished the contest carrying the ball 29 times for 172 yards to go with his major on the ground. He also caught thtree passes for 25 yards.

Charles Sawi reflects on his missed field goal return TD.

Following Ebben’s major, Hilltops fourth-year kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas recorded a single booting a ball through the end zone on a 23-yard missed field goal attempt to round out the 33-18 final score in favour of the Hilltops.

Michayluk finished the contest recording seven solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists, one pass knockdown, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception. He was pumped his squad gets to play on for another week.

“It is awesome,” said Michayluk. “I didn’t want this to be my last week.

“For sure the fifth years, I didn’t want that to be their last game for sure. We have another week. That is what it is.

“We have another week, and so we got to go and put our nose to the grindstone. Regina is going to be a tough test. We have a long week of work ahead of us.”

Corbin Ebben (#34) carried the ball 30 times for 177 yards.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was pleased his team survived and found a way to overcome the Huskies. He cautioned leading up to Sunday’s PFC semifinal the Huskies were going to provide a big challenge, and sideline boss said the final score ultimately flattered his club. Sargeant gave credit to the Huskies for their effort.

“They’re a good football team,” said Sargeant. “They know how to play football.

“They know how to coach. We’ve had so many competitive games with these guys over the last three or four years. There is a lot of pride on their end.

“It was obvious. At the end of the day, a champion heart kicked in. We were able to walk away with this win.”

Isaac Michayluk returns an interception for the Hilltops.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Huskies got on the scoreboard first going ahead 3-0 on a 46-yard field goal by Santos.

Just when a seemed the Huskies had all the momentum, they muffed a punt return a short time later where the ball was recovered by Hilltops fifth-year outside linebacker Noah Gedir. The hosts proceeded to drive down field and the march culminated with star quarterback Trey Reider hitting rookie receiver Hayden Day with a four-yard touchdown toss to put the Hilltops in front 7-3.

Sargeant wasn’t surprised Gedir came through with a big play to get the Hilltops going at that point in the contest.

“That is your fifth-year player making plays,” said Sargeant. “Noah (Gedir) has been a great leader for us.

“He rallies in and steps up and does what he needs to do in the big moments. That is why he has been like that for five years. It is awesome to see.

Hayden Day makes a four-yard TD catch for the Hilltops.

“I’m proud of him, but I’m proud of the whole team, how we stuck together (and) played hard together.”

The Huskies then conceded a safety, and Reider followed connecting with second-year PFC all-star receiver Datiel Fountaine on a 39-yard touchdown toss to push the Hilltops advantage out to 16-3.

Just 80 seconds into the third quarter, the Huskies started to get rolling. Reider fumbled the ball away while running up the left sideline on a scramble, and the ball was scooped up by Huskies outside linebacker Matthew Alloway.

Alloway returned the fumble 36 yards for a touchdown that cut the Hilltops lead to 16-10. Michayluk said it was big for his squad to navigate the ups and downs of the contest.

Datiel Fountaine makes a 39-yard TD catch for the Hilltops.

“We were definitely put through some adversity there for sure,” said Michayluk. “Our team stuck together.

“We’re a family, we bonded, so we stayed with it and got it done.”

At the 7:07 mark of the third quarter, Huskies punt returner Aiden Janes fumbled the football at his own two-yard line on a hit by Hilltops long snapper Colton Zimmer. The ball rolled into the end zone. The Huskies recovered it, but they were downed in the end zone resulting in a safety that increased the Hilltops lead to 18-10.

That mishap didn’t deter the Huskies. At the 4:16 mark of the fourth quarter, Huskies running back Carson Eddy powered in for a major score from three yards out putting the visitors in position to attempted a two-point conversion to tie the contest.

The Huskies enjoy a fumble return TD by Matthew Alloway (#47).

Huskies quarterback Wyatt Matson hit receiver Cameron Coyne with a five-yard pass for a successful two-point conversion to even the score 18-18.

A short time later, Huskies defensive halfback Moise Mutebutsi intercepted Reider. That interception allowed the Huskies to set up for Santos’s field goal attempt that was missed and returned to the end zone by Sawi. That was ultimately the last momentum change in the contest.

“They (the Huskies) play us hard every time we play them,” said Michayluk. “They’re a physical bunch.

“They’re well coached. They play right to the end of the whistle. They play right to the end of the game.

Carson Eddy had a three-yard rushing TD for the Huskies.

“A hell of a lot of respect to them, and we wish them the best on the next year, next season.”

Sunday’s game was a gutty and at times an ugly post-season win. The Hilltops turned the ball over five times in the contest, and the Huskies gave away the ball on seven occasions.

Reider completed 13-of-19 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing one interception. He ran the ball seven times for 50 yards.

Fountaine caught two passes for a team high 48 receiving yards to go with his major score.

Matson completed 19-of-37 passes for 160, while throwing two interceptions. He also ran the ball seven times for a team high 58 yards.

Corbin Ebben (#34) dives into the end zone for a touchdown.

William Campbell led the Huskies with five catches for 52 yards.

Kai Kukurudza and Lucas Sosnowski each had one quarterback sack for the Hilltops. Zaden Taylor and Johnathon Stevens each had a half sack. Defensive halfback Jackson Dean had an interception for the Saskatoon side.

Outside linebacker Tristan Price led the Huskies with nine total tackles to go with a pass knockdown. Westley Johnsen and Kaige Houle recorded one quarterback sack each for the Huskies.

Now, the Hilltops turn their attention towards the PFC final and the Thunder, but they first had to respect the battle they got from the Huskies.

“We knew we drew the hard seed, because they’re physical,” said Sargeant. “They play a certain brand that matched up well against us.

The Hilltops do a cheer after their win on Sunday.

“Football is about matchups, and they match up well. We knew it was going to be physical. They got underneath us at times, and they took it to us.

“It is live and learn and grow. We’ve got to get better for next week. The good thing is we’re playing at home.”

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