Look good, play good – Pingue aims to be model of consistency for Hilltops

Jaydn Pingue celebrates a Hilltops win last season.

    On game day, Jadyn Pingue shoots to be a model of consistency for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

    When his squad goes up against their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder, some Regina players often remind Pingue that he is a model of another kind. Away from the football field, Pingue has worked as a fashion model.

    In games against Regina, the 22-year-old receives his share of trash talking from the Thunder players about his off-field exploits. Odds are high he might hear more of those jabs on Sunday, when the five time defending Canadian Junior Football League champion Hilltops face the Thunder at 3 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

    “I don’t even pay attention to what they are saying,” said Pingue. “It is irrelevant.”

    It should be noted that Pingue does look real good in his photo shoots, if one is being honest. When asked about how he feels he looks in his modeling photos, Pingue looked embarrassed at the query, chuckled and shrugged it off.

Jadyn Pingue, left, defends a pass against the Thunder last season.

    “I do what I do, and I like what I do,” said Pingue. “I’m pretty sure other guys would want to do the same, if they could, so I’m not going to be phased by their talk.

    “I’m not paying attention to any talk. I’m just focused on getting the ‘W.’”
    Now in his fifth and final season with the Hilltops, Pingue is starting on defence for the first time in his CJFL career. During his time with the venerable CJFL Saskatoon side, Pingue spent the first four years playing behind a deep linebackers group.

    The graduate of Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School Crusaders football team was substituted in frequently on defence during his first four seasons, while mainly playing special teams. 

Jadyn Pingue all set at outside linebacker last season.

    Playing on a starting linebacker group that includes fellow fifth-year Riley Keating and Brady Fossen, who is in his third year, Pingue strives to be like the star veterans he played behind that have since graduated from the program.

    “It has been a really good experience,” said Pingue, who stands 6-feet and weighs 205 pounds. “I have been able to learn from guys like Cole Benkic, Cam Schnitzler, Adam Benkic, Cody Peters, Bobby Ehman, just like great guys and great teammates.

    “It has been my first year starting, but I’ve gotten a lot of playing time as well whether it has been on special teams or even on defence as well. I have big names to live up to. There have been legends before me.

    “It is just next man in. It is kind of just like a responsibility I knew that was coming. I just want to live up to those expectations and be able to perform exceptionally on the field.”

    In the Hilltops regular season opening 34-20 over the Rifles in Winnipeg last Sunday, Pingue had six total tackles and a fumble recovery.

Jadyn Pingue drops into pass coverage for the Hilltops last season.

    While Pingue has improved during his time with the Hilltops, head coach Tom Sargeant believes the veteran linebacker can play even better.

    “Some days I think he looks good,” said Sargeant, who needs one more win for 200 head coaching victories combined in the CJFL regular season and post-season. “Some days, he makes me real mad, because I have high expectations.

    “I just care about Jadyn (Pingue) as a person and as a player, and you know what, that other stuff outside of football, good for him. I need him to be a star on game day. That is all I am asking.”

    While trying to get Pingue to play at an even higher level, Sargeant said his veteran is making the most of his opportunity to be a starter. 

Jadyn Pingue makes a tackle in last year’s Canadian Bowl.

    The legendary sideline boss said the Hilltops fifth years have shown great loyalty to the team, and the team has to ensure to reflect that loyalty back on to the players.

    Sargeant said he and the coaching staff have to do their part to help Pingue try to get as close to playing towards perfection as possible.

    “Jadyn (Pingue) is a dynamic athlete,” said Sargeant. “He has been a great special teamer.

    “Now he gets the opportunity to shine and thrive as a linebacker, but yet we are still having him play a lot of the special teams as well. He was a presence out on the field on Sunday (against the Rifles). He was all over the place.

    “We just want to harness him a bit, coach him a little bit smarter and make sure he is in the right spots when he does that. He is going to be a dynamic playmaker in the PFC, and he already is.”

Jadyn Pingue (#45) celebrates making a defensive play last season.

    Now in his fifth year in the CJFL, Pingue knows he has to be better and his team has to play better than they did in the season opener in Winnipeg. He said the effort needs to be better this coming Sunday against the Thunder.

    “There is a lot of stuff that we have to learn,” said Pingue. “Winnipeg played us physical.

    “They had like four months to prepare for us. I’m pretty sure that game was circled on their calendar the second they saw it. We have a lot to work on, but I’m excited to go against a team like Regina.

    “They always play us tough. It is going to be a great learning experience whatever the outcome is. Honestly, I’m just excited to play this game.”

    The Hilltops enter the contest with the Thunder having won their last 20 straight games including the regular season and playoffs and last 24 straight on the road including three victories in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl.

Jadyn Pingue (#45) wants to enjoy more championship moment like this.

    The Hilltops last loss came at the hands of the Thunder 29-26 back on Sept. 9, 2017 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Saskatoon’s last road loss was a 19-16 overtime decision on Aug. 17, 2014 against the Thunder in Regina at a facility that no longer exists in Taylor Field.
    Ultimately, Pingue would like to be able to experience what the Hilltops eight graduating fifth-year players did last season in winning a CJFL title in all five years they played in the league. At the moment, that group are the only ones to accomplish that feat, and Pingue would like to have that feeling.

    “There is no question I want to have that experience as well,” said Pingue. “I don’t want to be known as the team that couldn’t keep the streak going.

    “It is just taking it one week at a time. I’m not too focused on that. It would be great to go out with another ring.”

Getzlaf guest speaker at Hilltops End Zone Dinner

Chris Getzlaf on the Taylor Field big screen in 2013.

    Saskatchewan Roughriders great Chris Getzlaf will be the guest speaker at this year’s Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

    Getzlaf suited up as a receiver in 11 CFL campaigns from 2007 to 2017 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Eskimos. The Regina, Sask., product spent the bulk of that time with his hometown Roughriders.

    Over his 11 campaigns, Getzlaf appeared in 147 regular season games hauling in 414 passes for 6,192 yards and 41 touchdowns.

    Before joining the CFL, Getzlaf played two seasons with the University of Regina Rams in 2005 and 2006 in the U Sports ranks. Before his time with the Rams, Getzlaf played with the Regina Thunder, when the team was still called the Prairie Thunder.

    The Prairie Thunder name was last used in the 2004 CJFL campaign.

Chris Getzlaf make a training camp catch in 2015.

    When he was a member of the Roughriders, Getzlaf was a fan favourite right across Saskatchewan. Throughout his football career, Getzlaf was known as the quiet type who led by example.

    The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, Sept. 7 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The gates open at 4:15 p.m. and the meal is served at 5:15 p.m. The dinner will include a silent auction.

    Tickets are $100 per single person or a table of nine can be purchases for $825.

    Tickets to the dinner also include game tickets to that night’s CJFL regular season contest between the Hilltops and Thunder. There will be a pre-game address at the End Zone Dinner by Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant.

    Those looking to purchase tickets can do so by clicking right here.

    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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Hilltops’ family feeling continues to live on, key in “drive for five”

Josh Ewanchyna and Garth Knittig share a funny moment.

    The Saskatoon Hilltops have a real family feeling, and it powered them to complete the “drive for five.”

    Most elite sports teams shoot to have a family feeling, and very few reach what the “Hilltop family” has. The family feeling the Hilltops have is one that has been built since the modern day version of the club formed in 1947.

    As soon as new players become part of the venerable Canadian Junior Football League team, the Hilltops family feeling quickly becomes part of who you are. You quickly begin to genuinely care about everyone who is part of the organization.

    Everyone from the alums, players, coaches, training staff, directors, volunteers and the cheerleading team all see each other as family.

    That family feeling was one of the reasons the Hilltops had an incredible 2018 campaign that resulted in an unprecedented fifth straight CJFL title.

    The Hilltops capped their “drive for five” going 11-0 to complete the fourth perfect season in team history and first since 2003.

The Hilltops fifth-years get set to accept the Canadian Bowl.

    Saskatoon concluded the 2018 season with an impressive 58-21 victory over the Langley Rams in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – held last Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    Between the regular season and playoffs, the Hilltops trailed on the scoreboard for a combined 81 seconds.

    In posting an 8-0 regular season, the Hilltops outscored their opponents 402-70. Looking at all 11 games they played, the Hilltops closest margin of victory came in the PFC final, when they downed the Edmonton Huskies 28-9.

Hilltops QB Jordan Walls (#19) calls signals in short yardage.

    Everyone involved with the Hilltops knows how to keep each other accountable, and criticisms are always taken constructively. Everyone in this family wants to see each other get better and improve.

    When you see members with the Hilltops interact with each other, the ease and the high comfort level with those interactions are amazing. It creates some humourous looking moments too like when star defensive tackle Garth Knittig sat on lap of Josh Ewanchyna, who is the team’s star running back, and shared a laugh in the final minutes of a 58-5 victory over the Winnipeg Rifles in a Prairie Football Conference semifinal contest at SFM Field.

LB Cody Peters backpedals into pass coverage.

    The collection of people involved with the Hilltops come from all sorts of backgrounds, and being part of the “blue and gold” unites them.

    In 2018, the family feeling within the squad hit new heights like the impressive performance of the team on the field. There were very few valleys in this campaign.

    Hilltops legendary head coach Tom Sargeant and his staff deserve boatloads of credit for what took place.

    With that said, the family feeling was really set by the group of players Sargeant dubbed “The Great Eight,” who happened to be the eight members of the club who were in their fifth and final years of CJFL eligibility.

    Sargeant always says the goal of the Hilltops each season is to play for the fifth-years and help them graduate from the CJFL as league champions. It was pretty easy to get motivated to play for the fifth-year group in 2018.

    Quarterback Jordan Walls, receiver Jason Price, right tackle Kirk Simonsen, receiver Adam Ewanchyna, defensive end Connor Guillet and linebackers Cody Peters, Bobby Ehman and Adam Benkic are all gems.

Hilltops receiver Adam Ewanchyna goes up and over a Rams tackler.

    Besides being great players and great sportsmen on the field, all are outstanding persons away from the game. Wherever they go, the atmosphere in any play they enter becomes more positive.

    At the team’s annual awards banquet held on Thursday at the Radisson Hotel, the fifth years were appropriately honoured and that included winning six of the possible seven team awards they could take.

    Walls, who is the club’s star quarterback, claimed the Ron Atchison “True Grit” award. During his first three years with the Hilltops, Walls played behind star quarterback Jared Andreychuk.

    Taking over as the starter last season, Walls showed he was more than ready for his opportunity. Compiling a 22-1 career record as the team’s starting quarterback, Walls showed great command of the offence and was the composed Joe Montana type leader that everyone wanted to follow.

MLB Bobby Ehman springs into action for the Hilltops.

    The Blue and Gold Award for dedication and commitment went to Price, who came through with big plays for the team game after game as a star pass catcher. Price built a big reputation for being a consistent deep threat.

    Simonsen claimed the Ray Syrnyk Trophy as the team’s top lineman. He has been one of the anchors on a standout offensive line and was the longest serving starter on that unit dating back to the beginning of the 2016 campaign.

    The Courtice Inspiration Award went to Ehman. During his first four seasons with the team, Ehman was a standout on special teams and stepped in wherever he could on defence. After star middle linebacker Cameron Schnitzler graduated for the club following the 2017 season, Ehman stepped into that vacated role for his well-deserved moment in the sun.

    The Don and Jim Seaman Memorial Award for the top linebacker went to Benkic, who fought through a number of injuries in his career to either often hold a starting spot or be a regular in the linebacker rotation.

RT Kirk Simonsen, left, gets set to lock on a block for the Hilltops.

    The Drs. Landa-Doig Award as the team’s most outstanding graduate was presented to Peters. Peters was named the top defensive player in the CJFL in 2018.

    He attended the training camp for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders and was on the Roughriders practice roster before rejoining the Hilltops for his final CJFL campaign. Peters deserves another shot to crack a CFL roster in 2019.

    Ewanchyna would fill in at any receiver position and became a strong kick returner for the team. He enjoyed getting to play three seasons with and see Josh, who is his younger brother, grow into a star.

    Guillet built an inspirational story returning to play in all of the Hilltops games in the 2018 season after missing the entire 2017 campaign with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Guillet had 2.5 sacks in the regular season and one to conclude his career in the fourth quarter of the Canadian Bowl win over the Rams.

Connor Guillet (#76) and friends pose for pictures with the Canadian Bowl.

   It is the fitting this group holds the distinction of being the only players to win five CJFL championship rings during their playing careers.

    Defensive back Evan Mantyka took the Past President’s Trophy as the team’s rookie of the year. In Mantyka and the rest of the Hillltops returning players, the team’s future is in good hands.

The Hilltops will be in the “mix for six” in 2019.

    While attention will begin to turn to the next CJFL season, the contributions of “The Great Eight” fifth-year players from 2018 will live on in Hilltops lore forever.

    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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Hilltops’ fifth years hammer home “drive for five”

Saskatoon wins fifth straight Canadian Bowl, 21^st CJFL title

The Hilltops players get five fingers up for five straight CJFL title wins.

    It was only fitting head coach Tom Sargeant sent the all of the Saskatoon Hilltops fifth years on to the field for the final snaps of the Canadian Bowl.

    On Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field with a 58-21 final cemented on the scoreboard in favour of the Hilltops over the visiting Langley Rams, all eight of the Hilltops fifth year players were sent on to the field to take the final kneel down snaps in a dominant Canadian Junior Football League championship performance. 

    When fifth-year star quarterback Jordan Walls took a final knee with zeros on the scoreboard clock, the Hilltops completed a perfect 11-0 season and became the first team to ever win five straight CJFL titles.

The Hilltops fifth-year players lead the team on to the field.

    At that moment, the Hilltops fifth-year players in Walls, receiver Jason Price, right tackle Kirk Simonsen, receiver Adam Ewanchyna, defensive end Connor Guillet and linebackers Cody Peters, Bobby Ehman and Adam Benkic all got to be first to celebrate and experience the euphoria of the win.

    “It is special,” said Walls, who finishes with an overall 22-1 career record as the Hilltops starting quarterback. “We’ve spent a lot of time together and shared a lot of moments.

Hilltops DE Tristan Hering sacks Rams QB Duncan Little.

    “That was definitely one I will never forget. This will be for the rest of my life.

    “I am going to go and definitely enjoy this one, celebrate, and I look forward to see what happens next.”

    With the win, the Hilltops added to their lengthy list of growing accomplishments. They captured their eighth CJFL championship in the last nine years and 21^st CJFL title in team history.

    The Toppers extended their current overall winning streak to 19 games and post-season winning streak to 16 games. They only trailed on the scoreboard for a combined 81 seconds all season.

    Finishing at 11-0, the Hilltops completed their fourth perfect season in team history. Saskatoon pulled off that feat for the first time since going 12-0 in 2003. The two other perfect seasons came in 1978 at 12-0 and 1958 at 11-0.

Hilltop RT Kirk Simonsen blocks out a Rams pass rusher.

    In Saturday’s, romp the Hilltops piled up the second most points ever in a CJFL title game. The 2003 Hilltops team holds the record for scoring the most points in a CJFL title game having crushed the Victoria Rebels 59-0 in the Canadian Bowl in Chilliwack, B.C., that season.

    Saskatoon showed very little signs having gone 19 days between playing games after downing the Edmonton Huskies 28-9 in the Prairie Football Conference final at SMF Field on Oct. 28.

    Playing before 1,465 spectators on Saturday, the Hilltops started making big plays on the game’s second play, when fourth year defensive lineman Tristan Hering came off the edge and nailed Rams quarterback Duncan Little with a thunderous sack deep in the Langley end of the field.

Hilltops receiver Jason Price slips out of bounds after a 44-yard reception.

    The Rams, who finished at 10-4 overall, had to concede a safety two plays later due to the bad field position to give the Hilltops a 2-0 lead.

    The big plays continued and ended with Hilltops star third-year defensive tackle Garth Knittig recovering a fumble inside of the final two minutes of the fourth quarter to set up the series, where the Hilltops ultimately ran out the clock with kneel downs.

    “These kids weren’t going to be denied today,” said Sargeant, who picked up his 15^th CJFL title win with the Hilltops including 12 victories as head coach, two as an assistant coach and one as a player. “It was pretty obvious.

    “As I said, I couldn’t be more proud of the coaching staff and the players to accomplish a tremendous goal. To win five, you think that is easy. Come on now. That is unreal, because those are unreal kids.”

Jordan Walls finished his CJFL career 22-1 as the Hilltops starting QB.

    After falling behind 2-0, the Rams put up a fight in the first quarter against the Hilltops. They stopped Saskatoon on the goal-line and Rams defensive back Nathan Murray made an interception deep in his own end to stall another Hilltops offensive series.

    At that point, the flood gates opened.

    Hilltops star running back Josh Ewanchyna, who would be named the game’s most valuable offensive player, ran in a major score from a yard out to give the Hilltops a 9-0 lead late in the first quarter. It was the first of three rushing touchdowns Ewanchyna would score on the afternoon.

    Kicker David Solie added a single early in the second quarter from a missed 32 yard field goal to bump the Hilltops lead up to 10-0.

The Hilltops celebrate defensive TD by Logan Bitz (#23).

    The Hilltops then proceeded to complete a three play drive that covered 102 yards that resulted in the game’s second touchdown. On the drive, Walls hit Price with a deep 44-yard pass, Ewanchyna broke a 44 yard run and receiver Keegan Dicks hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Walls.

    With 2:25 remaining before halftime, Hilltops defensive back Logan Bitz, who would be named the game’s most valuable defensive player, returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown to give the host a 24-0 advantage.

    The Rams showed life, when on the ensuing kickoff, kick returner A.J. Blackwell ran the ball back 100 yards for Langley’s first major score to cut the Hilltops lead to 24-7.

    Saskatoon responded to that score with a seven yard rushing major from Ewanchyna coming with 14.9 seconds remaining in the first half giving the Hilltops a 31-7 lead.

    “It was like anything,” said Sargeant. “We were going to be aggressive.

Josh Ewanchyna, left, darts home on a 40-yard touchdown run.

    “Certainly, that (102-yard scoring drive) was good, and then I also liked the answer at the end of the half, when they got the kick return, and we answered back and scored. It is just a group of men that they knew what they needed to do and how they needed to do it.

    “It is one thing talking about it, and it is another thing to execute it. They were locked in and focused. It is a great game by our coaches and players.”

    Early in the third quarter, Solie hit a 32-yard field goal to put the Hilltops up 34-7.

    The Rams answered back when Little hit star receiver Jevon Cottoy with a 42-yard touchdown pass to cut the Hilltops edge to 34-14.

The crowd at SMF Field cheers on the Hilltops.

    Saskatoon answered by piling up 24 straight points to surge ahead 58-14.

    Ewanchyna ran in a major from 40 yards out, Solie hit a 38-yard field goal and Walls hit receiver John Brown with a 41-yard touchdown pass to give the Hilltops a 51-14 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

    Knittig was inserted in at fullback on offence in a short yardage situation near the start of the fourth quarter and he ran in a touchdown from a yard out to round out the Hilltops scoring increasing their lead to 58-14.

    Cottey ran in a touchdown from four yards out for the Rams with 3:57 to play in the contest to conclude the 58-21 final.

 

DE Caleb Haight gets a strip sack for the Hilltops.

  Guillet was pumped about the fifth straight championship win at game’s end.

    “I’m speechless,” said Guillet. “I don’t know how to put it into words to be completely honest.

    “It is just an incredible feeling.”

    The veteran defensive end, who was playing his final CJFL game, was pleased to get a quarterback sack in the fourth quarter, when the Rams put in a package that featured Cottoy at quarterback.

    “It felt pretty good to get that sack,” said Guillet. “They put (Jevon) Cottoy back there.

    “It was a special formation that they use once in a while. It felt pretty good to stop that.”

    Walls completed 16-of-21 passes for passes for 247 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Ewanchyna ran the ball 28 times for 245 yards and scoring three touchdowns.

    Price was the Hilltops leading receiver hauling in three passes for 75 yards.

    Bitz had making four total tackles to go with his 48 yard interception return for a touchdown. Defensive ends Connor Delahey and Caleb Haight each had sacks for the Toppers.

Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant contemplates a play call.

    Little completed 20-of-31 passes for 265 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Rams. He was knocked out of the game due to injury late in the third quarter on Delahey’s sack.

    Cottoy hauled in five passes for 109 yards to go with his major score through the air and on the grounds.

    The Hilltops defence held the Rams to 40 yards rushing total as a team.

    Following the game, Simonsen had a blooper moment, when the Canadian Bowl broke apart at the neck during the Hilltops on field celebrations.

    “I don’t know what happened there,” said Simonsen with a laugh. “I just lifted it, and it fell apart.”

    He was overjoyed to help the Hilltops win five straight CJFL titles and be part of all those wins.

The Hilltops fifth-year player take the final kneel down play.

    “This is crazy,” said Simonsen. “When you start, you are never thinking you are going to win five for five.

    “No one has ever done it, so that is an awesome feeling for sure.”

    Sargeant admitted it seemed fitting that the Hilltops capped their “drive for five” with a perfect season.

    “It is real cool and very deserving, and we are very proud of that,” said Sargeant. “To go to our new facility, you just don’t know how things are going to go.

    “These kids, they just locked in. They are a tough team. They are tough and physical. 

The Hilltops celebrate with three parts of the Canadian Bowl.

    “They really went after things today. I’m very proud.”

    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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Major injury didn’t keep Hilltops’ Guillet down

Defensive lineman returned for final CJFL campaign

Connor Guillet missed the 2017 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

    Connor Guillet wasn’t going to let a major injury rob him of time with the Saskatoon Hilltops.

    Going into his fourth season with the team a year ago, the Humboldt, Sask., product, who plays defensive end, ruptured his Achilles tendon near the end of main training camp. The injury forced Guillet, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 245 pounds, to miss all of the 2017 campaign.

    Guillet still hung around the team attending practices and making games to offer support for his teammates. He wasn’t going to allow the injury to prevent him from playing in his fifth and final season with the venerable Canadian Junior Football League club.

    While on the comeback trail, Guillet received a lot of encouragement from the Hilltops organization to make it back.

    “It is just my last year as a fifth year,” said Guillet. “The Hilltops pretty much drove me to come back.

    “It was a good off-season just to strengthen my Achilles and get into training and get back into the weight room. Two weeks after the surgery I was right back in the weight room lifting, and I was just preparing for this next season.

    “I just kind of knew that it had to be done.”

Connor Guillet (#76) charges on to the field.

    Guillet returned for the current campaign appearing in all eight of the Hilltops regular season games collecting 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and five solo tackles. In Saskatoon’s two post-season games, Guillet has four solo tackles.

    He wants to help the Hilltops win an unprecedented fifth straight CJFL title.

    The Hilltops (10-0) host the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl – on Saturday at 1 p.m. against the Langley Rams (10-3).

    Guillet has the chance to be one of eight fifth-year players that wins a CJFL championship in every year they were eligible to play in the league with one team. The other seven veterans who look to share in that distinction include quarterback Jordan Walls, receiver Jason Price, right tackle Kirk Simonsen, receiver Adam Ewanchyna and linebackers Adam Benkic, Bobby Ehman and Cody Peters.

    If the Hilltops can win the Canadian Bowl again, Guillet said he would be happy for the other fifth-year players and everyone else on the team.

    “It would be awesome,” said Guillet. “I would be super thankful, especially to the Hilltops organization just for kind of giving us eight guys the opportunity to come out here and play.

    “There are a lot of talented younger guys out there, and you have to hand it to them, they are really playing their roles in all of this.”
    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said he was proud that Guillet made to back to play his final season. The legendary sideline boss knows there are times players leave the CJFL to focus on school or work, if a major injury happens.

Hilltops DE Connor Guillet (#76) spies into the Winnipeg Rifles backfield.

    When Guillet got hurt, Sargeant said it was tough to see.

    “It was just devastating,” said Sargeant. “Guys work so hard to get ready and get going.

    “You never know when a guy takes a year off. What I like, he (Guillet) came back and wasn’t quite right, but each game he got more confident in it. He is playing at a high level.

    “He is doing what we need him to do. He is going to be an impact player come Saturday in the Canadian Bowl.”

    Guillet went through all sorts of emotions watching the team last season. He was happy to be around “the Hilltops family” and felt he acted as a good support person for the defensive lineman.

    When he saw Riley Pickett and Tom Schnitzler have outstanding seasons playing the defensive end positions, Guillet was happy for the pair,  but he wondered what could have been had he been healthy.

    “I’m not going to lie, it made me miss it quite a bit,” said Guillet, who is studying education at the University of Saskatchewan. “Hats off to those guys especially Pickett and Tommy.

    “They really stepped up I think. They just had a great year.”

Hilltops DE Connor Guillet (#76) helps stop an Edmonton Huskies runner.

    Sargeant thought Guillet performed admirably being a support person for the other Hilltops players last season and the other players were really happy he remained around the team.

    “He (Guillet) is a super kid and the guys really like him,” said Sargeant. “He is just a positive influence.

    “He is a great leader. He does everything we want a Hilltop to be. He is going to school. He works hard.

    “He has a passion for life, a passion for the game and as I said, he is just a real popular player, popular kid, who has bigger and better things in his horizon.”

    After the Hilltops won their fourth straight Canadian Bowl in 2017, Pickett joined the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team and has helped them win a Canada West conference title. Schnitzler graduated from the CJFL ranks and moved on to join the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

Connor Guillet listens for a play from the sidelines.

    With the departures of Pickett and Schnitzler, the competition for the Hilltops starting defensive end spots was wide open. Still, Guillet kept his hopes modest.

    “Truthfully, I had pretty low expectations,” said Guillet. “I was just coming into the season, and I was just hoping for the best.”

    He became a starter, but admits he still gets bothered by plays he missed. Taking everything into consideration, Guillet believes he had a good campaign.

    “I think it went not bad,” said Guillet. “I’m probably pretty critical, so there are definitely a couple of missed plays and a lot of things I could have improved on.

    “Overall, I can’t really complain.”

    Guillet is aiming to play his best game ever for the Hilltops in the Canadian Bowl. He expects the Rams to supply a big challenge.

    “They are just a big and talented team,” said Guillet. “I think we just have to go out there, (and) we have to just keep quiet and let them do their thing and we do our thing and just treat it like another game.”

    He also believes it is strange to think that Saturday’s CJFL title game will be his last as a player for the Hilltops.

 

Connor Guillet (#76) and the Hilltops D-linemen with the PFC title trophy.

  “It is crazy,” said Guillet. “I’ve been just reminiscing all the years and all the friends that I’ve made, and it just flew by.”

    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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Hilltops’ focus incredible so far in “drive for five”

The Hilltops celebrate with the PFC championship trophy last Sunday.

    Saskatoon Hilltops most impressive statistical accomplishment so far this season involves the number 81.

    Between the regular season and playoffs, the Hilltops have trailed on the scoreboard for a total of 81 seconds in all their games building a 10-0 record in the 2018 campaign. On Sept. 22, the Regina Thunder held a 17-16 edge over their archrivals late in the first half in a clash at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    The Thunder’s lead lasted for a stretch of 81 seconds. They were forced to relinquish the lead, when they had to give up a safety due to bad field position to fall behind 18-17.

    Saskatoon hit high gear from that point surging to a 48-24 victory.

    Last Sunday, the Hilltops improved to 10-0 downing the Edmonton Huskies 28-9 in the Prairie Football Conference final at SMF Field. That marked the fifth straight year the Hilltops have won the PFC title.

    With that victory, the Hilltops will host the Canadian Junior Football League championship game – the Canadian Bowl – on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. at SMF Field. Saskatoon will try to win an unprecedented fifth straight CJFL championship in that contest.

QB Jordan Walls piled up the PFC awards.

    The Hilltops will face the winner of a CJFL semifinal contest to be played this coming Saturday between the Ontario Football Conference champion Hamilton Hurricanes and the British Columbia Football Conference champion Langley Rams in Langley, B.C.

    Saskatoon’s focus has been incredible so far this season. The coaches, staff and players have lived each day for that day as the season has gone on.

    Collectively, they have embraced and enjoyed each moment as it has come.

    They focused on letting this season write its own story. As a result, the team will get a chance to win a fifth straight CJFL title.

    The Hilltops had to do the same thing last year in becoming the first team to win four straight CJFL titles. In the 2017 campaign, no one really talked openly about winning a fourth straight CJFL title until the Toppers locked up a spot in the Canadian Bowl.

    Knowing the PFC champion would host the Canadian Bowl this season, it would be safe to say winning a CJFL title for the fifth straight year was in the back of everyone’s mind that is part of the Hilltops organization. A veteran team was returning as well to take a crack at a fifth straight national championship.

Bobby Ehman (#48) and the Hilltops defence have been solid this season.

    A total of eight players in their fifth-years with the team will have the chance to hold the distinction of being part of a CJFL national championship club in every season they played with the Hilltops. All of those returning fifth-year players are key members of the team.

    Quarterback Jordan Walls racked up the PFC awards being named an all-star, the most outstanding quarterback, the most outstanding offensive player of the year and the most valuable player.

    Receiver Jason Price was named a PFC all-star and the most outstanding receiver for the conference. Offensive lineman Kirk Simonsen was named a PFC all-star and receiver Adam Ewanchyna was named a PFC all-star as a return specialist.

    Linebacker Cody Peters had a big haul of PFC honours being named an all-star, the most outstanding linebacker and most outstanding defensive player.

    Bobby Ehman did an admirable job taking over at middle linebacker from Cameron Schnitzler, who starred at that position and graduated after last season.

RB Josh Ewanchyna, right, jets to the end zone for a touchdown.

    Adam Benkic proved he could still fly around at outside linebacker and on special teams. He was named the special teams player of the week for the PFC after the Hilltops won the conference title.

    Defensive end Connor Guillet was dogged by injury all last season and returned to record 2.5 sacks appearing in six of the Hilltops eight regular season games this season. He has played so well you wonder what he might have been able to do had he not been injured.

    The Hilltops swept the PFC player of the week awards after the conference title victory with third-year running back Josh Ewanchyna taking offensive player of the week honours and fourth-year defensive tackle Garth Knittig being named the defensive player of the week.

    Ewanchyna was named a PFC all-star and the conference’s most outstanding offensive back, and Knittig was named a PFC all-star and the conference’s most outstanding defensive lineman.

    Head coach Tom Sargeant got his due being named the PFC’s coach of the year. Sargeant and his coaching staff might have pulled off one of their best jobs ever with how well they have guided this year’s team.

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant, middle, is the PFC coach of the year.

    The fact the players have stayed focused on the task at hand is a credit to the work of the coaches.

    With such a group of super people in the fold, it is only human to envision what it would be like to win a fifth straight CJFL title from time to time.

    Because of the day-to-day work put in this season, the Hilltops can embrace the fact they have a chance to do something uncommon and win a fifth straight CJFL championship in their next game. If they pull off that victory, a whole host of other milestones will come.

    They would cap the run of five straight championships with a perfect season, which would be the fourth in team history and first since going 12-0 in 2003. In 2003, the Hilltops crushed the Victoria Rebels 59-0 in the Canadian Bowl in Chilliwack, B.C.

    The current Hilltops can keep building on their current overall winning streak of 18 games and post-season winning streak of 15 games.

    They are also trying to capture their eighth CJFL championship in the last nine years and 21^st CJFL title in team history.

    While the Toppers will work to stay focused in a break of 19 days between games before taking the field on Nov. 17, that break might provide a chance to turn the end of the season into a celebration of the venerable CJFL team attracting many alums and supporters of the club.

The Hilltops are looking to draw a big crowd for the Canadian Bowl.

    The lengthy stretch off between games will allow alums who live outside of Saskatoon to potentially make plans to venture back to “The Bridge City” to see the Toppers play in a Saturday CJFL championship game. You only have to hang around the Hilltops for a short time to realize a lot of people hold the squad close to their hearts.

    The Nov. 17 contest will allow supporters from all points on the map to make plans to return for this title tilt.

    The 2018 campaign has been special for the Hilltops. All that is left is to make one big splash with a final send off.

    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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Hilltops know 10-0, claim PFC title for fifth straight year

The Hilltops raise the PFC championship trophy once again.

    Saskatoon Hilltops defence laid the hammer down to ensure the opportunity to play for a fifth straight Canadian Junior Football League title wouldn’t be denied.

    With the Hilltops having built an 18-0 first quarter lead on the Edmonton Huskies in the Prairie Football Conference final on Sunday afternoon at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Saskatoon’s defensive unit ensured Edmonton’s offence never got on track.

    The Hilltops limited the Huskies to just 78 yards rushing and 165 yards passing in winning the PFC final 28-9 before 863 spectators. Sunday’s victory marked the fifth straight year the Hilltops have captured the PFC title.

DTs Garth Knittig, left, and Jesse McNabb, nail a Huskies QB.

    Of course after the previous four PFC championship victories, the Hilltops moved on to capture the Canadian Bowl.

    With Sunday’s win in the books, the Hilltops will host the CJFL title game on November 17 at SMF Field at a time to be announced.

    “It feels amazing,” said Hilltops star defensive tackle Jesse McNabb, who had five defensive tackles in the win. “We have a good group of guys around us.

    “We have a good group of fifth years. We all just did our job today. Offence struggled a little bit, but our defence picked it up when we needed it to.”

    The Huskies defence was stout against the Hilltops passing game.

    Saskatoon’s star quarterback Jordan Walls completed 11-of-25 passes for 145 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Earlier in the day, Walls was named the most outstanding quarterback, the most outstanding offensive player of the year and the most valuable player of the PFC. 

Hilltops DB Colton Holmes (#9) drills a Huskies receiver.

    Hilltops star receiver Jason Price was held to one catch for eight yards. Price was named the most outstanding receiver for the PFC earlier in the day.

    The Hilltops ground game was firing on all cylinders. Star running back Josh Ewanchyna, who was named the PFC’s most outstanding offensive back earlier in the day, ran the ball 24 times for 163 years and three touchdowns. He also hauled in two passes for 33 yards.

    In his last three outings against the Huskies, Ewanchyna has rushed for 100 or more yards in each of those contests.

    After Walls threw for 473 yards in the Hilltops 58-5 romp over the Winnipeg Rifles in a PFC semifinal contest one week earlier, Ewanchyna believed he was going to have to step up against the Huskies.

    “With Walls’ performance last week, we knew that they were going to be watching that passing game a little closer,” said Ewanchyna. “We knew the run game was going to be there.

    “It was very physical. Our ground and pound game is what we kind of pride ourselves with. We know, if we keep driving the ball, the game is going to be a little easier.

The Hilltop got great support from their faithful fans at SMF Field.

    “We are going to wear out the defence. That is what seemed to happen. When we got the ball and pounded it, things were going pretty good for us.”

    The Hilltops’ first quarter surge started with a David Solie field goal from 31 yards out, which was set up by a blocked punt by defensive end Connor Delahey. Ewanchyna ran in his first major of the game from three yards out and Solie scored a single on the ensuing kickoff to put the Hilltops up 11-0.

    Hilltops fifth-year linebacker Adam Benkic recovered a fumble on the ensuing Edmonton series. On the drive resulting from that fumble recovery, Ewanchyna ran his second major of the game in from 21 yards out on the final play of the first quarter to give the Hilltops an 18-0 lead.

RB Josh Ewanchyna scores three TDs for the Hilltops.

    From there, Edmonton tried to make a comeback but was only able to chip away at the Saskatoon lead.

    In the second quarter, the Huskies forced the Hilltops to concede a safety, received an 18-yard field goal from Cole Sabourin and a single from a missed field goal from Sabourin to cut Saskatoon’s edge to 18-6.

    Sabourin booted a 19-yard field goal in the third quarter to further trim the Hilltops advantage to 18-9.

    “Once we got ahead of them, all they could do was kick field goals,” said McNabb. “We did our job.

    “We knew we were going to keep doing our job, and they would have to pull some magic out to score on us it felt like. We just did the game plan and did our job. That is all we need to do.”

    The Huskies won turnover battle with the Hilltops 5-3, which is something the Hilltops almost never come out on the wrong end of.

    Edmonton was without starting quarterback Tommy Yanchuk due to injury. Sunday’s starter Brendan Guy left the PFC final with an injury early in the fourth quarter running for a first down on a third down gamble.

Huskies QB Brendan Guy faced constant pressure from the Hilltops defence.

    Guy completed 14-of-24 passes for 138 yards before departing the contest. Jordan Lane, who is normally Edmonton’s third string quarterback, competed 4-of-7 passes for 27 yards in relief.

    Before Guy was injured, the Huskies odds at making a comeback became a lot more difficult, when Ewanchyna ran home a major from 34 yards out near the end of the third quarter to increase the Hilltops lead to 25-9.

    After Guy left the contest, Solie booted a 27-yard field goal with 4:45 to play in the fourth quarter to seal the final outcome at 28-9 in favour of the Hilltops.

    Benkic had four defensive tackles and four special teams tackles to go along with his fumble recovery for Saskatoon.

    Defensive tackle Garth Knittig, who was named the PFC’s most outstanding defensive lineman earlier in the day, had seven defensive tackles for the Hilltops. 

The Hilltops Cheerleading team entertains at halftime.

    Linebacker Cody Peters had five defensive tackles and forced a fumble for the host side. Peters was named the PFC’s most outstanding linebacker and most outstanding defensive player earlier in the day.

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said he would have liked to have seen a little more production from his team’s passing game, but when it comes to playoff football, the legendary sideline boss said all that mattered was getting the job done.

    “At the end of the day, you are just here,” said Sargeant, who was named the coach of the year in the PFC earlier in the day. “I don’t care if you win by one or win by 100.

    “You have to figure out how to win and move on. Hey, we’re going to another Canadian final. That tells you so much about this group of coaches and this group of men.

The Hilltops defence corrals Huskies receiver Sam Clayton.

    “Five in a row, you think about that. That don’t happen anywhere.”

    With the win, the Hilltops improve to 10-0 overall on the 2018 campaign. Including action in the regular season and playoffs, the Hilltops have won their last 18 games in a row. Saskatoon has won its last 15 straight post-season games in a row too.

    When the Hilltops try to win an unprecedented fifth straight CJFL title on Nov. 17, they will be trying to complete a perfect season and keep their overall and playoff winning streaks intact.

    The Huskies finished the 2018 campaign with a 7-3 overall record.

The Hilltops celebrate Josh Ewanchyna’s third quarter TD.

    The CJFL’s other two conference title games were also contested on Sunday. In the Ontario Football Conference final in Hamilton, the host Hurricanes slipped past the Windsor AKO Fratmen 28-23.

    In the British Columbia Football Conference final in Kelowna, the Langley Rams thrashed the host Okanagan Sun 39-7.

    The Rams, who are 9-3 overall, host the Hurricanes, who are 10-0 overall, in a CJFL semifinal game this coming Saturday in Langley, B.C.

    While the Hilltops will have close to three full weeks off before hosting the Canadian Bowl, McNabb is looking forward to playing the CJFL title game at home.

The Hilltops DLs and DL coach Dave Fisher pose for a memorable picture.

    “It is exciting to have it at home,” said McNabb. “We have to stay mentally prepared through those three weeks.

    “That is all we can really do is prepare for the next game whoever we play.”

    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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