Heintz soaks in final playoff ride with Hilltops

Dillan Heintz, centre, walks on to SMF Field with his parents.

During his first two seasons with the Saskatoon Hilltops, Dillan Heintz never doubted the words of the team’s veteran leaders, but he admits they hit differently now that he is a veteran leader.

The 22-year-old receiver is one of the Hilltops captains. He is set to embark on his final playoff run with the team as he will graduate out of the CJFL ranks whenever the Hilltops post-season run comes to an end.

The Hilltops open the CJFL post-season taking on the Edmonton Huskies in a PFC semifinal on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Both teams sported 5-3 regular season records, but the Hilltops finished second in the PFC and earned the right to host the PFC semifinal due to taking the lone head-to-head regular season encounter with the Huskies 38-10 on August 21 at SMF Field.

Heintz said it was different knowing this will be his last playoff run with the Hilltops.

“Looking back at it now, it went by in a flash,” said Heintz, who is one of 20 players who will graduate from the Hilltops at the conclusion of their 2022 post-season run. “Back in my first and second year, I would listen to the old guys who said to enjoy every moment.

“Now, you look at that, and it means a lot more. I’m just trying to enjoy the guys and take it as far as we can.”

Last year, Heintz had a memorable clutch moment in a PFC semifinal against the Huskies. With the Hilltops trailing 31-27, Heintz caught a pass on a five-yard out pattern from quarterback Damon Dutton with 21.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to allow the Hilltops to pull out a 33-31 victory.

Dillan Heintz scores the PFC semifinal winning TD in 2021.

Heintz remembers the offence getting in the zone during the winning two-minute drill drive, and he happened to have the honour of being put in position to catch the winning score.

“It is pretty spectacular honestly,” said Heintz, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 185 pounds. “Just as a team, that was such a special moment.

“For us to do the whole two-minute drill and go there with whatever it was a minute and 18 seconds on the clock and win the game, I just had my number called. It was a combination of good plays.

“It wasn’t just one guy. It was all 12 of us on the field, and yeah, it was pretty special.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said the team’s coaching staff always has memories of the clutch plays Heintz makes in the back of their collective minds. When the time comes where the team needs a clutch play, Sargeant said Heintz is one of the players the club’s coaches look to.

“He (Heintz) is a prime time player,” said Sargeant. “He has played a lot of games for us – a lot of big games.

“We just have a lot of confidence in him. Dillan is a captain. He is a leader.

“He is one of the top guys on this offence. He is one of the guys we expect to make the tough catch and make the tough block.”

Heintz, who is graduate of Saskatoon’s Centennial Collegiate Chargers Football Team, is versatile too. He is a player the Hilltops will give the ball to on a jet sweep or have him throw a pass on a gadget play. Heintz has a sound understanding of the offence and comes though with the unnoticed task of making key blocks on running plays.

Dillan Heintz motors upfield after making a catch.

When Heintz was unable to play during the team’s third and fourth games of the regular season due to a minor injury which they lost, Sargeant said Heintz’s absence hurt the team way more than people would suspect. When Heintz returned to play, Sargeant said it added an infusion of stability and confidence.

“On our offence, you just know that the spotlight is on him (Heintz),” said Sargeant. “Where he goes a lot of times that is where the ball seems to go.

“We try to take advantage of what defences are trying to do. When they are over playing him, that gives us the hitch pass or the bubble pass those types of things. As I said, he is just always heavily involved in our game plan.

“We always try to scheme for him like we are doing this week to put him in spots. The sooner you get him the ball he is a tough guy to tackle. We love that he is here, and we are enjoying every minute we can with him.”

Heintz was pleased he wasn’t out of the lineup for more than two games due to the fact he is playing his final CJFL season. When he did make his return, he was energized to get on the field.

“I was trying to get back like a week or two earlier than I even did,” said Heintz. “It was kind a collective decision for coaches and trainers.

“It was the right call to sit out a couple of games. When I got back, I was ready to get out there, and I was ready to smash my face into someone else honestly. It was kind of one of those things you are just itching.

“No one likes to be injured, so you’re ready to get back out there as soon as you can.”

Dillan Heintz hold on to an acrobatic catch for the Hilltops.

Due to his injury, the Hilltops early season struggles in the passing game and how spectacular the team’s run game has been, Heintz had modest numbers in the 2022 regular season. 

In six games, he caught 20 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns and ran the ball once for 23 yards.

Heintz said he has always cared more about wins than personal statistics. With the Hilltops ground game averaging 227.3 yards rushing per contest over the team’s eight regular season games and 309 yards rushing per outing in the club’s three game winning streak heading into playoffs, Heintz is ready to play the hot hand and continue block.

While the run is important, Heintz is staying prepared to make a difference in the passing game.

“As receivers, we take a lot of pride in our blocking,” said Heintz. “We practise that every single day.

“You’re always ready when your number is going to get called. In the game, you’re lucky if you get five to six balls thrown your way. You have to make sure you capitalize on every single one of those chances.

“We’re a heavy run team, so we take pride in our blocking.”

The Hilltops celebrate Dillan Heintz’s PFC semifinal winning TD in 2021.

While the end of the 2022 Hilltops campaign is near, Heintz said he isn’t sure what he is going to do when the post-season wraps up. He has put thoughts about his time coming to an end with the storied CJFL team to the back of his mind.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” said Heintz. “I’m trying to just kind of focus on here and now.

“Right now, we have the Edmonton Huskies this week. I’m trying to enjoy as much time as I can with these guys. They’re my brothers, so coming here every day is a privilege.

“To be here with my brothers and my coaches and trainers and everyone, it is just a special experience, and I’m trying to soak it all in.”

Davidsen gets second PFC player of the week nod

Boston Davidsen rumbles downfield for the Hilltops.

A big game that allowed Saskatoon Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen to break the 1000-yard rushing barrier also resulted in his second player of the week nod for the 2022 CJFL campaign.

On Wednesday, Davidsen was named the PFC’s player-of-the-week for efforts in the Hilltops 43-14 victory over the Calgary Colts this past Sunday. In that contest, Davidsen carried the ball 16 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns by the halftime break.

Those became his final game totals as the Hilltops held a 26-0 lead at halftime and rotated in their talented and deep stable of running backs in the second half. During the eight game regular season, Davidsen carried the ball 149 times for 1,037 yards and scored seven touchdowns.

Regina Thunder linebacker Stephen Smith took home honours as the PFC’s defensive player of the week on Wednesday. In the Thunder’s 42-14 victory over the Edmonton Huskies last Sunday at Leibel Field in Regina, Smith had four defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists, 1.5 quarterback sacks, a pass knockdown, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and one interception.

Thunder linebacker Devin Baumann took the nod as the PFC’s special teams player of the week Wednesday for his efforts in the Thunder’s win over the Huskies this past Sunday. Baumann made a CJFL record five special teams solo tackles helping the Thunder improve to 8-0 on the campaign.

Title matches set in BCFC and OFC

This coming Saturday will be championship Saturday for the CJFL’s BCFC and OFC conferences.

The BCFC championship will see the Okanagan Sun host the Westshore Rebels at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, B.C., on Saturday. The Sun posted a perfect 10-0 record in regular season play and dumped the defending CJFL champion Langley Rams 44-20 in one BCFC semifinal last Saturday at the Apple Bowl. The Rams posted a 5-5 record in regular season play.

In the other BCFC semifinal played this past Sunday, the Rebels blanked the Valley Huskers 34-0 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria, B.C. Both clubs had 7-3 regular season records and split their two game regular season series 1-1, but the Rebels hosted the BCFC semifinal having outscored the Huskers 48-35 in their two head-to-head regular season meetings.

The OFC championship will see the St. Clair Saints host the London Beefeaters at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont., on Saturday. The Saints posted a perfect 8-0 record in regular season play and blanked the Hamilton Hurricanes 44-0 in one OFC semifinal played last Saturday at Acumen Stadium. The Hurricanes had a 3-5 regular season record.

In the other OFC semifinal played last Saturday, the Beefeaters downed the Ottawa Sooners 38-14 at City Wide Sports Park in London, Ont. The Beefeaters were 6-2 in regular season play, while the Sooners had a 5-3 mark.

The OFC champion will host the BCFC champion in a CJFL semifinal slated for Saturday, October 29.

WWCFL stars Chan, Zuck break into CJFL coaching ranks

Ehjae Chan, left, hangs with Adrienne Zuck. (Photo courtesy Ehjae Chan) 

The 2022 season has been a special one for the CJFL as two stars from the WWCFL broke into the junior circuit’s coaching ranks.

From the start of the current campaign, Ehjae Chan has been working as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Edmonton Huskies and Adrienne Zuck has been a toiling as a defensive backs coach with the Regina Thunder. Both have had long playing careers in the WWCFL, and it is believed they are the first two female coaches to work in the CJFL.

Chan starred at linebacker and defensive back for the Saskatoon Valkyries for six seasons from 2014 to 2019 helping them win three WWCFL titles in 2014, 2016 and 2019. She moved to Edmonton following the 2019 campaign and suited up for the Edmonton Storm this past season after the 2020 and 2021 WWCFL seasons were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world.

Chan has helped coach minor football in the Alberta capital along with returning to action and playing for the Storm this season. She was a member of Team Alberta’s Under-18 Women’s Team coaching staff that saw Alberta win Football Canada’s Women’s Under-18 Championship tournament downing Saskatchewan 36-12 in the title game on July 9 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

Zuck is an original member of the Regina Riot suiting up for that club in the inaugural WWCFL season in 2011. From the start, Zuck was a star at linebacker for the Riot, and she played with the team through the end of the 2019 campaign. She helped the Riot win three WWCFL titles in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Internationally, Zuck suited up for Canada as a defensive back for the International Federation of American Football’s Senior Women’s World Championship in 2013 and 2017 helping Canada win silver at both events.

Zuck has coach in Regina Minor Football and the Regina high school ranks with Thom Collegiate, Winston Knoll Collegiate and Campbell Collegiate. She joined the Riot coaching staff this past season as a defensive backs coach.

Chan and Zuck were teammates helping Team Saskatchewan win Football Canada’s Senior Women’s National Championship tournament in 2016 at historic Taylor Field in Regina, Sask. Saskatchewan took the gold medal game over that event on July 31 of that year with a 34-22 victory over Quebec.

Both entered the CJFL on the heels of Emmarae Dale becoming the first female to play regular season games in the CJFL during the 2021 campaign, when she suited up at linebacker for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

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Kuster steps into spotlight in Riot’s WWCFL title win

Payton Kuster (#22) celebrates her second punt return touchdown.

    Payton Kuster had her finest hour to help bring a second Western Women’s Canadian Football League championship to the Regina Riot.

    The sophomore kick returner/defensive back ran back two punts for touchdowns and hauled in two interceptions on defence to help the Riot blank the Calgary Rage 53-0 in the WWCFL championship game on Saturday night at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in Saskatoon. 

    She was also named the game’s MVP for the Riot in the runaway win, which marked the second time Regina claimed the league title in three years.

    Kuster wasn’t part of the Riot’s first championship back in 2015, so she was pretty perky happy about playing in Saturday’s championship victory.

Payton Kuster returns a punt for a score.

    “Our whole team each and every one of us we’ve worked so hard,” said Kuster. “This is what we talked about since the beginning of the season of achieving.

    “It is what we have been putting in all our hours on the field and training for. It is just so wonderful to have it pay off.”

    Being the game MVP added a nice little bonus to the whole night.

    “I’m speechless. I’m at a loss for words,” said Kuster. “I’m so thankful for this team and all the girls that have worked hard.

    “We did it. It is incredible.”

    Kuster had her big day on a night when the Riot won feasting off Rage errors. The Riot only put up 106 yards of net offence in the romp.

    Kuster actually outgained her offensive team returning three punts for 133 yards. That included her 67 yard punt return for a touchdown and her 54 yard return for a score.

    The Rage turned the ball over 10 times, while the Riot gave the ball away twice. That ultimately played a huge part producing the final outcome of the contest.

    Regina got its first touchdown to go up 7-0 just 1:40 into the first quarter on a one-play drive, where veteran star quarterback Aimee Kowalski hit rookie receiver Jennilea Coppola with a four-yard TD strike. That possession was set up by a bad Rage snap on a punt, which allowed the Riot to get the ball on the Calgary four.

Aimee Kowalski (#12) throws one of her four TD passes for the Riot.

    A short time later, Riot running back Carmen Agar ran the ball in from 10 yards out to put Regina up 14-0. That drive was set up, when the Rage fumbled away a punt return allowing the Riot to take the ball on the Calgary 10.

    The Rage fumbled the ball away on their next offensive possession allowing the Riot to start a dive on the Calgary 20. Kowalski hit rookie receiver Jenna Koller for a 20-yard touchdown strike to put Regina up 21-0.

    Things kept snowballing from there.

    On the next Rage possession, they had another bad snap on a punt to allow the Riot to take possession on the Calgary eight. Kowalski connected with veteran receiver Rachelle Smith for an eight-yard touchdown throw.

Jennilea Coppola had two TD catches in the Riot’s win.

    Regina made a two-point convert on a fake extra point, where running back Mallory Starkey connected with offensive lineman Angie Douville on a five-yard toss to make the score 29-0 in the Riot’s favour.

    Regina scored again before the first quarter ended. After the Rage failed to convert a third down gamble, the Riot put together a short 32-yard touchdown drive, where Kowalski hit Coppola on a 12-yard strike to allow Regina to lead 36-0.

    Kuster was surprised to see how that first quarter transpired.

    “It is crazy how it happened so high paced,” said Kuster. “At the end of the day, we’ve prepared for those situations, and we capitalized on them.

    “Everyone played their fullest. Everyone did their job perfectly. It was amazing.”

    When the second quarter started, she ran home her two punt return scores down the right sideline to put the Riot up 50-0.

    “I had 11 girls blocking for me,” said Kuster. “They opened up huge holes.

    “It was perfect. It feels unreal.”

    Kowalski was pulled from the game with the 8:23 to play in the second quarter and the Riot holding a 50-0 lead. She completed 6-of-7 passes for 53 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Riot DB Emilie Belanger (#27) helps sack Rage QB Becky Heninger.

    The Rage conceded a safety touch before the first half ended to give the Riot a 52-0 lead. Regina’s final score came from a 35 yard punt single from kicker Morgan Turner late in the fourth quarter to make the final outcome 53-0.

    The Riot finished the campaign with a 6-1 overall record, and Saturday’s game marked the fourth shutout victory of the season for the team. The Rage, who finish with a 4-1 overall mark, were only able to put up 18 yards of net offence.
    Linebacker Courtney Dawson was named the game MVP for the Rage.

    Riot defensive lineman Chantal Vogel had five solo tackles and two sacks in her team’s victory.

    Star Riot linebacker Adrienne Zuck had five total solo tackles, a fumble recovery and shared a sack with defensive back Emilie Belanger in the win. Zuck said her team had a season on defence where everything came together.

    “I think that we have a good coaching staff,” said Zuck. “We have a lot of veteran players as well.

Riot defensive end Aly Bell takes down a Rage ball carrier.

    “A lot of our new players are just good athletes, quick learners and smart people. We really try to push hard work and playing to the end even at practice. It pays off obviously.”

    After being part of the Riot’s 2015 WWCFL championship team, Zuck returned to the Riot after taking 2016 off. She enjoyed being part of the second championship win.

    “It feels good to come back and just see the team continue to grow and get better and being a part of it and watching these new people to get a chance to play as well,” said Zuck. “It is great.”

    As far as the Riot’s overall success was concerned in 2017, Zuck credited first-year head coach Olivier Eddie, who had been the team’s offensive coordinator previously, for focusing on bringing everyone together as a team.

The Riot are all smiles after their WWCFL championship win.

    “I think everybody bought into it and everybody believed that and that is what I think made us such a good unit as a whole team,” said Zuck. “We are family.

    “We believe in family. We believe in what our message is. Our success has shown that.”

    In the WWCFL consolation final that was played right before the Riot’s win, the Saskatoon Valkyries downed the Edmonton Storm 44-20.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.