Douglas soaking in farewell tour with CJFL’s Hilltops

Saskatoon downs Rifles 47-1, improves to 2-0

Drake Douglas continues to make big plays for the Hilltops.

Drake Douglas won’t let the final moments of his CJFL career pass him by.

The 22-year-old star receiver has gotten out to a strong start playing out his final year of CJFL eligibility with the defending CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops. In the Hilltops opening week 38-13 victory over the Edmonton Huskies on August 11 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Douglas caught seven passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. On special teams, he returned six punts for 113 yards.

On Sunday, Douglas accounted for a pair of touchdowns as the Hilltops improved to 2-0 romping past the Rifles 47-1 at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg. The Rifles fell to 0-2 with the loss to Saskatoon.

While Douglas is trying to cherish all his final experiences as a Hilltops player, he adds that it feels like time is passing by at warp speed.

“Time flies fast,” said Douglas. “It feels like we just ended last season almost.

“It feels like the whole off-season went by really fast, and it’s crazy that we’re already back here. I know I feel ready, but it’s just time flies so fast.”

Douglas’s stature in the CJFL is a lot different at that start of this season compared to the beginning of the 2023 campaign. Going into the 2023 season, Douglas wasn’t really well-known around the CJFL, but he did have a reputation in Saskatchewan that he could be a quality player at the post-secondary level.

Drake Douglas had a breakout season for the Hilltops in 2023.

After playing his final campaign with Regina’s Balfour Collegiate Bears Football Team in 2019, Douglas originally committed to play with the Regina Thunder on June 1, 2020. With shutdowns in affect due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had gripped the world, Douglas practiced with the Thunder in the fall of 2020, but never played a down with the Regina CJFL side.

As there was no certainty when the sports world would resume action, Douglas elected to move to Saskatoon for an opportunity in the working world. His brother and his two sisters were already living in “The Bridge City.” Douglas got a call from legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant and joined the storied CJFL club for their fourth game of the 2022 campaign. Sargeant’s call came after he received Douglas’s football highlight package from the pass catcher’s brother, Braydan.

Douglas finished that season making some big plays as the Hilltops fell 39-21 to the Thunder in Regina in that year’s PFC final. The Hilltops coaches believed bigger things were ahead for Douglas in 2023.

Douglas proved the faith of the Hilltops sideline bosses to be correct coming thru with a breakout campaign in 2023. He hauled in 56 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns for the Hilltops on the way to being named a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star. Douglas became a major part of a Hilltops club that went 12-0 overall and won their 23^rd CJFL title in team history downing the Westshore Rebels 17-10 in Langford, B.C., in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

Coming into the 2024 campaign, Douglas, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 185 pounds, is now the star receiver all other CJFL teams are game planning for. A Hilltops offensive team captain, Douglas was rated fifth among the CJFL’s Top 50 players list for the start of the season.

“I think a lot of the younger players my age spend a lot of time on Instagram and stuff, so that’s where they get most of their information from,” said Douglas, who holds for field goals for the Hilltops too. “It puts a little bit of a target on your back.

Drake Douglas can make exciting plays returning kicks.

“You get a little bit more words thrown your way, but I don’t think it changes much about how the actual game goes or how the coaches game plan. I think most coaches in the league know who they’re looking for and who they’re planning against regardless of what the CJFL posts on Instagram and what not. As a leader, I just try to set the tone, and I think there are a lot of guys who have stepped up due to injuries.

“I think on this team everybody has to lead in their own way, and I think a lot of guys have done that really, really well by just doing their job and staying in their lane.”

Sargeant believes Douglas has done a great job leading by example at the start of the campaign.

“Well, that’s what a captain does,” said Sargeant. “That’s what an all-Canadian does, and that’s what a fifth-year does.

“When you’re in dire straits and you need someone to make plays, it’s a 22-year-old who steps up, and that is the Hilltop way. Coach (Shane) Reider and his staff did a good job figuring out how to get him the ball, and (quarterback) Trey (Reider) made the throws, and he (Douglas) made the plays. At the end of the day, we want to be more balanced and be more multiple in our offensive look.”

While Douglas had an outstanding game in the season opener against the Huskies, he still felt he had room for improvement.

“In terms of my individual performance, I feel solid,” said Douglas. “I feel like I did my job, but definitely, there were a couple of plays like a couple dropped balls and a couple like mishaps on communication and stuff that definitely could have been better.

“I’m also happy with the return game. That’s probably one of my better return games I’ve had. That just goes to show the work that the coaches have been putting in.

Drake Douglas has become the Hilltops biggest offensive playmaker.

“‘Sarge’ has been putting a lot of pressure on (special teams coordinator) Andre (Lalonde) to get the special teams together, and that was a good way to start it for punt return at least. Andre was calling us out saying we need some more big returns this year, so I was happy to be a part of that, and the boys blocked great for me. It made my job easy.”

As for the rest of the 2024 campaign, Douglas hopes it doesn’t go by too fast. 

He said he is pretty good at staying in the moment but noted to recognize how special it was to be in each moment as a player for the final time.

“Essentially like every now and then, I just kind of look around and pretty much every day I’m like this is the last,” said Douglas. “It is the last this.

“It is one of the last days. I’ll be here like this will be my last trip to Winnipeg. That’ll probably be my last home game against Edmonton that kind of thing.

“I’m trying to appreciate every moment. I’m trying to just soak it all in the best I can essentially.”

In Sunday’s clash with the Rifles, the Hilltops led 7-0 after the first quarter, 20-0 at halftime and 33-1 after three quarters. The Hilltops received majors from running backs Corbin Ebben and Charles Sawi, defensive lineman Ryan Adamko and defensive back Nathan Young. Kicker Ryden Gratton connected on a pair of field goals for the Saskatoon side.

Drake Douglas, right, is piling some final memories with the Hilltops.

The Hilltops, who have won 14 straight overall, return to action this coming Sunday when they travel to Calgary to take on the 1-1 Colts (1 p.m. local time, Shouldice Athletic Park).

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‘Sarge,’ Yausie, Hilltops coaches face unique challenge in 2023

Saskatoon club young, inexperienced in resetting PFC

Jeff Yausie and Tom Sargeant are the Hilltops dynamic coaching duo.

Tom Sargeant and Jeff Yausie – you seemingly can’t have one without the other when it comes to coaching the Saskatoon Hilltops.

Sargeant was named head coach of the storied and historic CJFL club in December of 1997 having served as an assistant coach for seven seasons from 1991 to 1997. Yausie is going into his 22^nd season as a linebackers coach with the Hilltops and 13^th campaign as defensive co-ordinator.

Through the Hilltops run of winning nine CJFL championships in a span of 10 years that included three consecutive wins from 2010 to 2012 and six straight titles from 2014 to 2019, Sargeant and Yausie have come to the forefront in the minds of football followers in Canada as the dynamic duo of the Hilltops coaching staff.

Both are quick to add the Hilltops success comes from the work the team receives from the entirety of the club’s veteran coaching staff. The coaching staff includes offensive coordinator Shane Reider, special teams coordinator Andre Lalonde, Brent Turkington, Donnie Davidsen, Dave Fisher, Barclay Schlosser and Bruce Rempel.

Turkington has been on the staff for 24 seasons, while Lalonde, Schlosser and Rempel are the relative newcomers entering their eighth, seventh and sixth seasons with the team respectively.

Tom Sargeant has been the Hilltops HC since Dec. 1997.

In 2023, Sargeant, Yausie and the Hilltops coaches face a unique challenge of guiding a more youthful and inexperienced team through a CJFL campaign. A reality check about the work that needs to be done came during in the Hilltops Alumni Game played Thursday at Ron Atchison Field, when the Alumni Team rolled to a 32-1 victory.

Sargeant said the coaches are going to get to work and grind as hard as ever to correct things. He said the Hilltops coaches have high trust in each other.

“It is a brotherhood,” said Sargeant. “We all roll up our sleeves.

“The good thing is we’re all embarrassed. We’re all not feeling very good about ourselves. We’ll have the tough conversations, the critical conversations, the open conversations, and we’ll grind and grind and make sure by next week we coach a better team and more importantly they come out and play better.

“You can do whatever you want, but once they get between the lines they have to go play the game. We have to instill a lot of energy, a lot of passion and the smarts.”

The Hilltops had 20 players exhaust their CJFL eligibility at the conclusion of the 2022 campaign including four starters on the offensive line in Jordan Bisson, Luciano Jolly, Jayson Kehler and Ethan Paslowski along with three starters on the defensive line in Jaxon Funk, Daylen Hartz and Dylan McNutt. The graduations included star weak side linebacker Konner Johnson, who won the CJFL’s Larry Wruck Defensive Player of the Year award in 2022.

Jeff Yausie is entering his 22nd season on the Hilltops coaching staff.

“We miss our studs and veterans, but it is really fun to coach new guys and new faces,” said Yausie. “We have to help build what they are going to be.

“They have to learn how to play hard and play fast and to celebrate and play for each other and to be a great team. Our offence needed our help on defence (in the Alumni Game). We had zero turnovers in the first half.

“Our offence needed a couple of turnovers to give them a short field and to give them some life. They absolutely needed that, and we didn’t do it.”

The Hilltops open their regular season schedule on Sunday, August 13, at 1 p.m. when they host the Edmonton Wildcats at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Sargeant and Yausie both said the focus turns to making the Hilltops game ready for that contest.

Sargeant said he thought the Hilltops had a good week of practice heading into the Alumni Game. Alumni quarterback Jordan Walls, who played for five straight CJFL championship winners from 2014-18, showed he could still shred a defence like NFL all-time great Tom Brady.

Jordan Walls fires a pass downfield for the Alumni Team.

The Hilltops offence was stuck in quicksand going against an Alumni defence that had standouts everywhere like linebacker Cody Peters, who won the CJFL’s Larry Wruck Defensive Player of the Year award in 2018. Peters also played on five straight CJFL championship winners from 2014 to 2018.

“It was a great alumni effort with high-end talent – the hearts and the smarts,” said Sargeant. “They were so smart out there.

“They just made us look like a real young and immature football team, which I guess maybe I thought we were but didn’t want to think that. At least now I know. If this is ground zero, then we will be OK.

“If not, then we’re in a lot of trouble.”

While the Hilltops are finding their way, it appears they won’t be alone in that department in 2023. Due to the fact the 2020 CJFL season was lost due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world, the circuit’s leaders elected to give 1998 and 1999 born players an extra year of eligibility.

That decision resulted in two classes of players graduating following the conclusion of last season with players born in 1999 and 2000 exhausting their eligibilities at the end of the campaign. Clubs in the Prairie Football Conference the Hilltops play out of are seeing significant turnover making the 2023 season a big reset one.

QB Trey Reider and the Hilltops struggled against the Alumni Team.

Yausie said the Hilltops coaches will put in the effort to get the club going in an upward direction on the field.

“We’re such good friends that we’ll not accept what we saw,” said Yausie. “I know ‘Sarge’ is a great competitor.

“I know he’ll push us as hard or harder than he will push the kids. We’ll get in and watch our film and get ready to play an unknown opponent really against the Wildcats. There are a lot of unknowns about our league this year.

“I don’t know who the quarterbacks are, and there are some new coordinators. The one thing I know is we will work extremely hard to get better.”

At age 58, Sargeant said he is still as motivated and passionate as ever when it comes to coaching the Hilltops. When it comes to facing the challenges of the 2023 campaign, he is pumped he gets to do it with Yausie and the rest of the Hilltops coaching staff.

“I know what their pride is all about,” said Sargeant. “As I said, there were some good discussions during this game.

HC Tom Sargeant knows his staff has a lot of work ahead of them.

“I know the pride of that group, and I know that at the end of the day we’ll embrace this challenge. We have way more work than maybe I thought we did. I’m just trying to do all that processing now, because I said this was an old fashioned butt kicking that as I said didn’t see coming.

“We have to figure out how to react and respond properly.”

At age 57, Yausie said his love for football is still there. He loves coaching with Sargeant and the rest of the Hilltops coaching staff and helping the players grow. Yausie said that love for everything about the game keeps the Hilltops coaches coming back year after year.

“I think you have to love what you do,” said Yausie. “When you love what you do, it is easy to come to practice.

“I love the guys I coach with, and Tom (Sargeant) has built that in a bunch of different ways. I never thought that I would be coaching at this age. I still got the zip.

Jeff Yausie believes the Hilltops coaches will get the team rolling again.

“I still got some life and energy. I just have fun, and coaching these young guys keeps you young.”

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Hilltops’ Davidsen on cusp of 1,000 yards rushing for season

Boston Davidsen has rushed for 891 yards this season.

Boston Davidsen will always be a team first guy, even when he is close to a big personal milestone.

Through seven games of the CJFL regular season, the Saskatoon Hilltops star power running back has carried the ball 133 times for 891 yards and five touchdowns. He needs to run for 109 yards in the Hilltops final regular season game to achieve the milestone of rushing for 1000 yards in one season.

The Hilltops, who are 4-3, also need to win their last game of the regular season to keep the possibility of hosting a PFC semifinal playoff game alive. They close the regular season hosting the Calgary Colts (2-5) on Sunday, October 16 at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

At the same time when the Hilltops are facing the Colts, the Edmonton Huskies (5-2) travel to Regina to take on the Thunder (7-0) at Leibel Field. A Hilltops victory combined with a Huskies loss will see both club sport 5-3 records and give Saskatoon second place in the PFC and the right to host a PFC semifinal against the Huskies.

The ’Toppers hold the head-to-head standings tiebreaker with the Huskies having won the lone regular season encounter between the two sides 38-10 back on August 21 at SMF Field.

Davidsen is aware how close he is to 1,000-yards rushing, but he said his mind is focused on helping the Hilltops secure a win against the Colts.

“It is far from a guarantee that we will get there (to 1,000-yards rushing),” said Davidsen, who leads the PFC in rushing. “I think more importantly we have a game (against the Calgary Colts) that we have to win.

Boston Davidsen (#24) hits a hole created by his offensive line.

“If we win and things go our way, we’ll get a home playoff game in the first round. That is what we are focused on. If I can contribute to that win by running the ball, then I am all for it.

“If I need to block, I’ll do whatever it takes. That win comes first.”

As Saskatoon leads the PFC in rushing with 1,463 yards, Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant knows his team’s path to victory calls for being strong on the ground. The legendary sideline boss said his team will be trying to get Davidsen to 1,000 yards rushing for the season, because his success along the ground gives the Hilltops a better chance to win.

While Davidsen has had a good season, Sargeant believes his standout has found another gear in recent weeks.

“The last couple of games we’ve played better, and one of the reasons is because Boston (Davidsen) and the O-line are playing better,” said Sargeant. “He (Davidsen) is doing a heck of a job reading his holes and making good decisions.

“You look at his performance he did last year he is a heck of a runner there. We know what he is all about. We’ll rally around that, and that will be one of our goals as we head into our last game of the year of trying to get Boston (Davidsen) over that mountaintop, because he deserves it, the O-line deserves it and the offence deserves it and the team deserves it.”

Last season, Davidsen had a breakout campaign finishing second in the PFC with 634 yards rushing coming on 98 carries, where he scored six touchdowns. The graduate of the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints football program is aware that the players on the offensive line would be pretty pumped, if they could say they blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher.

Boston Davidsen can pile up the yards in traffic.

“It might even show more success on their part than it does on mine,” said Davidsen, whose father, Donnie, is the Hilltops offensive line coach. “Without a successful O-line, you’re not going anywhere.

“They’re the ones creating the lanes for you allowing you to get your yards. They’re the ones that take a lot of pride in it too. They’ve been keeping me I guess updated with the stats even maybe more than myself just trying to I guess motivate me to hit that mark.”

The last Hilltops player to hit the 1000-yard plateau in rushing was Ben Abrook, who accomplished the feat in 2019 when Saskatoon capped a run of winning the CJFL title in six straight years. That season, Abrook ran the ball 199 times for 1,215 yards and eight touchdowns.

During the Hilltops 2018 CJFL championship season, Josh Ewanchyna hit the 1,000-yard plateau. Suiting up in seven regular season games, Ewanchyna carried the ball 134 times for 1,007 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Wayndel Lewis is currently the third last player to hit 1,000-yards rushing in a season. During the Hilltops 2014 CJFL championship season, Lewis carried the ball 130 times for 1,063 yards and nine touchdowns while being named the CJFL’s offensive player of the year.

Current Hilltops running backs coach Andre Lalonde holds the Hilltops team record for most rushing yards in one season set in his final campaign as a player in 2013. In that season, Lalonde carried the ball 182 times for 1,367 yards and seven touchdowns while being named the CJFL’s offensive player of the year.

Boston Davidsen can power his way through attempted tacklers.

Davidsen said one of his biggest influences on his career is Lalonde.

“I owe a tonne of my success to him,” said Davidsen. “He’s led the way.

“He has been a good leader for me, a good coach and a good example to follow. All of the technique and stuff we use, it is taught by him. He is a major part of our team’s success and the running backs’ success.”

Looking towards the Hilltops final regular season game, Sargeant said it is special when a running back can reach 1,000 yards rushing in a season. With the PFC traditionally being the CJFL’s toughest conference, Sargeant said that makes getting to 1,000-yards rushing that much more impressive a milestone on top of the fact the Hilltops have had their struggles this season.

The sideline boss said it would be a memorable moment, if the Hilltops could get Davidsen to 1,000-yards rushing.

“When you break this league down, it is not easy, especially with the way we’ve been playing,” said Sargeant. “It is credit to everybody that he is in this situation, but most importantly him.

“He has put in the time. He does everything right, and as I said, everyone is going to rally around him.

Boston Davidsen, left, is focused on helping the Hilltops win games.

“He’d be embarrassed if we’re talking like this behind him with these accolades. That is just who he is. At the end of the day, he is one heck of a football player, and he makes the Saskatoon Hilltops better.”

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Hilltops greats Filteau and Kozun perfect fit for CJFL all-decade team on defence

Justin Filteau in action with the Hilltops in 2014. 

    The Saskatoon Hilltops only needed two selections to overfill the quality of the CJFL’s all-decade team on defence.

    The CJFL has been determining its all-decade team via a fan vote over the last four weeks for the period of years from 2010 to 2019. The Hilltops won three straight CJFL title capturing the Canadian Bowl from 2010 to 2012 and the last six straight championships starting in 2014.

    On Saturday, the offensive members of the all-decade team were announced via the CJFL’s Instagram account, and five Hilltops were selected including quarterback Jared Andreychuk, running backs Logan Fischer and Andre Lalonde and offensive linemen Kirk Simonsen and Mason Ochs.

    On Sunday, the defensive members of the all-decade team were announced via the CJFL’s Instagram account. They included two of the best that ever donned Hilltops jerseys in the late Justin Filteau at linebacker and defensive tackle Matt Kozun.

    Filteau played for the Hilltops from 2010 to 2014 and was a member of three straight CJFL championship wins from 2010 to 2012 and in his final season in 2014. He picked up 43 per cent of the fan votes, which was tops among all linebackers.

    Following his time with the Hilltops, Filteau played for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team in the U Sports ranks from 2015 to 2017.

Justin Filteau (#45) enjoys the Hilltops PFC title win in 2014.

    In 2017, he joined the coaching staff of the Saskatoon Valkyries, who are a powerhouse squad in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League, as a linebackers coach. He was coaching the team’s defensive line last season before tragically passing away in a plane crash at age 26 before the Valkyries final regular season game.

    The Valkyries went on to win the WWCFL title dedicating the rest of their season to him finishing their 2019 campaign with a perfect 9-0 record.

    Filteau coached minor football at different levels and with the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints.

    He was born and raised in Moose Jaw and became a high school football star at A.E. Peacock Collegiate. Filteau joined the Hilltops after graduating from high school.

    Standing at 5-foot-9 and weighing 214 pounds, Filteau didn’t look like a linebacker. When he hit the field, you realized quickly looks were deceiving. He was the underdog who made it.

    During his five seasons with the Hilltops, Filteau’s best campaign might have been during his final season in 2014. After the Hilltops got out to an uncharacteristic 1-2 start losing twice to their provincial rivals in the Regina Thunder, Filteau played a big role in rallying the team off the field to help his teammates get into a better head space mentally.

Justin Filteau, left, works as a Valkyries assistant coach in 2019.

    The Hilltops proceeded to win their final eight games of that campaign between the regular season and playoffs to capture the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions.

    Filteau was honoured as a CJFL all-Canadian all-star on defence registering 37 solo tackles, 20 assisted tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one pass knockdown in the Hilltops eight regular season games.

    Last season, the Hilltops coaches did a great job of teaching their current generation of players how much Filteau meant to the provincial football scene. The Hilltops posted a 12-0 overall record in the 2019 campaign winning a sixth straight Canadian Bowl and posting a second straight perfect season.

    One person that was fully aware of Filteau’s impact on the provincial football scene before the 2019 CJFL season started was Hilltops fifth-year middle linebacker Jadyn Pingue. As a rookie in 2015, Pingue began wearing the old #45 jersey Filteau wore and at the moment is the only Hilltops player to wear #45 after Filteau.

    Pingue brought up the suggestion that maybe #45 should be retired by the team. The coaches asked Pingue to continue wearing #45 as one way to keep Filteau’s memory alive.

    In a fitting tribute to Filteau, Pingue went on to have an individual season that saw him win the award as the CJFL’s most outstanding defensive player in 2019.

Matt Kozun (#53) enters Saskatoon Minor Football Field in 2015.

    While Filteau turned heads at linebacker, Kozun was a force on the defensive line for five seasons with the Hilltops from 2011 to 2015 coming straight to the club from Bishop James Mahoney High School. Kozun picked up 46 per cent of the fan votes, which led all defensive players.

    He was a member of four CJFL championship teams with the Hilltops in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015.

    Kozun, who stood 6-foot-6 and weighed 280 pounds, was a gifted athlete and played on the team’s short-yardage package on offence as a tight end. He had a touchdown reception in the 2015 PFC final that the Hilltops claimed with a 38-16 victory over the Calgary Colts.

    Kozun’s best two seasons with the Hilltops were his final two campaigns with the team. In the Hilltops 2014 CJFL championship season, Kozun was named an all-Canadian all-star after piling up 15 sacks, seven tackles, five tackle assists, two pass knockdowns and one fumble recovery in eight regular season games.

    He was named an all-Canadian all-star again in the Hilltops 2015 CJFL championship campaign. In eight regular season games, Kozun recorded nine tackles, five tackle assists, 2.5 sacks, two pass knockdowns and one forced fumble.

Hilltops DT Matt Kozun (#53) chases down a Winnipeg Rifles QB in 2015.

    Kozun was a member of a freakishly good starting defensive line in 2015 that included fifth-year defensive tackle Blake Adams, third-year rush end Tom Schnitzler and third-year boundary end Blake Hermann.

    That foursome on the Hilltops defensive line could crush opposing team’s offensive units all by themselves.

    Following his time with the Hilltops, Kozun joined the Huskies for two seasons before his playing days came to an end.

    During their time with the Hilltops, Filteau and Kozun left their marks as two of the team’s all-time greats, and their legacies with the squad continue to live on long after they last played for the venerable and storied club.

    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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Abrook’s day – Hilltops’ power back blows past 1,000 yards rushing in 49-22 victory

Ben Abrook piled up 206 yards rushing for the Hilltops on Sunday.

    Ben Abrook didn’t question his head coach when it came to hitting the 1,000-yard mark for rushing in a season.

    Before the current season started, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant challenged Abrook with the goal of rushing for 1,000 yards this season. Abrook was entering his third year with the team, but was in his first year holding the starting role at running back.

    Last season with one start and relief duty, he had a strong campaign appearing in all eight of the Hilltops regular season games running the ball 83 times for 503 yards and scoring six touchdowns.

    On Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Abrook roared past the 1,000-yard plateau for the season. 
    In a 49-22 romp over the Winnipeg Rifles in a CJFL regular season clash played before 902 spectators, Abrook ran the ball 18 times for 206 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Ben Abrook (#32) follows his blocking downfield.

    In helping the five-time defending CJFL champion Hilltops post a 7-0 record, Abrook has run the ball 180 times for 1,114 yards and scored seven touchdowns on the campaign.

    Upon obtaining the impressive milestone, Abrook reflected back to the goal he talked about with Sargeant in the pre-season.

    “I thought if he (Sargeant) believes it I can maybe get it then,” said Abrook. “That is awesome.

“It helps me. It helps my confidence, so I’m glad I was able to get her done.”

    While Abrook entered Sunday’s contest needing to rush for 92 yards to hit the 1,000-yard mark, the Hilltops remained committed to being balanced on offence.

Ben Abrook (#32) breaks downfield on a 52-yard touchdown run.

    The Rifles had the first possession to start the game, and that quickly turned into a second possession, when the Hilltops fumbled a punt return away. The ball was recovered by Rifles defensive back Bryce Marino.

    Winnipeg was forced to attempt a 38-yard field goal, but kicker Alex Minor hit the left upright on his try resulting in no points and the Hilltops taking the ball on their own 20 yard line.

    On their first play on offence, Hilltops quarterback Tyler Hermann hit receiver Dillan Heintz with a deep pass, and Heintz took the play 90 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead for the host side.

    That play seemed to back off the Winnipeg defence, and Abrook went to work. Abrook exploded out of the gates in the first half carrying the ball 16 times for 192 yards and scoring both his touchdowns helping the Hilltops build a 35-8 lead by halftime.

Keegan Dicks (#3) helps celebrate at TD run by Ben Abrook (#32).

    He had the Hilltops second major score on a 16-yard run to give the Hilltops a 14-0 lead at the 4:37 mark of the first quarter.

    Late in the second quarter, he broke off a 52-yard run for his second major that put the Hilltops up 28-8.

    “The O-line was just blocking so hard,” said Abrook. “The receivers were blocking well.

    “We were able to spring some big runs. It was awesome. It looked great out there.”

    Kicker/receiver Rylan Kleiter hit field goals from 12 and 27 yards out and recorded a point from a missed 40-yard field goal attempt for the Hilltops in the first half.

    Hermann hit fifth-year receiver Tanner Rhode on a deep slant pass for a 65-yard touchdown toss to round out Saskatoon’s first half scoring.

Ben Abrook, left, has 1,114 yards rushing on the season.

    Winnipeg punter Dallas Opiola scored a point on a 63-yard punt single, while running back Brandon Urciuoli ran in a touchdown from three-yards out to account for the scoring for the visitors in the first half.

    Abrook ran the ball twice more on the Hilltops first offensive series of the second half to get over 200-yards rushing for the game before being rested for the rest of the contest. Saskatoon completed that series with fifth-year receiver Connor Graham making an acrobatic 26-yard touchdown catch on a pass from Hermann to put the Hilltops up 42-8.

The Hilltops O-line allowed Ben Abrook to surpass 1,000 yards rushing.

    Sargeant was pumped to see Abrook surpass the 1,000-yard mark in rushing.

    “That is just awesome,” said Sargeant. “You know any time you have a 1,000-yard rusher that speaks volumes to your program, to the players within the program and to the mindset of the program.

    “We love to run the ball. This is as good as I’ve seen Benny (Abrook) look. He looked fast today.

    “We’re going to build on that. I’m excited for next week as the games get a little more important now.”

The Hilltops’ defence stops the Rifles on a third-and-one gamble.

    The Hilltops scoring for the rest of the way was rounded out field goals from 40 and 15 yards out by Kleiter and a 52-yard punt single from fifth-year defensive back Kirk Morrow. Morrow tried out the punting duties for the Hilltops in the second half.

    The Rifles scoring was rounded out by starting quarterback Riley Naujoks hitting receiver Eric Klein with a 20-yard touchdown toss, a one-yard touchdown run from Urciuoli and conceded safety by the Hilltops.

    The Rifles tried to make two-point converts after both of their second half touchdowns, but they came up empty on both tries.

    Winnipeg fell to 1-6 with the loss and was eliminated from playoff contention.

Hilltops right guard Taylon Elderkin runs the ball for 13 yards.

    “This was a big game for the Rifles, so we knew we had to match their intensity,” said Sargeant. “I am more than confident that we did.

    “We had a little bit of a lull in the third quarter, when we put our second and third stringers in. At the end the day, I am happy. There are a lot of plays out there.

    “There is a lot of fun and a lot of good energy. Once again, we got to unload the bench, and it makes us all feel good as coaches, players and families.”

    Hermann completed 10-of-19 passes for the Hilltops for 254 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

    Naujoks connected on 20-of-38 passes for the Rifles for 270 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Winnipeg backup quarterback Kyle Logan entered the contest for a relief appearance competing 7-of-13 passes for 121 yards.

QB Tyler Hermann (#12) threw three TD passes for the Hilltops.

    Winnipeg receiver Jake Roger caught seven passes for 137 yards.

    Defensively, fifth-year defensive end Tristan Hering had a sack for the Hilltops, and fifth-year defensive back Logan Kelsey-Stern had an interception. Linebacker Riley Keating topped Saskatoon with 6.5 total tackles.

    Linebacker Barrett Mueller had a big day for the Rifles making 10 total tackles and recovering a fumble.

    The Hilltops have won their last 26 games in a row including action in the regular season and playoffs.

    With Abrook surpassing 1,000-yards rushing for the season, it marked the second straight year the Hilltops had a runner break the 1,000-yard mark in rushing.

    Last season, Josh Ewanchyna, who now plays for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team in U Sports, surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the Hilltops. In 2018, Ewanchyna appeared in seven regular season games for the Hilltops carrying the ball 134 times for 1,007 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The Hilltops Cheerleading Team performs at halftime.

    Abrook was happy to break the 1,000-yard mark as tribute to the team’s offensive line. The Hilltops starting five on the offensive line in left tackle Mason Ochs, left guard Ryder Klisowsky, centre Patrick Arno, right guard Taylon Elderkin and right tackle Jonathan Chisholm blocked for the bulk of Abrook’s yardage.

    Ochs, Klisowsky, Arno and Elderkin were on the Hilltops starting offensive line last season that helped produce Ewanchyna’s 1,007-yard rushing season.

Tristan Hering had a sack for the Hilltops.

    “I’m super excited for those guys (on the offensive line),” said Abrook. “They’re unreal.

    “They are an athletic O-line, and they play hard every game, so I was happy I was able to get that for us and as a team.”

    The Hilltops will now close their regular season schedule this coming Sunday, when they host the Edmonton Wildcats (2-5) at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    It isn’t likely Abrook will be able to surpass the Hilltops record for most rushing yards in one regular season in that contest.

    That mark is held by current Hilltops running backs coach Andre Lalonde. In his final campaign as a Hilltops running back in 2013, Lalonde ran the ball 182 times for 1,367 yards and seven touchdowns in eight regular season games.

    Lalonde was the CJFL’s offensive player of the year and an all-Canadian all-star that season.

    Going forward, Abrook said the focus will be on improving as a team week in and week out.

    “It is just forget about what we’ve done,” said Abrook. “Whoever we play next, we need to play them hard.

The Hilltops hope to enjoy more big games from Ben Abrook (#32).

    “We just try and play our best game of the season and keep going.”

    With one week to play in the regular season schedule of the Prairie Football Conference, the PFC semifinal playoff matches, which are expected to be held on Sunday, Oct. 20, have been cemented.

    The Hilltops will host the Wildcats in one semifinal, while the Regina Thunder (5-2) and the Edmonton Huskies (5-2) will go at it in the other semifinal. The host site for the playoff clash between the Thunder and Huskies depends on the results of the final week of regular season play.

    The Calgary Colts (1-6) will miss the post-season for a third straight year.

    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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Godson aims to be fixture on Hilltops radar

Ethan Godson looks to be a bigger playmaker for the Hilltops this season.

    Ethan Godson wants to make plays in order to see more time on the field with the Saskatoon Hilltops.

    The 20-year-old speedster made the biggest play in the Hilltops Alumni Game on Thursday at Ron Atchison Field. With the current Hilltops scrimmaging from their own one yard line, fifth-year quarterback Tyler Hermann hit Godson, who is a third-year receiver, perfectly in stride on deep streak down the right sideline.

    Godson, who had a step on his defender from the alumni side, raced the rest of the way for a touchdown that put the current Hilltops up 14-0.

    “It was nice,” said Godson, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 190 pounds. “It is almost a tryout for me, so it is nice to get noticed by the coaches and put my name out there.”

    The alumni side rallied back to take the contest 18-14 to mark the fifth straight year current Hilltops have fallen to the alum squad.

Ethan Godson is off to the races on a deep touchdown catch.

    Godson was buried his first two seasons on the Hilltops depth chart as the powerhouse club won its fourth and fifth straight respective Canadian Junior Football League titles. The Hilltops have claimed the CJFL crown eight out of the last nine years.

    Following last year’s 58-21 triumph in the Canadian Bowl over the Langley Rams at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops experienced a sizable turnover on their roster having claimed their 21^st CJFL title.

    With that turnover, Godson is hoping to get into more game action.

    “It is different just competing for a starting spot,” said Godson, who is a graduate of Saskatoon’s Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints football team. “It is exciting.

    “It is like the most fun I could have. My first year, I wasn’t really that comfortable. Being in my third year, I am getting really comfortable out here.”

    With how well things went on his long touchdown catch, Godson is hoping head coach Tom Sargeant might want to dial up that play again, if the Hilltops are pinned in their own end.

Ethan Godson, middle, fights for extra yards after a catch.

    “If we’re not getting out of the end zone, he (Sargeant) wants to take a knee,” said Godson. “We are going to take our shot, and if we make it, then we make it.

    “If not, then we don’t. We’re going to take those shots, when we are down in our own end.”

    Sargeant was pleased with how well the deep pass call to Godson was executed.

    “That was a real momentum buster for us,” said Sargeant. “We have a lot of receivers who can run deep down the field.

    “They are very athletic, and they make a lot of plays. We’re going to be aggressive in anything we do. We just have to get better in what we do, and if we do that, I think we are going to be in better shape.”

    The current Hilltops opened the scoring in the alumni game, when Hermann hit receiver Carter Norrish for a touchdown toss from about 14 yards out to produce a 7-0 edge. 

QB Tyler Hermann (#71) fires a pass to receiver Carter Norrish (#88).

    Hermann is slated to be the team’s starter for the first time in his CJFL career.

    After Godson’s long catch gave the current Hilltops a 14-0 lead, the alums cut the gap to 14-7 right before halftime with a one-yard touchdown run from power back Andre Lalonde.

    In the second half, alumni kicker Rod Janzen hit a 22-yard field goal and scored a single point from a missed field goal to trim the lead by the current Hilltops to 14-11.

    Late in the second half, alum quarterback Riley Hobbins connected with receiver Sam Anderson on a touchdown pass from about 20 yards out to give the alumni side the 18-14 victory.

    Sargeant said it was obvious a large number of players on the current Hilltops are still getting used to new roles with the team. The team elected to rest a handful of regular starters too.

Andre Lalonde has a touchdown run for the Hilltops alums.

    “We have lots of work to do,” said Sargeant. “People weren’t comfortable.

    “There wasn’t a lot of confidence, a lot of moxy or lots of energy, because people were thinking too hard. It is going to take time. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

    “We lost a lot of high end players, so when that happens, there are some realities. Those realities are we need to coach better, they need to figure out how to play better, and we need to execute better. When we understand our plans and are able to do a better job of that, hopefully, it is going to lead to a better result than what we had.”

    In the first half, the alumni side came up a half yard short on a third down gamble, and the officials ruled a first down. Sargeant admitted the coaches have to be on top of situations like that during the regular season and request a measurement.

    “It shows you as I am getting older my eyes are getting worse,” said Sargeant. “I couldn’t see a darn thing out here.

Jared Giddings makes a stop for the current Hilltops.

    “That is why in the future we will have spotters up there, and we will be on top of that.”

    The alumni game officially brought an end to Hilltops training camp, which started on Monday. They will begin to prepare for their first regular season game on Sunday, Aug. 18, when they travel to Winnipeg to take on the Rifles.

    Godson is looking forward to that opportunity to make another good impression.

The alums celebrate a win in the Hilltops Alumni Game.

    “It is exciting,” said Godson. “There are a lot of new guys out here.

    “Guys are going to have to step up and do their jobs.”

    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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