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).

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

-------

If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.

Douglas big catch for Hilltops

Flaman shines in romp over Thunder in Regina

Drake Douglas has emerged as one of the Hilltops to receivers.

Once a highly touted pass catcher coming out of Saskatchewan’s high school scene, Drake Douglas thought at one time his post-secondary football days ended even before they began.

When almost all sports in North American were halted due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had gripped the world, Douglas committed to join the CJFL’s Regina Thunder on June 1, 2020. One his two older brothers, Ethan, played for the Thunder in 2018 and 2019.

Having played his final season with the Balfour Collegiate Bears Football Team in 2019, Drake Douglas practiced with the Thunder in the fall of 2020, but never played a down with the Regina CJFL side.

As there was no certainly when the sports world resume action, Douglas elected to move to Saskatoon for an opportunity in the working world. Another one of his older brothers, Braydan, had already relocated to “The Bridge City” along with his two sisters. He hadn’t even been looking for any post-secondary team to join when he got a call from legendary Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant in the fall of 2022.

“I had kind of just been taking a break from football,” said Douglas. “My brother (Braydan) ended up emailing ‘Sarge’ (Tom Sargeant) and sent him my highlight tape from high school, and ‘Sarge’ game me a call.

“It was three weeks or four weeks into the season. I just joined the team on the bye week that year and kind of went from there.”

Douglas was on the Hilltops roster when they went into their fourth game of the 2022 campaign. He made his debut with the storied CJFL club in their 35-17 victory over the Colts in Calgary on September 25, 2022 catching four passes for 29 yards.

The skilled pass catcher was happy his brother sent his high school highlights to Sargeant. The urge to get back into the game was there.

“I loved playing football and watching football,” said Douglas, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 170 pounds. “I always had it in the back of my mind, but I was definitely ready to have the cleats hung up and be moving on to the next stage of life.

“I got that call from ‘Sarge,’ and I just got into there. I got to practice, and it was like I never left it.”

Now in his second season with the Hilltops, Douglas has emerged as one of the team’s star receivers. Taking on the Thunder at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Saturday night, Douglas saw one of his teammates have a big outing.

Drake Douglas joined the Hilltops part way through 2022.

Noah Flaman, a sure handed third-year receiver, caught three touchdowns as the Hilltops roared past the Thunder 36-6 in a CJFL regular season clash. With the win, the Hilltops improved to 4-0 to sit alone in first place in the Prairie Football Conference, while the Thunder fell to 3-1. The Thunder had won the three previous meetings between the two sides including action in the regular season and post-season.

While Douglas said it felt like he never left the game once he started playing for the Hilltops, he did feel like he wasn’t in football shape.

“I had played flag football that winter,” said Douglas. “I think I was in decent shape.

“You think you are in good shape, but then you go play a full football game in plus-25 weather. It is kind of different. It is hard to get right back into it.

“It took me a little bit to adjust to the physicality. The guys are definitely a lot stronger in the CJFL, and you have to adjust to stuff like that. At the same time when you play football all your life, you just do what you’ve always been doing.”

Douglas said he came into the 2023 campaign at a different level after taking part in the team’s off-season workouts with Ignite Athletics, winter practices, spring camp and getting a full training camp in.

“It is a night and day difference,” said Douglas, who had 18 catches for 254 yards and one touchdown in the Hilltops first three game. “I did all the Ignite workouts, so I was definitely coming in way better shape.

“That made it a lot easier. I felt way more ready to go. I feel a lot stronger and faster than I was last season just jumping in halfway through.”

Sargeant was quite pleased he was able to get Douglas in the Hilltops fold.

“Drake (Douglas) has been magnificent,” said Sargeant. “For him to come to us sort of middle of the year last year and by the end of the year he is a key offensive contributor.

“He is a punt returner, and he is a holder on our field goal team. Drake has multiple roles. He is a talented kid, and he loves football.

Drake Douglas has made some highlight catches for the Hilltops.

“He has come in here in a short period of time and established himself as a leader and as a player as a go-to guy. We make sure a lot of our offensive plays and systems go through him. We are proud of what he is about.”

Sargeant noted that Douglas’s playing style on the field kind of mirrors that of a former great of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in Weston Dressler.

“There are certainly some similarities,” said Sargeant. “He is just a multiuse player.

“He has a lot of different skill sets. He is great after he catches the ball. He is great when the ball is in flight.

“He knows how to use his body and how to get in the way to make the plays basically is how it looks.”

Douglas said he watched various receivers growing up, but he has a special affinity for Roughriders pass catchers.

“I have a lot of especially ’Riders receivers that I look up to,” said Douglas. “Weston Dressler is definitely size wise is a good comparison to me.

“Other guys, I really liked Naaman Roosevelt growing up and guys like that. I think I’m definitely similar to their style of play. I think the coaches kind of use me in similar ways.”

In the Hilltops 50-2 regular season opening win against the Edmonton Wildcats on August 13 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Douglas got out of the gates with a big game. He caught nine passes for 171 yards and one touchdown, which helped him get an extra jump in his step.

“The coaches and Trey (Reider) made it easy for me,” said Douglas. “The coach was calling the right plays, and Trey (Reider) was just putting it on me, and I’m just trying to do my job and catch the balls that come my way.

“It was definitely huge for the confidence, and I think it was huge for the whole team getting that win early.”

Against the Thunder on Saturday, the Hilltops led 12-0 after the first quarter and 22-4 at halftime. The Hilltops got a touchdown from star power running back Boston Davidsen, two field goals from Teijon Abel-Douglas and a conceded safety by the Thunder.

The Thunder got their points from a punt single and a field goal from kicker Shawn Green and a conceded safety by Saskatoon.

Drake Douglas (#86) wants to enjoy more fun with his teammates.

The Hilltops return to action on Sunday, September 17, when they hit the road again to face the Edmonton Wildcats at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta.

Looking forward to the rest of the CJFL campaign, Douglas said he and the Hilltops are focusing on things as they come.

“It is great just hanging out with guys and getting to come out to practice every day and just work with everybody,” said Douglas. “I’m really excited for the rest of this season.

“We have a long way to go. I think we’re just trying to build every week. I think ‘Sarge’ compared it to a pyramid the one day in meetings.

“We’re just trying to build that pyramid and give it a good foundation right now and just keep building on that.”

Hilltops End Zone Dinner set for Sept. 30

Jorgen Hus sets to snap the ball for the Roughriders in 2019.

The Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner is returning with a quartet of guest speakers.

The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 30 in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. Doors for the dinner open at 4:15 p.m. and dinner follows at 5 p.m.

A ticket to the dinner also includes a ticket to that night’s CJFL regular season game between the Hilltops and Regina Thunder set for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The guest speakers include a pair of alumni from the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in Al Johns and Carm Carteri along with current Roughriders players Jorgen Hus and Derrick Moncrief. Johns was a defensive tackle for the Roughriders from 1980 to 1987 and played for the Hilltops in the 1970s. Carteri played linebacker for the Roughriders in 1979, 1980 and 1985, and he had a long run as a colour analyst on Roughriders radio broadcasts that concluded following the 2016 campaign.

Hus is the Roughriders veteran long snapper and he played linebacker with the Hilltops from 2007 to 2009. He helped the Hilltops win a CJFL title in 2007 after graduating from St. Joseph High School.

Moncrief is a veteran linebacker with the Roughriders. He often comes out to Saskatoon to help coach with Saskatoon Minor Football’s Playground To Pros Camp that is held annually in April.

All proceeds from the End Zone Dinner will go towards the Saskatoon Hilltops Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $100 per single person or $725 for a table of eight. Tickets for the End Zone Dinner can be purchased 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.

-------

If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.