Redemption for Fajardo as ragtag Alouettes win Grey Cup

Cody Fajardo raises the Grey Cup.

It was supposed to be career over for Cody Fajardo.

About a year ago at this time, Fajardo was taking flack as the scapegoat of a Saskatchewan Roughriders season that went off the rails. Entering the 2022 CFL campaign as the Roughriders star starting quarterback, Saskatchewan got out to a 4-1 start, and the season fell off the rails at that point.

The Roughriders would proceed to win just two of their last 13 games and finished the campaign with a 6-12 record closing the season out on a seven game losing streak. Fajardo was a reserve quarterback for the club’s final two regular season games as the Roughriders missed the playoffs.

Due to become a free agent on February of 2023, it was safe to say the Roughriders brain trust gave up on Fajardo, and veteran signal caller made it known he felt that way.

While Fajardo had lots of supporters among Rider Nation, there was a sizable loud minority that viewed the quarterback was finished. They said Fajardo would never win a Grey Cup as a starting quarterback.

The Roughriders needed to get rid of Fajardo. He was a flash in the pan and not a good quarterback.

Those might have been the nicest things the detractors said. There were a lot of comments that were downright cruel.

It seemed the detractors were intent on not just driving Fajardo out of town. They wanted him to leave town strapped to the front of a locomotive, and if the locomotive hit a wall or ran into a cliff it was all the better.

Forgotten was Fajardo’s 27-17 career record as the Roughriders starting quarterback or that he signal called them to two West Division final appearances in 2019 and 2021. The Roughriders fell both times to the eventual Grey Cup champion and their traditional rivals the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Cody Fajardo throws a pass for the Roughriders in 2019.

Also forgotten was Fajardo’s magical 2019 season, where he was the West Division’s nominee for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award. During the 2019 campaign, Fajardo started 16 games for the Roughriders posting a 12-4 record, and he completed 338-of-473 passes for 4,302 yards and 18 touchdowns, while throwing eight interceptions. He also ran the ball 107 times for 611 yards and 10 touchdowns.

He was and still is a practicing Catholic who is strong in his Christian faith, and he made “a sprinkle of Jesus” his catch phrase.

With his coming out of nowhere to be a star quarterback story, Fajardo looked like he was going to be the CFL’s version of Kurt Warner. Warner was quarterback who came out of nowhere to light the NFL on fire quarterbacking the St. Louis Rams to a magical 1999 campaign that resulted in a Super Bowl win. He had a career that saw him be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

Warner was the picture of what it looked like to be the star quarterback who was strong in his Christian faith.

As for Fajardi, it looked like there would be no more glory for him following the 2022 CFL season.

The signal caller wasn’t the only Roughriders scapegoat. Roughriders offensive coordinator Jason Maas’ contract wasn’t renewed following the 2022 campaign. He had been Fajardo’s offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022.

On December 17, 2022, Maas was hired to be the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes. On the first day of CFL free agency this past February, Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia and Maas elected to sign Fajardo to a two-year contract and install him as the club’s starting quarterback.

At the start of the CFL season, the Alouettes were ridiculed for their moves. Most pundits were predicting the Alouettes to finish last and be the laughing stock of the nine-team circuit.

The Alouettes were viewed as a team of castoffs and misfits. The castoffs included defensive end Shaun Lemon, who led the CFL with 14 sacks in 2022 playing for the Calgary Stampeders.

Cody Fajardo (#7) was a CFL MOP nominee in 2019.

The Stampeders elected to not resign Lemon. He signed with the B.C. Lions and was cut during their training camp on May 22. 

Lemon signed with the Alouettes on July 23^rd and showed he was pretty motivated getting nine sacks in 13 regular season games.

Still, Fajardo was the overall symbol of how the Alouettes were going to be the CFL’s sacrificial lamb in 2023. The sacrificial lamb turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

As it turned out, Maciocia actually built a really good roster that came together to become a great football team as the 2023 campaign marched on. 

On top of that, the Alouettes were a driven football team as everyone with the club came together due to having a chip on their collective shoulders on being left for dead. That ultimately made the Alouettes a very dangerous football team.

On Sunday at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont., Fajardo, who is 31-years-old, had his finest hour in the CFL. He completed 21-of-26 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns, while throwing one interception, in a 28-24 upset victory over the Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup.

Fajardo, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 223 pounds, wrote a storybook finish in front of a sellout crowd of 28,808 spectators. On Montreal’s final offensive possession with the Bombers holding a 24-21 advantage, Fajardo drove the Alouettes 83 yards in seven plays for the winning touchdown.

He concluded the drive throwing the winning touchdown pass from 19 yards out to Canadian receiver Tyson Philpot with 13 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. 

The Bombers were unable to come out with a miracle play in the final 13 seconds causing the 28-24 score in favour of the Alouettes to hold up as the final outcome of the game.

Fajardo had a championship moment worthy of all the all-time great quarterbacks who played the game in either the CFL or NFL. He was named the MVP of the Grey Cup, and Philpot took honours as the Most Valuable Canadian.

The Alouettes celebrate a Grey Cup championship.

The Alouettes finished the 2023 campaign posting an 11-7 record in the regular season and a 14-7 mark overall, which saw the club close out the season with eight straight wins.

On Sunday, Fajardo showed the good guy can finish first. As a true good guy, he didn’t have to get the girl, because the girl was already there. Laura, his wife who is a doctor of physical therapy, convinced the signal caller in the off-season his playing days were not finished and he still had it.

Cody, Laura and their one-year-old son, Luca, were all together celebrating the Grey Cup win on Sunday. The redemption story ultimately finished as a fairy tale that came true.

Grads haul in Hilltops major team awards

Boston Davidsen, right, is named the Hilltops top grad.

The Saskatoon Hilltops graduating players cleaned up capturing five out of the club’s seven major team awards.

On Saturday, the Hilltops held their team awards ceremony in a new format for the club. Having held an annual awards banquet in past years, the Hilltops hosted the Saskatoon Hilltops Football Club Honors awards ceremony in a live theatre style show at the Roxy Theatre. The event was similar in nature to awards shows hosted by the NFL and NHL.

Graduating star power running back Boston Davidsen was named the winner of the Drs. Landa-Doig Award as the club’s most outstanding graduating player. Davidsen was a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star had a monster campaign leading the PFC in carries (170), rushing yards (1,184) and rushing touchdowns (nine) during the regular season.

In the Hilltops 17-10 victory over the Westshore Rebels on Nov. 11 in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl, Davidsen carried the ball 25 times for 157 yards and one touchdown. His major score ultimately held up as the winning score of the contest played at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

Graduating middle linebacker Matt Wist captured the Courtice Inspiration Award. Wist was named a second team CJFL all-Canadian at linebacker and a first team CJFL all-Canadian at punter.

During the Hilltops eight regular season games, Wist recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and three interceptions. He punted the ball 47 times for a gross average of 37.7 yards per kick, a net average of 32.2 yards per kick and three singles.

Matt Wist, right, wins the Courtice Inspiration Award.

Graduating defensive tackle Craig Torgerson claimed the Blue and Gold Award for outstanding leadership and commitment to the team.

Defensive back Carter Wingert, who has exhausted his CJFL eligibility, was given the Ron Atchison “True Grit” Award.

Outside linebacker Wade Keating, who has completed his CJFL career, took the Don and Jim Seaman Memorial Award as the team’s top linebacker.

Defensive end Riece Kack was the only other veteran player outside of the grads to capture a major award. Kack, who has one season of CJFL eligibility remaining, took the Ray Syrnyk Trophy as the team’s top lineman.

Receiver Datiel Fountaine claimed the Past President’s Trophy as the team’s rookie of the year.

The Hilltops won all eight of their regular season games en route to posting a perfect 12-0 record in 2023. Their CJFL championship victory over the Rebels marked the 23^rd time in team history the Hilltops have captured the CJFL title.

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CJFL title capped rebound season for Hilltops in 2023

The Hilltops celebrate a TD from Drake Douglas, right.

Do you remember the Saskatoon Hilltops going 6-4 in 2022?

That season feels long forgotten after the Hilltops posted a perfect 12-0 record in 2023 culminating in the team’s 23^rd CJFL championship and sixth perfect season. The Hilltops closed out the 2023 campaign last Saturday downing the host Westshore Rebels 17-10 in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The Saskatoon side persevered through Biblical type rains to capture their first CJFL title since 2019 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria. It was a familiar sight seeing the Hilltops raise the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions.

A year ago at this time disappointment was the prevailing feeling around the Hilltops. Their 2022 campaign came to an end on October 30 of that year with a 39-21 loss to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder in the PFC final at Mosaic Stadium in the Saskatchewan capital city.

Boston Davidsen ran for 1,184 yards in the regular season.

Saskatoon was 5-3 in the regular season and 6-4 overall. Before 2022, the last time Hilltops experienced those records was 1993. Between 1993 and 2022, the Hilltops had never lost more than two games in the regular season and won the CJFL title 14 times.

The Hilltops graduated 20 players from their roster following their loss to the Thunder in the 2022 PFC final. With the PFC going through a massive reset with all of its six teams experiencing sizable graduations, there was no certainty about where the Hilltops would stand going into the 2023 campaign.

The biggest thing for the venerable CJFL squad was the team’s legendary head coach in Tom Sargeant was back along with his long time defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jeff Yausie. Actually, all the members of the Hilltops coaching staff had been working with the team for a number of years.

The coaches were determined to get the Hilltops back playing up to their lofty standards of their CJFL championship seasons. Being good but not good enough like in 2022 wasn’t going to cut it.

MLB Matt Wist was a second team CJFL all-Canadian all-star.

The Hilltops had one of their more youthful rosters in 2023. Out of the eight players suiting up in their final seasons of CJFL eligibility, six of those players were holdovers from the team’s previous CJFL title winning season back in 2019, when the Hilltops posted a perfect 12-0 record at that time.

The six holdovers included middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert, defensive lineman Craig Torgerson, power running back Boston Davidsen and receiver Evan Ward. Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker were the other two graduating players who joined the Hilltops following the 2019 campaign.

Due to the fact only six players had CJFL championship rings, the journey through the 2023 season for the Hilltops had a newness feeling to it. The coaches had experience guiding more youthful rosters in the past, and they were able to draw on that experience and apply it this past season.

Trey Reider was named the PFC’s Most Outstanding Quarterback.

One of the biggest differences between 2022 and 2023 was the Hilltops defence rose to a higher level to achieve some historical accomplishments. The Hilltops allowed just 51 points through their eight regular season games posting the team’s lowest point against total in regular season play dating back to 1949.

The ’Toppers gave up just 25 points in four playoff games for a total of 76 points over 12 contests, which was the lowest points against total for the team including play in the regular season and post-season since 1949. In 1949, the Hilltops gave up 70 points in 10 overall games that season falling in the Western Canada Championship game 16-12 to the Vancouver Blue Bombers.

When you break things down to average points allowed per game, the 2023 Hilltops in overall play gave up an average of 6.3 points a game, which is the lowest total in team history.

Wade Keating returns an interception for a TD for the Hilltops.

The defence was anchored by first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars in defensive end Riece Kack and defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens. Wist and hard hitting and ball hawking safety Dalton Urban were named second team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars.

The second biggest thing that happened in 2023 was the Hilltops got their most consistent play at the quarterback position since winning the CJFL title in 2019. After the 2020 CJFL campaign was lost due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world, the Hilltops had campaigns in 2021 and 2022 that saw them change the starting quarterback near the midpoint of the regular season.

In the sixth game of the regular season in 2022, the Hilltops inserted Trey Reider into the starting spot at quarterback. He started the Hilltops final three regular season games and both their post-season games.

Noah Flaman jets downfield on a long TD reception.

Playing his 21-year-old season in 2023, Reider went the distance as the Hilltops starting signal caller. During the Hilltops eight regular season games, Reider has completed 108-of-167 passes for 1,571 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing five interceptions during the regular season.

He topped the PFC with a 114.6 quarterback efficiency rating, was named a PFC all-star and took honours as the PFC’s Most Outstanding Quarterback. With the 2023 season in the books, Reider is currently 16-1 overall as the Hilltops starting quarterback.

Reider’s favourite targets in 2023 included receiver Drake Douglas, who took first team CJFL all-Canadian honours after catching 42 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns in regular season play, and pass catcher Noah Flaman, who caught 21 passes for 422 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season earning the nickname “TD Noah” in the process.

Davidsen was a first team CJFL all-Canadian having had a monster campaign leading the PFC in carries (170), rushing yards (1,184) and rushing touchdowns (nine) during the regular season. Hilltops right tackle Cody Shumanski captured a first team CJFL all-Canadian spot on the offensive line.

Erik Barsness (#60) and Davin Johnson (#71) set the edge on a run play.

Saskatoon’s group of starters on the offensive line were all standouts with Davin Johnson at left tackle, Erik Barness at left guard, Matt Noble at centre and Victoire Bikulo at right guard. 

When Bikulo was lost for the season in the Hilltops seventh regular season game due to a leg injury, Quinton Pike filled in the rest of the way admirably at the starting right guard spot to ensure the Hilltops offensive line did not lose a step.

The Hilltops had to slug it out and persevere in some tough games. In the contest where Bikulo went down on September 30 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops had to grind out a 19-10 victory over the Thunder in the pouring rain that came down for the entire contest. 

When those same two squads met in the PFC final on October 22 at SMF Field, the Hilltops entered the fourth quarter trailing 13-9 before rallying back for a 21-13 victory.

Riece Kack makes a sack for the Hilltops.

In the CJFL championship game, they had battle it out against the Rebels in a game where the rain came down intensely. The Rebels also had the CJFL marquee player in quarterback Te Jessie, who was named a first team all-Canadian and claimed the CJFL’s Peter Dalla Riva Outstanding Offensive Player award.

While the contest was tied 7-7 early in the third quarter, the Hilltops scored the next 10 points to go up 17-7 and would close out a 17-10 victory. Wist and Davidsen both had big games.

Wist was named the defensive player of the game recording three interceptions, nine solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists and one pass knockdown. With those defensive statistics, Wist accumulated 36 defensive points, which is a new record for a CJFL championship game. His three picks equaled the record for most interceptions in a CJFL championship game.

Davidsen claimed honours as the offensive player of the game. He carried the ball 25 times for 157 yards and one touchdown. His major score ultimately held up as the winning score of the contest.

The Hilltops celebrate with the Canadian Bowl. (CJFL photo)

From an uncertain beginning, the Hilltops wrote another brilliant chapter to the storied legacy of the team. They ultimately finished off in a familiar spot standing tall on the CJFL mountain top.

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Wist, Davidsen lead Hilltops to 23rd CJFL title

Saskatoon completes 12-0 perfect season

The Hilltops get presented the Canadian Bowl.

Matt Wist and Boston Davidsen went out in a blaze of glory.

Playing in the final contests of their CJFL playing careers, both had monster outings for the Saskatoon Hilltops on Saturday playing in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. Thanks to their efforts, the visiting PFC champion Hilltops downed the host and BCFC champion Westshore Rebels 17-10 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

With Saturday’s win, the Hilltops claimed the CJFL title for the 23^rd time in team history. It was their first CJFL championship win since 2019.

Saskatoon also completed a perfect season with a 12-0 record. That would mark the sixth time the club has posted a perfect season. The Hilltops’ first perfect season came in 1958 at 11-0, the second in 1978 at 12-0, the third in 2003 at 12-0, the fourth in 2018 at 11-0 and the fifth in 2019 at 12-0.

The Rebels entered Saturday’s clash with a 12-0 record. They finish out the 2023 campaign with a 12-1 mark and have lost all three of their CJFL championship game appearances in club history, with all those losses coming against the Hilltops.

The Hilltops mantra has been to help their graduating players leave the CJFL as champions. They also look to their graduating players to lead the way on the field.

Wist, who is the team’s star 22-year-old middle linebacker, was named the defensive player of the game. The graduate of Saskatoon’s Bethlehem Catholic High School Stars Football team collected three big interceptions to go with nine solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists and one pass knockdown.

Wist was named a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star at punter, and he delivered in that department too. With most of the contest being played in a downpour, Wist punted the ball 10 times for 306 yards for an average of 30.6 yard per kick and a net average of 27.3 yards per kick.

Matt Wist (#44) was the defensive player of the game.

With the adverse weather conditions with a rain falling in Biblical proportions at times, the Hilltops needed Davidsen to come through with a big game, and he claimed honours as the offensive player of the game. The 22-year-old star power running back carried the ball 25 times for 158 yards and one touchdown. The major from the graduate of the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints Football Team ultimately held up as the winning score of the contest.

Expecting to play in the snow and cold at the tail end of the regular season and in the post-season, the Hilltops to their credit built their offensive unit to be balanced in the running and passing games. That type of planning helps for games played in a steady downpour too.

During the 2023 campaign, the Hilltops have been blessed with having good weather for their games. Before Saturday’s CJFL title game, the Hilltops only other adverse weather game this season came back on September 30, when they downed their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 19-10 in a regular season contest played in a steady monsoon at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

That contest proved to provide valuable experience for what the Hilltops would face in the Canadian Bowl on Saturday at Starlight Stadium.

A crazy as it sounds, the adverse weather likely hurt the host Rebels more than the Hilltops. The Rebels have the CJFL’s marquee player in quarterback Te Jessie, who captured CJFL’s Peter Dalla Riva Outstanding Offensive player award on Friday.

In the Rebels 10 regular season games, Jessie was outstanding completing 150-of-212 passes for 2,453 yards and 41 touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions. He had a quarterback rating of 135.1, and his 41 touchdown passes set a new record for CJFL regular season play.

Facing the Hilltops stingy defence and the rain, Jessie was limited to completing 23-of-36 passes for 221 yards, while throwing two interceptions. Jessie ran the ball 10 times for 49 yards too.

Boston Davidsen (#24) was the offensive player of the game.

After the two sides played through a scoreless opening quarter, the Hilltops broke through on the scoreboard at the 2:35 mark of the second quarter as receiver Noah Flaman lived up to his nickname of “TD Noah.” With the ball at the Rebels 36 yard line, Hilltops star quarterback Trey Reider hit Flaman with a deep 36-yard touchdown pass to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.

Late in the second quarter, Wist made his first of three interceptions catching the football after it deflected off of about two sets of hands.

With the Hilltops defence shutting down the Rebels offence, Westshore’s special teams came through with a big play. Rebels receiver Cairo Berry ran the opening kickoff in the third quarter 81 yards for a touchdown to even the score at 7-7.

A short time later, the Rebels tried to take the lead with a field goal attempt from 40 yards out. After a bad snap, holder Ethan Pickard, who is the Rebels backup quarterback, rolled out with the ball and threw it downfield only to be intercepted by Wist, who set the visitors up at their own 34 yard line.

Later on in the quarter, the Hilltops were forced to punt and Berry fumbled the ball away to be recovered by defensive back Nathan Young at the Rebels 31 yard line. On the ensuing offensive series, the Hilltops cashed that turnover into a one-yard touchdown run by Davidsen on a third-and-goal gamble. That major gave the Hilltops a 14-7 lead at the 7:08 mark of the third quarter.

At the 5:15 mark of the fourth quarter, the Hilltops pushed their edge out to 17-7 with a 40-yard field goal from first team CJFL all-Canadian kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas.

The Rebels cut the gap to 17-10 with a 30-yard field goal from kicker Gio Linuzzi with 6:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. Westshore wasn’t able to get any closer as the 17-10 score would hold up as the game’s final outcome.

Wist ended the Rebels second last offensive series with his third interception of the contest.

Reider completed 12-of-19 passes for 162 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. Flaman topped the Hilltops with 94 receiving yards on three catches,which included his touchdown catch.

The Hilltops celebrate their CJFL title win.

Rebels star running back Gerren Hardisty ran the ball 16 times for 90 yards. Berry led all pass catchers with eight receptions for 102 yards.

Lot of players had big games on the Hilltops defence. Outside linebacker Wade Keating, who was playing the final game of his CJFL career, recorded six solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists and two special teams solo tackles.

Defensive end Ben Marce had four solo defensive tackles, one defensive tackle assist and two quarterback sacks. Star defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens had three solo defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists and one quarterback sack. Star defensive end Riece Kack had two solo defensive tackles and one quarterback sack.

For the Rebels defensively, Defensive lineman Cody McMahon had six solo defensive tackles and one defensive tackle assist. Defensive back Oluwaferanmi Okunlola had five solo defensive tackles and two defensive tackle assists. 

Defensive lineman Ted Windom Jr. had four solo defensive tackles, one defensive tackle assist and one quarterback sack. Defensive lineman Praise Odogun has a fumble recovery, one solo defensive tackle, one defensive tackle assist and one pass knockdown for Westshore.

The Hilltops forced seven turnovers from the Rebels, while the Rebels made the Hilltops turn the ball over twice.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant enjoyed his 17^th CJFL championship with the Hilltops on Saturday. Sargeant has won 14 of those titles as a head coach, two as an assistant coach and his first came as a receiver in 1985.

The Hilltops had six players who were holdovers from their 2019 CJFL championship team in Wist, Davidsen, Keating, defensive tackle Craig Torgerson, defensive back Carter Wingert and receiver Evan Ward. They all graduate from the program with two CJFL championship rings.

Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker, who joined the Hilltops after the 2019 campaign, also exhausted their CJFL eligibility at the conclusion of the Canadian Bowl. They will graduate from the Hilltops winning a CJFL championship in their final year of junior eligibility.

The Hilltops trophy case will repeat this look from early 2020.

In the CJFL title win on Saturday, Wist and Davidsen led the way and set the tone in their final game of junior eligibility. The rest of the team followed adding another storied chapter in the history of the venerable Hilltops.

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 offence comes in under radar at Canadian Bowl

Boston Davidsen topped the PFC with 1,184 yards rushing.

In 2023, the Saskatoon Hilltops are living out a campaign where the defence has overshadowed the offence.

The defence of the venerable CJFL club has garnered the bulk of the attention on the team after giving up just 51 points in eight regular season games, which is the lowest points allowed total for the squad in the regular season dating back to 1949. The Hilltops have given up just 15 points in three post-season games. In building an 11-0 overall record, the Hilltops are giving up an average of just six points a game.

While the defence is having a special season, the Hilltops offence has quietly has a great season of its own with some strong accomplishments. The Hilltops topped the PFC in regular season scoring with 335 points for an average of 41.9 points per game. Saskatoon finished second in total offensive yards gained in the PFC at 3,556.

In three post-season contests, the Hilltops have scored 117 points for an average of 39 points scored per game.

The PFC champion Hilltops close their 2023 campaign Saturday, when they face the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The two sides will go at it at Starlight Stadium at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

The Hilltops will be attempting to win their 23^rd CJFL championship and first title since 2019, while the Rebels are still searching for their first CJFL title in team history. The Rebels lost their only two CJFL championship appearances in team history back in 2016 and 2003, when they were known as the Victoria Rebels, to the Hilltops.

Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen will be playing the final game of his CJFL career on Saturday before exhausting his junior eligibility. Davidsen led the PFC in carries (170), rushing yards (1,184) and rushing touchdowns (nine). He believes the Hilltops offence will play a factor in how Saturday’s CJFL title game turns out.

“I think that offensively it is less about the stats and more about the will we have each game,” said Davidsen. “I think we will come with that on Saturday.

“I think the stats that we’ve put out haven’t been the most accurate of our offence. I think we’ve done a good job of improving every game in mental aspects as well. It is stuff that doesn’t necessarily show up on the stats sheets.

“I think we will look forward to translating that to Saturday.”

Drake Douglas is a reliable sure-handed receiver.

The Rebels offence has been in the spotlight heading into the Canadian Bowl along with the Hilltops defence. In 10 regular season games, the Rebels scored 583 points for an average of 58.3 points scored per game. Westshore has scored 73 points in two post-season contests for an average of 36.5 points per game.

The Rebels have the CJFL’s marquee player in quarterback Te Jessie. In the Rebels 10 regular season games, Jessie was outstanding completing 150-of-212 passes for 2,453 yards and 41 touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions.

He had a quarterback rating of 135.1, and his 41 touchdown passes set a new record for CJFL regular season play. A graduate of the St. Paul’s High School Crusaders Football Team in Winnipeg, Man., Jessie topped the CJFL’s annual Top 50 players to watch list heading into the 2023 campaign. He was named a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star on Thursday.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant respects the Rebels but said he likes his guys on offence going into the CJFL title contest.

“We just are who we are,” said Sargeant, whose 235 career head coaching victories are the most for post-secondary amateur football in Canada. “We’re going to run the football.

“We’re going to get Trey (Reider) going and get our receivers going. They know who were going to throw the ball too. As I said, we’re very confident with who we are and how we do business, and I am sure they are too.

“The difference is we’re walking into their barn. This team, they’ve displayed and showed the ability to you know what, they’ve handled all circumstances. They’ve done it all year and done it very admirably.”

Hilltops star quarterback Trey Reider has had a great season. He completed 108-of-167 passes for 1,571 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing five interceptions during the regular season. He topped the PFC with a 114.6 quarterback efficiency rating.

Sure-handed receiver Drake Douglas hauled in 56 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns for the Hilltops. Pass catcher Noah Flaman, who is known as “TD Noah,” caught 21 passes for 422 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season.

The Hilltops showed they could change up their strategy during their 43-0 victory over the OFC champion St. Clair Saints from Windsor, Ont., in a CJFL semifinal played on October 29 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Saskatoon created big plays off the play-action pass to build a 21-0 advantage just 33 seconds into the second quarter and cruised to victory at that point.

Trey Reider had a 114.6 quarterback efficiency rating this season.

Davidsen was a decoy in a lot of instances in that contest carrying the ball 13 times for 62 yards. The Hilltops still piled up 165 yards rushing in that contest to go with 235 yards passing.

In going against a Rebels defence that gave up an average of 11.2 points per game in the regular season, Davidsen didn’t tip his team’s hand but added his side will be prepared entering the Canadian Bowl.

“All I know is our coaches have a great game plan for us,” said Davidsen. “We have been reliant on our defence at times this year.

“We’re going to try and take another step forward in our final game together with this group to maybe lead the charge a little bit. I think that it is just going to come down to can we work together, can we get it done. It is more about how much we want it than any kind of play we can put out there.”

Davidsen believe the players on the Hilltops offence are going to rally together to have a good outing against the Rebels.

“I’m as confident as the guys around me are confident,” said Davidsen. “It is not something that I can project confidence on to this team, or they can tell me everything is going to be fine.

“It is has to be something we do together. We put our arms around each other, work as hard as we can and I think if we, you know, give it our all things will turn out OK.”

With the Hilltops last appearing in the Canadian Bowl in 2019 when they down the Rams in Langley 11-6, the experience of playing in the CJFL championship game is new to almost all the players. The Hilltops have six holdovers who were members of the 2019 CJFL title winning squad.

Sargeant and his coaching staff have lots of experience guiding their squad in the CJFL championship game. While the experience is new for most of his players, Sargeant is going in expecting to close out a campaign the right way having already guided the Hilltops to 13 CJFL title wins as head coach.

“We expect to be in big games all the time,” said Sargeant. “As I said, this coaching staff has done a great job with the pedigree they have to get this team to start believing where they should be and what they need to do to get there.

“They’ve done that. You know what, we’re excited for the process that is taking place. When you’ve come this far, you want to finish it off now. We know it is not going to be easy.

Noah Flaman has been money in the end zone.

“We know going into Westshore we’re the underdogs. Hey, the B.C. league has won the Canadian championship the last two years. We need to get real about that.”

Davidsen, who was a member of the 2019 CJFL title winning team, added the fact Saturday’s game will be the last for his CJFL career has crossed his mind more and more. His goal is to leave one last final good impression.

“It is a bit of a surreal feeling,” said Davidsen. “It feels like I’ve been part of this team for a huge portion of my life, and it has been.

“It has been a good five years. I think the mindset has to be make sure you don’t regret you last moment as a Hilltop.”

Last hurrah for Hilltops grads, other notes

Matt Wist will play his final CJFL game on Saturday.

The Saskatoon Hilltops are one win away from once again helping their graduating players depart their junior football careers as CJFL champions.

On Saturday, the PFC champion Hilltops (11-0) close the 2023 campaign taking on the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The two sides will go at it at Starlight Stadium at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

For eight members of the Hilltops, the CJFL title game will be the final contest of their junior football careers.

The group of eight includes six players who were members of the Hilltops last CJFL title winning team in 2019. The holdovers include defensive tackle Craig Torgerson, middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert, running back Boston Davidsen and receiver Evan Ward.

Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker, who joined the Hilltops after the 2019 campaign, will also exhaust their CJFL eligibility when the Canadian Bowl wraps up. The Hilltops will be trying to win their 23^rd CJFL title in team history.

For a lengthy stretch of time, the Hilltops mantra has been to help their graduating players leave the CJFL as champions. Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said the team’s graduating players have played a huge part in helping the club go undefeated heading into the CJFL title game.

“If it wasn’t for our fifth-year players, we’re not in the game,” said Sargeant. “We need them to be our best players like they’ve been all year.

Evan Ward has made key timely catches for the Hilltops.

“I don’t see any of that to change. We’re going to put them in the spots. We’re going to give them the play calls for them to do what we’ve seen all year and that is about as simple as that.

“It will be their job to lead on the field and make the plays, and the other guys will follow suit. If we do that, then things are always going to go well for the blue and gold.”

Wist took home individuals honours this season being named a second team CJFL all-Canadian all-star at linebacker and a first team all-Canadian at punter. The 22-year-old recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and three interceptions during the regular season.

On the punting side during the regular season, Wist punted the ball 47 times for a gross average of 37.7 yards per kick, a net average of 32.2 yards per kick and three singles. He has been soaking in his final days as a CJFL player.

“Time has definitely flown by,” said Wist. “Day in and day out, it just goes by in a flash, so I am just soaking this last week in.

“I’m just glad to be around the guys for this last week. We’re going as far as we can, so it makes me happy.”

• The Hilltops and Rebels last met head to head in the CJFL title game on November 12, 2016 at what was known as then Westhills Stadium at Langford. The Hilltops claimed a 37-25 victory on that day. The post about that contest can be found by clicking right here.
• The Hilltops and the then Victoria Rebels went head-to-head in the CJFL championship game on November 8, 2003 at Exhibition Stadium in Chilliwack, B.C. The Hilltops romped to a 59-0 victory in that contest. The 59 points the Hilltops scored that day is still a record for a CJFL championship game.
• Westshore Rebels head coach Dexter Janke played running back for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team in the U Sports ranks from 2010 to 2013. He claimed honours as the BCFC’s coach of the year this season.
• The Hilltops will be attempting to complete their sixth perfect season in team history on Saturday. Saskatoon’s first perfect season came in 1958 at 11-0, the second in 1978 at 12-0, the third in 2003 at 12-0, the fourth in 2018 at 11-0 and the fifth in 2019 at 12-0.
• I was back in the pages of the Prince Albert Daily Herald on Wednesday with a story on University of Alberta Pandas Women’s Hockey Team power forward Abby Soyko. Soyko is an alumna and an all-time great with the Prince Albert Northern Bears female under-18 AAA team. The story on Soyko can be found by clicking right here.
• On November 9, I had new content appear on the Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I put together a piece on star pitcher Andrew Albers, who had stints in the MLB from 2013 to 2021 with three different teams, electing to retire from playing to move into coaching in baseball on a full-time basis. The piece on Albers can be found by clicking right here. I also put together a photo roundup that shows a CJFL record being broken and focuses on various championship chases in football drawing to a conclusion. That post can be found 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 defence faces greatest challenge in Canadian Bowl

Rebels high-powered offence led by CJFL’s marquee player

The Hilltops defence had made life miserable for opponents.

The stingy Saskatoon Hilltops defence will finish the 2023 campaign facing its toughest test to date.

In 2023, Saskatoon’s defence is having a season for the ages. The Hilltops gave up just 51 points in eight regular season games, which was their lowest points allowed total dating back to 1949 and lower than any of the regular season points against totals given up by the storied squad’s 22 CJFL championship winning clubs.

In the post-season, the Hilltops have given up just 15 points in three games. While building an 11-0 overall record, the Hilltops are giving up an average of just six points a game.

On Saturday, the PFC champion Hilltops close the 2023 campaign taking on the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The two sides will go at it at Starlight Stadium at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

The Rebels went 12-0 overall thanks to the work of their high powered offence, which is led by the CJFL’s marquee player in quarterback Te Jessie. In the Rebels 10 regular season games, Jessie was outstanding completing 150-of-212 passes for 2,453 yards and 41 touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions.

He had a quarterback rating of 135.1, and his 41 touchdown passes set a new record for CJFL regular season play. A graduate of the St. Paul’s High School Crusaders Football Team in Winnipeg, Man., Jessie topped the CJFL’s annual Top 50 players to watch list heading into the 2023 campaign. He was named a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star on Thursday.

“You see why both teams are in the Canadian final,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “They have an offence that is certainly worthy of big play potential and putting all those points on the board.

“Our defence has been as stingy as any defence in Canada. You are getting two marquee units going at it, so it comes down to our offence versus their defence and our special teams, which is a third of the game. There are a lot of things in play here.

Dalton Urban returns an interception for the Hilltops.

“Hey, that is why you play the games. It is lot of fun to coach and prepare. As I said, we’re one of two teams left in the CJFL playing. That means a lot to us.”

Hilltops defensive tackle Craig Torgerson, who will exhaust his CJFL eligibility once the Canadian Bowl ends, said it was a source of pride for the players on the club’s defence to have allowed the fewest points against since 1949.

“It is actually very special,” said Torgerson. “It is probably one of the better defences I’ve ever played on in my life.

“I definitely won’t take it for granted. The defence has put in a lot of hard work as well as the offence. I just like to see it paying off.”

A lot of players on the Hilltops defence had big seasons. Defensive end Riece Kack topped the PFC in sacks in each of the past two seasons recording 7.5 sacks in each of those campaigns respectively. Safety Dalton Urban finished second in the PFC in interceptions with five.

Defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens collected 20 solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists, three quarterback sacks, one pass knockdown, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Defensive back Carter Wingert had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries playing out his final CJFL campaign for the Hilltops. Matt Wist, who is the Hilltops star 22-year-old middle linebacker, recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and three interceptions this season.

Wade Keating, who is an outside linebacker, recorded 17 solo defensive tackles, 10 defensive tackle assists, two special teams solo tackles, one special teams tackle assist, one pass knockdown, one fumble recovery and one interception.

Outside linebacker Noah Gedir had a breakout season for Saskatoon with 17 solo defensive tackles, 14 defensive tackle assists, nine special teams solo tackles, one quarterback sack, two pass knockdowns, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Wade Keating has been a consistent outside linebacker.

Rebels’ running back Gerren Hardisty powered the Rebels rushing attack running the ball 108 times for 1,084 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season. Receiver Cairo Berry had 41 catches for 526 yards and 18 touchdowns. Pass catcher Kieran Poissant had a big campaign for the Rebels hauling in 54 passes for 849 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Wist said the players on the Hilltops defence are eager to see how they match up against the Rebels offence.

“It is definitely going to be a challenge for us, and we’re looking forward to it,” said Wist, who will be playing his last career CJFL game in the Canadian Bowl. “We’re always looking to build to be a better team, and they are going to give us a good challenge.

“I’m just looking forward. It is going to be a good game. I think we’re going to show up and do what we can.”

Matching up against a quarterback that has piled up the accomplishments an accolades Jessie has also has gotten the players on the Hilltops defence excited.

“It is kind of at the back of your mind a little bit,” said Kack. “He (Jessie) is certainly a spectacular player.

“We’re definitely looking to get after him and give him a bit of our treatment.”

One of the tradition strengths of the Hilltops defence under defensive coordinator Jeff Yausie has been the unit’s ability to create turnovers. Wist said his club’s defence will try to repeat that traditional trend.

“Those turnovers would definitely help our offence in just field position wise,” said Wist. “I think, if we are doing our jobs and executing our assignments, I think we will be in the right spots to make those turnovers.”

The Hilltops defence hopes to celebrate big plays in the CJFL final.

Going into Saturday’s game, Wist said the Hilltops confidence is in the right place.

“It is definitely high, but we are definitely humble,” said Wist. “They are a good team.

“We know that. They went undefeated as well. They have set records this year, so it is going to be a good matchup.

“We’re definitely coming in there confident, because we know what we’ve done this season and have accomplished.”

Davidsen, Kack lead Hilltops all-Canadian parade

Boston Davidsen ran for 1,184 yards in the regular season.

The Saskatoon Hilltops saw a number of their best players earn CJFL all-Canadian all-star honours with the team posting an 11-0 record and earning a berth in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The PFC champion Hilltops (11-0) will take on the host and BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria.

On Thursday, the first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars on offence were announced. Hilltops power running back Boston Davidsen was named a first team all-Canadian after carrying the ball 170 times for 1,184 yards and nine touchdowns in eight regular season games.

Receiver Drake Douglas also took first team all-Canadian honours after catching 42 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns in regular season play. Hilltops right tackle Cody Shumanski captured a first team all-Canadian spot on the offensive line.

Teijon Abel-Douglas claimed honours as first team all-Canadian at kicker. He was good on 23-of-27 field goal attempts for an 85.2 per cent success rate. Abel-Douglas led the PFC in scoring with 104 points coming off 23 field goals, 31 converts and four singles.

Quarterback Te Jessie and receiver Kieran Poissant were the members of the Rebels offence who were named first team all-Canadians.

Riece Kack (#47) led the PFC with 7.5 sacks in the regular season.

On Wednesday, the first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars on defence were announced. Hilltops defensive end Riece Kack and defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens claimed first team all-Canadian honours.

Kack led the PFC with 7.5 quarterback sacks. He recorded 11 solo defensive tackles, seven defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, two special teams tackle assists, one pass knockdown and two fumble recoveries.

Stevens collected 20 solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists, three quarterback sacks, one pass knockdown, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Hilltops middle linebacker Matt Wist took honours as a first team all-Canadian at punter. He punted the ball 47 times for a gross average of 37.7 yards per kick, a net average of 32.2 yards per kick and three singles.

Linebacker Demar Hohnstein and defensive back Gio Linuzzi were the Rebels first team all-Canadians on defence.

On Tuesday, the Rebels had four plays named second team all-Canadian all-stars on offence. Running back Gerren Hardisty, receiver Cairo Berry and offensive linemen Xavier Venkataya and Camauri Barney were second team all-Canadians.

The second team all-Canadian all-stars on defence were announced on Monday. Wist and safety Dalton Urban claimed second team all-Canadian honours from the Hilltops, while defensive lineman Cody McMahon of the Rebels was dubbed a second team all-Canadian.

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Torgerson faces last dance with storied Hilltops squad

DT to play final CJFL game in Canadian Bowl

Craig Torgerson (#56) mans the middle of the Hilltops D-line.

Craig Torgerson believes time on the football field should be cherished.

The 22-year-old defensive tackle will play his final game with the storied Saskatoon Hilltops on Saturday. The Hilltops will be attempting to win their 23^rd CJFL title in team history when they play in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The PFC champion Hilltops (11-0) will take on the host and BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria. While Saturday’s game will mark the last time Torgerson plays both for the Hilltops and for a CJFL title, he stressed the game was big for everyone on the venerable Saskatoon club.

“It is actually very important,” said Torgerson. “It kind of not only makes the team better, but it also shows that what the rookies are getting themselves into and also it helps better the team, because you get extra playing time and you get extra practice and practice always makes perfect.”

During his first year with the team in 2019, Torgerson was a rookie who was thankful to be getting extra practice time on the field. The graduate of Saskatoon’s Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints Football Team did his part on the practice field helping get teammates ready for games as the Hilltops posted a perfect 12-0 record and claimed their 22^nd and to date last CJFL championship.

The Hilltops traveled to Langley, B.C., for the Canadian Bowl in 2019 and downed the host Rams 11-6 at McLeod Stadium to win a sixth straight CJFL title. Torgerson wasn’t part of the team’s travel party that year.

“I did not get to dress for the championship game,” said Torgerson, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 225 pounds. “All I remember was I was listening to it on the radio, and I could feel the anticipation and all the jitters just through that.

Craig Torgerson had three sacks in the regular season.

“It was definitely quite an experience.”          

Torgerson is one of six Hilltops players who are holdovers from the 2019 CJFL championship team and will exhaust their CJFL eligibility at the conclusion of the Canadian Bowl on Saturday. The other five include middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert, running back Boston Davidsen and receiver Evan Ward.

Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker, who joined the Hilltops after the 2019 campaign, will also exhaust their CJFL eligibility when the Canadian Bowl wraps up.

While Torgerson was listening to the Canadian Bowl on the radio from Saskatoon in 2019, he will be in the middle of the action on Saturday. 

When it comes to the finality of the current post-season, Torgerson has elected to have fun with the experience and play as hard as he can.

“Definitely when playoffs came around, it was definitely do or die at this point,” said Torgerson, who had three quarterback sacks and seven total tackles in the Hilltops eight regular season games. “Hey, there is no better way than to go out on top.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant has enjoyed seeing how much Torgerson has grown during his time with the club. The sideline boss said Torgerson has set a good example of showing the effort on the practice field and in games that the team expects of its players.

“It has been great to see him develop into the player that he is today,” said Sargeant. “He is a dominant pass rusher.

Craig Torgerson will play his last CJFL game in the Canadian Bowl.

“He is a great special teams player, and he is well liked by his teammates. He shows up. He works hard.

“He practices with purpose, and he plays with purpose. He has been a real good example for how to practice and how to compete.”

Sargeant said Torgerson and the rest of the team’s graduating players played a big role in getting the club back into the CJFL title game since last winning it in 2019. 

As has been the Hilltops mantra for a lengthy stretch of time, the goal is to help those graduation players depart as CJFL champions.

“At the end of the day when you’re in your last game and you are in your last year, there is a different importance,” said Sargeant. “That is why we built this program to be a fifth-year program.

“We put a lot of pride in that. When we’re having out leadership meetings, we’re getting the input from them. We place the expectations.

“We challenge them. We’re always going to go after our best players the hardest and have the highest expectations. Look at this year, they’ve delivered.”

Torgerson still remembers learning about the work ethic players needed to have to be part of the Hilltops in his rookie year. He also recalls learning how everything they did in practice, the film room and off-season training all comes together and becomes a factor in how the team plays.

Craig Torgerson (#56) walks to SMF Field with his parents.

Overall, Torgerson said his best memories in playing for the Hilltops comes from the team bonding that happens in the off-season and throughout the football campaign. He also enjoyed and was thankful for the team suppers the parents prepared for the squad on the Thursday night before every game in the CJFL post-season.

He admits it is different that the end of his playing days with the Hilltops is drawing near.

“It is definitely crazy,” said Torgerson. “Time flew definitely.

“It just felt like a couple of years ago I was in my first year. It has been a great time.”

Wist, Urban named second team all-Canadians

Matt Wist was named a CJFL second team all-Canadian all-star.

Matt Wist and Dalton Urban were tabbed with CJFL individual honours on Monday.

Wist, who is the starting middle linebacker with the Saskatoon Hilltops, and Urban, who is the Hilltops starting safety, were both named CJFL second team all-Canadian all-stars. Both were key players in helping the Hilltops post an 11-0 overall record and advance to the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The Hilltops will take on the host Westshore Rebels (12-0) at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time at Starlight Stadium Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria.

Wist recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and three interceptions during the Hilltops eight regular season games. The 22-year-old will play his final CJFL game on Saturday, when the Hilltops face the Rebels for the CJFL title.

Dalton Urban became a CJFL second team all-Canadian all-star.

Urban recorded eight solo defensive tackles, three defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, one pass knock down, one fumble recovery and five interceptions during regular season play for the Hilltops. On his fumble recovery, Urban returned the ball 61 yards for a touchdown in the Hilltops 49-0 win over the Rifles in Winnipeg on August 20.

Urban finishing out his third season with the Hilltops, and this was the first year he took up the spot as the team’s starting safety.

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