Hilltops’ Arno aspires to make classroom a long time home

Centre Patrick Arno locks up on a block for the Hilltops.

    Patrick Arno is strong at focusing on the Saskatoon Hilltops next game, but he admits his thoughts have drifted to thinking about the day after the team’s next game.

    On Saturday, the Hilltops (11-0 overall) travel to Langley, B.C., to face the host Rams (12-0 overall) in the CJFL championship game – The Canadian Bowl. The Hilltops will be trying to win an unprecedented sixth straight CJFL title in that contest.

    On Sunday, Arno will no longer be the starting centre on the Hilltops offensive line. He will have finished playing in his fifth campaign with the venerable Saskatoon side and have exhausted his CJFL eligibility.

    “It is going to be a reality check,” said Arno. “It is going to be different.

    “It is going to be something I have almost a feeling of losing something or losing someone, because it will be a club that is close to me. It will just be kind of over in a split second, so it will be different.”

Patrick Arno gets set to snap the football.

    Arno has taken steps to transition out of his life as a hulking 6-foot-4, 300-pound leader of the Hilltops offensive line to one day becoming a teacher. He has attended classes for some time at the University of Saskatchewan, and he has been accepted into the faculty of education at the University of Regina starting in January of the new year.

    A graduate of Saskatoon’s high school football ranks in the Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers, the move to the Saskatchewan capital will mark the first time Arno has not lived in “The Bridge City.”

    “It is a little bit different,” said Arno. “I’ve never lived away from home.

    “I’m just trying to find a place and trying to figure out where there is a good place to live in Regina and where is not to live. I’m just figuring out my schedules and all that kind of stuff.”

    Arno said he hasn’t talked to the University of Regina Rams about playing football for them at the U Sports level. Actually, he said he hasn’t talked to any U Sports football program about extending his time in the game.

    The 22-year-old’s focus after Hilltops has revolved around setting up his life after football.

Taylon Elderkin (#67) and Patrick Arno (#57) team up on a block.

    “I’m just going to school and focusing on my career so far,” said Arno. “If something comes, then I will figure it out then.”

    Arno has made tonnes of good memories playing with the Hilltops. He said his eyes were opened about possibly joining the storied junior team, when Hilltops defensive backs coach Brent Turkington visited with him during an awards banquet at Tommy Douglas.

    After that awards banquet, Arno attended Hilltops spring camp in 2015. Hilltops offensive line coach Donnie Davidsen told Arno he was competing for a spot along with another Tommy Douglas grad.

    The other Tommy Douglas grad elected not to rejoin the Hilltops for their main training camp, and Arno’s time with the team began.

Patrick Arno (#57) gets things set on the Hilltops offensive line.

    “It has really gone by really fast, quicker than when you imagine at the start,” said Arno, who was a practice roster player in his first season. “It has been a long ride.

    “It has been a good ride.”

    During his rookie campaign in 2015, Arno spent his time learning from a veteran offensive line. Centre Jordan Hydomako, left guard Nathan Heide and left tackle Terry Thesen were all in their fifth-years of eligibility and starred at their respective positions.

    Arno proved to be a quick study. He found himself taking over as the team’s starting centre in his second year in 2016 after the graduation of the three fifth-year veterans.

    “I had good leaders,” said Arno. “It was good to start.

Patrick Arno (#57) and the Hilltops stellar starting offensive line.

    “I was thrown into things quickly and kind of just had to figure it out as quick as I could. It was really good. It was really fun, and I think that experience has made me into the player that I am today.”

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said Arno gained his starting spot quickly by earning the trust of the team’s coaches with his play.

    “Number one, I’ve always loved his consistency as a snapper,” said Sargeant. “The other thing I’ve liked about him was his frame.

    “He is a big man. You get that big guy in the middle, and it makes a big difference. He creates a lot of space.
    “He likes to play physical. He likes to have fun. The guys really rally around him, and I love coaching him.”

Patrick Arno (#57) in action in last year’s Canadian Bowl.

    Over the years, Sargeant said Arno kept playing at a high level and always handled the complexities of the centre position well.

    “As a centre, you have to make a lot of the line sight adjustments and get everything orchestrated, and he has done a real good job of communicating,” said Sargeant. “As a captain this year, he has brought very valuable and strong leadership.

    “It is fun to see him evolve over the last three or four years to be a dominant offensive lineman on a team that is known for running the ball.”

    Arno said starting as a second-year player was one of his biggest memories with the team, even though an injury kept him out of that season’s Canadian Bowl game victory.
    He has enjoyed playing in the Hilltops last two Canadian Bowl wins and is looking forward to a third straight start in the CJFL title game on Saturday.

Patrick Arno (#57) walks on to SMF Field with mom, Brenda Arno.

    On top of playing football, Arno has an appreciation for the Hilltops history. He felt fortunate he could celebrate national title win in the team’s now demolished old clubhouse and the state of the art new one the club moved into before the start of last season.

    “Lots of guys here don’t really have those memories,” said Arno. “I was lucky enough to be in the old clubhouse for three years.

    “It is just lots of tradition there. Lots of these young guys don’t really know what it was like. They just come here and they have this new big clubhouse, and it is completely different then from when I started.

    “I like to keep the tradition going of what I knew from the old clubhouse to this clubhouse. It has been good.”

    Of course, Arno wants to help the Hilltops complete another successful chapter in their story by helping the club win an unprecedented 22^nd CJFL championship.
    He will soak in being in the middle of the offensive line that contains pals in Jonathan Chisholm at right tackle, Taylon Elderkin at right guard, Ryder Klisowsky at left guard and Mason Ochs at left tackle for one last time.

Patrick Arno (#57) celebrates with part of the Canadian Bowl last year.

    This year’s battle in the Canadian Bowl with the Rams presents a unique challenge as the two sides meet in the CJFL’s title game for a second straight year.

    A year ago, the Hilltops hammered the Rams 58-21 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field to retain possession of the Canadian Bowl. Now that the Rams know what the Hilltops are about, Arno is expecting a lot tougher encounter this time around.

    “It will be interesting,” said Arno. “I think we are just looking to run the ball.

    “I want to get the O-line going, and I think the team will take care of itself. We’ve been preparing ourselves enough for this all year. My experience and my O-line’s experience and my team’s experience has been building up for this moment.”

Haight takes CJFL’s community service award

Caleb Haight (#53) won the CJFL’s Past Commissioner’s Award.

    Caleb Haight’s community involvement has been recognized at the national level in the CJFL.

    On Tuesday, the defensive end for the Saskatoon Hilltops was named the winner of the CJFL’s Past Commissioner’s Award for his community service work. Haight was named the winner of the Prairie Football Conference’s Al Park Community Service award earlier this post-season.

    The 22-year-old is playing in his final campaign of CJFL eligibility and his third full season with the Hilltops.

    Haight, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 260 pounds, has had his hand in many community endeavors. In 2016, he started out by driving local inner city kids to court-mandated community service and volunteered at local church youth groups.

    During the 2017 and 2018 high school football seasons, Haight served as the defensive line coach for the Bedford Road Collegiate Redhawks, while still playing with the Hilltops.

Caleb Haight, left, has had a strong post-season for the Hilltops.

    He became involved in the Hilltops outreach program and represented the team in various parades and community breakfasts. Haight tutored high school debate teams and volunteered as a judge at local tournaments.

    The Clavet, Sask., product has volunteered his time as a defensive line coach at the Hilltops last two high school camps.

    This season, Haight served as the head coach of the six-a-side Kensington Stampeders Grade 5/6 football team. On top of that, Haight volunteers with the Kinsmen Hockey League tying skates and working the scoreboard.

    On the field, Haight is have a strong post-season run piling up three sacks, six defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists, two special teams tackles and one pass knockdown in the Hilltops three playoff games.

    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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Haight family tradition nearing a close on field with Hilltops

Caleb Haight has been a great Hilltops ambassador on and off the field.

    Caleb Haight believes his mom, Lana, might go through the toughest Saskatoon Hilltops withdrawl, when his career with the team comes to a close.

    Caleb is playing out his final campaign of CJFL eligibility with the Hilltops, and he has just two possible games remaining with the five-time defending CJFL champions.

    On Saturday, the Hilltops (10-0 overall) travel to London, Ont., to face the London Beefeaters (8-2 overall) in a CJFL semifinal contest. The winner advances to the CJFL national championship game – the Canadian Bowl – to be played Nov. 16 at the winner of the British Columbia Football Conference championship game.

    The BCFC title game will be held Saturday, when the Langley Rams (11-0 overall) face the Langford based Westshore Rebels (9-2 overall) in Langley.

    Caleb has suited up at defensive end for the Hilltops since the beginning of the 2017 campaign. He followed his three older brothers to the club, who suited up for the Hilltops at different times from 2009 to 2014.

Caleb Haight (#53) runs down a Huskies receiver.

    Caleb’s oldest brother, Aaron, was the first to come to the ’Toppers playing slotback for three seasons. Jared and Joel followed Aaron to the venerable junior club.

Jared played four seasons on the defensive line and Joel suited up for four campaigns as a defensive back.

    “It has been a family tradition,” said Caleb. “To play for another team would certainly feel weird.

    “You talk about being in the last few games, it is going to feel weird for my mom, because we have no more home games. That is the end of Haight’s playing at Gordie Howe Bowl (which is now Saskatoon Minor Football Field). Coming out of high school, it was really the only option.

    “It was the only team I thought I wanted to play for. They wanted me, because I knew some coaches. It has been a good experience.”

    Caleb Haight was a graduate of the Clavet School Cougars six-man high school football team in Clavet, Sask. After graduating from high school, he took a year off to travel and spent a following year rehabbing an injury.

    Along with healing up an injury, Haight worked out and believes he came to the Hilltops physically stronger than he would have been right out of high school.

Caleb Haight (#53) runs down an Edmonton Wildcats ball carrier.

    “It ended up being a blessing,” said Haight, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 260 pounds. “Coming a little bit later, it meant that I’ve traveled or dressed for every single game except one in my rookie year.

    “That is a unique blessing that a lot of guys I guess don’t get.”

    Helping the Hilltops win CJFL titles in each of the past two years, Haight said his time with the team has flown by.

    “It is crazy,” said the 22-year-old. “I don’t know how long I have been playing organized football.

    “I think (Hilltops defensive coordinator) Jeff Yausie coached me when I was probably eight or nine. I’ve thrown the ball with my brothers as soon as I could walk. To think that I might not be playing football again after this weekend or in three weeks, it is emotional.

    “Obviously, I will miss it, but there is a time for everything, so I just want to embrace the last few games and make the most of it.”

    Haight had a huge outing in the Hilltops PFC final win on Sunday over the Huskies recording three defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists, one special teams tackle and one quarterback sack. 

Caleb Haight (#53) had a big performance in the PFC final.

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was pumped about Haight’s performance.

    “I said in front of the team he had his best game in the uniform and played inspired football and helped to motivate our team,” said Sargeant. “It is great to see a guy in his fifth year on limited time come out and play with such energy and passion.

    “He just played smart. He red the scenarios and got himself in all the right spots and made his plays. As I said, that Edmonton Huskies offence is certainly a good offence.

    “Caleb (Haight) was a massive part in helping us shut them down.”

    Away from the football field, Haight engages in numerous community initiatives with the club. He claimed the PFC’s Al Park Community Service awards this season.

    Sargeant said all the members of the Haight family who have played for the Hilltops have been high character persons.

    “Number one, Caleb he comes from such a great family,” said Sargeant. “We had all the other boys in our program, so the Haight family has certainly been a big part of the fabric of the Saskatoon Hilltops.

Caleb Haight (#53) walks to the field with parent Lana and Jeff.

    “Great parents (in Jeff and Lana) who do a great job of modeling, and they teach them the proper things about service. He (Caleb Haight) certainly gives back, and as I said, those are the players that we look for within our roster.

    “As I said, he deserves a lot of credit for who he is and what he has been doing.”

    The community work has become such a lifestyle thing with Haight that he can’t really put a finger on how many things he has been involved with.

    “It is hard to number,” said Haight, who usually is supported by a huge contingent of family and friends at each Hilltops game. “Obviously with the Hilltops, there have been a lot of things whether it has been the punt, pass or kick (or) a couple of high school camps.

    “In the community, I’ve been involved with a lot of church related stuff whether it is youth groups or chaperoning high school students on trips. I guess my family in general has always been big into volunteering and everything.”

Haight family gatherings are a common site at Hilltops games.

    Haight said he encountered a high from his community work this season, and it didn’t involve him getting the PFC’s community service award.

    “It has always meant a lot to volunteer,” said Haight. “Actually, a really cool moment is I helped lead a youth group two years ago to church.

    “This year one of the guys that I had in my youth group (linebacker Abe Fimbo) won the rookie of the year out in the B.C. Conference. That was actually a really cool moment is seeing a guy that I mentored and watching him grow in football and having him play really well in Kamloops (with the Broncos).

    “That is a pretty cool thing that came with that award.”

    Haight is looking forward to Saturday’s clash with the Beefeaters. He adds film study can only tell you so much and there is always an element of mystery, when the Hilltops play clubs from the other conferences in the CJFL.

Caleb Haight won the community service award for the PFC.

    “In that first quarter, that is really going to tell us a lot in terms of how physical they are,” said Haight. “They have a lot of really good athletes.

    “They have a running back specifically where I’ve seen some plays and been very impressed. They have an O-lineman who came down from the college ranks where he was a really dominant player. We give them a lot of respect.

    “It should be a good battle on Saturday.”

    The Hilltops have a number of milestones on the line too. They have won their last 29 overall games in a row including action in the regular season and playoffs, claimed victory in a CJFL record 18 straight post-season games and have won their last 27 contests in a row on the road including action in the regular season and post-season.

    Saskatoon is trying to extend its current run of winning five straight CJFL titles. Sargeant needs one more win to pass retired Regina Rams head coach Frank McCrystal for the most career head coach victories in Canada’s amateur post-secondary football ranks.

    Sargeant has a career 208-30-2 record in the regular season and playoffs since becoming the Hilltops head coach before the start of the 1998 campaign. McCrystal compiled a 208-104-2 record in the regular season and playoffs guiding the Rams as head coach from 1984 to 2014 including 15 campaigns in the CJFL and 16 seasons in U Sports as the University of Regina Rams.

Caleb Haight (#53) pictured with the Hilltops D-line after the PFC final.

    Once again, Sargeant said he is not a guy that tracks numbers.
    “I’m just one piece of any puzzle,” said Sargeant. “It is just the Hilltops.

    “Every one of my coaches has a job to do. Every one of my players has a job to do. We have to go out there and do the best job that we possibly can to make sure our fifth-year players leave as champions that is what it is all about.

    “As I said, I’m blessed to be the head coach of the Saskatoon Hilltops. That provides me with a lot of pride and adds a lot of confidence with what I am doing with the men I am doing it with. As I said, I just can’t wait to play Saturday night and go out and play our best game of the year.”

Abrook gets weekly award in record game

Ben Abrook (#32) follows the block of Taylon Elderkin, centre.

    Saskatoon Hilltops running back Ben Abrook gained a player of the week tip of the cap after breaking a long standing playoff record.

    On Sunday, Abrook carried the ball 44 times for 246 yards and two touchdowns as the Saskatoon Hilltops downed the Edmonton Huskies 30-14 in the PFC final at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Abrook’s 44 carried set a new record for most carries in one CJFL playoff game.

    The old mark was held by Chris Curran of the Regina Rams, who carried the ball 38 times for 225 yards on October 12, 1991 in a 22-14 victory over the Calgary Colts.

    Thanks to Abrook’s big performance on Sunday, he was named the PFC’s player of the week for a fourth time this season, when the CJFL announced its weekly awards on Wednesday.

    During the eight-game regular season, Abrook topped the PFC in rushing carrying the ball 199 times for 1,215 yards and eight touchdowns. Abrook was named a PFC all-star.

Kleiter captures fifth weekly special teams award

Rylan Kleiter boots a 34 yard field goal for the Hilltops.

    Saskatoon Hilltops receiver/kicker Rylan Kleiter can pretty much keep the PFC’s weekly special teams award.
    Kleiter was named the PFC special teams player of the week for the fifth time in the last six weeks, when the CJFL announced its player of the week awards on Wednesday. The honour came due to Kleiter’s performance in the Hilltops 30-14 victory in the PFC final on Sunday against the Edmonton Huskies at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    In that win, Kleiter made all three of his field goal attempts connecting form 27, 34 and 14 yards. He also connected on all three of his conversion attempts.

    Kleiter, who is a star curling skip, punted the ball twice for an average of 31.5 yards per kick. He kicked off six times for 275 yards for an average of 45.8 yards per kick.

    Offensively, Kleiter led the Hilltops in receiving catching three passes for 47 yards.

    During the regular season, Kleiter led the PFC in scoring with two touchdowns, 18 field goals, 33 converts and one single. He was a PFC all-star at the place kicker position and was named the PFC’s most outstanding special teams player.

    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’ mystique paves way to sixth straight PFC title

The Hilltops raise the PFC championship trophy for a sixth straight year.

    When it is crunch time, the Saskatoon Hilltops always find a way to make the plays.

    When most teams gamble on third down, they are often living on the edge. When the Hilltops gamble on third down, they see it as an opportunity to do something great.

    On Sunday before 481 spectators in somewhat cool and light snowy conditions at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Hilltops star power running back Ben Abrook ran home a pair of touchdowns from a yard out in the second half on third-and-goal gambles. The scores allowed the Hilltops to down the Edmonton Huskies 30-14 to win the PFC final for a sixth straight year.

Ben Abrook ran the ball 44 times for 246 yards and two touchdowns.

    “It is not easy stuff to do out there,” said Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “That is not easy.

    “To win one is unreal. To win six in a row you don’t even understand it. There is a lot of pressure on these guys this year, lots of pressure.

    “You know what, they figured it out. That is all I know. They figured it out.”

    The Hilltops, who have won the last five straight CJFL titles, gambled on a handful of third down conversions during the contest and were successful on each attempt. The venerable CJFL club didn’t have a single turnover on downs in the contest.

    On top of those gambles, Saskatoon rode the Abrook train, and the graduate of Saskatoon’s Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears high school football team delivered lugging the ball 44 times for 246 yards to go with his two scores.

    Abrook said it energized the team, when the coaches allowed the offence to go for major scores on the two third-and-goal opportunities from the one yard line.

The Hilltops celebrate Ben Abrook’s first touchdown run.

    “It is huge for everyone on the field,” said Abrook, whose Hilltops have a 10-0 overall record so far this season. “We know when we are on the one yard line we’re going for it.

    “We’re going to score. Having that confidence behind us too just pushes over the goal-line, so it is huge definitely.”

    Most of Sunday’s contest was pretty much a slugfest. The Hilltops built 6-0 lead in the fourth quarter, when receiver/kicker Rylan Kleiter hit field goals from 27 and 34 yards out.

    Before the first quarter expired, the Huskies jumped ahead 7-6, when quarterback Declan O’Flaherty hit receiver Adner St. Hilaire with a seven-yard touchdown pass.

    Just 49 seconds into the second quarter, the Hilltops jumped back in front 13-7, when third-year receiver Keegan Dicks hauled in a 10-yard touchdown reception on a pass from fifth-year quarterback Tyler Hermann.

Keegan Dicks makes a 10-yard TD catch for the Hilltops.

    The teams proceeded to play to a stalemate on the field, before Abrook broke through with his first touchdown run on a third-and-goal gamble with 4:54 remaining in the third quarter to give Saskatoon a 20-7 advantage.

    Abrook said the Hilltops offensive line allowed the team to have success on Sunday.

    “On days like this and weather like this, you have to own the line of scrimmage,” said Abrook. “Our O-line outplayed their front seven.

    “Hands down, great game by them, and I think that was the difference maker for sure.”

    The Huskies didn’t go away. With 18.3 seconds remaining in the third quarter, O’Flaherty hit standout receiver Sam Clayton with a 17-yard touchdown pass to cut Saskatoon’s lead to 20-14.

    With the game still in the balance, the turning point came that allowed the Hilltops to ultimately seal the contest.
    With 6:40 remaining in the fourth quarter, third-year Hilltops safety Brant Morrow intercepted O’Flaherty in front of the Huskies bench.

Sam Clayton (#80) caught 10 passes for 132 yards for the Huskies.

    Morrow returned the ball seven yards before stepping out of bounds. He was hit by the Huskies, while he was out of bounds. The Huskies bench argued the call.

    The officials gave the Edmonton side 25 yards in penalties with an unnecessary roughness and objectionable conduct calls.

    That set the Hilltops up on the Huskies 23 yard-line. At first, the Huskies defence held forcing the Hilltops to try a 25-yard field goal.

    Kleiter made the kick, but he was hit by Huskies defensive back Justin Hodinsky. The officials penalized the Huskies for roughing the kicker.

    The Hilltops elected to take Kleiter’s kick off the board and continue the drive. The drive ended with Abrook’s second touchdown run from one yard out on a third-and-goal gamble giving the host side a 27-14 lead with 3:58 remaining in the fourth.

    “My coach put me in a perfect situation to make a play,” said Morrow about his interception. “I made it.

The Hilltops defence gets the clamps on Huskies RB Brandt Burzuk.

    “All I had to do was finish, and I did. Like always, they (the Hilltops offence) capitalized on turnovers with that energy that we (the Hilltops defence) gave them.”

    Despite holding a 13-point lead with under four minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Morrow said his squad stayed focused on the task at hand and never thought victory was in the bag.

    “We we’re waiting until the game was over to celebrate,” said Morrow. “Obviously, it gave us a little more confidence with the score a bit more in our favour, but we wanted to fight right to the end.”

    Kleiter rounded out the game’s scoring with a 14-yard field goal with 1:22 remaining in the fourth quarter.

    Both Abrook and Morrow were experiencing their third straight victory in the PFC final with the Hilltops, and both soaked in the moment.

Rylan Kleiter makes a 38-yard catch for the Hilltops.

    “It is an awesome feeling,” said Abrook. “It never gets old.

    “I’m super happy for the guys involved.”

    “It is amazing,” said Morrow. “It gets better every time.

    “I’m so proud of our team for fighting through a bunch of tough games during the season and through a tough one today again.”

    Hermann completed 8-of-17 passes for 124 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the Hilltops. Kleiter topped all Hilltops receivers with three catches for 47 yards.

    O’Flaherty completed 23-of-39 passes for 231 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Huskies. Clayton led all receivers in the contest with 10 catches for 132 yards to go with his one major score.

    Huskies running back Brandt Burzuk, who was named the PFC’s most valuable player and most outstanding offensive player, ran the ball 18 times for 111 yards.

Caleb Haight had a sack for the Hilltops.

    Defensive end Caleb Haight had a sack for the Hilltops. Outside linebacker Riley Keating led Saskatoon with 6.5 total tackles.

    Hodinsky led the Huskies with 7.5 total tackles and one sack. Mitchel Phillips and Nahome Giorgis had interceptions for the Edmonton, while Carter Carlson had a sack.

    The Huskies finished the 2019 campaign with a 7-3 overall record.

    Sargeant was pleased to see his side gut Sunday’s game out.

    “We didn’t play great at all, but we won,” said Sargeant. “That is all we ask for.

    “I can’t wait to coach another week and get this thing figured out and do a better job. At the end of the day, look at the guts. Look at the pride.

    “They weren’t going to be denied today. That was simple.”

Brant Morrow (#22) has fun with the Hilltops DB group post-game.

    With the win, the Hilltops improved their overall winning streak to 29 games and their CJFL record winning streak in the post-season to 18 games.

    They advance to play in a CJFL semifinal contest against the Ontario Football Conference champion London Beefeaters, who are 8-2 overall, in London, Ont., this coming Saturday. The Beefeaters claimed the OFC final 28-20 on Sunday night against the Windsor AKO Fratmen in Windsor, Ont.

    “It is exciting you know being on the plane with the boys and having a good time,” said Abrook. “I’m sure Ontario is going to get ready for us.

    “They’re going to be a tough match for us, and hopefully, we can go in there and get the win.”

“Sarge” equals McCrystal with 208 career wins

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant, centre, picked up his 208th career win.

    Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant hit a milestone with his team’s 30-14 victory over the Edmonton Huskies on Sunday in the PFC final.

    That win was Sargeant’s 208^th career victory between the CJFL’s regular season and post-season. With that victory, Sargeant equaled retired Regina Rams head coach Frank McCrystal for the most wins in Canadian amateur football in the post-secondary ranks.

    Sargeant became the Hilltops head coach in 1998, and he has compiled a 208-30-2 career record between the CJFL’s regular season and playoffs. He has a 155-21-2 record in the regular season and a 53-9 mark in the post-season.

    The Hilltops have won 12 CJFL titles with Sargeant guiding the team as head coach. That includes winning the last five straight CJFL championships and eight of the last nine CJFL titles.

HC Frank McCrystal on the Rams sidelines in 2000.

    McCrystal was the head coach of the Rams from 1984 to 2014, and they played 15 seasons in the CJFL and 16 campaigns in U Sports over that time as the University of Regina Rams. Over those 31 seasons, McCrystal compiled a 208-104-2 record as head coach in the regular season and post-season in both the CJFL and U Sports.

    In the CJFL, McCrystal posted a 104-17-1 record in the regular season and a 37-8 record in the post-season as the Rams head coach. The Rams won seven CJFL titles under McCrystal’s guidance in 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1998.

    In U Sports, McCrystal posted a 60-67-1 record in the regular season and a 7-12 record in the post-season as the Rams head coach. The Rams made the U Sports title game – the Vanier Cup – once under McCrystal’s watch falling 42-39 in the 2000 Vanier Cup to the U of Ottawa Gee Gees.

    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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Hering has signature moment, aims for another in final playoff run with Hilltops

Hilltops DE Tristan Hering, right, sacks Rams QB Duncan Little in 2018.

    Tristan Hering will always be cemented in Saskatoon Hilltops lore, but he still aims to create one last sequel.

    The fifth-year defensive end has helped the Hilltops win the last four of their current run of capturing five straight CJFL championships. In last year’s CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl, Hering had his signature moment with the team.

    On the second play of the clash with the Langley Rams on Nov. 17, 2018 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Hering broke through and levelled Rams quarterback Duncan Little. That seemed the set the tone in the contest as the Hilltops proceeded to roll to a 24-0 lead and ultimately claimed a 58-21 victory over the visitors from British Columbia.

Tristan Hering gets set to rush the quarterback.

    Hering, who is a graduate of the Humboldt Collegiate Institute Mohawks nine-man football team, has fond memories of the sack that started the Hilltops romp in last year’s CJFL final.

    “It was good, because it made a big statement against obviously a team we haven’t seen before,” said Hering. “It was a nice way to start the game and let them know where they were.

    “I think it set the tone, because when they came in, they were shivering and cold. We could see they were used to their B.C. weather, and us coming out that hard really scared them.”

    The 22-year-old would like to have another signature moment in helping the Hilltops win an unprecedented sixth straight CJFL championship. Saskatoon is the only team in the history of the CJFL to win five straight national titles.

    The Hilltops (8-0) begin their march through the CJFL post-season on Sunday, when they host the Edmonton Wildcats (2-6) in a Prairie Football Conference semifinal contest at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

Tristan Hering (#65) gets one of his four sacks this season.

    Saskatoon enters that contest having won its last 27 straight games in a row including action in the regular season and playoffs. Due to winning the last five straight CJFL titles, the Hilltops are looking to extend their CJFL record post-game winning streak that currently sits at 16 straight games.

    Last year’s Canadian Bowl ended with the Hilltops taking a knee to end the game, and the club’s eight fifth-year players that season were on the field for that final snap. Having watched Adam Benkic, Bobby Ehman, Adam Ewanchyna, Connor Guillet, Cody Peters, Jason Price, Kirk Simonsen and Jordan Walls all graduate from the team having each won their fifth CJFL championship ring, Hering would like to have that experience as well.

Tristan Hering (#65) makes a sack on a Winnipeg Rifles quarterback.

    “That is the goal anyway,” said Hering, who stands 6-feet and weighs 220 pounds. “Seeing them do it makes it that much more realistic to get five years and five rings.”

    In helping the Hilltops post an 8-0 record for the second straight regular season, Hering had a solid final regular season for the Saskatoon side piling up a team high four sacks, while adding in 18 total tackles.

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant remembers Hering playing well in the club’s spring camp back in 2015 and noted that likely foreshadowed what was to come.

    “To start off, he was our rookie of the camp out of Humboldt right off the bat and was our top player we identified,” said Sargeant. “He’s played a lot of football for the Hilltops.

Tristan Hering springs into action on the defensive line.

    “He’s been a great special teamer. In the last couple of years, he has been our rusher and boundary end player and led our team in sacks this year. Tristan (Hering) is just who he is.

    “He is unsung. He just does his job. He works hard during the day, and he works hard at night. He probably gets more out of a 24-hour day than most players on my team.”

    Sargeant has great memories of Hering’s early sack in last year’s Canadian Bowl during that frigid November day game played in front of 1,465 spectators.

    “It brought great energy,” said Sargeant. “I remember the crowd and the fans and it just turned electric.

    “Look at us last week (in a 48-8 regular season win over the Wildcats last Sunday). We got six sacks, and he (Hering) was part of the sack brigade and that just brings energy to the crowd, to the defence, to the other players and the coaching staff. We’re going to need a lot of sacks moving forward, if we are going to keep moving this team in the right direction.

Tristan Hering (#65) is all pumped up after making a sack.

    “As a fifth-year player, we always expect our fifth-year players to come out and step up and do their best and play their best. That is what we anticipate to happen in each game we play. We expect them to be the best, and if they are, we’re going to be in good shape.”

    Hering has enjoyed playing on the Hilltops defensive line this season along with tackles Jesse McNabb and Jaxon Funk and end Caleb Haight. Hering and McNabb were the two returning starters on that unit.

    “We came along ways,” said Hering. “(Jaxon) Funk is having an unreal year.

Tristan Hering sizes up an offensive formation.

    “(Caleb) Haight has been playing good. Everyone is just coming together. It has been great.”

    Along with the success on the field, Hering was able to experience some special family moments with the Hilltops. He joined the venerable Saskatoon junior club in 2015 due to the fact his older brother, Tyrell, was on the team as a standout defensive lineman.

    Tyrell graduated from the Hilltops following the 2015 CJFL championship campaign.

    This year, Tristan’s younger brother, Dawson, is a rookie linebacker playing on the team’s practice roster.

    Tristan said those opportunities to play alongside his siblings with the Hilltops was something you could never put a price on.

    “It was awesome,” said Hering. “I got to play with my older brother one year in high school, but I never did get to play on the same team with my younger brother.

 

Tristan Hering (#65) enter SMF Field with his parents.

  “It is a good way to finish my last year of football.”

    The Hilltops and Wildcats will meet for the third time in four weeks and will be going at it in their first playoff encounter since 2013. Back in 2013, the Hilltops thumped the Wildcats 41-10 in a PFC semifinal clash.

    Sargeant said this is the time every year the Hilltops look forward to.

    “It is a different season,” said Sargeant. “Here we go.

    “This is why you play the eight games to try and get in a good spot. We’re in first place, so now we have to defend our dirt. At the end of the day, they are coming into our place, so we have to make sure this isn’t a good place; it is an uncomfortable place to play.

    “We need great energy from our fans, and more importantly great energy from our players to give to the fans. As I’ve said, we just need to come out and execute a great game plan, play fast and play physical and get the job done and move on to the next week. That is all it is.”

Hermann takes PFC offensive player of the week nod

Tyler Hermann (#12) was the PFC’s offensive player of the week.

    Tyler Hermann earned a league tip of the cap for surpassing 300 yards passing in a game for the first time in his CJFL career.

    On Wednesday, the fifth-year quarterback for the Saskatoon Hilltops was named the offensive player of the week for the PFC. 
    Last Sunday against the Edmonton Wildcats, Hermann, who is in his first season as the Hilltops starting signal caller, completed 20-of-26 passes for 364 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.

    Powered by Hermann’s efforts, the Hilltops thumped the Wildcats 48-8 to finish the CJFL regular season with an 8-0 record for the second straight year.

    On the season, Hermann started all of the Hilltops eight regular season games completing 123-of-192 passes for 1,908 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He had the best completion percentage in the PFC at 64.1 per cent and his 17 touchdown passed equaled Regina Thunder quarterback Blake Scherle for tops in the conference.

McNabb lands PFC defensive player of the week honours

Jesse McNabb was the PFC’s defensive player of the week.

    Jesse McNabb made a loud lasting impression during his final CJFL regular season game resulting in a weekly league honour.

    On Wednesday, the veteran defensive tackle, who is in his final campaign of CJFL eligibility, was named the defensive player of the week for the PFC. Last Sunday against the Edmonton Wildcats, McNabb piled up three sacks and 6.5 total tackles.

    With McNabb anchoring the defence, the Hilltops hammered the Wildcats 48-8 to conclude the CJFL regular season with an 8-0 record for the second straight year.

    On the season, McNabb posted three sacks and 26.5 total tackles.

    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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McNabb quickly evolves into impact player and leader with CJFL powerhouse Hilltops

Hilltops DT Jesse McNabb (#69) chases down a ball carrier.

    Jesse McNabb was ready to step up on the Saskatoon Hilltops defensive line and his chance arrived a little faster than expected.

    In 2016, McNabb joined the Hilltops as a rookie fresh out of Saskatchewan’s North Battleford Comprehensive High School, and he figured he would have to pay his dues before starting for a club that is always contending for a Canadian Junior Football League title. McNabb was moved up to a starting spot in his sophomore year in 2017 and hasn’t looked back.

    “My rookie year, I kind of knew where my spot was going to be, because I knew we had a good group of older guys ahead of me,” said McNabb, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 245 pounds. “I just knew with patience my time would come.

    “I just had to wait until I had my opportunity. Once my opportunity came, I had to seize it.”

     Now in his third year with the team, the 20-year-old has become a cornerstone on the Hilltops defensive line at the inside tackle position. In Saskatoon’s first two regular season games, McNabb has recorded seven total tackles, 1.5 sacks and recovered one fumble.

    On Sunday, the Hilltop improved to 3-0 on the campaign, when they traveled to Winnipeg and downed the Rifles 38-8. Saskatoon led 24-1 at halftime and cruised to their 21st straight victory on the road including action in the regular season and playoffs. The Rifles fell to 1-2.

Hilltops DT Jesse McNabb (#69) enjoys being part of the team’s D-line.

     Normally in football, those that play a defensive tackle position don’t get too much of the limelight. They are often entrusted with trying to occupy a pair of blocks to allow teammates to swarm in and make plays. By taking up a pair of blocks, defensive tackles also help to clog up the opposition’s running game.

    The importance of McNabb’s play and improvement is recognized by Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant.

    “Jesse (McNabb) is a great kid,” said Sargeant. “Number one, he is a high character player, high motor.

    “He never takes a play off. He is just always competing. Just the growth and mentality from his first year to now in his third year, he has really grown, and he is a two-year starter.

    “He is impactful. Each game he gets better, and he does something impactful and important.”

    Growing up in North Battleford, Sask., McNabb wanted to get into football as soon as he could and started playing in Grade 7. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, Aaron, who played a couple of seasons in the early 1990s for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

Hilltops DT Jesse McNabb brings down a Colts running back.

    The younger McNabb took a quick liking to football and admitted he dropped pretty much every other extra-curricular activity he did to play the sport. Playing with the Vikings, McNabb established himself as a trusted standout at the high school level.

    “I got lots of different experiences,” said McNabb. “I’ve pretty much played every position on the field.

    “It is not a big town. You don’t have many guys. You have to play both ways.”

    When he joined the Hilltops, McNabb said the veterans played a big role in helping him adjust to playing for a storied team at the junior level.

    “We had a good group of fifth years to lead us through everything,” said McNabb. “It was a big winning atmosphere and the guys knew what they were doing, and they knew what they wanted to do.

    “They really set your mind straight, when you were coming from a different program.”

    Now, McNabb is the veteran leader who is helping the Hilltops defensive line continue to play at a high level. McNabb and fellow defensive tackle Garth Knittig were the only two returning starters on the Hilltops defensive line from last season.

    Defensive end Tom Schnitzler exhausted his CJFL eligibility after last season and now plays for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in the U Sports ranks. Riley Pickett picked up nine quarterback sacks in eight regular season games playing the other defensive end spot last season, and he moved on to join the U of S Huskies.

Hilltops DT Jesse McNabb chases down a Colts quarterback.

    Connor Guillet and Tristan Hering, who are in their fifth and fourth years of eligibility respectively, have filled in admirably as starters at the defensive end spots. Guillet missed almost all of last season due to a torn Achilles tendon. Caleb Haight and Jordan Seipp, who are in their second and first years of eligibility respectively, have rotated in and seen a number of reps at the defensive end positions as well.

    Under defensive line coach Dave Fisher, the Hilltops defensive line consistently stays at a high level.

    “It was not too bad at all,” said McNabb. “We still had returning guys coming back and playing the ends.

    “I think we are just meshing good as a unit. We have a good group of linebackers behind us.

    “We don’t have to worry about much. As long as we do our jobs, everyone else will make the play, if we miss it.”

    Away from the field, Sargeant said McNabb conducts himself like a gentleman.

    “He has a great upbringing and great parents,” said Sargeant. “He is just a super kid.

    “What you see is what you get. He is a great role model for us. We’re proud that he is here, and he makes us better.

    “He does everything right. He is Hilltop proud, and we are expecting him to be one of the leaders now and into the future.”

Hilltops DT Jesse McNabb gets a sack on a Colts quarterback.

    McNabb has helped the Hilltops win the last two of their current run of four straight CJFL championships. While thoughts of winning an unprecedented fifth Canadian Bowl championship game are in the back of everyone’s minds, McNabb said he is going to enjoy each day as it comes as the season progresses.

    “It is always a good time, when you are hanging out with the guys,” said McNabb. “There are no bad days.

    “If you are having a bad day, your guys are always there to help pick you up.”

    The Hilltops now enjoy a bye week. They return to action on Sept. 15, when they travel to Calgary to take on the Colts.

    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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