Crazy final week of regular season sees Hilltops host PFC semifinal

Luke Bednarek finished third in the PFC with 563 receiving yards.

Anyone who was able to predict how the final week of the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference regular season played out should bet on a major money lottery.

Entering the final week of the regular season for the PFC, the Saskatoon Hilltops needed to beat the visiting Winnipeg Rifles at Saskatoon Minor Football Field to lock up second place in the conference and the right to host a PFC semifinal contest. If the Hilltops lost, it opened the door to them slipping to third place and starting the post-season on the road for the first time since 1990.

On Saturday, October 3, the final week of the PFC regular season opened with the Edmonton Wildcats hosting the Edmonton Huskies at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. If the Wildcats lost, the Hilltops would lock up second place in the conference.

In a back-and-forth contest, Huskies kicker Lorenzo Monus booted a 47-yard field goal to put the Huskies up 31-28 with 2:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. Inside the final 20 seconds of the fourth, Wildcats star running back Darien Currie ran in a touchdown from 10 yards out to give the Wildcats a 35-31 victory.

That result officially eliminated the Huskies and Rifles from post-season contention.

One day later on Sunday, October 4, the Hilltops stepped on to SMF Field knowing that if they didn’t beat the Rifles they could be going to Sherwood Park to face the Wildcats. The Hilltops jumped out to a 10-0 lead after the first quarter but fell behind the Rifles 22-10 at halftime. The Rifles, who knew they were playing their last game of the 2026 CJFL campaign, would pull out a surprising 27-11 victory.

When that contest ended, everyone with the Hilltops thought they were going on the road to face the Wildcats in Sherwood Park to open the CJFL playoffs. The only thing that could throw a wrench into that development was if the Calgary Colts could defeat the undefeated Regina Thunder at Leibel Field in the Saskatchewan capital.

Entering that game, the Thunder were 7-0, had outscored all their opponents 304 to 78 and were rated first in the CJFL Top 10 Power Rankings. At halftime, the Thunder were up on the Colts 28-7, and it is safe to assume most in Saskatoon who saw that score thought that contest was a done deal.

The Hilltops celebrate an interception from Hudson Arneson.

While the Thunder played a large contingent of their reserve players in the second half, the unfathomable happened. The Colts outscored the Thunder 39-2 in the second half to post a shocking 46-30 victory.

That win allowed the Colts to improve to 4-4 to force a three-way tie in the standings with the Hilltops (4-4) and Wildcats (4-4) for second to fourth in the conference.

Had the Hilltops and Wildcats finished tied in the standings, the Wildcats would have finished second. The two sides split their two head-to-head regular season meetings, but the Wildcats held the standings tiebreaker having outscored the Hilltops 41-39 in those two encounters.

It seemed like no one knew how the standings tiebreaker would play out for a three-way tie due to the fact the Hilltops, Wildcats and Colts didn’t play a balanced schedule between themselves. Section 7 of the PFC Rules and Regulations stated a percentage formula of points for and against in the head-to-head games between the three squads determines placing in the standings.

The formula is:

Percentage = Total Points For ÷ (Total Points For +Total Points Against)

That formula is often used in standings tiebreakers in minor hockey. Under that formula, the Hilltops placed second in the conference with a percentage of 52.8 per cent followed by the Wildcats at 51.2 per cent and the Colts coming in at 46.0 per cent.

As a result, the Hilltops host the Wildcats in one PFC semifinal today at 1 p.m. at SMF Field. The Colts again hit the road to take on the Thunder (7-1) in the other PFC semifinal today at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field.

For the Hilltops, the road to success in the post-season is anything but guaranteed. The Hilltops are the defending CJFL champions, but after starting out 3-1, they have gone 1-3 over their final four contests.

The two head-to-head clashes between the Hilltops and Wildcats were held back in August. On August 16 at SMF Field, the Wildcats downed the Hilltops 28-22. On August 30 at Emerald Hills Regional Park, the Hilltops prevailed 17-13 over the Wildcats.

Corbin Ebben finished fifth in the PFC with 607 yards rushing.

On defence, the Hilltops have given up the second fewest points in the PFC at 184. Unlike past years, the Hilltops haven’t dominated in the turnover battle.

Under defensive coordinator Jeff Yausie, the Hilltops are notorious for having a 3-to-1 or a 4-to-1 edge in the turnover battle. Usually, that turns into anywhere from 14 to 28 points on the scoreboard for the Hilltops when that happens.

This season the Hilltops have 18 total takeaways and 16 total giveaways for a plus-two rating in the takeaway-giveaway category. In the 2025 regular season, the Hilltops had 36 total takeaways and 24 total giveaways for a plus-12 rating in that statistic.

Opposing teams in 2026 have given themselves much better shots at gaining victory over the Hilltops by not turning the ball over.

Offensively, the Hilltops have still picked up yards. Star running back Corbin Ebben finished fifth in the PFC with 607 rushing yards coming off 95 carries including two that went for touchdowns. Breakout running back Brody Komarnicki finished sixth in the PFC with 483 yards rushing coming off 101 carries including five that went for major scores.

Starting quarterback Griffin Sander completed 151-of-239 passes for 1,871 yard and six touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions.

Receiver Luke Bednarek finished third in the PFC with 563 yards receiving coming on 35 catches including two that went for touchdowns. Charles Sawi had 41 catches for 447 yards and one touchdown. His receiving yardage total was good for seventh best in the PFC.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant is still the all-time wins leader in Canadian post-secondary amateur football with 258 victories between the regular season and post-season. While the Hilltops 4-4 record is their worst in the regular season since going 4-4 in 1983, the potential is still there for the current Hilltops to have a memorable finish in the post-season.

There is a cliché that exists that says, “Legends are made in the playoffs.”

The Hilltops hope to get excited for a few post-season games in 2026.

The Hilltops have seen lots of legends get made in the playoffs since this current modern version of the club was created in 1947. If they can get one or two more turnovers and get one or two more major scores in a game, that might make the difference in more Hilltops players become team legends in 2026.

This piece first appeared in the Saskatoon Hilltops game program on October 11, 2026.

Hilltops’ Komarnicki brings the boom on the ground

Power running back breaks out in third year with team

Brody Komarnicki is having a breakout season with the Hilltops.

Running with power will always be in Brody Komarnicki’s football DNA.

The third-year running back is having a breakout season with the defending CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops. After the team’s first six games, Komarnicki has carried the ball 86 times for 435 yards and five touchdowns.

Komarnicki’s style is unmistakable. He hits the hole hard and runs over and through the opposition. The style goes back to Komarnicki’s roots in the game when he played for the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints Football team, whose head coach at the time is current Hilltops offensive line coach Donnie Davidsen. 

“When I first started playing, I always wanted like those big runs, and it is good to still have those big runs,” said Komanicki, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 205 pounds. “I was just dancing around a little too much.

“He (Davidsen) basically is just like you see that first hole and you hit it hard and north-south always. Then after that once you get into the open room, then you can start kind of dancing a little bit and make your cuts and all that. You always want positive yards.

“If you can hit that gap hard and get a couple of yards there, then you can dance. You don’t want to be dancing in that backfield and get negative yards. Donnie definitely put that into my head in high school and it worked out then, so I’m trying to apply it to Hilltops now.”

Komanicki, who resides in Warman, focused on playing basketball until his Grade 10 year starting in September of 2021. At that time, he wanted to give football a try and enrolled at Bishop James Mahoney as Warman High School didn’t have an outlet to play high school football.

At Bishop James Mahoney, Komanicki started playing on the Saints junior team before moving up to the senior team before the end of his Grade 10 season. He was ecstatic that he gave football a try.

“It was just the team,” said Komarnicki. “You have 12 guys out there and all working together.

“Obviously, I like the physicality. I hadn’t played a physical sport like a contact sport until football. It was just unique having special teams and all that.

“It was just all around the whole just the makeup of football was definitely what caught my eyes.”

Komarnicki would help the Saints advance to the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association’s 5A 12-a-side football provincial championship game in his Grade 11 season on November 11, 2022. The host Saints prevailed over the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles 18-15 in that contest at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Komarnicki said his love for football was built due to the great experience he had with the Saints. As Davidsen was serving as the Hilltops offensive line coach while coaching the Saints, Komarnicki said the wheels were put in motion to join the Hilltops.

Brody Komarnicki in action for the Saints in 2022.

“He (Davidsen) didn’t influence it directly,” said Komarnicki. “I looked up to Donnie in high school, and we always talked about Hilltops being like a future opportunity.

“I would come to the high school camps, and I loved the coaching style. Whenever I did talk to “Sarge” (Hilltops legendary head coach Tom Sargeant), I loved everything I heard and his style of the game and his views. I agree with it a lot.

“Definitely, it helped like influence in a sense. It is just they’re so similar. It is just what I know.”

Komarnicki joined the Hilltops following his high school graduation for the 2024 campaign. By the campaign’s end, he was awarded the team’s Past Presidents Trophy as the club’s rookie of the year, while also being named to the PFC’s all-rookie team.

Sargeant said Komarnicki was a pretty natural fit.

“He is one of our toughest football players,” said Sargeant. “He certainly plays the game the way I appreciate it and the way we appreciate it.

“What a hard-nosed individual, and he motivates the team around him. The game plan is going to centre around him at times just like it will (star running back) Corbin (Ebben). We believe with those two guys being heavily involved in that run game it is only going to make it better instead of having one of them on the bench.”

Sargeant said Komarnicki came to the Hilltops with a solid base in the game having played for the Saints.

“He (Komarnicki) got coached the right way,” said Sargeant. “Any BJM player that has come into our system, boy, they’ve been game ready, and they’ve been able to handle all the moments.

“It has been great to have high school coaches coach with you. It keeps you connected to what is going on there as well. When you have a coach that has coached him, it helps you recruit him here as well.”

Sargeant added Komarnicki continued to improve working with Hilltops running backs coach Andre Lalonde. Back in the day when Lalonde was a Hilltops running back graduating as a player in 2013, he earned the nickname “the Bowling Ball” playing the same physical style Komarnicki does.

“Andre is an outstanding running backs coach,” said Sargeant. “You just can tell by the development of our running backs over the years.

“He (Lalonde) has got a system. He has got a format that week in and week out is tried and true. It is tested on game days.

“They (the Hilltops running backs) have got the right mentor in Andre. If we’re talking about special teams, Andre is my special teams coordinator, and Brody has been one of our top special teams players too. Not only does he (Komarnicki) play well on offence, he plays outstanding on special teams too, so what a true football player.”

Brody Komarnicki (#20) dives over a pile for a first down.

Komarnicki has a pretty lengthy thank you list when it comes to those who have helped him during his time with the Hilltops. It includes Sargeant, Davidson, Lalonde, Ebben and David Collins, who was a star running back who graduated from the team after last season.

The 20-year-old power back said Lalonde has been helping him refine his game while continuing to emphasize Komarnicki’s strength in hitting the hole hard.

“I never had seen his film, but I have heard that me and him are pretty similar in that sense,” said Komarnicki. “He definitely encourages it.

“He adds just little things, little details that might take that five-yard gain, six-yard gain to like a 15-to-20-yard gain. That is what I’ve been trying to add in the most is the next step, because you can always improve.”

Komarnicki said his sophomore season last year was an amazing highlight. He was proud of how his team persevered in the campaign.

That included going through an opening game blowout loss to the Rifles in Winnipeg and making a 30-27 comeback overtime victory in the PFC final over the Thunder in Regina after falling behind 24-9 to their provincial rivals with 10:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.

After the win over the Thunder, the Hilltops returned home to SMF Field and downed the Kelowna, B.C., based Okanagan Sun 21-18 in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. That marked the Hilltops 24^th CJFL title.

“Last year, it was an insane feeling,” said Komarnicki. “(We had) ups and downs.

“That Regina game was insane. There was definitely a lot that we faced, but we overcame it. That is kind of what our coaches train us to do.

“They do a great job doing that and teach us not to give up.”

This season, Komarnicki has become a one-two punch at running back with Ebben, who is playing out his final season of CJFL eligibility. Komarnicki said it has been a good development year as he picks up more work in the running game compared to past seasons.

“I’m just trying to apply all that I’ve learned in the past couple of years here,” said Komarnicki. “It is like trial and error for me right now just seeing what works, what I see out there and getting the vision working.”

As the Hilltops set to embark in playing the CJFL’s post-season in 2026, they have once again encountered their share of adversity. Komarnicki believes his squad will rally together to make another run at a CJFL title.

“I know that we’ll put it together, because we’re putting in that work now and putting in all that stuff behind the scenes that people don’t see,” said Komarnicki. “It is not just confidence, because I’m saying it is.

Brody Komarnicki believe the Hilltops can make a long playoff run.

“I have total confidence from what I see from the coaches in the past few years and how everyone here talks and meetings and film. You can just tell everyone here knows we have it. We just need to put it together.”

This piece first appeared in the Saskatoon Hilltops game program on October 4, 2026.

Taylor cemented in Hilltops lore with Canadian Bowl pick

Zaden Taylor is a team captain for the Hilltops.

Zaden Taylor already has a moment that ensures he will forever be part of the Saskatoon Hilltops storied lore.

During last year’s CJFL Championship Game played on November 9 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Hilltops kicker Ryden Gratton booted a 37-yard field goal with 28.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to put the host Saskatoon side up 21-18 over the Okanagan Sun. On the ensuing Sun drive, Taylor, who has built a playmaking reputation at outside linebacker, intercepted Sun quarterback Liam Kroeger to seal the 21-18 victory for the Hilltops and allow them to raise the Canadian Bowl winning their 24^th CJFL title.

“I just remember getting swarmed by my teammates and that amazing feeling,” said Taylor. “To have something that incredible happen and a memory like that happen and get to celebrate with my teammates literally right beside me as it happened, it was pretty surreal.

“It is hard not to overplay it in my head.”

When the Sun got the ball at that point in the game, they needed to gain yards in chunks in order to get in range for a game tying field goal. Taylor remembers things were happening at a frantic pace on the play when the opportunity presented itself for him to make his interception that closed out victory.

“That one I believe it was more of a broken play, because I remember covering into the like hook/curl a little deeper,” said Taylor, who stands 6-feet and weighs 215 pounds. “I remember feeling the receiver that was trying to like hook around me was completely covered.

“I saw it was their main receiver. He kind of cut on it. It looked to be like he was either coming from an out or he skied across the field, and I saw (Liam) Kroeger’s eyes just all over him.

“I just break on the ball and try to make a play on it.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant has seen many team members over the decades make countless big plays dating back to when he first joined the club as a receiver way back in 1983. With Taylor’s game-clinching interception occurring right in front of the Hilltops bench, Sargeant said that moment was forever burned into his memory.

“It sealed the victory to our 24^th national championship,” said Sargeant, who has guided the Hilltops to 15 CJFL title wins as head coach to go along with two victories as a assistant coach and his first coming in 1985 as a player. “I’ll never forget that moment when he made that play and ran over and gave me the football.

“Right then and there, we knew we were taking these to celebrate a great team victory. Zaden’s been a kid that since he walked in on the first day he has been very important to us. He started as a defensive back, and then because of his football IQ and his playmaking ability and toughness, we moved him to linebacker to the “sam” position.

“He has been patrolling that greatly for the last couple of years and done a tremendous job. He is a team captain now, and as I said, he is very important to our defensive success and team success.”

Taylor joined the Hilltops for their 12-0 CJFL championship season in 2023 from the Delisle Composite High School Rebels nine-a-side football program. At that time, he was the rookie looking to capitalize on every repetition that came his way.

Zaden Taylor unloads a big hit on a Regina Thunder receiver last season.

This season, Taylor is now a grizzled fourth-year veteran and a defensive captain. The 21-year-old is living the days he envisioned getting here when he was a rookie.

“It is pretty cool to be on the other end of it,” said Taylor, who had 25 total tackles, one quarterback sack and four pass knockdowns in the Hilltops eight regular season games in 2025. “I remember as a rookie watching those older guys play hoping I’d be there one day.

“Now that I’m here, it is as cool as I thought it would be. To start for a team as prestigious as the Hilltops is pretty surreal, and it is awesome.”

Taylor’s football journey began when he was a youngster playing in Saskatoon Minor Football’s flag program, when his family lived in Saskatoon. He got a taste of tackle football playing in the Kinsmen Football League.

By the time Taylor entered high school, his family had moved out to Asquith, which is a town located about 55 kilometres straight west of Saskatoon. While going to Lord Asquith School, Taylor was allowed to play with the Rebels due to the fact his school didn’t have a tackle football program.

As a result, Taylor was traveling by car 30 minutes from Asquith to Delisle almost daily for football practices and games during the high school season. During his high school days, Taylor said he found at that time he really enjoyed the physicality of the game.

“I played hockey a lot as a kid, and I was always a big physical player,” said Taylor, who played linebacker and a little bit of running back for the Rebels. “Football kind of brings more physicality into a sport.

“I just kind of enjoyed it from there. Hitting heads is fun.”

The Rebels have built their own strong history having four provincial titles starting in 2002. With that squad, Taylor gained an experience of football being family.

“The camaraderie of that team is really fun,” said Taylor. “You get to know the guys a lot, because we did a lot of summer practices together – just like captains-led practices and all that.

“It was a winning culture out there. There was a lot of winning to do out there and a lot of fun to have after the wins.”

When his high school days concluded, Taylor’s former Rebels teammate in current Hilltops star running back Corbin Ebben just finished his first season with the venerable CJFL club. Taylor’s then current Rebels teammate in offensive lineman Tobin Kirkness was going to Hilltops winter workouts, so defensive standout decided to give that experience a chance.

Zaden Taylor has built a playmaking reputation at outside linebacker.

“I had nothing else going on after high school,” said Taylor, who was teammates with Kirkness on the Hilltops in 2023 and 2024. “I said, “Why not, and I’ll give it a try.”

“It turns out I really enjoyed it even further being around guys that were around my skill level to way better than me. It was a lot of fun to learn from those guys.”

When Taylor joined the Hilltops, Sargeant said it was noticeable how much the Rebels grad was improving each week, each month and ultimately each year. The Hilltops coaches were devising ways to get Taylor more involved on the defensive side of the game.

“He (Taylor) has got great instincts,” said Sargeant. “Sometimes, we put him on a blitz opportunity to impact the game.

“He is one of those playmakers that knows how to get to the ball, and when he gets there, he does something real productive. He is a high-end player, and we’re very fortunate that he is a big part of our success game in and game out.”

Now that Taylor is in his fourth year, Sargeant said the coaches are looking forward to how the skilled linebacker will run with the role of being a team leader.

“Well number one, we’re here to defend a national championship,” said Sargeant. “We’re here to get the 25^th national championship for our tradition, for our fifth-year players and for the city of Saskatoon.

“We’re embracing everything that comes our way. We know it is not going to be easy. We know the spotlight is on us, so we’ve got to take it on.

“I need my best players, my leaders, people like Zaden, players like Zaden, they’ve got to be the best players and the best leaders. If we do that, then we’ve got a chance to be playing in the biggest, best games, and that is what it is all about.”

Taylor said a big turning point last season came when the Hilltops fell in their regular season opener 31-11 to the Rifles in Winnipeg on August 10, 2025 at Maple Grove Rugby Park. He said the veterans led by example from that point onwards to winning the CJFL title.

“It was a tough start to the season,” said Taylor. “We lose to Winnipeg.

“We had I think our third string quarterback in at the time. We didn’t know what was going to happen going into that game, but I do believe we were overconfident in it anyway. From there, the coaches really got on us, and I think that was the biggest momentum changer.

“When you see all the older guys working as hard as they are after a loss like that, it just motivates the entire team to get better, and that is just exactly what happened.”

Taylor said he wants to carry on what he learned from his former veteran teammates who have graduated from the historic squad. When his Hilltops days wrap up, Taylor would like to continue playing the sport, but for now, he wants to fully live in the moment playing for the blue and gold.

Zaden Taylor (#8) enjoys getting a sack last season.

“If an opportunity arises after my fifth year, I’d definitely give it a lot of consideration,” said Taylor. “For right now, the focus is finishing my years off here with the Hilltops and hopefully getting two more championships.”

This piece first appeared in the Saskatoon Hilltops game program on August 23, 2026.

Invincible – Hilltops and Thunder are not

Squads built PFC leading records on work ethic

David Collins (#10) races downfield for the Hilltops.

The Saskatoon Hilltops and the Regina Thunder are vulnerable.

That seems like a strange thing to say about two squads that are cemented to finish in the top two of the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference in 2025. The Thunder lead the PFC with a 6-1 mark, while the Hilltops are second at 5-2.

All PFC teams are currently on a bye week and they all have one regular season contest remaining on their respective schedules.

The Hilltops and Thunder split their two head-to-head games in their regular season series playing to a tie 39-39 score in those two contests. At the moment, the Hilltops hold the head-to-head standings tiebreaker holding a 121 differential in points for and against in the regular season. Regina has a 104 differential in points for and against.

The Thunder can lock up top spot in the PFC by winning their final regular season contest against the visiting Edmonton Wildcats on Sunday, October 12 at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field. If the Wildcats pull off an upset, the Hilltops would be able to move back into first place in the PFC by winning their final regular season contest against the visiting Calgary Colts on Sunday, October 12 at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The Hilltops and Thunder first went head-to-head on September 6 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. Saskatoon pulled out an 18-15 victory in a defensive slugfest.

The two sides met again this past Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Thunder prevailed in this encounter 24-21.

It is common to see the Hilltops and Thunder in the top two of the PFC. In 2025, it doesn’t feel like those two clubs are head and shoulders above everyone else like in past years.

During their first encounter, it felt like both sides had their starting quarterbacks in Hilltops pivot Brexton Elias and Thunder signal caller Adam Mosher act as game managers and play into the hands of their respective defences. There was more offence in the second encounter resulting in a more exciting contest, but there still seemed to be a reliance on the running game on both sides.

Peter Boersch leads the PFC with 1,117 yards rushing.

The signal callers on both sides haven’t played to a superstar level, which would make one club or the other untouchable. 

Regina saw that type of quarterbacking in the past at the CJFL level not with the Thunder but when Darryl Leason quarterbacked the Regina Rams from 1992 to 1995. Leason would again be the Rams signal caller in 2000 and 2001 after they moved to the U Sports ranks in 1999.

Saskatoon saw that type of quarterbacking when the late Chase Bradshaw was calling signals for the Hilltops from 2007 to 2011. The Hilltops also got stellar quarterbacking from Jared Andreychuk and Jordan Walls through most of the 2010s making the Saskatoon side fairly close to invincible.

With that noted, it feels like the players including the quarterbacks on the Hilltops and Thunder are bringing the work ethic and giving everything they have in 2025. When those clubs have posted lopsided victories against other foes in the PFC, those results were created by hard work.

Offensively, the Hilltops and Thunder are mirror images of each other in 2025. The Thunder top the PFC with 1,844 yards rushing, while the Hilltops are second with 1,680 yards rushing.

The passing attacks for both squads are at the other end of the spectrum. The Thunder are last in the PFC with 1,183 yards passing, and the Hilltops are second last in the PFC with 1,310 yards passing.

Traditionally, the Thunder are usually a pass-happy team that mirrors their U Sports cousins and CJFL predecessors in the Rams.

On defence, the Hilltops have given up the fewest gross yards of offence at 2,234, while the Thunder have surrendered the second fewest gross yards at 2,375.

Brexton Elias directs traffic on the run for the Hilltops.

For both teams, it makes sense to rely on the running game as both have strong offensive lines. The running backs on both sides are next level.

Thunder running back Peter Boersch had turned into a legitimate star leading the PFC in carries (156) and rushing yards (1,117) to go with three majors on the ground. Regina has also benefited from the strong play of sophomore running back Carter Ashman.

American import running back David Collins has had a spectacular campaign in the lone season he will be able to play for the Hilltops. 

The 22-year-old has carried the ball 114 times for 909 yards and 11 touchdowns. Collins sits second in the PFC in rushing yards and first in rushing touchdowns.

Saskatoon has benefitted from the strong play of veteran running backs Corbin Ebben and Charles Sawi.

On defence, Saskatoon has lots of big play players like middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk and defensive tackles Johnathon Stevens and Nahom Menghestab. Regina also has a lot of big time players on defence including middle linebackers Devin Baumann and Kenten Effa along with boundary cornerback Cooper Filazek.

At quarterback, Elias and Mosher feel like they have much greater potential than they’ve shown. During the CJFL post-season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one or both had breakout games.

Still, it feels like the Hilltops and Thunder could potentially be upset in their respective PFC semifinal games, if they are not at their best. One squad that could cause upset wins is the 3-4 Winnipeg Rifles.

The Rifles thumped the Hilltops 31-11 on August 10 at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg. 

Adam Mosher calls out signals for the Thunder.

On top of beating the Hilltops, the Rifles were one unsuccessful two-point conversion away from upsetting the Thunder falling 41-40 on September 21 at Maple Grove Rugby Park.

With that noted, the Hilltops and Thunder could continue to keep bringing top efforts, which ultimately leads to one squad winning another CJFL championship. In that situation, the winning coaching staff will have a special sense of pride for their players in how far they have come over the campaign.

Going forward, another PFC final between the Hilltops and Thunder is expected, but in the back of the mind, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one or both teams didn’t make it that far. They have to continue to bring a top level work ethic to have a third meeting in the 2025 campaign.

PFC players of the week nods Thunder heavy

Jake Mayo is the PFC’s defensive player of the week.

An exciting win over their provincial rivals have resulted in Regina Thunder players claiming two of the three PFC player of the week awards.

On Tuesday, Thunder cornerback Jake Mayo was tabbed as the PFC’s defensive player of the week, while Thunder place kicker/punter Shawn Green was the special teams player of the week. Both had big outings in their team’s 24-21 victory over the Saskatoon Hilltops this past Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

In the Thunder victory, Mayo intercepted two passes returning one pick 34 yards for a touchdown with 2:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. Mayo also had four solo defensive tackles and one pass knockdown.

Green made his lone field goal attempt from 35 yards out and connected on all three of his one-point converts. He punted 11 times for 373 yards for an average of 33.9 yards per kick. Green kicked off four times for 174 yards for an average of 43.5 yards per kick.

Edmonton Wildcats receiver Mekhi Tyrell took honours as the PFC’s offensive player of the week for his efforts in his team’s 28-26 setback this past Sunday to the Winnipeg Rifles at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg. Mekhi caught 11 passes for 160 yards and carried the ball once for 23 yards. On special teams, Mekhi returned three punts for 30 yards and one kickoff for 15 yards.

Shawn Green is the PFC’s special teams player of the week.

All teams in the PFC have one game remaining on their respective regular season schedules. The Rifles hold third place at 3-4, while the Edmonton Huskies sit fourth at 3-4. The Wildcats are fifth at 2-5, while the Calgary Colts are sixth at 2-5.

The top four teams in the conference make the CJFL playoffs.

All six PFC teams will play their final regular season contests on Sunday, October 12.

The Huskies will host the Rifles at Jasper Place Bowl at 1 p.m. local time. The winner will lock up third place in the conference. A tie would clinch post-season berths for both squads.

The Saskatoon Hilltops (5-2) host Colts at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, and the Regina Thunder (6-1) host the Wildcats at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field.

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 are getting healthy, preparing for Wildcats

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant, left, talks with Charles Sawi, centre.

When it comes to injuries, legendary Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant hopes the storm has passed over his Saskatoon Hilltops.

On Sunday, the Hilltops head on the road to face the Edmonton Wildcats at 1 p.m. at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. Heading into their sixth regular season contest, the Hilltops might be the most healthy they’ve been at any part of the campaign.

Before the 2025 CJFL campaign began, the Hilltops lost starting star 22-year-old safety Dalton Urban for the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, when Urban was playing a CFL pre-season game for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on May 30 at Mosaic Stadium. Urban has been on the Hilltops sidelines helping out the team’s defence with coaching tips.

The Hilltops are still without backup quarterback Charlie Molder, who was hurt in the team’s first regular season contest, when the Hilltops fell 31-11 to the Rifles in Winnipeg on August 10.

During the season, starting quarterback Brexton Elias, star running back Corbin Ebben, star middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk and fifth-year receiver David Boyd Jr. all missed time due to injury and returned to action with the team.

Sargeant would love the development of the returnees to be a sign that the worst of the injury woes are behind his club.

“I sure hope so,” said Sargeant. “I’ve also learned you have to embrace adversity.

“It is always the next man up. We had a lot of players step up and perform their roles. David Boyd Jr. didn’t play the first two games because of injury.

“It allowed other people to show up. All you’re doing is you are building depth, you’re building that veteran presence and that confidence within everyone’s game.”

Since returning from injury, Elias has given the Hilltops their most poised play from the quarterback position. The 22-year-old missed his team’s first two regular season games and dressed as the fourth string quarterback in the third contest.

Brexton Elias (#6) has brought poise to the QB position.

He made his first start of the campaign and played the role of game manager in an 18-15 win over Thunder at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on September 6. In that contest, Elias completed 14-of-25 passes for 188 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Hilltops opened things up more in the passing game in Elias’s second start this past Sunday, when Saskatoon crushed the Colts 51-3 at Shouldice Athletic Park in Calgary. Elias completed 15-of-22 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

During his first four seasons with the Hilltops, Elias was a backup quarterback, and he was slotted in as the team’s starter after star Trey Reider exhausted his CJFL eligibility following the completion of the 2024 campaign. Elias is focusing on constant improvement as the campaign moves on.

“Every day I am trying to get better with these guys,” said Elias. “Week by week, I am trying to focus on the team that we’re playing on Sunday and just preparing for them every week.”

Sargeant said Elias is taking steps forward every time he gets into game action.

“We’re excited to get on the bus and play the Edmonton Wildcats this weekend and see him grow his game and let his personality keep taking over on this offence and becoming more impactful,” said Sargeant. “Each game that he plays, it makes us better.”

Sunday’s game is another big one for the Hilltops, who have a 4-1 record after winning their last four straight and were rated third in the CJFL’s Top 10 Power Rankings released on Thursday. They hold first place in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference over the 4-1 Thunder due to posting a head-to-head victory in the lone meeting to date between the two sides.

The contest is a big one for the Wildcats, who are in a heated race for third and fourth place in the PFC and the conference’s final two post-season berths. At 2-3, the Wildcats, Winnipeg Rifles and Calgary Colts are all tied for third to fifth in the conference. The Edmonton Huskies sit in the basement of the conference standings but are still in the mix at 1-4.

Sargeant wants to see his team continue to take steps forward in their upcoming clash with the Wildcats.

“We played our best game of the year against the Calgary Colts on Sunday,” said Sargeant. “We’re looking to improve that and enjoy the next contest against the Edmonton Wildcats.

“As long as my fifth years keep playing hard and being the best players on the field, the blue and gold are going to be in good shape.”

Mix of four nab PFC players of the week nods

Four different players picked up nods as PFC players of the week on Wednesday.

Regina Thunder running back Peter Boersch and Edmonton Huskies quarterback Wesley Neitz were both claimed honours as the offensive player of the week.

Boersch had another big game last Sunday when the Thunder downed the visiting Winnipeg Rifles 25-12 at Leibel Field. He carried the ball 24 times for 181 yards and caught one pass for 30 yards. On the season, Boersch leads the PFC in carries (124) and rushing yards (967).

Neitz had a huge outing last Sunday as his Huskies fell 33-20 to the visiting Edmonton Wildcats at Jasper Place Bowl. In that contest, Neitz completed 27-of-43 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions.

Thunder defensive back Cooper Filazek was named the defensive player of the week for his efforts in his team’s win over the Rifles. Filazek made six defensive solo tackles, three defensive tackle assists, one pass knockdown and two interceptions.

Wildcats receiver Mekhi Tyrell was tabbed as the special teams player of the week. In his club’s win over the Huskies, Tyrell returned two punts for 84 yards, which included running one punt back for an 80-yard touchdown. He returned one kickoff for 28 yards and caught one pass for six yards.

Johnson to speak at End Zone Dinner

Evan Johnson in action for the Roughriders on July 15, 2023.

One of the CFL’s all-time steady veterans on the offensive line is coming to the Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

Evan Johnson, who played seven CFL seasons from 2017 to 2024, will be the guest speaker for the annual event that raises money for the Hilltops scholarships and bursaries. The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 27, at the main hall in the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located on the south end zone of Saskatoon Minor Football Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

The doors open at 4:15 p.m. and the dinner follows at 5 p.m. A ticket to the End Zone Dinner includes a ticket to that night’s regular season contest against the Hilltops provincial rivals the Regina Thunder. That game is slated for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Johnson graduated high school from Regina’s Campbell Collegiate and moved on to play football in the U Sports ranks from 2012 to 2016 with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He would be selected in the first round and ninth overall by the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2017 CFL Draft.

From 2017 to 2019, Johnson played 52 regular season games with the Redblacks making starts at left guard, right tackle and left tackle. He suited up for the Redblacks in their 27-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in the 2018 Grey Cup played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alta.

From 2021 to 2023, Johnson played 48 regular season contests with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He moved on from the Roughriders to appear in 10 games with the Hamilton Tigers-Cats in 2024.

Johnson, who is 31-years-old, is married to Dallis (Aiken) Johnson, who is a former defensive back with the powerhouse Saskatoon Valkyries of the WWCFL. They reside in Saskatoon where Evan Johnson works for an engineering firm.

Tickets for the Hilltops End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

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

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Hilltops overcoming injury bug early in season

Dalton Urban, centre, watches game action August 24.

The injury bug seems intent to strike the Saskatoon Hilltops early and often.

Even before the 2025 CJFL campaign began, the Hilltops lost starting star 22-year-old safety Dalton Urban for the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The injury occurred when Urban dressed for a pre-season game for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on May 30 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

Urban’s injury occurred while playing the Roughriders kickoff coverage team in the 27-20 setback to the Blue Bombers. He has been invited to training camp activities with the Roughriders and was putting on a great showing with the community-owned CFL squad with the injury putting a damper conclusion on things.

While he isn’t able to play, Urban is hanging around the Hilltops. During game days, he can often be found wearing team gear similar to the sideline staff and holding a tablet as he discusses adjustments with teammates. It wasn’t the place one would expect to see Urban as the club has gotten out to a 2-1 start.

Along with Urban going down, the injury bug has taken out a big chunk from the Hilltops quarterback position. Before the season started, Brexton Elias was pegged to be the Hilltops starting signal caller taking on that role in his fifth and final season with the club. He was tabbed with succeeding graduated star starter Trey Reider.

Elias was injured in the pre-season and still hasn’t made his first official CJFL start.

Early in their regular season opener against the host Rifles in Winnipeg on August 10, the Hilltops started second-year signal caller Charlie Molder only to lose him early on in the contest to a longer term injury. Hayden McMahon finished up playing the bulk of that contest as quarterback as the Hilltops fell 31-11.

McMahon, who is in his third year with the team, has started the Hilltops last two games, which were both home victories. They defeated the Edmonton Huskies 46-6 on August 17 and posted a redeeming 42-15 victory over the Rifles on August 24.

Those starts marked the first time has taken on that role as a signal caller in a game since his high school days playing for the six-a-side Biggar Central School Blazers in Biggar, Sask., as a Grade 12 senior in 2022. McMahon appears to have a tonne of upside, where one of the big things holding him back was the lack of playing experience in the 12-person game.

Corbin Ebben went down to injury on August 17.

With that noted, the Hilltops would be in big unexpected territory if McMahon went down to injury. They added Clark Snider before their second regular season game. Snider, who is in his final season of CJFL eligibility, played the 2024 campaign with the Kamloops Broncos.

Before their third regular season game, the Hilltops brought Griffin Sander on board. Sander has been a reserve with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team and is in his fourth campaign of CJFL eligibility.

Jace Martins, who is in his rookie season in the CJFL after graduating high school in Sylvan Lake, Alta., has been slated as the Hilltops backup quarterback for their last two games.

In the August 24 victory over the Rifles, the Hilltops dressed Elias as the fourth-string quarterback. CJFL teams are allowed to dress 60 players for regular season home games, 45 for regular season road games and 40 for post-season contests. Elias likely wouldn’t see the field in that contest only as an emergency if the Hilltops three other quarterbacks that dressed went down to injury.

During his career, Elias has been a good contributor in the team’s quarterback room, and the Hilltops coaches will create opportunities for him to fill that role. When he gets healthy enough to play further up the depth chart, the Hilltops coaches will then have to re-evaluate where they are on that front.

The Hilltops lost fourth-year star running back Corbin Ebben to injury in their August 17 win over the Huskies. At that spot, newcomer David Collins, who is in his final year of CJFL eligibility, and Charles Sawi, who is in his fourth season of CJFL eligibility, have filled in admirably.

Collins sits second in the PFC with 480 yards rushing coming on 54 carries to go with four touchdowns. Sawi sits sixth in the PFC with 170 yards rushing coming on 19 carries to go with three major scores. When Ebben is set to return, the Hilltops coaches are going to have to do evaluations to figure out where the veteran fits in.

The Hilltops also lost fifth-year centre Matt Noble to a shoulder injury in the win over the Huskies. Noble has had a history of shoulder issues and got married in the off-season. At the moment, he has elected to not complete his final campaign of CJFL eligibility and move on with life away from the team taking stock of his life situation.

Hilltops star middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk, who is in his fourth season with the team, was lost due to injury in the August 24 win over the Rifles. So far, the Hilltops have been able to overcome Michayluk’s absence.

The injury bug is one of those things that can derail a football season, and injuries are often out of a team’s control.

Still, the Hilltops wouldn’t mind having some better luck on that front as the rest of the 2025 campaign goes on.

Valentino CJFL record gets weekly accolade

When you set a CJFL record, there is a good chance you will get a weekly player of the week nod.

In the Saskatoon Hilltops 42-15 victory over the Winnipeg Rifles back on August 24 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Hilltops second-year defensive back Ryan Valentino set a CJFL record for making five special teams solo tackles in one game. The previous record of four was shared by many players. Rifles linebacker Kresten Neufeld happened to make four special teams solo tackles in that same contest.

Valentino also had one defensive tackle assist to go with his five special teams solo tackles. Thanks to his efforts, Valentino was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week for the game action from that weekend on August 26.

Also for that week, Hilltops fifth-year running back David Collins was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week. In that victory over the Rifles, Collins ran the ball 33 times for 262 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught one pass for no gain.

Edmonton Wildcats linebacker Ethan Speedy claimed honours as the PFC’s defensive player of the week for his efforts in his club’s 19-16 setback to the Calgary Colts on August 24 at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. Speedy had eight defensive tackles and three pass knockdowns.

All teams in the PFC enjoyed a bye week this past weekend.

Instagram accounts to watch for CJFL and U Sports

A screenshot of the Wizard Takes Instagram page.

A pair of independent Instagram accounts have attracted a solid following with one focusing on the CJFL and one concentrating on U Sports football.

Wizard Takes, which goes by the handle @wizardtakes, has collected over 10,000 followers and focuses nationally on the CJFL in a way that hasn’t been seen in any media circle for some time. Ob.sessedsports, which goes by the handle @ob.sessedsports, has surpassed over 12,400 followers and follows U Sports football in a solid way on a national level that would be hard to be matched by any outlet in any media circle.

You would have to go back to 1990 to note the last era when media outlets across Canada still had a good focus on the CJFL. After that point, it became spotty where good coverage was regionalized.

For U Sports, it could be argued the football league still got fairly strong coverage across Canada just a relatively short time ago in 2014.

In the current day for both the CJFL and U Sports football, the coverage across Canada is spotty and is definitely not anywhere close to what it used to be.

Often owners of mainstream outlets for the ones that have human owners and are not owned by an inanimate hedge fund, the message is no one cares about these circuits. It is a problem faced by all high level amateur sports leagues in Canada.

The numbers Wizard Takes and Ob.sessedsports are gaining with followers show there is an audience out there for CJFL and U Sports football. Both accounts produce a whole host of solid posts with a variety of content. They are both showing that if you have the quality people will pay attention.

The best part with Instagram compared to Platform-X, which is formerly known as Twitter, is Instagram is filled with accounts that are actual people. About 80 per cent of the accounts on Platform-X are either anonymous or bot accounts, which has created the toxic vibe on that platform that is very focused on politics.

Of course, celebrities still have the biggest following on Instagram, and that includes Canadian sports celebrities. Canadian pole vaulter Alysha Newman, who won a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, has over 728,000 followers on Instagram. Newman arguably has the most swagger seen from any Canadian born athlete in recent years.

Still, the followings Wizard Takes and Ob.sessedsports have gathered are impressive and deserved. If you have an interest in CJFL and U Sports, they are a must to check out.

Johnson to speak at End Zone Dinner, other notes

Evan Johnson (#64) in action for the Roughriders on July 15, 2023.

Arguably, the best looking offensive lineman to ever play in the CFL is coming to the Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

Evan Johnson, who played seven CFL seasons from 2017 to 2024, will be the guest speaker for the annual event that raises money for the Hilltops scholarships and bursaries. The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 27, at the main hall in the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located on the south end zone of Saskatoon Minor Football Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

The doors open at 4:15 p.m. and the dinner follows at 5 p.m. A ticket to the End Zone Dinner includes a ticket to that night’s regular season contest against the Hilltops provincial rivals the Regina Thunder. That game is slated for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Johnson graduated high school from Regina’s Campbell Collegiate and moved on to play football in the U Sports ranks from 2012 to 2016 with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He would be selected in the first round and ninth overall by the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2017 CFL Draft.

From 2017 to 2019, Johnson played 52 regular season games with the Redblacks making starts at left guard, right tackle and left tackle. He suited up for the Redblacks in their 27-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in the 2018 Grey Cup played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alta.

From 2021 to 2023, Johnson played 48 regular season contests with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He moved on from the Roughriders to appear in 10 games with the Hamilton Tigers-Cats in 2024.

Johnson, who is 31-years-old, is married to former Dallis (Aiken) Johnson, who is a former defensive back with the powerhouse Saskatoon Valkyries of the WWCFL. They reside in Saskatoon where Evan Johnson works for an engineering firm.

Tickets for the Hilltops End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

• Hilltops cornerback Jace Mowles leads the PFC with three interceptions. The Hilltops top the conference in total takeaways with 12.
• Hilltops running back Charles Sawi tops the PFC in punt returns (17) and punt return yardage (175).
• Edmonton Wildcats receiver Jacob St. Hilaire has caught 16 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown. He leads the PFC in receiving yards.
• With the Saskatchewan Roughriders topping the entire CFL with a 9-2 mark, it appears most of Rider Nation is back on the bandwagon. The team’s three biggest home attendances have come in the club’s last three home games. On July 25, the Roughriders drew 27,933 spectators for their 21-18 home win over the Edmonton Elks. On August 16, the Roughriders had a sellout crowd of 33,350 come out for their 29-9 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. On Sunday, the Roughriders were allowed to sell extra standing room tickets for the Labour Day Classic and drew their biggest crowd ever at Mosaic Stadium at 34,243 spectators to see 34-30 triumph over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. When the Roughriders do well, it gives a boost to football across Saskatchewan.

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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Experience powers Ebben in Hilltops backfield

Corbin Ebben runs for a TD on August 17.

Personal success will never outshine team success for Corbin Ebben.

In 2024, Ebben entered his third CJFL season with the storied and historic Saskatoon Hilltops and took on the role as the full-time starter at running back. During the regular season, Ebben topped the Prairie Football Conference with 964 yards rushing coming on 157 carries and scoring six touchdowns. He also caught 16 passes for 184 yards and four major scores.

Thanks to those efforts, Ebben took home honours as a PFC all-star and a second team CJFL all-Canadian all-star. He played a huge role in helping the Hilltops post an 8-0 record.

Ebben’s statistics and honours didn’t take away the sting of not going all the way in the post-season. The Hilltops fell in the CJFL’s Prairie Conference Final 24-19 to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

“That is the worst loss I’ve ever had playing football,” said Ebben. “We’re just going to build off that.

“We’re never going to forget that feeling. We’re going to use that for sure this year to help us build up to not letting that happen again.”

In 2025, Ebben headed into his fourth year with the Hilltops and the second season as the team’s starting running back. He said the experience from last season helps going into this season as he has a better understanding of the all-around aspects when it comes to playing the position.

“What is different this year is definitely going to be just confidence overall,” said Ebben, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 205 pounds. “Last year being my first year as a starter and just having that under my belt and being able to just build off of last year, it was big.

Corbin Ebben runs tough on the inside for the Hilltops.

“The goal is always the same to get to the Canadian Bowl, which we fell short last year, but I believe that we could build up to that this year.”

Going into the 2025 campaign, the Hilltops are looking to Ebben to play an even greater role in their success. They graduated a significant number of key players from last season including nine who aged out of CJFL eligibility including star quarterback Trey Reider, star receiver Drake Douglas and star right tackle Cody Shumanski.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said his team expects a lot out of Ebben on the field and to bring intangibles to the team away from the field that were brought by the players who graduated.

“Number one, he has got a leadership role, and number two, the expectations of ours have been set real high with the great year he had last year,” said Sargeant “We need to double down, and he needs to come out and play even better, faster, and he is going to get more opportunities through our offence.

“He is going to be vital to us having success offensively.”

One of the ways the Hilltops will be looking to get more out of Ebben is expanding his role in the passing game. 

In the PFC final loss to the Thunder in 2024, Ebben showcased how adept he was in the receiving game catching 10 passes for 114 yards and scoring one touchdown.

Corbin Ebben (#34) runs against the Thunder on Sept. 28, 2024.

“That is one of my traits I believe is just being versatile and not being just a running back,” said Ebben. “I like just taking routes out of the backfield and doing whatever they need me to do really just to get open and get that ball, which I mean is just something I love doing.

“I like running. I like catching.”

Sargeant said the Hilltops plan to take better advantage of the athletic aspects Ebben brings to the game, which will include getting him the ball more in the passing game.

“He is multidimensional,” said Sargeant. “We feel he is our top receiver.

“We feel he is a special running back. A lot of our designs are all around him getting the football. It is what it is, and it is our job to make sure that happens.

“Everything is predicated by how well the offensive line plays. As long as the line plays well, then all of a sudden other things open up in throwing and running and all of that. Corbin (Ebben) will be a massive piece in both the pass and run game.”

In their past, the Hilltops have had running backs that didn’t just exclusively carry the ball but could make catches out of the backfield. Logan Fischer, who played running back from 2013 to 2017, was one of the Hilltops best versatile running backs in recent history.

He played with the Hilltops on four straight CJFL championship wins from 2014 to 2017 with the 38-24 victory over the Okanagan Sun in the Canadian Bowl played on November 7, 2015 being his signature game. In that contest, Fischer carried the ball 23 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns and caught seven passes for 107 yards.

Fischer was pretty much the last player the Hilltops had who was known for collecting over 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in one game. It is an accomplishment Ebben hasn’t been able to do.

Corbin Ebben (#34) charges downfield in last year’s PFC semi.

“That would be pretty cool,” said Ebben. “I really hope I can do something like that.

“As long as we win, then that is all I really care about.”

Ebben is also at the point he is realizing how quick his CJFL career is going by. Being a fourth year player this season, the 21-year-old said he actually does feel like he is one of the older guys on the team.

“It is pretty crazy,” said Ebben, who is a graduate of the Delisle Composite High School Rebels nine-a-side football program. “It felt like just yesterday I walked in these doors for the first time, and now, it is year four for me.

“It flies by pretty quick.”

He added it has been an adjustment to not have Reider as the team’s signal caller, but he has faith in the current quarterbacks on the Hilltops roster.

“It is different,” said Ebben. “Trey (Reider) was an unbelievable quarterback.

“I absolutely loved lining up beside him. At the same time, I believe we got some really good quarterbacks here. I mean we got some super versatile guys that are ready to go.”

As the Hilltops season goes along, Ebben said the goal of the team is the same as it has always been. The team wants to help the players who are playing out their final respective seasons of CJFL eligibility to depart as CJFL champions.

“It is always about the fifth years here,” said Ebben, who was injured in the team’s second game in 2025 and is working to make a return. “That is made very clear, and that is what we try to do for those guys.

Corbin Ebben (#5) wants to push the Hilltops to another CJFL title.

“For what they have given, we owe it to them every play to give everything that we’ve got.”

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