Mowles settles in as playmaker on Hilltops defence

Two pick game versus Thunder was big highlight

Jace Mowles tops the Hilltops with three interceptions this season.

Jace Mowles prides himself on ensuring rare bad games don’t last.

Back on August 25, Mowles’ Saskatoon Hilltops had a banner day crushing the Colts 52-19 at Shouldice Athletic Park in Calgary. The Hilltops veteran standout cornerback thought he didn’t have one of his better days as the Colts collected 274 yards passing as team.

After that contest, the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference which the Hilltops play out of went on a bye week. Mowles, who is in his fourth year with the team, was determined to have a better outing when the Hilltops returned to action on September 7 against their provincial rivals the Thunder at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

In that contest, Mowles recorded three defensive solo tackles, three defensive tackle assists, two interceptions and one pass knockdown helping the Hilltops post a 29-15 victory. While the Thunder piled up 348 yards passing, Mowles’ interceptions came at key times to stall the Regina side’s momentum.

For his efforts, Mowles, who is a graduate of the Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders Football Team, was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week.

“It was good,” said Mowles. “It helped motivate the offence too and helped me elevate my game from having a bad game to having a good game.”

On Saturday, Mowles and the defending CJFL champion Hilltops (6-0) get to see the Thunder (5-1) again when the two teams meet at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Hilltops are rated first in the CJFL’s Top 10 Power Rankings, and the Thunder are listed as fourth in those ratings.

If the Hilltops win that contest, they will lock up first place in the PFC and home field advantage through the CJFL playoffs up until the league’s title game in the Canadian Bowl, which will be hosted by the champion of the Ontario Football Conference. If the Thunder win, first place will still be up for grabs between the two squads heading into the final week of the PFC’s regular season.

Mowles is looking forward to the upcoming heavyweight encounter between the two sides.

Jace Mowles secures an interception for the Hilltops.

“It will be fun to be at home,” said Mowles. “It will be better for us, and I’ll enjoy it.”

On the season, Mowles has three interceptions, which is one behind Calgary Colts defensive back Keon Raymond II. To go along with his three picks, Mowles has recorded seven defensive solo tackles, five defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, one special teams tackle assist and one pass knockdown.

Mowles said during the season he hasn’t seen many passes get thrown his way, but he believes that is more due to his position on the field as opposed to a strategy of trying to avoid him.

“They’re throwing weak (side) more than strong (side),” said Mowles, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 170 pounds. “Most teams do.

“I just play my game, and play it true.”

Last Sunday, the Hilltops gave up 374 yards passing to the Edmonton Wildcats in a 45-19 home victory at SMF Field. Mowles didn’t think the Hilltops had to make any adjustments in the secondary outside of executing better.

He gave credit to Wildcats quarterback Marcos Soltero and his receivers group for having a good game. Mowles said the Wildcats are a better team than their 0-6 record indicates.

“They had really good receivers,” said Mowles. “They all played high-level football.

“Their quarterback surprised us. He threw the ball really well.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game against the Thunder, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant would love to see Mowles have another big game.

“At the end of the day, he is one of our better players,” said Sargeant. “We put him in all situations, whether it be man or zone.

Jace Mowles has provided strong play at cornerback for the Hilltops.

“He is always willing to do whatever he is asked to. He loves being around the ball, and he has a knack for being around the ball. I think he has got three interceptions so far this year and a few knockdowns.

“He is a primetime player, and everybody knows who he is.”

Sargeant served as the principal of Walter Murray Collegiate when Mowles was a student there. Thanks to that development, the sideline boss knew he was getting a quality person when he recruited Mowles to join the Hilltops.

“When you’re the principal of a high school, you’re always going to the games to your student-athletes,” said Sargeant, who retired from his position as principal at Walter Murray Collegiate this past June. “He (Mowles) was just an excellent high school player.

“He did all the right things and got involved in all the different teams. In a short period of time, he became a pretty good impact player for us. By his second year, he was getting some quality opportunities to compete.

“You get to know who the kids are (as a principal in high school), which is awesome. At any school, I like to phone the coaches and get a flavour for what they’re saying, because at the end of the day, we want good character kids in this program.”

Mowles got his start playing football in the KFL in Saskatoon for three seasons before joining the Marauders. In his KFL years, Mowles spent his first two campaigns as a receiver before switching over to defence.

He said he enjoys football because it is fun to throw the ball around and he loves the team environment the sport provides. During the winter months, Mowles was also playing AA hockey, but there was no doubt that he would continue football after high school with the Hilltops.

“It was the only real option,” said Mowles. “I had hockey, but I chose football, because I loved it more.

“I enjoy playing this more than any other sport.”

Since joining the Hilltops in 2021, Mowles said the thing he loves the most about being part of the storied CJFL team is how tight-knit everyone is with the club.

Jace Mowles (#23) looks to enjoy more big plays with the Hilltops.

“Everyone is basically family,” said Mowles. “We all get along, so we all enjoy coming out here every day and having fun.”

Last season, Mowles said one of his biggest thrills came was helping the Hilltops win their 23^rd CJFL title with a 17-10 victory over the Westshore Rebels at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C. As this season continues, he would love for it to finish with him helping the Hilltops capture the Canadian Bowl to claim another CJFL title.

“It would be amazing,” said Mowles. “I loved going down to B.C. there and winning it.

“It was the best moment of my life, and I’d like to enjoy that again in Ontario.”

Reider tabbed as PFC player of the week

Trey Reider is the PFC’s offensive player of the week.

For the second time this season, Trey Reider has been named a PFC player of the week.

On Wednesday, Reider, who is the Saskatoon Hilltops star quarterback, was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week for his efforts in his team’s 45-19 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats last Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. In that victory, Reider completed 15-of-22 passes for 278 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

On the season, Reider, who is playing out his fifth and final season of CJFL eligibility, has completed 86-of-130 passes for 1,258 yards and 14 touchdowns, while throwing one interception. He has been tabbed as the PFC’s offensive player of the week twice in the 2024 campaign.

Winnipeg Rifles linebacker Cohen McCluskey was the PFC’s defensive player of the week due to his efforts to help his squad down the visiting Calgary Colts 23-9 at Maple Grove Rugby Park. In that contest, McCluskey recorded eight solo defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists and three interceptions. He returned one of his interceptions 46 yards for a touchdown.

Rifles kicker Evan Guercio was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week for his contributions in his team’s win over the Colts. Guercio made all three of his field goal attempts with a long from 27 yards out. He made both his one-point converts and kicked off five times for 252 yards for an average of 50.4 yards per kick.

Big SMF Field crowd leaves positive impression

Part of the crowd of 3,534 that came out to the Hilltops game last Sunday.

The Saskatoon Hilltops got a boost from their big home crowd.

Last Sunday, the Hilltops hammered the visiting Edmonton Wildcats 45-19 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. A crowd of 3,534 spectators came to check out the contest, which was the Hilltops highest attendance for a home regular season game in at least over a decade.

That contest was the team’s Kinsmen Family Day/Young Hilltops Day game. Those that came out on Sunday could take part in the various fun promotions that took place around the game.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was pumped to see the huge turnout.

“I think it is absolutely fantastic,” said Sargeant, who is the all time leader in career head coaching win in Canada’s amateur post-secondary football ranks with 242 victories. “Family day and we have a Hilltop family here that we’re very proud about.

“When you get a lot of people rallying and supporting that, number one, great job by the directors to have that initiative and get a lot of people, a lot of friends and family out and supporters. It really filtered down to the players, and they felt real good about the energy that was in the crowd. It gave them a boost and enabled them to play exciting football for the fans.

“It was just a good day all in all, especially when you win.”

Hilltops fourth-year cornerback Jace Mowles appreciated the atmosphere the crowd brought to the stadium.

“It was great, because you get all the family out,” said Mowles. “Everyone is having fun.

“The kids are having fun, and even the intermission there, everyone was having fun. I enjoyed it. It was electric.”

Clark to appear at End Zone Scholarship Dinner

Dan Clark calls signals for the Roughriders in 2019.

Dan Clark will be the special guest at the Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner set for September 28.

Clark was a star centre for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2009 to 2022. He was on the Roughriders practice roster in 2009 and 2010 and was on the main roster from 2011 to 2022 appearing in 131 games. During his years on the Roughriders practice roster, Clark was playing for the CJFL’s Regina Thunder.

Clark gained fame catching an eight-yard touchdown pass from legendary Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant in a 37-0 romp over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a game played at historic Taylor Field on July 21, 2013. Following that contest, Clark and the Roughriders would later win the Grey Cup with a 45-23 victory over the Tigers-Cats on November 24, 2013 at Taylor Field.

In 2019, Clark was the unanimous selection as the Saskatchewan Roughriders Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. He was also named a CFL all-star.

The Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner will be held in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located at the south end of Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The doors for the dinner will open at 4:15 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5 p.m.

The presenting sponsors of the event are TCU Financial and SaskTel. It is hosted in conjunction with the Hilltops community partners in the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation. The official beverage sponsor is the Crossmount Cider Company.

All proceeds of the event go towards the Saskatoon Hilltop Scholarship Fund.

Single tickets for the event are $100, and a table of eight goes for $725. Ticket purchases include admission to that night’s CJFL regular season contest between the Hilltops and the Regina Thunder set for 7 p.m. at SMF Field. Tickets for the End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

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

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Power running back Ebben energized by Hilltops family

Third-year ground gainer fuels Saskatoon’s route of Wildcats

Corbin Ebben jets into the open field for the Hilltops.

Corbin Ebben will never doubt how real the term “Hilltops family” is.

Last year as a second year player with the storied Saskatoon Hilltops, Ebben suffered an injury that caused him to miss the last four games of the regular season. While the power running back was down at first about missing time, he was surprised how much the team’s coaches and players were crushed that he was going to be out of the lineup.

To Ebben, it seemed like everyone with the squad was empathetic. It helped motivate the Delisle, Sask., product to get back.

“When I went out, I could tell especially running back coach Andre Lalonde and ‘Sarge’ (Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant) and coach (Shane) Reider, they seemed like a little down,” said Ebben. “I was definitely down for sure, but they helped pick me up.

Corbin Ebben cuts past a Wildcats defender.

“My goal was just to get back on the field as soon as possible for sure.”

Ebben could feel the support from Lalonde, Sargeant and Reider, who is the Hilltops offensive coordinator. The graduate of the Delisle Composite High School Rebels nine-a-side football program made it back to the Hilltops lineup for the start of the post-season.

He played all four of the Hilltops post-season games as they won the Canadian Bowl to become CJFL champions for a 23^rd time in team history. While Ebben was playing, he didn’t feel like he did on the field before he got injured.

“It was just kind of a hit to the confidence when I got hurt last year and then had to take I think it was four games off,” said Ebben. “It was nice getting back to it, but it wasn’t the same for sure.”

Corbin Ebben, right, makes an acrobatic TD catch.

Going into the 2024 campaign in his third year with the team, Ebben earned the starting job at tailback with the Hilltops having graduated Boston Davidsen after winning the CJFL title in 2023. Ebben said his confidence has improved as the season had gone on.

On Sunday, Ebben looked like he fit the role of star running back. The 20-year-old was powering through tacklers, high hurdling defenders and make sweet cuts in the open field.

He would carry the ball 16 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns. As a receiver, Ebben hauled in three catches for 58 yards and a major score. Ebben’s efforts helped power the Hilltops past the visiting Edmonton Wildcats 45-19 in a CJFL regular season clash.

Corbin Ebben caught three passes for 58 yards.

“It felt great,” said Ebben, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 205 pounds. “Every game we’re just getting better.

“We’re on the same page. It was just a great team effort today for sure.”

The win allowed the Hilltops to improve to 6-0 and guaranteed the venerable CJFL club would host a Prairie Football Conference semifinal contest. The Wildcats fell to 0-6 and were eliminated from post-season contention.

Ebben made sure to give a plug to the massive crowd that came out to support the Hilltops on Sunday. Sunday’s contest was the Hilltops’ Kinsmen Family Day/Young Hilltops Day game, and a crowd of 3,534 spectators came to check out the contest and take part in various fun promotions that took place around the game. Sunday’s contest was the Hilltops highest attended regular season game in at least over a decade.

Corbin Ebben ran the ball 16 times for 108 yards and two TDs.

“It was awesome,” said Ebben. “There were just so many fans in the stadium.

“I had never seen that many. It has to be record or something. The energy was high.

“It was loud. It was great. It was just an overall great day.”

Sargeant said the team’s coaches believed Ebben could do big things. While Ebben did win the starting job, Sargeant said there was concern the games the young ball carrier missed in 2023 could hamper coming into the current campaign.

“You’ve got to get reps and you’ve got to play, and so that is a thing,” said Sargeant. “His (Ebben’s) confidence has absolutely grown with each game, and it is just looking so natural for him now his decision making and how decisive he has been.

Corbin Ebben (#34) celebrates a TD with Drake Douglas.

“It has rallied the offence. This was his best game of the year, and I’m looking forward to many, many more. He is only a third-year player, so we’ve got lots of opportunity to grow and develop him.”

While Davidsen took up the bulk of the carries for the Hilltops last season, Sargeant said the coaches had plans and plays designed to get Ebben the ball had he not gotten injured.

“The one thing with Corbin (Ebben) he has got excellent hands,” said Sargeant. “He is a great receiver out of the backfield too.

“He got a touchdown today on another big catch. He is a player that gives you a lot of different varieties. We’re going to keep showcasing that.”

The Hilltops drew 3,534 spectators to their game on Sunday.

Ebben came into the campaign having to fill Davidsen’s big shoes. Davidsen concluded his career with the Hilltops breaking the 1,000-yard barrier in rushing in each of his final two regular seasons. For Ebben, it was big getting to be teammates with Davidsen for two seasons.

“It was just great to learn from Boston (Davidsen),” said Ebben. “If I could, you know, get any part of his game and play like him, I think that would just be a great season.”

Looking ahead for the rest of the 2024 campaign, Ebben said it was important to keep focused on the present and continuing to improve.

The Hilltops Cheer Team members get pictured with two young fans.

“I think the expectations are, as ‘Sarge’ says, just get better one per cent every day,” said Ebben. “As long as we just keep going up and up, I think we’ll all be happy with that.”

As for Sunday’s game, the Hilltops got a single on the opening kickoff from kicker Ryden Gratton to go ahead 1-0. The Wildcats put together a long opening offensive series that culminated in a 12-yard field goal from kicker Nik Dokken to jump in front 3-1.

The Hilltops responded before the first quarter ended, when star quarterback Trey Reider hit star receiver Drake Douglas with a seven-yard touchdown pass to put the host side back in front 8-3. In the second quarter, the ’Toppers pushed their advantage out to 22-3 on a four-yard rushing major from Ebben and Reider hitting Douglas with a five-yard touchdown pass.

Drake Douglas caught seven passes for 109 yards and three TDs.

With 1:24 remaining before halftime, Dokken hit a 15-yard field goal for the Wildcats to trim the Hilltops lead to 22-6. With 46.7 seconds remaining before halftime, Ebben plunged into the end zone for a one-yard rushing major to give the Hilltops a 29-6 lead at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, Ebben made an acrobatic one-yard touchdown catch on a toss from Reider to push Saskatoon’s edge out to 36-6. Reider proceeded to hit Douglas with a 17-yard touchdown pass to give the Hilltops a 43-6 advantage. Before the third quarter expired, the Wildcats conceded a safety to make the score stand at 45-6 in favour of the Hilltops.

The Wildcats rounded out the game’s scoring in the fourth quarter with a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Marcos Soltero. He hit receivers Mekhi Tyrell with a 15-yard scoring toss and Gabe Hiebert with a nine-yard pass for a major. Edmonton was unsuccessful in going for a two-point conversion after Tyrell’s touchdown catch.

Kai Kukurudza forces a fumble for the Hilltops.

“The Wildcats came out, and they had a good game plan, and they exposed us in certain areas,” said Sargeant. “The coaches did a good job.

“We started a little slow. Then, we hunkered down, and we went out there and played good hard-nosed football.”

Reider completed 15-of-22 passes for 278 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Douglas hauled in seven passes for 109 yards to go with his three receiving scores. Xander Pierce caught three passes for 90 yards for the Hilltops.

Soltero completed 27-of-38 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions. Tyrell caught nine passes for 125 yards to go with his major score. Mark Mryglod caught six passes for 105 yards for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats posted just 25 yards rushing as a team in the game.

Justin Adamko returns an interception for the Hilltops.

Linebackers Isaac Michayluk and Noah Gedir each had 5.5 total tackles for the Hilltops. Gedir also recovered one fumble. Defensive end Kai Kukurudza 3.5 total tackles, one quarterback sack, one pass knockdown and one forced fumble.

Defensive end Ryan Adamko had one quarterback sack, while defensive backs Justin Adamko and Nate Gallant each had one interception.

Hilltops kicker/punter Teijon Abel-Douglas recovered one of his own punts to keep a series alive.

Linebacker Tyson Krushelniski led the Wildcats with 8.5 total tackles and forced one fumble. Defensive back Aidan Bonnet had a fumble recovery for Edmonton.

The Hilltops return to action this coming Saturday when they host their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder (5-1) at 7 p.m. at SMF Field. If the Hilltops win that contest, they clinch first place in the PFC and home field advantage through the CJFL playoffs until reaching the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl.

The Adamko family poses for a picture after Sunday’s game.

“We’re not worried about that,” said Sargeant. “We’re just worried about coming out next week and playing our best game of the year.

“It will be game seven. What is Regina? It is our archrival, so we’re not going to get worked up about first place or any of that stuff.

“We just want to come out and play better than what we played this week. That is the bottom line. One day at a time.”

Clark to appear at End Zone Scholarship Dinner

Dan Clark calls signals for the Roughriders in 2019.

Dan Clark will be the special guest at the Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner set for September 28.

Clark was a star centre for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2009 to 2022. He was on the Roughriders practice roster in 2009 and 2010 and was on the main roster from 2011 to 2022 appearing in 131 games. During his years on the Roughriders practice roster, Clark was playing for the CJFL’s Regina Thunder.

Clark gained fame catching an eight-yard touchdown pass from legendary Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant in a 37-0 romp over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a game played at historic Taylor Field on July 21, 2013. Following that contest, Clark and the Roughriders would later win the Grey Cup with a 45-23 victory over the Tigers-Cats on November 24, 2013 at Taylor Field.

In 2019, Clark was the unanimous selection as the Saskatchewan Roughriders Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. He was also named a CFL all-star.

The Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner will be held in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located at the south end of Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The doors for the dinner will open at 4:15 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5 p.m.

The presenting sponsors of the event are TCU Financial and SaskTel. It is hosted in conjunction with the Hilltops community partners in the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation. The official beverage sponsor is the Crossmount Cider Company.

All proceeds of the event go towards the Saskatoon Hilltop Scholarship Fund.

Single tickets for the event are $100, and a table of eight goes for $725. Ticket purchases include admission to that night’s CJFL regular season contest between the Hilltops and the Regina Thunder set for 7 p.m. at SMF Field. Tickets for the End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

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

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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. 

“Pound the rock!” – Hilltops wise to keep focus on running game

Hilltops RB Corbin Ebben makes a jump cut past a defender.

By tradition, the Saskatoon Hilltops have always strived for balance on offence, but they are synonymous with the power running game in their history.

While the Hilltops overall are having a strong season running the ball, there have been a couple of hiccups that have caused concern. In their 38-13 regular season opening victory at Saskatoon Minor Football Field over the Edmonton Huskies, the Hilltops as a team posted 116 yards rushing coming off 25 carries.

That included rushing touchdowns from quarterback Trey Reider from 41 and six yards out and a one rushing plunge from power running back Corbin Ebben. Ebben topped the team with 60 yards rushing as an individual, but it is rare when the Hilltops don’t have a player record at least 100 yards rushing in a game.

On September 7 taking on the Thunder in Regina at Mosaic Stadium, the Hilltops collected only 78 yards rushing as a team on 26 carries for their fourth regular season outing. Reider recorded the lone major on the ground from five yards out on a scramble out of trouble run.

The Hilltops prevailed 29-15 thanks to Reider’s passing. He completed 17-of-27 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing one interception.

Out of the Hilltops first four contests, they had two outings where their running game wasn’t up to their sturdy form. Following their CJFL championship win last season, the Hilltops graduated star power running back Boston Davidsen, who closed out his junior football career with back-to-back regular season of rushing for 1,000 or more yards.

One had to wonder if the Hilltops running game was taking a step backwards due to the fact Davidsen was no longer with the team.

Last Sunday, the Hilltops did their best to work out their struggles on the ground against the winless Winnipeg Rifles. In a 57-14 romp, the Hilltops as a team ran the ball 34 times for 253 yards and five touchdowns.

Corbin Ebben, left, celebrates scoring a TD for the Hilltops.

Ebben led the way for the Hilltops on the ground carrying the ball 17 times for 132 yards and one touchdown. Saskatoon’s rushing statistics also got a boost in that contest from a 70-yard run by backup fourth-year quarterback Brexton Elias.

The Hilltops running attack looked like it was back in form as the team improved 5-0. They will aim to keep perfecting their work on the ground this coming Sunday as they host the Edmonton Wildcats (0-5) at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Wildcats need to win to keep their post-season hopes alive.

Ebben currently sits second in the Prairie Football Conference with 470 yards rushing coming off 80 carries. He has reached the end zone on the ground three times.

On Wednesday, Ebben, who is in his third-year of CJFL eligibility, was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week for his efforts in the Hilltops latest victory of the season over the Rifles. On top of his rushing totals, Ebben had one catch for 15 yards against Winnipeg last Sunday. 

On the season, the 20-year-old has caught 10 passes for 102 yards and three touchdowns. He has been named the offensive player of the week for the PFC twice.

Ebben, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 205 pounds, is one of the most popular players in the Hilltops dressing room, because he brings a strong work ethic into every practice and game. The graduate of the Delisle Composite High School Rebels nine-a-side football program is really coachable too. He missed time in the second half of the 2023 regular season due to injury, but he made it back for the post-season.

Still, the Hilltops were hoping to get the ball a little more than they did to Ebben in 2023. One wonders if those missed repetitions with the ball by Ebben might have contributed to a slower start on the ground.

Ebben did record his first 100-yard rushing game of the campaign in the Hilltops second regular season contest on August 18, when they downed the Rifles in Winnipeg 47-1. He ran the ball 20 times for 104 yards and one touchdown in that contest.

The Hilltops have always aimed to be 50/50 team on offence, because they are playing football in Canada. When the temperatures get colder at the end of the regular season and through the post-season, the elements often force teams to have success running the ball.

Last season, the snow and cold was only a partial concern for the team. The Hilltops had to win a pair of games in absolute monsoon like rainy conditions.

Corbin Ebben sits second in the PFC with 470 yards rushing.

On September 30, 2023 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops grinded out a 19-10 victory over the Thunder. In a constant downpour, the Hilltops won by running the ball 40 times for 152 yards.

In the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – played on November 11, 2023 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., against the Westshore Rebels, the Hilltops again played in rain that came down in Biblical proportions. Saskatoon posted a 17-10 victory for a 23^rd CJFL title in team history. As a team, the Hilltops ran the ball 30 times for 187 yards and one touchdown.

While the weather calls for a mix of sun and could and a high of 20 C for the Hilltops upcoming home clash against the Wildcats, you never know when Mother Nature is going to add a surprise in the contests that follow.

Due to that possibility, the Hilltops are wise to keep their focus on continually improving their game on the ground.

Clark to appear at End Zone Scholarship Dinner, other notes

Dan Clark calls signals for the Roughriders in 2019.

Dan Clark will be the special guest at the Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner set for September 28.

Clark was a star centre for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2009 to 2022. He was on the Roughriders practice roster in 2009 and 2010 and was on the main roster from 2011 to 2022 appearing in 131 games. During his years on the Roughriders practice roster, Clark was playing for the CJFL’s Regina Thunder.

Clark gained fame catching an eight-yard touchdown pass from legendary Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant in a 37-0 romp over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a game played at historic Taylor Field on July 21, 2013. Following that contest, Clark and the Roughriders would later win the Grey Cup with a 45-23 victory over the Tigers-Cats on November 24, 2013 at Taylor Field.

In 2019, Clark was the unanimous selection as the Saskatchewan Roughriders Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. He was also named a CFL all-star.

The Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner will be held in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located at the south end of Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The doors for the dinner will open at 4:15 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5 p.m.

The presenting sponsors of the event are TCU Financial and SaskTel. It is hosted in conjunction with the Hilltops community partners in the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation. The official beverage sponsor is the Crossmount Cider Company.

All proceeds of the event go towards the Saskatoon Hilltop Scholarship Fund.

Single tickets for the event are $100, and a table of eight goes for $725. Ticket purchases include admission to that night’s CJFL regular season contest between the Hilltops and the Regina Thunder set for 7 p.m. at SMF Field. Tickets for the End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

• On Wednesday, Calgary Colts defensive back Cody Anglo was name the PFC’s defensive player of the week for his performance in his team’s 24-16 victory over the visiting Edmonton Huskies at Shouldice Athletic Park. Anglo recorded seven defensive solo tackles, four defensive tackle assists, one special teams solo tackle, two pass knockdowns and one interception.
• On Wednesday, Regina Thunder linebacker Devin Baumann was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week for his performance in his club’s 51-16 victory over the visiting Edmonton Wildcats at Leibel Field. Baumann blocked two punts and recovered one for a touchdown to go along with two special teams tackle assists.
• The Saskatoon Hilltops topped the CJFL’s Top 10 Power Rankings that were released on Thursday. The Regina Thunder were rated fourth, the Calgary Colts placed eighth and the Edmonton Huskies came in at 10^th.
• The Saskatoon Hilltops are wearing decals on the back of their helmets to honour the memory of long time director Jeff Gould. Gould passed away on August 26 at age 73 due to complications following a recent cancer diagnosis. Gould was serving in his 15^th year as a Hilltops director and was the team’s game day convener and was also a vice-president of the PFC. Gould also held roles in the past as the Hilltops manager and team president.
• The Winnipeg Rifles (0-5) need to beat the Calgary Colts (3-2) in order to keep their post-season hopes alive. The two squads meet at 1 p.m. local time on Sunday at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg.
• Rob Vanstone, who is the senior journalist and team historian of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, put together a fabulous piece on Saskatoon Hilltops power running back Corbin Ebben. The feature goes into Ebben’s beginnings in the sport of football with the Delisle Composite High School Rebels nine-a-side team. That piece can be found by clicking right here.
• Darren Zary, who is outstanding forever sports writer at the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, put together a great emotional piece on legendary Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant undergoing open-heart, double-bypass surgery this past March. After the surgery, Sargeant successes in being able to return to the Hilltops sidelines for the start of the current campaign. That piece can be found by clicking right here.

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

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Fountaine finding his groove with storied Hilltops

Second-year playmaker delivers two TDs in 57-14 win

Datiel Fountaine (#5) gives a Rifles defensive back the slip.

Datiel Fountaine wasn’t looking for superstition, but if something superstitious comes up that works, he believes you have to go with it.

The second-year receiver cracked into the Hilltops starting lineup this season, but he admitted he began the campaign dealing with issues with consistency. Before the Hilltops third regular season game on their CJFL schedule on August 25 against the Colts in Calgary, Fountaine found a good luck charm doing something random, which 19-year-olds will do from time to time.

“Funny story, I put this little barricade sticker on my back of my back plate,” said Fountaine. “Ever since then, I’ve been scoring every day, so it is awesome.

Datiel Fountaine returns the opening kickoff 95 yards for a TD.

“Honestly, I just thought it was a cool sticker, so I was like I’m going to put this on my back plate. Ever since then, I’ve scored every single game.”

Against the Colts, Fountaine hauled in his first two touchdown catches of the season in a 52-19 victory. He followed that effort up by hauling another touchdown in the Hilltops 29-15 triumph over the Thunder in Regina on September 7.

On Sunday, the Hilltops hosted their first home game in over a month taking on the visiting Winnipeg Rifles at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Fountaine provided early fireworks running the opening kickoff back 95 yards up the middle of the field to put the Hilltops up 7-0 to an appreciative roar from the 989 spectators in attendance.

Datiel Fountaine caught three passes for 36 yards and one TD.

With 2:22 remaining in the third quarter, Fountaine hauled in a quick hitter pass from Hilltops star quarterback Trey Reider and easily crossed the goal-line from a yard out for his second major of the contest to put the host side up 42-6 at that point in the contest.

The Hilltops, who are the defending CJFL champions, would fire on all cylinders rolling to a 57-14 victory to improve to 5-0 on the campaign to remain first in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference. Saskatoon also officially locked up a berth in the CJFL post-season with their win on Sunday. The Rifles fell to 0-5 with the loss.

Fountaine was pumped to start Sunday’s contest running back the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. He said his blockers created an opportunity where he just had to make a straight sprint to the end zone.

Datiel Fountaine was named the PFC’s top rookie in 2023.

“Honestly, it was surreal,” said Fountaine, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 195 pounds. “It was a great feeling.

“You just saw a big old gap and ran straight through it. It was a very good feeling inside. I want to make ‘Sarge’ proud.

“That is all I’m here for.”

Before joining the Hilltops, Fountaine caught passes for the Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders Football Team. At the time Fountaine attended Walter Murray Collegiate, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant served as the school’s principal.

Datiel Fountaine has five touchdowns in his last three games.

As Fountaine talks, it quickly becomes obvious that it means a lot to be able to play for Sargeant. The pass catcher said his touchdown reception in the third quarter came due to the decisions made by Sargeant and the team’s offensive coordinator in Shane Reider.

“That was awesome,” said Fountaine of his one-yard touchdown catch. “I came to the sideline to see ‘Sarge.’

“He is like, ‘You’re welcome.’ I was like he is like giving me a gimme. It was amazing honestly.

“I like scoring touchdowns obviously, so it was awesome.”

As a rookie in 2023, Fountaine turned heads by making flash acrobatic and athletic catches hitting the field as an extra receiver on pass heavy formations. He finished the campaign hauling in seven passes for 107 yards and one touchdown. Fountaine was named the top rookie receiver in the PFC.

Datiel Fountaine smiles after scoring on a one-yard TD catch.

Sargeant has been pleased with the progress Fountaine has made in his short time with the Hilltops.

“He (Fountaine) is developing,” said Sargeant. “For a second-year player, his ceiling is so high, and you are just seeing each week the production.

“We’re looking for different ways to give him the ball, and he is making a play. As I said, the sky is the limit. We know Drake (Douglas) is our number one, but he (Fountaine) is a guy the defence has got to start preparing for and know where he is at.”

Fountaine believed some of his consistency struggles likely came from getting used to being a starter. He said that it is different being in a starting role versus being part of a receiver heavy offensive package that comes into the game for situational play.

Trey Reider (#3) threw two TD passes for the Hilltops.

He has enjoyed the short time he has been a member of the Hilltops and playing with and hanging with his teammates. For him, there has been someone missing when he takes the field.

So far this season, Hilltops fourth-year star receiver Noah Flaman hasn’t been able to play due to injury. Fountaine is looking forward to the day Flaman gets back on the field to give the Hilltops offence more of a boost.

“I think that would be amazing when Noah (Flaman) comes back,” said Fountaine, who caught three passes for 36 yards on Sunday. “There will be more touchdowns for us obviously.

“Noah (Flaman) will be great. I love that boy to bits.”

Drake Douglas caught eight passes for 113 yards on Sunday.

As the Hilltops move on in the current campaign, Fountaine wants to keep rolling in the groove he has going and seeing what prospects the future brings.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Fountaine. “I want another championship, maybe another all-star, so I have to go get that.”

After the Hilltops took a 7-0 lead in Sunday’s clash with the Rifles on Fountaine’s opening kickoff return touchdown, the Rifles responded with a pair of field goals coming from 39 and 22 yards out off the leg of kicker Evan Guercio. Those boots trimmed the host side’s edge to 7-6 by the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Hilltops safety Dalton Urban intercepted Rifles quarterback Josh Charison allowing Saskatoon to start an offensive drive deep in Winnipeg’s end of the field. 

Corbin Ebben carried the ball 17 times for 132 yards and one TD.

The Hilltops proceeded to put together a short touchdown drive that was capped by a one-yard rushing plunge from defensive tackle Ryan Adamko on a heavy goal-line package. Adamko’s major pushed the Hilltops lead out to 14-6.

Just over four minutes later, Trey Reider hit offensive tackle Jeremy Funk with a two yard touchdown pass from a heavy goal-line package to give the Hilltops a 21-6 lead. With 36.7 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Hilltops power running back Corbin Ebben ran home a major from 33 yards out to put the Hilltops up 28-6.

The Hilltops rolled off another 21 straight points in the third to push their advantage out to 49-6. Reider ran in a touchdown from a yard out, Fountaine followed with his one-yard touchdown catch and Urban scooped up a fumble and ran it back 39 yards for a defensive major score.

Jace Mowles secures an interception for the Hilltops.

Saskatoon opened the fourth quarter getting a missed field goal single from 23 yards out from kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas to hold a 50-6 lead.

With 6:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Rifles got a major as Charison connected with receiver Asher Neufeld with a seven-yard touchdown pass. Charison proceeded throw a five-yard pass to running back Kaiden Banfield to trim the Hilltops lead to 50-14.

Saskatoon rounded out the game’s scoring with 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter when back-up quarterback Charlie Molder scored a touchdown on a one-yard quarterback sneak making the final score 57-14 in favour of the Hilltops.

“We got to build capacity,” said Sargeant. “We got a lot of players in.

Dalton Urban returns a fumble for a touchdown for the Hilltops.

“We had I think five new starters in from last week. We are hit with the injury bug a little bit. I am pretty happy with the performance.

“The offence sort of woke up after the first three series. Coach (Shane) Reider made some real good calls, and the player executed well. All in all, I am pretty happy with the process today.”

Trey Reider completed 17-of-22 passes for 169 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He ran the ball three times for six yards to go with his major on the ground. Douglas hauled in eight passes for 111 yards, which were game highs in both departments.

Ebben carried the ball 17 for 132 yards to go with his major score on the ground. He also caught one pass for 15 yards.

Ryan Adamko (#65) scores a TD on a one-yard plunge.

Charison completed 24-of-39 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown, while throwing four interceptions. Neufeld caught five passes for a Winnipeg team high 48 yards to go with his major score. Banfield led the Rifles with 62 yards rushing on 15 carries to go with five catches for 32 yards.

Hilltops defensive backs Isaac Rivalin, Jace Mowles and Preston Van Damme each had one interception. Saskatoon defensive tackle Nahom Menghestab had a quarterback sack, and defensive end Noah Chelsom led the hosts with six solo defensive tackles.

Defensive back Ronin Francis topped the Rifles with 6 total tackles. Winnipeg outside linebacker Cohen Mccluskey had a quarterback sack, while middle linebacker Kresten Neufeld had one punt block and one fumble recovery.

The Hilltops enjoyed making a lot of big plays on Sunday.

“I felt Dalton Urban was just such a presence on the field today,” said Sargeant. “He is just around the ball all day.

“The front seven was solid. We knew thirty-four (Banfield) is their top player, so we had to contain him. Defensively, we’ve been pretty much on point all year, and we’ve been really tough to score against.”

 The Hilltops return to action this coming Sunday when they host the Edmonton Wildcats (0-5) at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

Clark to appear at End Zone Scholarship Dinner

Dan Clark calls signals for the Roughriders in 2019.

Dan Clark will be the special guest at the Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner set for September 28.

Clark was a star centre for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2009 to 2022. He was on the Roughriders practice roster in 2009 and 2010 and was on the main roster from 2011 to 2022 appearing in 131 games. During his years on the Roughriders practice roster, Clark was playing for the CJFL’s Regina Thunder.

Clark gained fame catching an eight-yard touchdown pass from legendary Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant in a 37-0 romp over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a game played at historic Taylor Field on July 21, 2013. Following that contest, Clark and the Roughriders would later win the Grey Cup with a 45-23 victory over the Tigers-Cats on November 24, 2013 at Taylor Field.

In 2019, Clark was the unanimous selection as the Saskatchewan Roughriders Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. He was also named a CFL all-star.

The Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner will be held in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located at the south end of Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The doors for the dinner will open at 4:15 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5 p.m.

The presenting sponsors of the event are TCU Financial and SaskTel. It is hosted in conjunction with the Hilltops community partners in the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation. The official beverage sponsor is the Crossmount Cider Company.

All proceeds of the event go towards the Saskatoon Hilltop Scholarship Fund.

Single tickets for the event are $100, and a table of eight goes for $725. Ticket purchases include admission to that night’s CJFL regular season contest between the Hilltops and the Regina Thunder set for 7 p.m. at SMF Field. Tickets for the End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

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

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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.

Undeniable - Hilltops’ Douglas is one of the CJFL’s best

Drake Douglas has made lots of dynamic plays for the Hilltops.

The Saskatoon Hilltops will never be confused with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

The Hilltops, who are the CJFL’s most storied team, pride themselves on being workmanlike and humble. Players that have overflowing amounts of talent don’t draw attention to themselves, and they work on being great persons off the field.

The late Chase Bradshaw goes down as one of the biggest examples of this image. He was a Hilltops quarterback from 2007 to 2011. He was a backup on the Hilltops 2007 CJFL championship winning club and the star starter on the 2010 and 2011 CJFL championship winners.

He was the athlete who had the rocket arm and could get out of trouble with his legs thanks to his agility and blazing speed. You would be hard pressed to get Bradshaw to talk about himself, but when you saw his work on the field, his talent was undeniable.

Star players with the NFL’s Cowboys are often viewed as showman types that like the spotlight, and they will bombard you with talking about how great they are. Pro Football Hall of Fame receivers Michael Irvin and Drew Pearson exemplify the image of the classic Cowboys players.

The Hilltops do not like to do the showman thing, so this next line might get uncomfortable.

Drake Douglas is worth the price of admission of any game he plays in.

The graduate of Regina’s Balfour Collegiate Bears Football Team, has been that good and that entertaining to watch.

Douglas and the Hilltops (4-0) are set to finally play at home again on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Winnipeg Rifles (0-4) at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The last time the Hilltops played at home was for their regular season opener way back on August 11, when they downed the Edmonton Huskies 38-13 at SMF Field.

Douglas has had a blazing start to his final CJFL campaign. The 22-year-old star receiver leads the Prairie Football Conference in pass receptions (27), receiving yard (504) and receiving touchdowns (five). He also leads the PFC in punt return yards at 268 and is tied for punt return attempts at 24.

On the receiving side, Douglas, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 185 pounds, is on pace that he could possibly surpass the 1,000-yard receiving plateau in the regular season. No Hilltops player has ever hit 1,000 yards receiving in one regular season and that feat has happened less than 20 times in the history of the CJFL.

Slater Zaleski, who played for the Edmonton Huskies, holds the PFC record for receiving yards in one regular season with 1,064 yards coming back in 1987 in an eight-game regular season. 

Drake Douglas has 504 yards receiving in four games in 2024.

Michael Schaper, who played for the Vancouver Island Raiders, holds the CJFL record with 1,179 receiving yards in one regular season coming in a 10-game regular season played by the British Columbia Football Conference in 2010.

The CJFL’s career regular season record for receiving yards is held by Hilltops all-time great Andrew Busby, who piled up 3,109 receiving yards from 2004 to 2008. Busby holds the Hilltops record for most receiving yards in one season when he caught 73 passes for 974 yards and nine touchdowns in 2006.

On Tuesday, Douglas was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week for his efforts in the Hilltops 29-15 victory over the Thunder in Regina on Saturday, Sept. 7. 

In that contest, Douglas caught 10 passes for 185 yards and one touchdown. He also returned six punts for 39 yards for the defensive CJFL champions, who are still rated first in the CJFL’s latest Top 10 Power Rankings.

On Thursday, the CJFL put together a graphic with Douglas being the top receiver for the first half of the campaign.

To go along with his efforts as a receiver and punt returner, Douglas is the Hilltops holder for field goal attempts on special teams. Off a fake field goal, Douglas threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to power running back Corbin Ebben in a 52-19 victory over the Colts in Calgary on August 25.

The Hilltops will mix things up in their running game and get the ball to Douglas on a jet sweep or other similar style running plays.

Douglas has been outstanding in all aspects of the game. As a receiver, quarterbacks can throw to him when he is covered. If a pass in his direction is off target, Douglas makes the one-handed stab catch to pull in the reception.

When he was growing up, Douglas’s favourite receiver with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders was Naaman Roosevelt, and Douglas certainly mirrors Roosevelt’s consistency. On the excitement creating side, Douglas is the Hilltops version of Roughriders legend Weston Dressler, who was formally inducted to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame on Friday night.

Douglas is humble. When he settled in Saskatoon to be part of the working world in 2002, his football career was revived when his highlight packaged was emailed off by older brother Brayden to legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. Sargeant gave Drake a call and the rest is still becoming history.

While Douglas has a shot to become the first Hilltops receiver to hit 1,000 yards receiving in one regular season, that accomplishment still possibly might not happen. The storied CJFL club is always looking to the future, and the Hilltops usually empty their bench to get their younger reserve players playing time.

Drake Douglas was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week.

Jordan Walls, who was a Hilltops quarterback on their CJFL championship teams from 2014 to 2018 including being the star starter in 2017 and 2018, often said the Hilltops are not about individual statistics. In Walls final season in 2018, the Hilltops went 11-0 with the closest margin of victory being 19 points.

In most games in that campaign, the starters were off the field shortly after halftime due to the sizeable lead the Saskatoon side had. If the Hilltops would have left their starters in for three quarters or three and a half quarters, they could have potentially rocked a number of individual CJFL records that year.

With that in mind, you can expect Douglas is going to make a lot of special plays for the rest of 2024 campaign. If you don’t have a ticket to a Hilltops game Douglas is playing in, you will be missing out.

Mowles gets player of the week nod

Jace Mowles was the PFC’s defensive player of the week.

Saskatoon Hilltops cornerback Jace Mowles had his biggest game of the year and it resulted in a CJFL weekly award.

On Tuesday, Mowles was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week for his outstanding performance in the Hilltops 29-15 over the Thunder in Regina on Saturday, September 7. In that contest, Mowles, who is in his fourth year of CJFL eligibility, intercepted a pair passes and recorded three solo defensive tackles, three defensive tackle assists and one pass knockdown.

On the season, Mowles, who is a graduate of Saskatoon’s Walter Murray Collegiate Marauders Football Team, has recorded five solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists, three special teams solo tackles, one special teams tackle assist, two interceptions and one pass knockdown.

Sargeant records 240^th win as Hilltops head coach

Tom Sargeant has 240 career wins as Hilltops head coach.

Legendary Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant keeps collecting milestones as each season moves on.

When the Hilltops downed the Thunder in Regina 29-15 on Saturday, September 7, Sargeant earned his 240 career victory as Hilltops head coach. Sargeant became the Hilltops head coach in early December of 1997, and he has a 240-37-2 career record working the team’s sidelines.

His career record includes posting a 178-26-2 mark in the regular season and a 62-11 mark in the post-season. Sergeant is the all-time leader in career head coaching victories in Canada’s amateur post-secondary ranks.

The Hilltops, who are the defending CJFL champions, have won 14 CJFL titles with Sargeant as head coach. Sargeant also helped the Hilltops win two CJFL championships as an assistant coach and one CJFL title as a player. He was a Hilltops assistant coach from 1991 to 1997 and a player from 1983 to 1985 and 1987 having spent the 1986 campaign with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team.

Glen Constantin, who is the head coach of the ultra-powerful Laval Rouge et Or in the U Sports ranks, is second all-time in career head coaching victories in Canada’s amateur post-secondary ranks. Constantin picked up his 212^th career victory on Saturday as the Rouge et Or thumped the host McGill University Redbirds 45-12 at Percival Molson Stadium in Montreal, Quebec. The Rouge et Or improved to 3-0 with the victory.

Constantin served as the Rouge et Or’s defensive coordinator from the team’s inaugural campaign in 1996 to 2000 and has been the squad’s head coach since 2001. As the team’s head coach, Constantin has posted a career record of 212-38 which includes a 155-27 mark in the regular season and a 57-11 record in the U Sports post-season.

The Rouge et Or have won 10 of their 11 Vanier Cup titles as U Sports champions with Constantin as head coach.

Frank McCrystal sits third in career head coaching victories in Canada’s amateur post-secondary ranks at 208 serving as head coach of the Regina Rams from 1984 to 2014. McCrystal piled up his win total during the Rams final 15 seasons in the CJFL from 1984 to 1998 and the Rams first 16 season in the U Sports ranks as the University of Regina Rams from 1999 to 2014.

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

In U Sports, McCrystal posted a 60-67-1 record in the regular season and a 7-12 record in the post-season as 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.

Combining his records from the CJFL and U Sports, McCrystal posted a 208-104-2 mark as Rams head coach.

Clark to appear at End Zone Scholarship Dinner, other notes

Dan Clark calls signals for the Roughriders in 2019.

Dan Clark will be the special guest at the Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner set for September 28.

Clark was a star centre for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2009 to 2022. He was on the Roughriders practice roster in 2009 and 2010 and was on the main roster from 2011 to 2022 appearing in 131 games. During his years on the Roughriders practice roster, Clark was playing for the CJFL’s Regina Thunder.

Clark gained fame catching an eight-yard touchdown pass from legendary Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant in a 37-0 romp over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a game played at historic Taylor Field on July 21, 2013. Following that contest, Clark and the Roughriders would later win the Grey Cup with a 45-23 victory over the Tigers-Cats on November 24, 2013 at Taylor Field.

In 2019, Clark was the unanimous selection as the Saskatchewan Roughriders Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. He was also named a CFL all-star.

The Annual Hilltops End Zone Scholarship Dinner will be held in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located at the south end of Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The doors for the dinner will open at 4:15 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5 p.m.

The presenting sponsors of the event are TCU Financial and SaskTel. It is hosted in conjunction with the Hilltops community partners in the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation. The official beverage sponsor is the Crossmount Cider Company.

All proceeds of the event go towards the Saskatoon Hilltop Scholarship Fund.

Single tickets for the event are $100, and a table of eight goes for $725. Ticket purchases include admission to that night’s CJFL regular season contest between the Hilltops and the Regina Thunder set for 7 p.m. at SMF Field. Tickets for the End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

• On Thursday, the CJFL put up graphics for Hilltops star quarterback Trey Reider being the most valuable player and the top quarterback for the first half of the PFC’s regular season. A graphic was made for Regina Thunder running back Sadik Sadik being the top rusher and for Winnipeg Rifles linebacker Kyler Banfield for being the top defender.
• On Tuesday, Calgary Colts kicker/punter Robert Lasebnik was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week for his work in his team’s 36-30 victory over the host Edmonton Wildcats at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta, last Sunday. Lasebnik punted the ball nine times for an average of 40.7 yards per punt and kicked the ball off six times for an average of 55.7 yards per kick. He also hit five one-point converts for the Colts.
• On Monday, I had new content appear on the Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I put together a feature on Aulain Penner, who is the star running back of Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School Crusaders Football Team. Penner is one of Saskatoon’s most exciting high school players. That piece can be found by clicking right here. I also put together a photo roundup that is anchored by pictures from Softball Canada’s Men’s and Master Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship tournaments that were played on the diamonds at the Complex. It also includes other photos from baseball, football and softball. That post can be found by clicking right here.

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

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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.