Thunder snatch victory away from Hilltops

Regina pulls out 29-21 OT win in miraculous fashion

Ryland Leichert (#32) scores the OT winning TD for the Thunder.

The Regina Thunder pulled a game that was seemingly lost out of the fire leaving the Saskatoon Hilltops to wonder what might have been.

On Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops saw a 21-14 advantage disappear right before the end of the fourth quarter as the Thunder scored to force overtime and proceeded to pull out the CJFL regular season clash in the extra session 29-21 before 1,477 spectators.

Thunder star running back Ryland Leichert ran home the winning touchdown from 15 yards out in overtime, and Regina star quarterback Carter Shewchuk hit star receiver Isaac Foord with a pass for a two-point convert to round out the final outcome.

Ryland Leichert (#32) had 139 yards rushing for the Thunder.

“Shoutout to the O-linemen,” said Leichert. “They had great blocks.

“They made a hole for me. I just hit it. A lot of that goes to them.

“It just feels good to get the win.”

With less than two minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Hilltops defensive back Dylan Cook recovered a Thunder fumble to set Saskatoon up with an offensive possession just inside Regina’s side of midfield. The host Hilltops led the Thunder 21-14 and were looking to run out the clock.

The Hilltops offence went two and out. After a punt by Saskatoon kicker Connor Green, the Thunder had the ball with just over a minute to play deep in their end with no timeouts.

Carter Shewchuk threw for 319 yards for the Thunder.

Very quickly, Shewchuk connected on a number of intermediate routes to move the ball downfield. The visitors would then find themselves facing a third-and-eight situation from the Saskatoon 31 yard line.

Shewchuk proceed to throw a duck pass that seemed destined to fall incomplete on the Saskatoon five yard line on the right side of the field. Thunder star receiver Isaiah Woodley, who was running a go route down the right sideline, broke to the middle, and he hauled in the underthrown and wobbly pass.

Woodley then zipped in to the end zone for the touchdown that evened the score at 21-21 with 16.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and ultimately forced overtime.

Isaiah Woodley celebrates his late fourth quarter TD catch.

In overtime, the CJFL plays CFL shootout rules, where offences scrimmage from the opposing 35 yard line attempting to drive the short distance for a score and teams have to go for two-point conversions after major scores. The Hilltops got the first possession in overtime and got down to the Regina six yard line after quarterback Damon Dutton hit Lachlan Horsley with a 29-yard pass.

The Hilltops drive stalled and a third down gamble pass to Horsley in the end zone fell incomplete.

That set the stage for Leichert to put up the winning points on the Thunder’s ensuing possession.

“We got a little too high,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, whose team will face the Thunder again this coming Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. “We still struggle in moments and situations, and that seems to be the flavor of this team right now.

Hilltops R Lachlan Horsley, left, had nine catches for 122 yards.

“At the end of the day, that falls directly on me. Preparation is half the battle. At the end of the day, we didn’t close the game, which has been a theme.

“Regina wanted it more than we did at the end. That was pretty simple. Good for Regina, and we’ll see them next week.”

The Hilltops opened the game’s scoring in the first quarter going up 3-0 with a 12-yard field goal from Green. Just 61 seconds into the second quarter, the Thunder evened things up at 3-3 with a 32-yard field goal from star kicker Eric Maximuik.

At the 5:06 mark of the second quarter, Dutton hit Hilltops backup running back Tanner Szakacs with a nine-yard touchdown pass to give the hosts a 10-3 advantage heading into halftime.

Charles Sawi, left, returns a missed field goal 125 yards for a TD.

Green booted the second half kickoff into the Thunder end zone, where it was downed for a single point to increase the Hilltops lead to 11-3. 

At the 5:30 mark of the third quarter, Green hit a 39-yard field goal to increase the Hilltops advantage to 14-3.

With 1:40 remaining in the third quarter, Thunder running back Keane Szabo dove into the Saskatoon end zone from a yard out for a touchdown. Following Szabo’s major score, Shewchuk hit Leichert with a five yard pass for a two-point conversion that trimmed Saskatoon’s lead to 14-11.

Boston Davidsen (#24) had 128 yards rushing for the Hilltops.

Early in the fourth quarter, Maximuik attempted a 45 yard field goal to pull the Thunder even on the scoreboard. His kick sailed wide, and Hilltops 17-year-old rookie running back Charles Sawi ran the ball back 125 yards the other way for a touchdown to give Saskatoon a 21-11 edge.

With 6:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, Maximuik connected on a field goal from 31 yards out that cut the Hilltops lead to 21-14. That set the stage for the dramatics inside the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime.

“It didn’t end the way we want it to,” said Hilltops defensive end Daylen Hartz, who had a sack and three total tackles on Saturday. “The fun thing is that we get to play them again next week too.”

The Hilltops celebrate an interception from Konner Johnson.

Hartz said the Hilltops missed a lot of opportunities in key situations that would have helped them win the game. The veteran, who is in his final season of CJFL eligibility, said his will continue to work on getting better in practice to cash in on those missed opportunities.

“There were a lot of things everyone could have done a bit better,” said Hartz. “That is what this next week is for.

“A chip on the shoulder helps with working a bit harder, and I think we’re definitely going to be working a bit harder this week.”

During Saturday’s game, Dutton completed 19-of-32 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown, while throwing one interception. Horsley caught nine passes for 122 yards to lead the Hilltops in receiving.

Damon Dutton (#19) threw for 268 yards for the Hilltops.

Star power running back Boston Davidsen led the Hilltops on the ground carrying the ball 24 times for 128 yards.

Shewchuk completed 27-of-42 passes for 328 yards and one touchdown, while throwing two interceptions for the Thunder. Foord led the Thunder in receiving with eight catches for 127 yards.

Leichert paced the Thunder’s ground game carrying the ball 19 times for 91 yards to go with his game-winning major score. He said Saturday’s win improved his team’s confidence about pulling out games in desperate situations.

“I think that just goes to show our confidence and our effort,” said Leichert. “That is how we play all season.

“There is not going to be a game where it is not over. We’re going to be playing hard until the whistle blows. That is our mentality.”

Isaac Foord (#8) had eight catches for 127 yards for the Thunder.

Defensively, Hilltops star outside linebacker Konner Johnson had eight total tackles, two pass knockdowns and an interception. Defensive end Riece Kack had eight total tackles and one sack for the Hilltops, while defensive back Justin Adamko had an interception.

Thunder defensive back Adam King led his team with nine total tackles. Linebacker Kenten Effa had 7.5 total tackles and a sack for the Thunder, while defensive back Justin McKerracher had four total tackles and an interception for the Regina side.

Regina remained undefeated with the win improving to 4-0, while the Hilltops fell to 2-2 having lost two straight.

The Thunder celebrate their game-winning score on Saturday.

“At the end of the day, we have to get back to drawing board, and we have to figure out how to become more effective as a football team in all three phases,” said Sargeant. “At the end of the day, third and eight the defence could have won the game right there too.

“We didn’t. They made more plays. They were a better football team tonight.”

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Football all about brains and brawn for Hilltops’ Hartz

Daylen Hartz has rounded into top form for the Hilltops.

Daylen Hartz said you need to have both brains and brawn, when it comes to playing football.

The defensive end has become a force on the defensive line with the Saskatoon Hilltops. While Hartz enjoys slugging it out in the trenches against offensive linemen and hitting quarterbacks and running backs, he is mindful of tactics and game plans used in the sport.

That includes figuring out ways to beat blocking schemes that are used against him in line play to overall defensive schemes that are used to stop various plays and looks opposing offences comes up with.

“It is not always about contact,” said Hartz, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 245 pounds. “It is the strategy behind everything too.

“It is almost like the chess of sports. Every move has strategy behind it. You’re trying to like counteract each other with what they are doing, but also hitting is fun too.”

Strategy could play a part in the Hilltops (1-0) upcoming game when they host the Edmonton Huskies (1-0) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The last time these two clubs played was in a PFC semifinal last season that saw the Hilltops pull out a 33-31 victory in an all-time classic at SMF Field on November 7, 2021. Saskatoon claimed victory when quarterback Damon Dutton hit receiver Dillan Heintz with a five yard game winning touchdown toss with 21.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Daylen Hartz, right, had two sacks for the Hilltops last Sunday.

Last season marked the first time Hartz hit the field in a starting role for the ’Toppers. He led the team with four sacks during the eight game regular season, while collecting five solo tackles, six tackle assists and a forced fumble.

In the Hilltops three playoff games, Hartz had one sack, nine solo tackles and one tackle assist. His sack came in the CJFL semifinal, which the Hilltops fell to the Rams in Langley 17-14. The Rams advanced from that contest to win the Canadian Bowl to become CJFL champions.

Hartz was pumped to get on the field as a starter.

“It was awesome,” said Hartz, who is a graduate of Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School Crusaders Football Team. “I loved having the opportunity to start after being on the sideline for a while.

“It was exciting to get in there. Obviously, I did a lot of bad plays. I had a couple of good plays.

“I had a lot to learn still, and I’m happy with how it went.  It didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but we learned a lot.”

Hartz got the 2022 campaign and his final CJFL season off to a hot start picking up a couple of sacks in the Hilltops 19-10 regular season opening victory this past Sunday at SMF Field over the Winnipeg Rifles. Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said Hartz has grown a tonne since first coming on board with the team in 2018.

Daylen Hartz, right, can stop the run and rush the quarterback.

“Coming out of Holy Cross, I think he was their top defensive player, and he is a player that has evolved here,” said Sargeant. “For the first couple of years, we weren’t sure where he was going to fit in.

“We knew he has some ability and some talent. He did his part in getting bigger, stronger and faster. Last year, he was our top sack leader, and he is an excellent run stopper.

“He doesn’t get enough credit for his ability to stop the run. He’s been very, very productive last year and the beginning of this year. We’re excited for what the rest of the season looks like.”

Hartz remembered he got a reality check that he had to work on strategy and technique when he first joined the Hilltops. During his rookie season in 2018, Hartz had an eye opening experience the first time he went up against star fifth-year right tackle Kirk Simonsen in practice.

“He (Simonsen) picked me up with one arm and just threw me to the ground,” said Hartz. “I wasn’t even 200 pounds back then, so I knew that it was just a massive reality check.

“I’m not that good. I have to get better.”

Hartz worked to get better and learned from the veterans as the Hilltops posted undefeated seasons in their 2018 and 2019 CJFL championship winning campaigns. He was looking forward to big things in his third season until the 2020 CJFL season was wiped out by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world.

Daylen Hartz topped the Hilltops with four sacks last season.

While the Hilltops practised together for six weeks as a team in September and October of 2020, Hartz kept his focus the best he could on training, but he admitted you reach the point you need to play a game.

“I had so much time to like prepare and get stronger, but it felt weird like having that summer where there was nothing really going on,” said Hartz, who will turn 22-years-old in December. “You have to keep the mentality of training.

“You always have to remember that you still have to like work on technique, because that is one thing a lot of people I think would have neglected. You always have to have a technique day, because I know even I neglected a lot of technique. I got back in my fourth year there, and my footwork was bad.

“I was way too high, so it was a big adjustment there.”

Still, Hartz kept playing better as the 2021 season motored along, and he started his final campaign in 2022 with a head turning performance. Sargeant believes Hartz has the potential to have a special season.

“You could look at the game film on Sunday, and he was determined that no one could block him,” said Sargeant. “At times, he was dominant.

“We need more of that. Hopefully, he builds on the confidence that he created for himself last weekend and the whole defence did. This team will never be satisfied.

Daylen Hartz got extra motivation after a CJFL semifinal loss in 2021.

“We’ll always want more. We’ll always have extremely high expectations for anyone who is in a starting role. Daylen Hartz is starting to certainly become an impact player in the PFC.”

Hartz said the CJFL semifinal loss to the Rams last year has provided extra motivation to become an even better play. He has put in a lot of time studying the game film of that setback to figure out how he can improve and drive forward into the 2022 campaign.

“I’ve watched that game a few times now, and I’ve rewatched a bunch of the plays,” said Hartz. “I see what we did well.

“I see what we did wrong. I want to get better, and I know we can be better specifically like me too. There were some plays that I blew, and I want to get better at that.”

Johnson named PFC defensive player of the week

Konner Johnson was the PFC’s defensive player of the week.

Konner Johnson’s all-star form from 2021 has carried over into 2022 resulting in a weekly award honour.

On Wednesday, the Saskatoon Hilltops veteran outside linebacker was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week for his work in his team’s 19-10 regular season opening home victory this past Sunday over the Winnipeg Rifles. In that contest, Johnson recorded 4.5 total tackles, one quarterback sack, one interception and two pass knockdowns.

Johnson and the Hilltops defence shutout the Rifles in the second half of last Sunday’s contest.

Last season during the Hilltops eight regular season games, Johnson recorded 26 defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, 12 special teams tackles, three special teams tackle assists, one quarterback sack, five pass knockdowns, one fumble recovery and five interceptions in being named a PFC all-star.

Before joining the Hilltops this season, Johnson attended training camp with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Green takes PFC’s weekly special teams player honour

Connor Green (#4) was the PFC’s top special teams player for the week.

Connor Green’s impressive debut handling all the kicking duties for the Saskatoon Hilltops helped land him the honour of capturing a weekly award.

On Wednesday, Green, who is playing his first year with the Hilltops, was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week for his work in the Hilltops 19-10 regular season opening home victory this past Sunday over the Winnipeg Rifles. Green hit on 4-of-5 field goal attempts connecting from 46, 20, 45 and 37 yards out.

He made his one conversion attempt, kicked off twice for 111 yards and punted four times for 123 yards for an average of 30.8 yards per punt.

Green accounted for 13 of the 19 points the Hilltops scored in their victory over the Rifles.

Regina Thunder receiver Isaac Foord claimed PFC offensive player of the week award honours on Wednesday for his work in his team’s 57-15 romp over the Edmonton Wildcats at Leibel Field in Regina. Foord hauled in nine passes for 179 yards and scored three touchdowns in that contest, which was played one day after his mother passed away.

Roughriders alum Hughes to speak at End Zone Dinner

A Roughriders promo picture of Neal Hughes.

Saskatchewan Roughriders alum Neal Hughes will be the special guest speaker at this year’s Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

The End Zone Dinner will be held on Saturday, September 10 at the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. Doors open for the dinner at 4:15 p.m. with food to be served at 5:15 p.m. The funds raised at the dinner go towards the Hilltops scholarship fund.

Hughes, who is from Regina, played 11 CFL seasons at fullback for the Roughriders from 2004 to 2014 helping the team to Grey Cup wins in 2007 and 2013. The 2013 championship was won at the Roughriders historic home park in Taylor Field.

During his time with the Roughriders, Hughes mainly focused on blocking duties as a fullback or from a tight end position and covered kicks on special teams. He also showed his versatility in being able to make big plays running the football, catching it out of the backfield or punting it when required.

Before joining the Roughriders, Hughes played six seasons with the Regina Rams as their star running back. He suited up for the Rams as a rookie in 1998, when they played their final season in the CJFL capturing their 15^th and final CJFL championship.

Hughes played with the Rams during their first five seasons in the U Sports ranks as the University of Regina Rams helping them advance to the U Sports championship game – the Vanier Cup – in 2000. The Rams fell 42-39 in that contest to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.

Following the End Zone Dinner, the Hilltops will face their provincial rivals in the Regina Thunder at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, which is right next to the Gordie Howe Sports Centre on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

Single tickets for the dinner are $100 or a table of eight can be bought for $725.

Tickets can be purchased online by clicking on a link 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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Funk solidifies middle of Hilltops defensive line

Jaxon Funk has been a rock at DT for the Hilltops.

Jaxon Funk is in the middle of the action when it comes to keeping the Saskatoon Hilltops defensive line strong.

The 22-year-old product of Hague, Sask., is in his fourth full season with the team and his first full campaign as a starter at defensive tackle. During his first full three seasons with the team from 2017 to 2019, Funk said he learned from his veteran teammates, who have since graduated from the program.

When it came time for Funk to start, he was ready to play full time.

“I had great leadership in front of me,” said Funk, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 280 pounds. “It started with Tom Schnitzler.

“He was a great captain and a great guy to learn from. My next biggest influence was obviously Jesse McNabb. He was a great inside player, and he taught me a lot.

“Obviously, all our coaches have been around for a long time. They know exactly what they are doing. They put me in great spots and taught me everything I know.”

Schnitzler was a star defensive end for the Hilltops who graduated following the 2017 season, and McNabb was a star defensive tackle with the Hilltops, who graduated after the 2019 campaign.

Funk has followed in their footsteps continuing the lineage of stellar players the Hilltops have had along their defensive line. Playing on a defensive tackle spot, Funk doesn’t receive a lot of glory.

His job is often to take on double teams in order to allow his teammates to tackle running backs or sack quarterbacks.

Jaxon Funk (#77) storms on to the field with the Hilltops.

Even with that unglamourous role, Funk collected 27 solo tackles 12 assisted tackles, two fumble recoveries and a half sack helping the Hilltops post a 6-2 record during the regular season. Funk personally finished 16^th overall in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference in defensive points.

“Jaxon Funk has had an unbelievable year for us,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “He has been a rock on our defence.

“He is probably the most consistent player we have. He does his job. He doesn’t get a lot of pats on the back.

“To have a noseguard in the top 16 in defensive points is absolutely incredible. He is a captain. He is a great leader.”

During the 2019 campaign, Funk was often rotated on to the defensive line for suspected running situations and kept off the field in obvious pass situations. The coaches worked that rotation to keep players fresh and playing to their strengths.

Now, Funk rarely leaves the field being a full-time starter. The Hague High School Panthers six-man football team graduate said he has had a tonne of help making plays from his teammates on the Hilltops defensive line.

Funk has formed a formidable duo inside with fellow defensive tackle Dylan McNutt, while defensive ends Daylen Hartz and Riece Kack have applied consistent pressure from the outside.

Jaxon Funk (#77) paired with his DT partner in Dylan McNutt (#51).

“We lost a lot of guys, but there have been a lot of guys who have stepped up and did their job,” said Funk. “It has been great.

“Obviously, the coaches are putting everyone in the right spots. It has been a good time.”

If he runs into situations where he is taking on constant double teams, Funk said the Hilltops linebackers coming in behind him have been outstanding making plays.

“I love knowing that if I take on a double team then we got guys behind me that are going to fill their roles,” said Funk. “Wisty (middle linebacker Matt Wist) has been doing a great job this year of filling in gaps.

“If I can get that double and if I end up on a single team, I just have to take advantage of that and try to make a play and do the best I can off that.”

Sargeant said Funk has a number of attributes that allow him to have success.

“Number one, he has worked real hard over the last couple of years to make himself bigger and strong,” said Sargeant. “He has got football IQ.

“He understands leverage and how to work against the O-line and the double teams. He is a player that gets double teamed a lot. He just had a knack for getting off blocks and staying alive and working towards the ball.

Jaxon Funk (#77) passes on kind words to a teammate.

“He is just always around the play. He makes us so much better.”

Before joining the Hilltops, Funk enjoyed playing the six-man game with the Panthers and then head coach Clay Kirby. The Hague Panthers six-man high school team gained notoriety being one of the feature teams in the 2007 “Season of Dreams” documentary about football in Saskatchewan.

Funk said a trio of Hilltops alums from Hague including Richard Zacharias and brothers Tyler and Shayne Dueck were big influences who convinced him to try out for the storied CJFL club.

“Richard Zacharias, who was a linebacker with the team and has helped out coaching recently, really showed me what the team was about,” said Funk. “(Zacharias) helped me get prepared for my rookie season and has been a great mentor ever since.”

Funk’s family became a football family after he first took up the sport in Grade 8. His older sister, Alyssa, has been a star at left tackle for the Saskatoon Valkyries of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League since 2015.

Younger brother, Jeremy, is in his first year with the Hilltops on the team’s practice roster.

Jaxon credits his parents in father, Lyle, and mother, Katrina, for being the biggest influences for helping him along in football.

“My parents are huge on sports,” said Jaxon Funk. “My dad never really played football, but he always wanted to, but Hague didn’t have a team at that point.

Jaxon Funk finished 16th in the PFC in defensive points.

“When I started, he learned everything about it and supported me as much as he could. I kind of started it in our family. My sister played with Valkyries and my younger brother is on the team now. It just turned into a really big football family.”

With the PFC having completed its regular season schedule, the Hilltops earned a bye to host a PFC semifinal contest due to finishing second in the conference standings. The Hilltops are scheduled to host that contest on Sunday, November 7 at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

They will play the team that has the best record that advances out of the two PFC quarter-final games that will be held on Sunday.

Due to the fact the 2020 CJFL campaign was lost due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, Funk said there is extra excitement within his team as that first post-season contest draws near.

He said the businesslike approach to that contest mirrors what the Hilltops do in the regular season.

“It is just the same kind of atmosphere,” said Funk, who helped the Hilltops win CJFL titles in each of his first three seasons with the team. “You have to put your time in and practise hard.

“That will reflect how we play on the field. Obviously, we were all pretty excited to back into playoffs after last year not being able to play. You really appreciate the time we can have out here.

Jaxon Funk (#77) and the Hilltops have enjoyed playing after a year off.

“Everyone knows that they’ve got to step it up and have their best game of the year next Sunday and just keep it going.”

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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