Kicker Abel-Douglas starts hot for Hilltops

Teijon Abel-Douglas boots a field goal for the Hilltops.

Teijon Abel-Douglas embraces the pressure that place kickers face in the sport of football.

The 18-year-old Humboldt, Sask., product has had ice in his veins at the start of his CJFL career with the Saskatoon Hilltops when it comes to kicking field goals. Abel-Douglas had made all five of his field goal attempts during the Hilltops first four games, and he just graduated from high school this past June at Humboldt Collegiate Institute.

His first practices in training camp with the Hilltops were a little rough, but things soon skyrocketed in an upward direction.

“I think a lot of it is just trust from the coaches and trust from the team,” said Abel-Douglas. “In practices, I gained quite a bit of momentum.

“Misses were becoming less of a thing as I got used to doing my job. Once you can leave the aspect of all the pressure that is built up from the crowd, you have to trust what you’ve done.”

Abel-Douglas and the Hilltops (2-2) are looking to end a two game losing streak when they host the Winnipeg Rifles (1-3) this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Saskatoon’s two losses have both been heartbreakers to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder. Thunder claimed a 16-13 victory Sept. 11 at SMF Field and took the return match 30-27 this past Saturday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

In those encounters against the Thunder, Abel-Douglas was tabbed with going head-to-head against veteran Regina kicker Eric Maximuik, who is in his fourth full CJFL season. Abel-Douglas went 2-for-2 in the field goal department for the Hilltops in each of those outings against the Thunder.

Ultimately, Maximuik had more opportunities in those contests than Abel-Douglas did. In the Sept. 11 game at SMF Field, Maximuik connected on 3-of-4 field goals including a 51-yarder winner on the game’s last play.

In the game this past Saturday at Mosaic Stadium, the 22-year-old went 3-for-3 in the field goal department.

“Of course, you want to be the best,” said Abel-Douglas, who stands 6-feet and weighs 145 pounds. “Watching him (Maximuik) kick a 51-yarder, all you can do is applaud it.

Teijon Abel-Douglas is 5-for-5 in field goals this season.

“It is something everyone dreams about especially as a kicker. Of course, I want to be the best. I don’t like to compare myself all the time.

“There is a moment where you are like, ‘Oh, I wish that was me.’ Of course, I wish that was me kicking that one for the win.”

After those encounters, Abel-Douglas visited with Maximuik and came away feeling enthusiastic.

“He (Maximuik) is a great kicker,” said Abel-Douglas. “I’ve talked to him after both games.

“He is a great guy and very humble. You can never go wrong with a guy like that. He works hard on his craft.

“All I can do is respect that and learn from him.”

Abel-Douglas’ performance in the early going has impressed legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, especially the fact the 18-year-old rookie hit pressure kicks for the Hilltops in those tight setbacks against the Thunder.

“He (Abel-Douglas) has done a real good job,” said Sargeant. “He has come in here and he’s worked real hard.

“He has taken advantage of his opportunities. He is five-for-five and doing what we want him to do. There is a young kid taking advantage of opportunities and moments.

“We’re happy he is here. He is a kid out of Humboldt that has just got a bright, bright future here.”

Growing up in Humboldt, Abel-Douglas focused heavily on playing soccer, and he also competed seriously in track and field.

In Grade 10, Abel-Douglas left soccer and track and field behind to take up football becoming a receiver and kicker for the Mohawks football team at Humboldt Collegiate Institute.

He said it was a bit of an adjustment going from kicking a soccer ball to a football.

“The big difference was just honestly the shape of the ball,” said Abel-Douglas. “The shape of the ball and your steps they are a lot more precise when you are kicking a football.

Teijon Abel-Douglas made four key field goals against the Thunder.

“You have to be a lot more hit the ball in a place where that ball is going to fly straight. On a soccer ball, it is just all round. You have to find that sweet spot on a football, and it did take me awhile to get used to.

“I struggled in Grade 10 for sure. Great coaching, and I am learning every day even here. All these little tips you go into a game and even in practice they make me a lot better of a kicker and more accurate.”

He also had highlights playing receiver too in his high school years.

“I think the track speed really helped,” said Abel-Douglas. “On short passes and when we could get the ball over the top, I was pretty good.

“I didn’t really return punts, but I got one chance in a game and took it back. I think it was pretty successful. Our quarterback would throw perfect balls and just being in the right spot at the right time and it came together.”

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, Abel-Douglas only played one game in his Grade 12 year in the 2020 campaign. He wanted to play sports after high school but wasn’t sure if that would happen due to the pandemic’s impact on the world.

When receiver/kicker Rylan Kleiter elected to join the University of Regina Rams in the U Sports ranks instead of rejoining the Hilltops for one last CJFL campaign, the Hilltops were looking for a kicker. Abel-Douglas was approached by one of his high school coaches about going after the Hilltops open kicking spot.

Following that talk, Abel-Douglas made a video recording and sent it in to Sargeant. Sargeant invited Abel-Douglas to the Hilltops spring camp.

He came to main camp and joined with main roster with fellow new kicker in Saskatoon product Carter Sirman, who made his only field goal attempt in the Hilltops 18-17 regular season opening win against the Huskies in Edmonton on August 22.

Abel-Douglas has enjoyed practising with Sirman. As the Hilltops head into the second half of the regular season, Abel-Douglas’s confidence is high, and he is looking to tackle kicking in cold weather games.

“You have to stay in there and believe in yourself,” said Abel-Douglas. “With all the trust from these guys, it has been smooth sailing so far.

Teijon Abel-Douglas has high confidence for the rest of the season.

“Come winter, it is going to be a new challenge. I have to be ready for that mentally, and that is also a big thing. You can’t say you’re going miss, or else that is that outcome.

“It is all about what you believe and how strong mentally you are when these November games come along.”

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Last dance with Hilltops means the world to Giddings

Saskatoon surges past Colts in Calgary 35-18

Jared Giddings is pumped to be back on the field.

Jared Giddings’ last dance with the Saskatoon Hilltops has already been better than he imagined.

When the 2020 CJFL season was canceled in early August of that year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, Giddings wondered if his chance to play his fifth and final season with the Hilltops was gone.

On September 8, 2020, the CJFL announced players who would have been in their 22-year-old years that season would be able to play in 2021, while players who were 21-years-old in 2020 would be eligible to play through to 2022.

With that decision, Giddings was able to return to the Hilltops as a 23-year-old to play his fifth and final campaign. The Humboldt, Sask., product wasn’t going to let that opportunity pass him by.

“It means the world,” said Giddings, who also took part in the Hilltops six weeks of practice in September and October of 2020. “This program has been a big part of my life.

“Ever since high school, I’ve been here. You build bonds with these guys. I had the option to comeback with the CJFL extending eligibility.

“I just couldn’t be more thankful. I really wanted to take that opportunity to just come back and be with these guys for one more year. I made so many memories.”

On Sunday, Giddings stepped into his boundary cornerback position and helped the Hilltops down the Calgary Colts 35-18 at Shouldice Park in Calgary.

Before joining the Hilltops as a player in 2016, Giddings attended Hilltops games as his older brother, Josh, played for the team in their 2012 CJFL championship winning season and 2013.

Jared Giddings attended winter camps with the Hilltops during his high school years and earned a roster spot after attending the team’s spring camp in 2016.

Jared Giddings makes an interception at Hilltops practice.

He always cherished his time with the team helping the Hilltops win CJFL titles in his first four seasons in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Giddings was a Prairie Football Conference all-star in 2018.

After there was no CJFL season in 2020, Giddings found he appreciated the chance to be on the team and play in the CJFL that much more. When the Hilltops took the field for their regular season opener and downed the Huskies in Edmonton 18-17, Giddings found that pre-game jitters returned.

“I was pretty nervous to be honest after a year off of football,” said Giddings, who stands 6-feet and weighs 185 pounds. “I was so excited just to be back out there.

“You never knew if it was going to happen again just because I was a little older guy. There was a little uncertainty there. I was so appreciative just to be able to step on the field.

“Just to see the atmosphere and the fans again, that was just an amazing feeling.”

Giddings is the only players on the Hilltops defensive unit who is in his fifth full season with the team.

The graduate of the nine-man Humboldt Collegiate Institute Mohawks football team is one of just three players who are in their fifth full season with the Hilltops. That short list includes a pair of offensive linemen in left tackle Mason Ochs and right tackle Jonathan Chisholm.

Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was pumped to have Giddings back for one last season and said the defensive back’s experience is extremely valuable.

“Jared (Giddings) is a primetime player,” said Sargeant. “He is one the few all-stars we have coming back.

“He absolutely understands the game. He brings a lot of confidence and a lot of swag. He is our top lockdown cover guy.

Jared Giddings provides a steady presence on the Hilltops defence.

“In critical spots, we are putting him in those physical and aggressive spots. He seems to take advantage of it. He makes our defence a lot better, and he also brings real good leadership too.”

Sargeant said Giddings provides a calming influence to the Hilltops defensive secondary.

“He has been around here now for six years, so you look at him and you just feel good,” said Sargeant. “You feel right.

“You know he is going to do what you want him to do. You know he is going to lead the group properly. He is a pretty quiet guy, but he practices hard.

“He just makes everyone around him better, because they just have to watch his practice habits and how he conducts himself. He is a true winner and a true leader for the Hilltops.”

Giddings said the Hilltops defensive secondary has some good chemistry. He noted that fourth-year safety Brant Morrow and third-year defensive halfback Evan Mantyka were both starters in 2019.

Giddings said converted receiver Steven Gilewicz has found his groove at the field side cornerback position in his second season with the team.

“The defensive back group, it seems like we have some experience compared to the rest of the defence,” said Giddings. “Being with (Brant) Morrow and (Evan) Mantyka, we started 2019 together.

“Steveo (Gilewicz), he has been with us for a couple of years now. It felt normal out there. I feel comfortable with those guys just to be having that experience.

“I wouldn’t actually want to be with anyone else to be honest. I know what those guys are going to bring, and I know what they are going to do. We all trust each other.”

As the season marches onwards, Giddings plans to soak each day for that day. After there was no CJFL campaign in 2020, Giddings has a new appreciation of the journey through a season.

Jared Giddings has helped the Hilltops win four CJFL titles.

“Football is a grind, and sometimes coming to practice isn’t easy,” said Giddings. “Honestly, it is all just a little bit easier now.

“When we were off, you don’t know what is happening. You don’t know what is going to happen next. Every day, it is like it is a blessing.

“I don’t mind coming to practice and getting bruised up a bit and hitting some guys. It is a lot of fun. I think it brought the fun back into football for me personally.”

In the win over the Colts on Sunday, Hilltops kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas kicked a 14-yard field in the first quarter to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.

Early in the second quarter, running back Carter McLean ran the ball in from eight yards out for a major to give the Hilltops a 10-0 edge.

The Colts responded with quarterback Cole Belway hitting receiver Joel Pipke with a four-yard touchdown pass to cut the Hilltops lead to 10-7.

With less than three minutes to go in the second quarter, the Hilltops scored 18 straight points to go ahead 28-7.

The surge started with the Colts electing to concede a safety after being pinned deep in their own end. On the ensuing Saskatoon offensive drive, Hilltops quarterback Doug Fleming hit third-year receiver Presley Peterson with a 40-yard touchdown pass.

The Colts again got pinned in their own end, and Belway was sacked in the end zone by Mantyka for another safety score for Saskatoon. The Hilltops surge closed when Fleming scored a rushing touchdown with 20 seconds remaining in the half.

At the start of the third quarter, the Colts picked up a single as kicker Austin Griffiths booted the opening kickoff into the end zone. Griffiths hit a 31-yard field goal before the third quarter ended trimming the Hilltops lead to 28-11.

Jared Giddings has made big plays for the Hilltops.

On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Belway hit receiver Brendt Adams on an eight-yard touchdown toss for the Colts to further cut the Hilltops edge to 28-18.

Saskatoon dashed any hopes of a Calgary comeback when running back Jordan Tabin ran the ball in from five yards out to round out the scoring in the 35-18 victory causing the Colts to fall to 0-2.

Sunday’s contest was the physical one causing the Hilltops to make some regular substitutions. On the offensive line, Mitchel Clarke entered the game at left tackle replacing Ochs, who is a three-time all-Canadian all-star, and Jayson Kehler went in a right tackle for Chisholm.

Clarke is in his third full season with the Hilltops, while Kehler is in his fourth full season with the team.

The Hilltops return to action on Saturday, September, 11 at 7 p.m. hosting their home opener against their provincial rivals in the Regina Thunder. Both teams enter that contest with identical 2-0 records and the winner will sit alone in first place in the Prairie Football Conference.

’Toppers RB Tabin picked by NLL’s Rush

Jordan Tabin runs the ball for the Hilltops in 2019.

Saskatoon Hilltops running back Jordan Tabin is going to get the chance to crack the professional ranks in lacrosse.

During the National Lacrosse League Entry Draft that was held virtually on Saturday, Tabin was selected in the sixth round and 89^th overall by his home province team in the Saskatchewan Rush, who are a league powerhouse. The Rush captured NLL titles in 2016 and 2018 playing out of the SaskTel Centre and when the franchise was still located in Edmonton, Alta., in 2015.

The 20-year-old Tabin plays defence for the Saskatchewan SWAT junior A lacrosse team.

On the football field, Tabin is playing in his third full season with the Hilltops having also suited up for the storied CJFL club in 2018 and 2019 CJFL championship seasons.

In the 2019 CJFL campaign, Tabin carried the ball seven times for 103 yards in the Hilltops eight regular season games and ran the ball six times for 81 yards scoring one touchdown in four post-season contests.

During the fourth quarter of the Hilltops 35-18 victory over the Colts in Calgary, Alta., at Shouldice Park, Tabin ran in a touchdown from five yards out in the fourth quarter.

Hilltops’ In The End Zone Dinner returns

A Scott Schultz card.

The Saskatoon Hilltops traditional In The End Zone Dinner to raise funds for the team’s scholarship program is returning this season.

The club wasn’t able to hold the fundraising dinner a year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s dinner will be held on September 11 at the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. The guest speakers will be a pair of former Saskatchewan Roughriders members in defensive lineman Scott Schultz and linebacker Mike McCullough.

Schultz, who is originally from Moose Jaw, Sask., played for the Roughriders from 2002 to 2009 and helped Saskatchewan win the 2007 Grey Cup as CFL champions.

McCullough suited up for the Roughriders for 11 seasons from 2003 to 2013 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.

A Mike McCullough card.

Doors for the In The End Zone Dinner open at 4:15 p.m. with dinner to be served at 5:15 p.m.

Following dinner, the Hilltops will hold their home opener at 7 p.m. hosting their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 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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Giddings relishes role as Hilltops’ shutdown man

Saskatoon rallies past Huskies 24-22 in Edmonton

Jared Giddings makes an interception for the Hilltops last season.

    Jared Giddings didn’t want to have any letdowns or at least minimize the letdowns this season.
    Last season, the defensive back from Humboldt, Sask., was a Prairie Football Conference all-star for the Saskatoon Hilltops and helped them with a fifth straight Canadian Junior Football League title. This season, Giddings is playing his fourth campaign with the team, and he wants his squad to play as well as they did last year despite the fact the Hilltops experienced a sizable roster turnover.

    On defence, rush end Tristan Hering and defensive tackle Jesse McNabb were the only returning starters on the defensive line, while the linebacker group has three new starters. The defensive secondary returns four starters with Giddings manning the boundary corner position.

    “My expectation for myself was just to keep getting better and keep improving,” said Giddings, who stands 6-feet and weighs 185 pounds. “As a whole group as DBs, we’re the old guys on the defence.

    “We want to be able to lead this defence and prove that we are the number one team.”

    On Sunday, the reloading Hilltops won another early big season game traveling to Edmonton and downing the Huskies 24-22 in a CJFL regular season clash at Clarke Park. 

Jared Giddings made an interception this season.

    The Huskies led 14-0 after the first quarter and 19-7 at halftime.
    With Edmonton holding a 22-17 lead, Hilltops power running back Ben Abrook ran in the winning touchdown with 1:47 remaining in the fourth quarter to deliver the Hilltops to victory. Saskatoon improves to 3-0 with the win starting the 2019 campaign with three straight road games, while Edmonton falls to 2-1.

    Giddings had one interception in each of the Hilltops first two games. He is usually in the middle of most of the traffic in the secondary, and he likes it that way.

    “There is not a whole lot of pressure,” said Giddings. “Coaches, they trust me.

    “They trust me that I will do my job. I want to go out there and execute my job and play with a lot of enthusiasm. I’ve just been playing here for a long time it actually seems like that now.

    “Just every year, I keep getting better. They keep trusting me more and keep wanting me to do more things. I’m excited to do it.”

    When Giddings played high school football with the nine-man Humboldt Collegiate Institute Mohawks, he was a standout at slotback, safety, kick returner and kicker. He followed in the footsteps of older brother, Josh, who played for the Hilltops in their 2012 CJFL championship season and in 2013.

    Jared Giddings attended winter camps with the Hilltops, went to spring camp in 2016 looking to crack a roster spot and made the team. He said there was a big adjustment going from high school to the junior level.

Jared Giddings made a tackle during the Hilltops Alumni Game.

    “The game was a lot quicker,” said Giddings. “In high school, we didn’t do a whole lot of footwork.

    “We just kind of went out and just played. Here, it is focus on fundamentals and being part of a unit. You had to get used to playing with everybody and getting used to the different footwork.”

    Giddings said he got a lot better playing in the defensive secondary during his time with the Hilltops.

    “I’ve improved a lot,” said Giddings. “I don’t know how much, but I’d say 100 per cent.

    “I’m 100 per cent better than when I started, because I wasn’t all there with my feet and stuff. The coaches got me right and put me in good spots.”

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant figured his team had a winner in Giddings.

    “A great kid out of Humboldt,” said Sargeant. “We had his brother a few years beforehand, so we knew he came from good stock.

    “Boy, he has just been a proven player year in and year out. He has been playing in some big moments. He has made some big plays.

Jared Giddings secures an interception for the Hilltops.

    “He is our shutdown corner for the Saskatoon Hilltops. We are real proud to see his progress over time. As I said, he has become a very integral part of our success.”

    Sargeant said Giddings had a number of traits that make him a good shutdown corner.

    “He is real competitive,” said Sargeant. “He has that good ball sense, that ball hawking skill.

    “He loves getting after it. As I said, he looks good in our uniform. We always put him on the top receiver week in and week out, and he never lets us down.

    “After two games, he has two interceptions, so it sort of shows you his ability and his presence on the field. He certainly makes us a better team.”

    With the turnover the Hilltops experienced, Sargeant said Giddings moved up the depth chart in the leadership department, and the coaches expect him to make plays at an all-Canadian level. The legendary sideline boss believes Giddings could earn a CFL shot one day.

    “They are always looking for good Canadian DBs,” said Sargeant. “Certainly, the sky is the limit.

    “He (Giddings) is going to have to pay the price, put his nose to the grindstone and keep working hard to get bigger, stronger and faster. I’d never sell any of my players short. As I said, if he has the type of year we expect, you never know what opportunities lay ahead.”

    While CFL shot may come one day, Giddings is focused on helping the Hilltops in the present. He said the defence is still adjusting to the departure of seven starters from last season.

Jared Giddings (#6) celebrates the Hilltops CJFL title win last season.

    “They all left, and like last year they led the defence and they led the team,” said Giddings. “Coming in this year, we were kind of a little more inexperienced as a whole.

    “We have most of our DB group except (Logan) Bitz, so we felt pretty confident in that. We are still sorting some stuff out as you can see.”

    Ultimately, Giddings would like to help the Hilltops run their string of consecutive CJFL championships to six.

    “I’d love to finish it off with another title,” said Giddings. “Sarge probably says it every time you play for the fifth years.

    “We want to let them leave as champions, so that is what we are going to do. I’d say we are going to do everything in our power to get there anyway.”

    Sunday’s game was deemed a big one with both the Hilltops and Huskies sporting undefeated records and having met in last year’s PFC final that was won by Saskatoon 28-9. Sunday’s contest marks the only time the Hilltops and Huskies face each other in the 2019 CJFL regular season, which means the Hilltops hold the head-to-head standings tiebreaker between the squads due to their win.

Ben Abrook had the winning major for the Hilltops on Sunday.

    The Hilltops have now won their last 22 straight overall games including action in the regular season and playoffs. They have won their last 26 straight games on the road including three victories in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

    The Hilltops return to action this coming Saturday when they host their home opener against the Regina Thunder (2-1) at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football 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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    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.