Hilltops aim to lock up home playoff game

Saskatoon to battle Huskies in Edmonton on Sunday

The Hilltops defence has caused tonnes of troubles for opponents.

How will the youthful Saskatoon Hilltops perform in a regular season game when there is something extra on the line?

That is the upcoming challenge the squad’s legendary head coach Tom Sargeant is looking to see how his players tackle it. On Sunday, the Hilltops (5-0) travel to Edmonton to take on the Huskies (3-2) in a CJFL regular season contest at 1 p.m. local time at the Jasper Place Bowl.

If the Hilltops win that game, they will lock up the right to open the CJFL post-season at home hosting a Prairie Football Conference semifinal game. In each of the past two years, the Hilltops locked up the right to host a home playoff game late in the season thanks to the combination of pulling out a win with the fact the Huskies lost to the Regina Thunder in another contest that same day.

Sargeant said the opportunity his Hilltops have in front of them is exciting. For most of the roster, this will be the first time they’ve encountered a situation in the CJFL regular season where they control their own fate when it comes to getting a home playoff game.

“At the end of the day, we love playing at home in front of our Saskatoon fans and family,” said Sargeant. “There is nothing more than we want to do.

“That’s certainly a motivator. The last couple of years we haven’t been in this situation. I want to see how we respond.

“Our first five games, I’ve certainly been happy with where we are at. I think Edmonton Huskies are going to be as tough as a test as anyone we’ve played.”

The Hilltops enter this weekend’s action leading the PFC for points scored at 237 and total offensive yards at 2,332. On a bit of a more overlooked side, the Hilltops on defence tops the PFC for the fewest points allowed at 33 and fewest yards allowed at 1,163.

“The ‘D’ has been awesome,” said Sargeant. “They’re working hard every night.

Safety Dalton Urban makes a big hit for the Hilltops.

“They’re working hard in the film room. They’re working hard on the practice field. When game day shows up, they’re just showing up with a lot of passion and a lot of love for each other and they’re flying around.

“When you get that combination, it is amazing what it becomes, and we’ve been very impressed with where they’re at. We know they can improve and get better, because it is still a pretty young crew. Son of a gun, they want to get better.”

Looking ahead to the Huskies, Hilltops safety Dalton Urban said his team has to key on running back Ife Adebogun and quarterback Carson Neitz. Adebogun, who is a 22-year-old veteran who played last season with the Thunder, has carried the ball 51 times for 317 yards and two touchdowns, and his rushing yardage total is third best in the PFC.

Neitz, who is a 22-year-old veteran, has completed 55-of-102 passes for 933 yards and eight touchdowns, while throwing one interception. His 107.2 quarterback efficiency rating ranks second in the PFC.

“They have a big running back, so he is going to bring physicality when he runs on the field,” said Urban, who is in his third season with the Hilltops and first campaign as a starter. “Their quarterback looks mobile, and he is able to make plays outside the pocket.

“I think he has a pretty decent arm, so it will be a good challenge for us defensively.”

Hilltops star 22-year-old power running back Boston Davidsen continues to lead the PFC in rushing with 709 yards coming on 93 carries. He also tops the PFC with six rushing touchdowns.

Hilltops 21-year-old quarterback Trey Reider has completed 77-of-118 passes for 1,140 yards and 13 touchdowns, while throwing one interception. His 129.9 quarterback efficiency rating leads the PFC.

Urban, who has two interceptions and one fumble recovery on the season, said the players weren’t trying to think too much about the chance to lock up a home playoff date, but with that said, he added his team likes playing at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

“It is just a regular like regular season game, but it is important for us to be able to play at home just the support we get from friends and family and the extra motivation helps a lot when they come out and support,” said Urban. “I think that factors into things.”

The Hilltops defence has enjoyed making lots of big plays in 2023.

Sargeant said another key to Sunday’s game will come down to which club takes care of the ball better. The Huskies sit second in the PFC with 20 total takeaways and top the PFC in fewest giveaways at five. The Hilltops lead the PFC with 24 total takeaways and sit second in the PFC in fewest giveaways at six.

“When you look at what they do defensively, they’ve had like 20 takeaways this year,” said Sargeant. “They have a pretty opportunistic defence.

“They fly around and play physical. We have to get on point and get ready for what they’re going to bring. Right now, we’re just hunting two points.

“You stack two points one after the other then you end up hosting playoff games, so that’s how we are approaching it.”

Hilltops End Zone Dinner set for Sept. 30

Jorgen Hus sets to snap the ball for the Roughriders in 2019.

The Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner is returning with a quartet of guest speakers.

The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 30 in the main hall of the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. Doors for the dinner open at 4:15 p.m. and dinner follows at 5 p.m.

A ticket to the dinner also includes a ticket to that night’s CJFL regular season game between the Hilltops and Regina Thunder set for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The guest speakers include a pair of alumni from the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in Al Johns and Carm Carteri along with current Roughriders players Jorgen Hus and Derrick Moncrief. Johns was a defensive tackle for the Roughriders from 1980 to 1987 and played for the Hilltops in the 1970s. Carteri played linebacker for the Roughriders in 1979, 1980 and 1985, and he had a long run as a colour analyst on Roughriders radio broadcasts that concluded following the 2016 campaign.

Hus is the Roughriders veteran long snapper and he played linebacker with the Hilltops from 2007 to 2009. He helped the Hilltops win a CJFL title in 2007 after graduating from St. Joseph High School.

Moncrief is a veteran linebacker with the Roughriders. He often comes out to Saskatoon to help coach with Saskatoon Minor Football’s Playground To Pros Camp that is held annually in April.

All proceeds from the End Zone Dinner will go towards the Saskatoon Hilltops Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $100 per single person or $725 for a table of eight. Tickets for the End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

Rebels’ Jessie living up to top player rating

Te Jessie in a CJFL promo graphic.

Te Jessie continues to pile up the accolades.

The veteran quarterback of the Westshore Rebels was named the British Columbia Football Conference’s offensive player of the week on Tuesday for his performance this past Saturday when the Rebels crushed the visiting Vancouver Island Raiders 95-14 in Langford, B.C.

Jessie completed 15-of-20 passes for 358 yards and six touchdowns, while throwing one interception. The 21-year-old also carried the ball once for 17 yards.

This marked the third time Jessie has been named the BCFC’s offensive player of the week. In helping the Rebels top the BCFC standings with a 7-0 mark, Jessie has completed 117-of-162 passes for 1,894 yards and 31 touchdowns, while throwing six interceptions. He has carried the ball 24 times for 130 yards and three major scores.

Jessie, who is a graduate of the St. Paul’s High School Crusaders Football Team in Winnipeg, Man., topped the CJFL’s annual Top 50 players to watch list heading into the 2023 campaign.

In May, Jessie participated in the training camp for the CFL’s British Columbia Lions as part of the CFL’s QB Internship Program.

Last season, Jessie was named a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star and claimed the CJFL’s Peter Dalla Riva Offensive Player of the Year Award. In 10 regular season games with the Rebels, Jessie completed 169-of-305 passes for 2,864 yards and 28 touchdowns, while throwing 11 interceptions. He carried the ball 54 times for 290 yards and six touchdowns in regular season play in 2022.

Jessie is the son of Tim Jessie, who was a running back on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Grey Cup championship teams in 1988 and 1990 and was part of the NFL’s Washington franchise - then known as the Redskins - that won Super Bowl XXII following the 1987 regular season.

The PFC’s players of the week were announced on Tuesday. Calgary Colts quarterback Liam Oczkowski was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week for his efforts in his club’s 48-40 victory over the visiting Edmonton Huskies this past Sunday.

Oczkowski completed 32-of-43 passes for 369 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing one interception. He carried the ball five times for 61 yards and two major scores.

Huskies defensive back Cedric McCallum was named the PFC’s defensive player of the week for his efforts in that setback to the Colts. McCallum made 11 total solo tackles in the loss to the Colts.

Edmonton Wildcats defensive lineman Steven Groves was named the PFC’s special teams play of the week for his efforts in a 52-7 loss to the visiting Saskatoon Hilltops at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. Groves made four special teams solo tackles in that contest.

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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Skid puts Hilltops in unfamiliar territory in CJFL

Saskatoon falls to 2-3 with 23-7 loss to Thunder

Boden Marley and the Hilltops have lost three straight games.

Shockingly could this Saskatoon Hilltops be team what its record says it is?

Unfortunately, the Hilltops recent perfect CJFL championship seasons of going 11-0 in 2018 and 12-0 in 2019 seem like something long gone in the rearview mirror.

On Saturday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, the Hilltops fell 23-7 to the host Thunder. The setback was a third straight for the Hilltops, who saw their CJFL regular season record fall to 2-3.

The last time the Hilltops lost three games during an entire CJFL regular season came back in 1993, when they posted a 5-3 mark to finish second in the PFC. In the 1993 post-season, Saskatoon advanced to the PFC final ultimately falling 30-15 to the Regina Rams, who advanced to win the CJFL title with a perfect 12-0 record.

It is unknown when exactly the Hilltops last lost three games in a row before their current skid. The last time the Hilltops had a losing regular season record came back in 1973, when they posted a 3-4-1 mark in the then Manitoba-Saskatchewan Junior Football League.

The Manitoba-Saskatchewan Junior Football League in 1973 was a conference comprised of the Hilltops, Rams, Winnipeg Hawkeyes and Winnipeg Rods. The Hawkeyes and Rods junior programs are both defunct, while the Rams joined the U Sports ranks as the University of Regina Rams in 1999.

This is the first time the Hilltops have lost three regular season games let alone three in a row under the guidance of legendary head coach Tom Sargeant, who became the team’s top sideline boss before the start of the 1998 CJFL season. Sargeant’s career record is 220-36-2 overall including 163-26-2 in regular season play.

During the first two games of their current three-game skid, the Hilltops faltered in moments. After starting 2-0, the Hilltops losing streak started on August 28 with a 19-16 setback to the Rifles at East Side Eagles Field in Winnipeg.

The Hilltops held a 16-13 advantage at the 3:45 mark of the fourth quarter, but weren’t able to close out the contest down the stretch. Rifles kicker Donavon Downing booted two field goals including the winner from 10-yards out with 36 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to pull out the 19-16 victory.

Hilltops QB Damon Dutton, left, was pulled in the second quarter.

Saskatoon’s second straight loss came on September 10 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, when they dropped a 29-21 decision in overtime to their provincial rivals in the Thunder. That was a contest where the Hilltops were in position to win but couldn’t make the plays down the stretch to seal a final outcome in their favour.

The Hilltops were up 21-14 and their offence was given the ball with less than two minutes to play just inside Regina’s side of midfield after a fumble recovery by Saskatoon defensive back Dylan Cook. Saskatoon’s offence wasn’t able to get a first down, and the Thunder gained another offensive possession after a Hilltops punt.

On that ensuing possession the Thunder found themselves facing a third-and-eight situation from the Saskatoon 31 yard line. Thunder quarterback Carter Shewchuk connected with receiver Isaiah Woodley on a 31-yard touchdown pass that evened the score at 21-21 with 16.8 seconds remaining the quarter.

Woodley had to make a great adjustment on an underthrown pass to allow that scoring play happen.

The Thunder got the winning touchdown in overtime on a 15-yard run from running back Ryland Leichert, while Shewchuk connected with receiver Isaac Ford on a two-point convert. In the CJFL, teams must attempt a two-point convert after every major score due to using the CFL’s shootout format to decide extra time games.

When those two sides met again on Saturday in Regina, there was no wondering what might have been if two or three plays were changed in critical moments in the fourth quarter or overtime. The Thunder seemingly scored 23 points in the slowest way possible to post a solid victory and improve to 5-0.

The Hilltops were close on the scoreboard for most of the contest but couldn’t seem to get kickstarted to start any type of roll of momentum. Regina had possession of the ball for long stretches of time, while the Hilltops had a significant number of drives where they went two-and-out.

Trey Reider score the Hilltops only TD on Saturday.

Regina held a 5-0 lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to a 35-yard field goal by kicker Eric Maximuik and a conceded safety by the Hilltops due to bad field position.

Just 51 seconds into the second quarter, Hilltops starting quarterback Damon Dutton was intercepted by Thunder star defensive back Justin McKerracher, who returned the ball 35 yards for a touchdown to increase the host side’s advantage to 12-0. McKerracher would ultimately make three interceptions on the day to sit with five picks on the season.

Dutton played one more two-and-out series, which included being sacked on first down by Thunder defensive lineman Reece McCormick, before being pulled for backup quarterback Trey Reider. Reider played the rest of the way in relief.

With 2:38 remaining in the second quarter, the Hilltops conceded another safety due to bad field position to give the Thunder a 14-0 advantage.

Despite all the momentum being on the Thunder’s side, the Hilltops broke through on the scoreboard, when Reider executed a quarterback sneak from one-yard out for a major score that cut Regina’s advantage to 14-7 with 33 seconds remaining in the second quarter. That Hilltops scoring drive was kept alive by roughing the kicker and rough the passer infractions against the Thunder.

Early in the third quarter, the Hilltops came up with a goal-line stand turning away Leichert on a third-and-goal gamble from the Saskatoon one yard line.

Again, the Hilltops couldn’t build momentum off that stop and had to concede their third safety of the game on their ensuing offensive possession due to the bad field position increasing the Thunder’s edge to 16-7.

With 56 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Thunder running back Ife Adebogun punched in a touchdown from one-yard out to ultimately round out the game’s scoring at 23-7.

Hilltops RB Boston Davidsen, right, was kept in check on Saturday.

Inside the final minute of the fourth quarter, the Hilltops were turned away by a Thunder goal-line stand, when Reider was stopped on a quarterback sneak attempt on a third-and-goal gamble from the Regina one yard line.

With the win, the Thunder sweep the regular season series and the home-and-home set with the Hilltops 2-0. That marked the second straight year the Thunder have claimed the regular season series against the Hilltops 2-0, which was a first in the history of the Regina program that began play in 2000.

The Hilltops will try to end their skid, when they return to action on Sunday, September 25, when they travel to Calgary to face the Colts.

At the moment, the Colts, Edmonton Huskies and Rifles all have 2-2 records. The Colts and Huskies face each other this coming Sunday (tomorrow) in Edmonton, while the Rifles will also be in the Alberta capital at the same time taking on the 0-4 Wildcats.

Going forward, the Hilltops will be in a battle for the race for second place in the PFC and the right to host a game in the first round of the playoffs. As inconceivable as it sounds, the Hilltops could miss the post-season for the first time since 1971, when they posted a 3-5 record playing in the then Manitoba-Saskatchewan Junior Football League.

In Saturday’s loss to the Thunder, the Hilltops did have players make good plays in spurts including receiver Boden Marley and star power running back Boston Davidsen on offence and defensive end Riece Kack, who had a sack, and defensive back Evan Mantyka, who had an interception, on defence.

They have the coaches that can guide them out of this unaccustomed position. On paper, they have players who have the potential to allow the Hilltops to have a special season.

With all the media cuts that have happened in Canada, they aren’t going to face the big outside pressure to turn things around, and they won’t face anywhere near the scrutiny that comes the way of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, who are facing a tonne of heat being 6-8 on the Canadian professional football circuit.

Still at this time, the facts lead to the conclusion that realistic doubt has to exist if the Hilltops can get thing done on the field in 2022.

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant, right, faces his first ever three-game skid.

At the moment, the Hilltops are what their record says they are and that is that they are a 2-3 football team.

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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