Hilltops make memorable return in season like no other

2021 campaign a great one despite CJFL semi heartbreaker

The Hilltops celebrate a winning TD catch from Dillan Heintz.

When the Saskatoon Hilltops got together for training camp in early August, they were just looking forward to playing an actual game.

The goals become that simple after you lose an entire season due to a worldwide pandemic that caused unprecedented shutdowns.

It seems that moment in August was a long time ago, when the Hilltops 2021 campaign came to an end last Saturday with a 17-14 heartbreaking loss in a CJFL semifinal to the Langley Rams at McLeod Stadium in Langley, B.C.

With that noted, the entire 2020 CJFL campaign was cancelled due to the fact the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic got its grip on the world. The Hilltops were able to gather for six weeks of practice in September and October of that year, but that was all the time they would have together on field.

Fans cheer on the Hilltops at SMF Field.

In early August of this year, the Hilltops knew they would at least get in their regular season opener on August 22 against the Edmonton Huskies at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton, Alta.

There was an extra bounce in everyone’s step that they would get to play a game. Every game that could be played was viewed as a blessing.

There was also added anticipation knowing that the first contest back was against the Huskies, who had traditionally been a tough opponent for the Hilltops.

The two sides met in the PFC final in 2018 and 2019, and the Hilltops came out victorious on both occasions.

Mason Ochs goes down as a Hilltops all-time great.

Actually, the Hilltops modest expectations of just looking forward to one game were a big departure from what the team was able to accomplish before the 2020 season was lost.

The Hilltops had won six consecutive CJFL championships leading up to that lost season. From 2010 to 2019, the Hilltops won nine CJFL titles. The Regina Thunder interrupted that run capturing a CJFL championship in 2013.

Saskatoon seemly had a firm lock on the CJFL championship trophy – the Canadian Bowl. The team carried lengthy overall, road and post-season winning streaks into the 2021 campaign.

Still at the start of this past season, there was a thought in the back of everyone’s mind that the 2021 campaign could fall through with the introduction of new public health orders or other legislation brought in by governments.

Jonathan Chisholm played five strong seasons for the Hilltops.

The fact there was going to be a game against the Huskies in Edmonton on August 22 was a big thing.

In that contest, the Hilltops fell behind 14-0 at halftime before rallying for an 18-17 victory. The winning point came when punter Doug Fleming kicked a punt single on the last playoff the game to give the ’Toppers their 30^th straight victory on the road including action in the regular season and playoffs.

The Hilltops also made history in that contest as linebacker Emmarae Dale took the field to become the first female to ever play in a CJFL regular season game.

With that game in the bag, it felt like the season was actually for real. The day-to-day focus earnestly turned back on to what was happening on the field. The goals grew bigger for real as the campaign went on as the confidence grew that factors outside the team’s control likely wouldn’t bring the season to a stop.

Jared Giddings (#6) stood out as the Hilltops boundary corner.

The Hilltops improved to 2-0 with a road win against the Colts in Calgary and proceeded to lose both games in a home-and-home series with their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder.

On September 11 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Thunder prevailed 16-13 on a 51-yard last play game winning field goal by Eric Maximuik. On September 18 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, the Thunder held on for a 30-27 victory thanks to an end zone interception by defensive back Justin McKerracher with seven seconds to play in the fourth quarter.

Both encounters were CJFL classics.

The Hilltops were sitting with a 2-2 record and their overall winning streak was halted at 33 games and their road winning streak was stopped at 31 games. It is believed both those marks are CJFL records.

Emmarae Dale made history as the first female to play in the CJFL.

Saskatoon also dealt with inconsistent play at the quarterback position resulting in who would be the starter between Fleming and Damon Dutton. Fleming started the first three games was pulled in the club’s first and third contests in favour of Dutton.

Dutton started the fourth contest in the 30-27 loss to the Thunder and remained in that starter’s spot for the rest of the season.

Going into their fifth game, the Hilltops just wanted to get back in the win column. They did that with a 25-10 victory over the Winnipeg Rifles at SMF Field that was far from a masterpiece.

The Hilltops turned the ball over seven times, and the Rifles gave it away six times.

Konner Johnson (#42) had a breakout season at outside linebacker.

That set up a big showdown with the Huskies. If the Hilltops wanted to host a playoff game and earn a bye to a PFC semifinal, they needed to win that contest.

In the first season back after the 2020 stoppage, it was decided in the PFC that all of the conference’s six teams would make the post-season.

On October 3 at SMF Field, the Hilltops downed the Huskies 34-20 on the strength of a monster game from running back Boston Davidsen, who carried the ball 31 times for 221 yards and scored three touchdowns.

The Hilltops closed the regular season with four straight wins to finish second in the PFC with a 6-2 record.

Tom Sargeant, centre, and his staff did great work the last two years.

That set the scene for the playoffs. Before even getting ahead of themselves and thinking of a run, the Hilltops were focused on a third encounter with the Huskies.

That clash at SMF Field turned into one of the CJFL’s all-time great post-season games. With 21.3 seconds remaining in the game, Dutton hit standout receiver Dillan Heintz with a five-yard touchdown toss to lift the Hilltops to a 33-31 victory.

The Huskies, who were great in that game, arguably saved their best work on their journey home. About 50 kilometres north of Saskatoon, the team bus came across an accident scene where a motorcyclist apparently hit a deer.

Damon Dutton emerged as the Hilltops starting QB.

The team’s training staff including Cassidy Ku, Shawna Crozier and Randy Kuefler, equipment manager Luca Cupelli and defensive back and paramedic student Sheldon McNabb helped save the motorcyclist’s life assisting the victim before first responders arrived. They provided assistance to the first responders when they got to the scene too.

Having a victory over a quality opponent on and off the field, the Hilltops turned their attention to the PFC final and the Thunder.

In that contest on November 14 at Mosaic Stadium, the Hilltops offensive line of left tackle Mason Ochs, left guard Jayson Kehler, centre Luciano Jolly, right guard Ethan Paslowski and right tackle Jonathan Chisholm allowed Davidsen and fellow star running back Carter McLean have big days as the Hilltops piled up 386 yards rushing as a team.

Ethan Godson became a big play receiver for the Hilltops.

Saskatoon came away with a 29-9 victory winning the PFC title for a seventh straight season.

By this point in the campaign, the Hilltops belief was high that they were going to go all the way once again.  The focus was on winning the Canadian Bowl to help the team’s graduating players depart as CJFL champions.

They knew they faced a big challenge against the Rams in Langley in the CJFL semifinal. Late in the third quarter of that contest, Fleming hit receiver Presley Peterson with a 23-yard touchdown pass on a fake field goal to put the Hilltops up 14-7 going into the fourth quarter.

The Rams rallied in the fourth quarter to pull out a 17-14 victory. The contest wasn’t the cleanest performance on the execution front as the Hilltops turned the ball over 12 times, and the Rams gave away the ball seven times.

Carter McLean rolled off some big runs for the Hilltops.

The turnovers made that contest a heartbreaker for the Hilltops.

Their CJFL record post-season game winning streak would end at 22 contests.

The Hilltops only had four players graduate due to aging out in Dale, Ochs, Chisholm and boundary cornerback Jared Giddings.

All four were able to play as 23-year-olds after the CJFL ruled all 22-year-old players on team rosters in 2020 were eligible to return as 23-year-olds in 2021.

Ochs, Chisholm and Giddings played five full seasons with the Hilltops and were looked to as leaders to guide the day. While Dale was just with the team for one season, she ended up becoming a leader and a calming influence on the team.

Boston Davidsen piled up big yards on the ground for the Hilltops.

The players knew about her years playing with the Saskatoon Valkyries in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League and many had trained with her at Ignite Athletics. The younger players looked to Dale to help show the way.

Chisholm said the four 23-year-olds were like the parents for the rest of the team, and that was likely an accurate observation.

During the season, the Hilltops improved a lot. There were various feel good storylines like Ethan Godson emerging as a big-play receiver and Konner Johnson cementing himself as a star big play outside linebacker.

Ochs was named the PFC’s most outstanding lineman and graduates the Hilltops’ program as one of the team’s all-time greats. On Thursday, Ochs was named a CJFL all-Canadian all-star for the fourth straight season.

The coin toss of a Hilltops game versus the Rifles.

He was a PFC all-star for the last four straight campaigns too.

Legendary head coach Tom Sargeant and his staff did an outstanding over the past two years navigating the team through all the uncontrollable world events relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and all the unique situations it created playing through the 2021 campaign.

Behind the scenes, the Hilltops board of directors and support staff did an amazing job to ensure the club kept going forward in world situations no one plans for. 

Mason Ochs (#73) raises the PFC championship trophy.

When former player Chris Hengen-Braun became team president in February of 2020, I don’t think he would have ever imagined dealing with the things he had deal with for the rest of 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

He had the hardest road to tackle out of any Hilltops president in recent memory.

The Hilltops are set to return a good core of players for the 2022 campaign. The fact the team wasn’t able to win the CJFL title in 2021 will supply motivation in 2022.

Still, the 2021 campaign was a memorable one, with how far the Hilltops came as a team with having to restart after the 2020 season was lost. It was a big thing to prove a season could happen again.

The Hilltops needed to find out what their new starting point would be heading into future seasons.

The Hilltops enjoy fun moments with their supporters.

The effort of the 2021 team gives the Hilltops a great base to build off of going forward. With all that has happened in the world, providing that strong starting base is a great lasting accomplishment the 2021 Hilltops will have forever.

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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Family feeling brings Chisholm back to Hilltops

Saskatoon closes regular season with 32-17 win in Winnipeg

Jonathan Chisholm (#71) walks out of the tunnel with his parents.

About a year ago, Jonathan Chisholm was in the working world and uncertain if he would play his fifth and final season for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

When the 2020 CJFL campaign was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had gripped the world, the Hilltops were able to practice for six weeks in September and October, but Chisholm wasn’t there.

“This past year, I was actually back in Swift (Current) like in my hometown,” said Chisholm. “I went back to work.

“I didn’t really workout. I went on the oil rigs and just made some money to kind of get my life back on track.”

While the veteran right tackle was away from the team, an avenue existed for Chisholm to return. The Hilltops still had him on their roster in 2020.

Due to the fact the 2020 season was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CJFL allowed players who were on team rosters as 22-year-old in 2020 to return this season as 23-year-olds in 2021. Once the 2021 campaign was given the green light to go, Chisholm had his heart set on rejoining the Hilltops, and he returned to Saskatoon.

Going into training camp, he admitted to being scared due to the fact he wasn’t sure what the season was going to be like.

“I hadn’t practised in a while, especially with COVID and everything,” said Chisholm, who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 295 pounds. “After the first week of practice, I felt really good.

“The boys were there. We were all rallying up together. I felt it was electric.”

On Sunday, the Hilltops closed their CJFL regular season schedule downing Rifles 32-17 at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg, Man.

Chisholm had a highlight moment that offensive lineman rarely get to obtain in that contest. With the Hilltops trailing the Rifles 3-0 in the first quarter, Chisholm caught a three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Damon Dutton on a lineman eligible trick play to give the Hilltops a 7-3 lead.

Saskatoon never trailed again in that contest winning a fourth straight game to finish the regular season with a 6-2 record. The Rifles fell to 2-6 to wrap up their regular season schedule.

Jonathan Chisholm, right, is a standout at right tackle.

When Chisholm returned to the Hilltops, the 23-year-old found himself in a leadership role more than any point he was with the team. He wasn’t trying to project being the leader.

Chisholm found his role evolved that way when numerous newcomers were coming up to him with queries or just wanting to talk to get an extra feel of comfort.

He said the other two members of the Hilltops who are playing their fifth full season with the club in star left tackle Mason Ochs and standout boundary cornerback Jared Giddings have experienced the same thing too.

Chisholm added that linebacker Emmarae Dale, who is also in her graduating year with the team, is also being looked upon in that same way. Dale is playing out her first and only full season with the Hilltops after being recruited to join the storied CJFL squad after having a lot of success with the Saskatoon Valkyries of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League.

While Dale is a newcomer with the Hilltops, she is well known by the team for her time with the Valkyries and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s track and field team.

“It is pretty awesome,” said Chisholm. “There are four of us graduating, and these guys just look up to us.

“They think we are their parents, and it feels good. They are guys I like talking to. This year, they were very nervous.

“I was very vocal about if you needed to say something or ask questions please do so. We want you guys to like being here and feel welcome and make sure you guys like playing the game. That is what matters most.”

Unfortunately, events on the field didn’t unfold as planned. In the Hilltops second game of the season on August 29, Chisholm suffered a knee injury in his team’s 35-18 victory over the Colts in Calgary.

Thanks to the fact the Hilltops had two bye weeks, Chisholm was able to take six weeks to make another comeback to the field. The bye weeks cut down the games he missed to four contests.

Chisholm was pumped to see Jayson Kehler play well as the Hilltops starting right tackle position during that time. Kehler is in his fourth full season with the Hilltops.

Chisholm made it back for the Hilltops final regular season home game on October 17, when they romped over the Edmonton Wildcats 44-7 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Jonathan Chisholm spent 2020 in the working world.

He participated in the traditional last walk out of the tunnel the Hilltops do with their graduation players, where they take a walk out of the tunnel to the field with their parents. He made that walk with his mother, Donna, and father, John.

“I know my parents were really happy to come out on the field,” said Jonathan Chisholm. “I was happy for them, especially when I gave my mom flowers. She was really excited and really happy.

“It just felt really special, especially with all the players just being there and just supporting you.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was happy to see Chisholm make it back for a final stretch from his injury.

“Number one, we love running the ball,” said Sargeant. “We love having big physical offensive linemen.

“It just helps to bring an identity back to our team that he played a big part in creating. He is an aggressive player. He loves to get after you.

“Him and Mason Ochs are a great combination. We feel we have the two best tackles around, and we’ll take that against anybody. As I said, we’re excited for them to finish off their fifth years in grand style.”

Chisholm said he still isn’t 100 per cent physically, but he is enjoying the present. There is nowhere else he would want to be than with the Hilltops.

“I come to films, and I am still learning,” said Chisholm. “Being here is the most important part than just being at home.

“It is just absolutely crazy. It honestly feels like Week 3 for me right now. It is really like playoffs are right around the corner.

“The weather is really good too. I can’t even complain right now. I’m pretty happy.”

When he does finally depart the Hilltops as a player, Chisholm said he will carry a tonne of memories with him and will always cherish his relationships with everyone connected with the team.

“Just being around the fans, the whole fanbase like the parents and the club and the trainers,” said Chisholm. “Everything just coming together.

“It feels like one big family. Going into that locker room and you see that sign, ‘It starts with you and ends with us.’ It means a lot to me just seeing that.”

Jonathan Chisholm caught a touchdown pass on Sunday.

In Sunday’s clash with the Rifles, Winnipeg took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 17-yard field goal from kicker Matt Kennedy.

The Hilltops responded with Chisholm’s touchdown catch to go ahead 7-3.

Before the first quarter ended, Dutton hit receiver Lachlan Horsley with a 10-yard touchdown pass to increase the Hilltops advantage to 14-3.

At the start of the second quarter, Rifles receiver Everrett Findley made an eight-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Bryson McNeil to cut the Hilltops lead to 14-10.

The Rifles had to concede a safety due to bad field position to increase the Saskatoon lead to 16-10.

The Hilltops put up another score when Dutton hit speedy pass catcher Ethan Godson with a 25-yard touchdown pass to increase the edge for the visitors to 23-10.

Before the second quarter ended, the Rifles got a one-yard rushing touchdown from Sekina Scheibler to trim Saskatoon’s lead to 23-17.

The Hilltops accounted for all the scoring in the second half. In the third quarter, kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas hit a field goal from 11 yards out to give the Hilltops a 26-17 advantage.

Early in the fourth quarter, star running back Carter McLean scored a touchdown on a four yard run. When the ensuing convert attempt hit the upright, the Hilltops lead sat as the game’s final outcome at 32-17.

The Hilltops finished second in the Prairie Football Conference and will have a bye to host a PFC semifinal game. That game is slated to be held on Sunday, November 7 at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The Regina Thunder topped the PFC standings with a perfect 8-0 record, and they will host the other PFC semifinal also on Sunday, November 7.

The Edmonton Huskies finished third in the PFC with a 5-3 mark and they will host the sixth place Calgary Colts (1-7) in a PFC quarter-final on Sunday, October 31.

The Rifles placed fourth in the PFC and will host the Edmonton Wildcats (2-6) in the other PFC quarter-final contest on Sunday, October 31. The Rifles finished ahead of the Wildcats in the standings thanks to winning the one head-to-head game between the two sides.

Jonathan Chisholm, centre, is going to miss the Hilltops family feeling.

After the 2020 CJFL season was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided all six of the PFC’s teams would participate in the post-season in 2021.

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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Adversity gives Hilltops chance to show resiliency

Hilltops QB Damon Dutton is sacked by Thunder LB Ryan Mills.

The Saskatoon Hilltops find themselves in unaccustomed territory these days.

The powerhouse CJFL club is actually on a two-game skid after falling two straight games to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder. The setbacks to the 4-0 Thunder dropped the Hilltops to 2-2.

The storied Saskatoon side hasn’t had a 2-2 record after four regular season games since the 2014 campaign. After four games, the Hilltops are usually used to holding 3-1 or 4-0 records.

The Hilltops also sit tied for the third and fourth spots in the Prairie Football Conference standings with the Edmonton Wildcats, who are also 2-2.

Saskatoon will try to halt the skid on Sunday taking on the Winnipeg Rifles (1-3) at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Before the 2020 CJFL campaign was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hilltops had won the Canadian Bowl to become CJFL champions six years in a row. In the last 10 completed CJFL campaigns, the Hilltops have won nine CJFL titles.

If you dropped by the Hilltops clubhouse facility or checked out one of their practices at Ron Atchison this past week, the club is still upbeat and positive. The coaches and players believe they are going to get better and the best is yet to come in the current campaign.

For onlookers of the team, the 2-2 start might be surprising, because the Hilltops looked like a squad that may never lose in recent years.

The two-game skid halted the Hilltops 33-game winning streak and their 31-game road winning streak. Both those streaks are believed to be CJFL records.

Saskatoon won the CJFL title in 2018 with fifth-year star quarterback Jordan Walls guiding the way with an 11-0 perfect season. The Hilltops were so impressive in that campaign that they trailed on the scoreboard for a combined 81 seconds in the regular season and post-season.

Their closest margin of victory in 2018 came in the PFC Final, where they posted a 28-9 win over the Edmonton Huskies.

Carter McLean sits second in the PFC in rushing.

The statistical dominance the Hilltops posted in 2018 was something you rarely see at any level of sports.

In 2019, Saskatoon followed up with a 12-0 perfect season to once again capture the CJFL championship. Fifth-year quarterback Tyler Hermann impressed in his one lone campaign as the team’s starting quarterback.

Still, the Hilltops weren’t as dominant needing comeback victories to pull out games and taking the Canadian Bowl in an 11-6 defensive slugfest against the host Langley Rams in Langley, B.C.

The Hilltops entered the 2021 campaign with a roster that contains just three players who are in their fifth and final full season with the team in boundary cornerback Jared Giddings, star left tackle Mason Ochs and right tackle Jonathan Chisholm.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant and his staff likely anticipated that bumps in the road were going to happen.

In their season opener on August 22 at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton, the Hilltops trailed the host Huskies 14-0 before rallying for an 18-17 victory.

On August 29 at Shouldice Park in Calgary, the Hilltops downed the host Colts 35-18, but that contest had rocky moments for the blue and gold.

The two losses to the Thunder followed, but the Hilltops were two or three plays from coming out on top in each of those outings.

On Sept. 11 at SMF Field, the Thunder used a last play 51-yard field goal from kicker Eric Maximuik to pull out a 16-13 victory.

This past Saturday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, an end zone interception by Justin McKerracher with seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter preserved a 30-27 victory for the Thunder in an all-time classic CJFL match.

Konner Johnson sits second in the PFC in defensive points.

While the Hilltops have had inconsistent play over their first four games, there have been lots of bright spots, which could help spark a surge upwards for the rest of the campaign.

Running back Carter McLean sits second in the PFC in rushing piling up 415 yards on 86 carries and scoring three touchdowns. He has also caught seven passes for another 47 yards.

Linebacker Konner Johnson sits second in the PFC with 61 defensive points coming on 24 total tackles, one quarterback sack, three pass knockdowns and one interception.

Teijon Abel-Douglas, who is an 18-year-old rookie kicker just out of high school, has made all five of his field goals and all eight of his converts.

In their first three games, the Hilltops didn’t get the consistent play they wanted at quarterback from Doug Fleming and Damon Dutton. Fleming was the starter for the first three games but was pulled in favour of Dutton in two of those contests.

Dutton made his first CJFL start in the Hilltops fourth game and had a solid outing in the 30-27 loss to the Thunder completing 28-of-34 passes for 332 yards, one touchdown and one interception. That might be a sign that the Hilltops might be starting to get the consistent play at quarterback they’ve been seeking.

Sargeant, who doubles as the Hilltops offensive coordinator, is the all-time wins leader for post-secondary football in Canada. He has navigated teams through seasons like this before.

The Hilltops coaching staff has lots of veterans like defensive coordinator Jeff Yausie, who won’t get rattled by a two-game skid.

Saskatoon likely won’t catch the Thunder for first in the PFC, unless the Thunder collapse over the final four regular season games.

The Hilltops can still finish second in the PFC, if they win their last four regular season games. That would be helpful this season, because all teams in the PFC make the post-season.

The first and second place squads will have byes to host contests in the semifinal round.

The Hilltops aim to enjoy making more big plays this season.

In their history, the Hilltops have won more CJFL titles than any other team at 22, and the current team isn’t totally that far off from rounding into that type of form.

You can bet the coaches and players will keep their focus up the rest of the way to give the Hilltops a chance to finish the campaign in a memorable way.

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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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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Hilltops eye up opening day game in Edmonton

Carter McLean makes a cut during a Hilltops scrimmage.

The game day excitement is back for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

After the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world wiped out the 2020 CJFL season, the Hilltops will open their regular season schedule traveling to Edmonton, Alta., on Sunday to face the Huskies at Jasper Place Bowl. The two sides met in the last two Prairie Football Conference title games in 2018 and 2019 with the Hilltops coming out on top both times en route to capturing a CJFL championship.

The Hilltops were able to practice for six weeks in the fall of 2020, and now they will finally be able to play a game again.

With that regular season opening contest just three days away, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant is finding his energetic game day form again when he talks about the upcoming clash with the Huskies.

“That is the team we had to get past to get on to even more important games,” said Sargeant. “We know they are hungry.

“We know they’ve had enough of our success. They have an all-Canadian running back. They have a fifth-year quarterback.

“They have lots of players that are used to being in big games. We have lots of work to do to get everybody ready and playing the type of football that the Hilltops are used to excepting to play.”

Brandt Burzuk, right, returns to the Huskies at running back.

The Hilltops last hit the field for a game on November 16, 2019 downing the host Langley Rams 11-6 in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – at McLeod Stadium in Langley, B.C.

The Huskies last saw game action on October 27, 2019, when they fell 30-14 in the PFC title game to the Hilltops at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

While the venerable Hilltops have won 22 CJFL championships in their history, the Huskies have a storied history too claiming five CJFL titles. Traditionally, they have been a tough foe for the Saskatoon side.

When asked if it was good to get a traditionally tough opponent first, Sargeant kept rolling.

“We’ll just line up against anyone when and where and they’ll just tell us,” said Sargeant, who is the all-time leader for head coaching victories in Canada’s post-secondary football ranks at 210. “That is who we are.

“We’ll see if all the work we’ve done and the preparation we’ve done has been the right preparation. My team, myself, we’re judged on game day by how we perform, so we’re expecting a great performance on Sunday and we’ll take it from there.”

The Huskies return some familiar players. They are led by quarterback Declan O’Flaherty, who is in his final season of CJFL eligibility.

Declan O’Flaherty is back with the Huskies at quarterback.

Veteran running back Brandt Burzuk is also back for a final swan song CJFL campaign. In 2019, Burzuk was the PFC’s most valuable player, most outstanding offensive player and most outstanding running back.

He also took home honours as a CJFL all-Canadian all-star.

The Hilltops are taking the field with one of their younger rosters in recent years. Out of the 93 total players that are with the Hilltops this season, 38 are returning veterans and 55 are newcomers.

Out of the returning veterans, three players will be playing their fifth and final campaign with the team in left tackle Mason Ochs, right tackle Jonathan Chisholm and boundary corner Jared Giddings.

Doug Fleming, who is in his third full season with the Hilltops, will be making his first start at quarterback on Sunday against the Huskies.

“It is exciting,” said Fleming. “I thought we were going to be able to go last year.

“I don’t like the year off, but it was nice to be able to grow and learn a little bit and just be even more prepared for this year. They (the Huskies) are a very physical and tough team. They are geared to try and shut us down, so we’re trying to game plan to get open.”

Fleming will have a talented receiver group to distribute the ball to in slotbacks Dillan Heintz and Matt Turple along with wide receivers Ethan Godson and Lachlan Horsley. Explosive veteran Carter McLean provides big play capability from the tailback position.

The signal caller has lots of confidence in his offensive line that is led by Ochs and Chisholm.

“I’m pretty excited,” said Fleming. “I think we have a really good group of guys.

The Hilltops have depth at the receiver position.

“I think we have a solid O-line. We have a lot of fast receivers and a fast running back room. I think it will be pretty exciting to be out there with all those boys.”

While Ochs and Chisholm are the returning starters on the offensive line, the three new starters are all veterans in their respective fourth full seasons with the team who have been working hard to take on these roles in centre Luciano Jolly, left guard Ethan Paslowsky and right guard Jordan Bisson.

“It doesn’t even feel different,” said Ochs. “We’ve had so many off-season workouts.

“We’ve been together having fun after hours. We kind of kept tight there in COVID. We had our little group chat going, so all the guys are really close.”

Even in the lead up to Sunday’s encounter with the Huskies, Ochs said it has felt like the four other full seasons he played with the team.

“Since we’ve been back this week, it feels like nothing has changed,” said Ochs. “It just feels like it is just another year.”

The Hilltops defence will be anchored by Giddings, fourth year linebacker Brady Fossen, fourth year nose tackle Jaxson Funk and fourth year safety Brant Morrow.

No matter what the end result ends up being on Sunday, Sargeant knows his teams will have things to work on. He knows it is all part of the journey through a season.

Doug Fleming will make his first start at QB for the Hilltops.

“It is like anything,” said Sargeant.  “We’ll know way more Sunday after the game.

“Practice is one thing. Game day is different against a different opposition. I’m excited for all my team.

“It is a young team. They just have to play games.”

NOTES – While the CJFL hasn’t hit the field for a game since November of 2019, the Hilltops enter the 2021 campaign with a number of winning streaks that are still active. They have won their last 31 straight games including action in the CJFL’s regular season and post-season.

The Hilltops have claimed their last 29 straight games on the road including action in the CJFL regular season and post-season. In the post-season, the Hilltops have a CJFL record of 20 straight wins going into the current campaign.

End Zone Dinner on for Hilltops

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 a the 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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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.

Hilltops back in the groove, pumped for 2021 season

QB Doug Fleming fires a pass downfield at the Hilltops scrimmage.

Mason Ochs jokes that he has been the grizzled old veteran long before he became a fifth-year player with the Saskatoon Hilltops.

“They’ve always called me an old man for having grey hair,” said Ochs with a laugh. “It is kind of nothing new here.”

The graduate of Saskatoon’s Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers football program was back manning his left tackle position as the Hilltops began their training camp on Monday. The team’s first week wrapped up with a scrimmage on Thursday at Ron Atchison Field next to the Hilltops clubhouse.

Ochs joined the Hilltops right out of high school in 2016. He became a starter at left tackle in 2017 and was named CJFL all-Canadian all-star that year and again in 2018 and 2019.

The 2020 CJFL campaign was wiped out due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world. The Hilltops had won the last six straight CJFL titles including the last four of those with Ochs on the roster before play came to a halt.

The Hilltops did gather to practice for six weeks in the fall of 2020.

The 2021 CJFL campaign has been green-lighted as a go, and the Hilltops open the regular season on Sunday, August 22, traveling to Edmonton, Alta., to play the Huskies at Jasper Place Bowl.

The Hilltops last hit the field for a game on November 16, 2019 downing the host Langley Rams 11-6 in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – at McLeod Stadium in Langley, B.C.

A receiver holds on to a pass at the Hilltops scrimmage.

Ochs said it felt like Christmas time to be back at the Hilltops clubhouse and Ron Atchison Field this week.

“It feels great,” said Ochs, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 275 pounds. “It has been too long.

“It almost kind of felt like it was never coming back after you lose 2020. I didn’t even know if that was my last game in 2019 there. It couldn’t be better to be back.”

In 2021, Ochs truly is a grizzled old veteran with the team. He is just one of three players who were rookies in 2016 who are back with the Hilltops this season along with longtime pal on the offensive line in right tackle Jonathan Chisholm and boundary corner Jared Giddings.

The CJFL allowed players who were on team rosters as 22-year-olds in 2020 to return this season as 23-year-olds because of the fact the 2020 season was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ochs was upbeat about how things went during the first week of training camp and thought Thursday’s scrimmage provided a good conclusion to the week.

“Things went good,” said Ochs. “They started off a little sloppy, but towards the end, we picked them up.”

During the scrimmage, Ochs said it was good to see both the offensive and defensive units shine at different times.

“The offence was moving the ball,” said Ochs. “The defence was making plays.”

A defensive player secures a tackle at the Hilltops scrimmage.

Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant is well known for being a ball of energy. With that said, the legendary sideline boss still had an extra bounce in his step this week as his Hilltops are engaged to play a campaign.

With the team not taking the field for a game since 2019, Sargeant, who is the all-time leader for head coaching victories in Canada’s amateur post-secondary football ranks with 210 wins, said it does feel like a new beginning in 2021.

“It is just awesome to be back here,” said Sargeant. “It is awesome to be around my coaches and my players.

“It is such a good vibe and such a good feel. We have a lot of rust. We have lots of things we have to get better at.

“We have to replace 15 starters, so there is lots in front of us. We have the right kids here. We’re ready to develop this team and take it to great places.”

Sargeant said the first week of training camp had the standard ups and downs. When the team returns to practice this coming Monday after three days off, Sargeant said the focus will be getting ready for the first game against the Huskies.

“We picked our team,” said Sargeant. “We had some ebbs and flows, so we got that sorted out.

“Now, we’re identifying whose going to be our starters. We have to take 45 on the road. We’re traveling with players on the road now.

Carter McLean rolls off a big run at the Hilltops scrimmage.

“We have to figure out our 45 beginning on Monday when we come back to our main camp and get ready for the Edmonton Huskies. We’re real excited for the process ahead.”

Sargeant believes this year’s team can be really good, but there is still a lot of work to do.

“This team has tremendous potential and lots of room for growth,” said Sargeant. “That is what we have to do.

“Look at our scrimmage (Thursday night), we got to finish with a touchdown and some good vibes. Our defence really was flying and running around. We have lots of work to do on our special teams.

“I wasn’t happy with that tonight. As I said, we’re going to get to work, and I can’t wait for everything in front of us.”

Ochs said the Hilltops coaches have been great in making sure everything is going forward and everyone is taking care of business. He said training camp activities and practices have gone on like they would in any normal year, and you wouldn’t know the 2020 CJFL season was cancelled.

“The coaches are everything,” said Ochs. “After missing a year there, to have that same continuity, the same guys, the same systems and the same beliefs, that is huge.”

Ochs is very optimistic about how good the 2021 season can be. He is looking forward to the opener against the Huskies, but knows there will be growing pains as the campaign goes on.

“I think it can be great,” said Ochs. “It looks great out here.

The Hilltops are preparing for their CJFL regular season opener.

“Obviously, the test is Week 1. I guess we’ll know where we are at after a few weeks here facing some tough competition.”

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.