Thunder get Sask. sports media spotlight to themselves

Canadian Bowl hosts deserving of extra attention

The Thunder storm on to the field at Mosaic Stadium on Oct. 30.

The Regina Thunder have Saskatchewan’s sports media spotlight to themselves and deservingly so.

Regina’s powerhouse junior football club is hosting the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl – on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium. The Thunder are facing the Kelowna, B.C., based Okanagan Sun in a battle of teams looking to complete a perfect season.

Regina enters the contest with a 10-0 overall record, while the Sun are 13-0 overall.

This is only the second time the Thunder are in the Canadian Bowl. The last time the Regina side was in the CJFL title game was back on November 9, 2013, when they hosted that contest at historic Taylor Field downing the Vancouver Island Raiders 55-26.

While that victory was a high point in the Thunder’s history, it was moment overshadowed the Saskatchewan Roughriders run to winning the Grey Cup at that historic park with a huge contingent of popular stars like Darian Durant, Weston Dressler, Kory Sheets, Chris Getzlaf, Neal Hughes, Ricky Foley, Tyron Brackenridge and Craig Butler. Thunder grad and offensive lineman Dan Clark was a youngster on that team who made a name for himself catching a touchdown pass on a lineman eligible play.

The players on that Roughriders team were strongly connected to the Saskatchewan community and are held closely in the hearts of football fans in “the Wheat Province.”

On November 24, 2013 just 15 days after the Thunder’s Canadian Bowl win, the Roughriders stormed on to the frozen concrete of Taylor Field and flattened the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 45-23 to complete what is often viewed as the greatest sports moment to occur inside Saskatchewan’s provincial borders.

This year the Roughriders are again hosting the Grey Cup, but they won’t be in the CFL’s championship game, which will be held at Mosaic Stadium on November 20 at 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time. The Roughriders failed to make the CFL playoffs with a 6-12 record.

That means the media machine that usually covers the Roughriders will turn their attention to the Thunder as they go for their second national title. The Thunder are viewed as the feel good story, and their championship clash helps bring an unofficial start to the Grey Cup week, where the Canadian version of football is celebrated.

Carter Shewchuk calls signals for a dynamic Thunder offence.

With all that said, it should be stated it is always a better in Saskatchewan when the Roughriders are having success and making a long playoff run. The Roughriders have a big philanthropic impact on football and amateur sports in Saskatchewan including the Thunder, so a successful Roughriders organization benefits all in the province.

While the Roughriders are having a down year, it is a good thing that spotlight that would normally be on them will be on the Thunder even for a short time.

In Canada, the sports media industry is a severely cut one. Top rate coverage is reserved for the Canada’s seven NHL franchises, the country’s three MLS teams, the Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Raptors, Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

High level amateur teams like the Thunder used to get top rate coverage when there were more staffers in Canada’s sports media industry. That top rate coverage happened back when the Thunder won their lone CJFL title to date in 2013.

Since that 2013 season, skeleton crews staff the sports departments of mainstream media outlets. It is common for cities with populations of 300,000 in Canada to only have three dedicated sports reporters among all mainstream outlets in those centres.

In Saskatoon on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (8-1) will face the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (5-4) in the Canada West Conference title game – the Hardy Cup. If it wasn’t for the fact this contest was being broadcast on television on the SaskTel’s MaxTV Local On Demand channel and Huskie Athletics made a deal with Pattison Media for coverage, it is possible you might not hear much about the Hardy Cup.

Regina has the Roughriders media machine, which means the all the mainstream media outlets in the Saskatchewan capital will always keep at least one dedicated sports reporter to cover the CFL club. The presence of the Roughriders has allowed three daily sports talk shows to have their broadcasts originate out of Regina, and one of those programs in The Rod Pedersen Show gets filmed in various locations across North America.

Saskatoon has 50,000 more residents than Regina and doesn’t have a single sports talk show originating out of it.

Ryland Leichert is a game breaker on the ground for the Thunder.

Due to the fact the Roughriders media machine can’t go on vacation with the Grey Cup just around the corner, they will be in the Saskatchewan capital to cover the Canadian Bowl. The CJFL title contest will be broadcast on 620 CKRM with Roughriders play-by-play voice Michael Ball calling the game and Pete Paczko doing the analysis.

Daniella Ponticelli, who is the Roughriders game day radio host, will be reporting on the sidelines for the radio broadcast of the Canadian Bowl.

It should be noted that the Thunder are also receiving extra attention due to the fact the University of Regina Rams campaign in the U Sports ranks has come to an end. The Rams had a solid season finishing second in the Canada West Conference regular season standings with a 5-3 record but fell last Saturday in a Canada West semifinal 28-14 to the visiting Thunderbirds at Mosaic Stadium.

The Thunder are deserving of the extra attention. Under Scott MacAulay, who has been the team’s head coach since the start of the 2013 campaign, the Thunder have cemented themselves as one of the CJFL’s first class teams and constantly hit new heights in professionalism.

Regina has also been an exciting CJFL club to watch too. The Thunder are powered on offence by their triplets in quarterback Carter Shewchuk, running back Ryland Leichert and receiver Rylan Sokul.

You almost forget the fact Isaac Ford and Isaiah Woodley have also built reputations as dynamic playmakers for the Thunder.

Regina’s starting offensive line of left tackle Riley Schick, left guard Noah Steinley, centre Max McFadden, right guard Nicholas Makowsky and right tackle Connor Klassen have been playing lights out.

The defence is full of star playmakers too in defensive ends Reece McCormick and Reed Rabbetz, linebackers Stephen Smith and Matthew Schill, cornerback Justin McKerracher and safety Adam King.

Place kicker and punter Eric Maximuik may go down as the best the Thunder ever had at those positions.

Rylan Sokul is a clutch receiver for the Thunder.

All of those players are outstanding representatives of the team in the community. It was fitting that on Sunday the CJFL named the Thunder football team the first winners of the newly minted Rick Smoke team award for exemplary community service.

For the Canadian Bowl on Saturday, Environment Canada is predicting a high of -15 C with a mixture of sun and cloud. Here is hoping those conditions don’t keep the fans away.

In Canada’s sports media cut era, the Thunder are in position to receive a big push in the spotlight. If they can shine brightly with the added attention, they will create a memory that could last a lifetime in local Saskatchewan football circles.

Hilltops nab three CJFL all-Canadian awards, other notes

Konner Johnson is a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star.

A trio of battle hardened veterans picked up first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star nods for the storied Saskatoon Hilltops.

On Thursday, weak side linebacker Konner Johnson, defensive end Riece Kack and left tackle Jayson Kehler were all named first team all-Canadian all-stars by the CJFL.

Johnson had a stellar season with the Hilltops playing out his final campaign of CJFL eligibility. The 22-year-old Melfort, Sask., product piled up 31 solo defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, two special teams tackle assists, two quarterback sacks, five pass knockdowns and four interceptions appearing in all eight of the Hilltops regular season games.

Kack topped the PFC with 7.5 quarterback sacks in regular season play. The 20-year-old Saskatoon product also posted 20 solo defensive tackles, five defensive tackle assists, three special teams solo tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception.

Kehler’s final CJFL campaign was his best one with the Hilltops. The 22-year-old Saskatoon product has been with his hometown CJFL club since 2017, but the 2022 campaign was his first season as a starter with the venerable CJFL club.

With Kehler anchoring the offensive line at left tackle, the Hilltops topped the PFC with 1,818 rushing yards and placed second with 3,364 total offensive yards in regular season play. Hilltops power running back Boston Davidsen led the PFC with 1,037 individual rushing yards due to the play of Kehler and the Hilltops offensive line.

Jayson Kehler, left, is a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star.

The Hilltops finished second in the PFC’s regular season standings with a 5-3 record. In the post-season, the Hilltops won a PFC semifinal contest against the Edmonton Huskies before falling in the PFC final to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder.

The Thunder had six player named first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars on Thursday. The Thunder first team all-Canadian all-stars included receivers Rylan Sokul and Isaac Foord, right tackle Connor Klassen, defensive end Reece McCormick, cornerback Justin McKerracher and Eric Maximuik at punter.

On Wednesday, the Thunder had five players named second team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars. The Thunder’s second team all-Canadian all-stars included quarterback Carter Shewchuk, receiver Isaiah Woodley, left tackle Riley Schick, linebacker Stephen Smith and safety Adam King.

The Thunder host the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl – on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium against the Okanagan Sun.

• On Monday, the CJFL announced London Beefeaters right guard Kevin Ricard will receive the Past Commissioners Community Service Award, when the CJFL hands out its major awards on Friday in Regina.
• On Thursday, the players from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team walked away with three major Canada West Conference awards. Quarterback Mason Nyhus was named the player of the year, right tackle Jack Warrack captured rookie of the year honours and running back Ryker Frank was given the nod as the Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner.
• On Thursday, the University of Regina Rams claimed two major Canada West Conference awards. Linebacker Ryder Varga was named the conference’s most outstanding defensive player and head coach Mark McConkey captured coach of the year honours.
• On Wednesday, I had new content appear on the Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I put together a feature on Taz Smith-Windsor, who is a graduating star with Prince Albert’s Carlton Comprehensive High School Crusaders Football Team and has played a number of games at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Smith-Windsor will be joining the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team in 2023. The piece on Smith-Windsor can found by clicking right here. I also created a photo round up that is heavy on showing football in crunch time, and that piece can be found by clicking right here.

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

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Hilltops’ Johnson, Sawi pick up major PFC awards

Konner Johnson (#42) walks on to SMF Field with his parents.

Even as a major award winner, Konner Johnson evaluates even plays that were successful to determine if he could have done things better.

Last Sunday, the Hilltops announced that Johnson, the team’s star 22-year-old weak side linebacker, captured the PFC’s conference awards for most outstanding linebacker and most outstanding defensive player along with being a PFC all-star for the second straight year. While Johnson makes big plays on defence, he reflects on a big play he made on special teams that could have accidentally taken away a highlight touchdown from a young rookie.

On September 10, the Hilltops were playing host to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder. Early in the fourth quarter, the Hilltops were holding a 14-11 lead and Thunder star kicker Eric Maximuik was attempting a 45-yard field goal to try and tie the contest.

Maximuik’s kick sailed wide of the upright, and Hilltops 17-year-old rookie running back Charles Sawi ran the ball back 125 yards for a touchdown. On the tail end of the play, Johnson blocked out the last Thunder pursuer to ensure Sawi got a major.

While Johnson’s play was a good one, he wasn’t as certain when watching it back on video.

“I don’t know if I should have hit that guy or not,” said Johnson, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 220 pounds. “I didn’t get flagged luckily, but I could have.

Charles Sawi was named the PFC’s offensive rookie of the year.

“I didn’t want to take that touchdown away from him.”

Looking back on the play, Johnson thought Sawi was far enough in the clear that any blocks made on the play at that point could have been flagged for a penalty. 

Johnson believed there were better options in handling the final Thunder pursuer in either letting the pursuer go as it would be unlikely he would catch Sawi or run in front of the pursuer to edge him away from Sawi.

Sawi’s major put the Hilltops in front 21-11 in that contest the Saskatoon side would ultimately drop in overtime 29-21. That was the second game of a three-game losing streak that saw the ’Toppers record fall to 2-3.

Saskatoon rebounded closing the CJFL regular season with three straight wins to finish second in the PFC with a 5-3 mark. Last Sunday, the Hilltops won their fourth straight downing the Edmonton Huskies 20-15 in a PFC semifinal at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The Thunder finished the regular season with an 8-0 mark to finish first in the PFC and claimed their PFC semifinal 23-14 against the visiting Winnipeg Rifles at Leibel Field in Regina last Sunday.

The Hilltops and Thunder will go at it in the PFC final this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. It marks the second straight year the two sides have met in the conference title game with the Hilltops taking last year’s encounter 29-9 also at Mosaic Stadium.

Defensive end Riece Kack (#47) was named a PFC all-star.

While the Hilltops are deep into preparing to try and win the PFC title for an eighth consecutive season, they took time for some positive reflection on players getting recognized for individual awards.

Sawi took home the PFC’s award for offensive rookie of the year and was named to the rookie all-star team at running back. During the regular season, he carried the ball 30 times for 342 yards and scored two touchdowns.

On special teams, Sawi returned seven kickoffs for 168 yards and one touchdown, and five missed field goals for 271 yards that included the 125 yard touchdown return. Johnson was pleased to see the Holy Cross High School Crusaders Football Team graduate get honoured for the work he put in.

“He (Sawi) is an electric player,” said Johnson. “It is awesome to see.

“It is always fun to watch. He definitely deserved that. He’ll have a lot more coming in the future I am sure.”

As for Johnson, he finished second in the PFC in defensive points at 117 after collecting 31 solo defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, two special teams tackle assists, two quarterback sacks, five pass knockdowns and four interceptions.

Luciano Jolly (#58) was named a PFC all-star at centre.

Johnson said he reflects on his individual awards as team awards. The graduate of the Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate Comets nine-man football team said he was able to have individual success on the field due to the fact Hilltops middle linebacker Matt Wist and strong side linebacker Wade Keating had great seasons.

“All three of our linebackers this year we all played pretty good,” said Johnson. “We did our jobs for most of the season.

“It is definitely a team effort. It always is.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant proud to see Johnson and Sawi pick up major PFC awards.

“You always want to see players get recognized by their peers,” said Sargeant. “Konner (Johnson) has certainly put in five great years of working with the Hilltops.

“It took him two or three years to get bigger, stronger and apply his craft. Then, he has been an all-star the last two years. He has taken advantage of his work ethic and some great coaching from coach (in Hilltops defensive coordinator Jeff) Yausie.

“He (Johnson) has put it together into a great Hilltop career. With Charles (Sawi), we knew he was a high end recruit coming out of Holy Cross, and he has certainly provided a lot of energy and splash plays. It has been fun to coach him and see him develop.”

Boden Marley, left, was tabbed a PFC all-star at receiver.

Hilltops defensive end Riece Kack was also named to the PFC all-star team. Kack topped the PFC with 7.5 sacks. He also had 20 solo defensive tackles, five defensive tackle assists, three special teams solo tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception.

On offence, centre Luciano Jolly and left tackle Jayson Kehler, who have both been with the Hilltops since 2017, captured PFC all-star honours for the first time at their respective positions. Receiver Boden Marley, who has two seasons of CJFL eligibility remaining, was also named a PFC all-star for the first time.

Marley led the Hilltops in receiving making 33 catches for 349 yards and one touchdown. On special teams, Marley returned 32 punts for 278 yards and nine kickoffs for 161 yards.

“We had some other all-stars as well in two O-lineman who have never had it before in Jayson Kehler and Luciano Jolly,” said Sargeant. “I’m proud and pleased for that.

“Boden Marley gets one as a receiver, and then you have Riece Kack, who led the league in sacks this year. We feel good about all of that, but saying all that, we know it is a team game. It is the ultimate team game.

“We don’t get too caught up in accolades or awards. We just focus on wins.”

Johnson echoes those sentiments. While awards are nice, he is focused on taking on the Thunder in the PFC final.

Jayson Kehler (#50) was named a PFC all-star at left tackle.

“It is cool to be recognized, but we’re just worried about winning our games as a team,” said Johnson. “We have a big opponent this week, and that is what we are looking forward to right now.”

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O-line powers Hilltops to bruising PFC title victory

Saskatoon piles up 386 yards rushing against Thunder

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

REGINA, Sask. – In a frightening display of power, the Saskatoon Hilltops offensive line allowed the storied CJFL club to steamroll to a seventh consecutive PFC championship.

Due to the work of left tackle Mason Ochs, left guard Jayson Kehler, centre Luciano Jolly, right guard Ethan Paslowski and right tackle Jonathan Chisholm, the Hilltops piled up 386 yards rushing as a team to flatten the host Regina Thunder 29-9 in the PFC final before 1,347 spectators at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday.

In the win, the Hilltops two star running backs were both able to gain over 140 yards in rushing. Boston Davidsen carried the 19 times for 143 yards and one touchdown, and Carter McLean ran the ball 25 times for 204 yards.

Ethan Paslowski, middle, leads the way for Carter McLean, left.

Quarterback Damon Dutton accounted for the rest of the team’s rushing total running the ball seven times for 39 yards and two touchdowns.

When the dust settled, the Hilltops had captured the PFC title for a seventh straight season.

“Honestly, it feels so amazing like rallying up with the boys and making sure we get down into the end zone and scoring on our plays,” said Chisholm, who is in his fifth and final season with the Hilltops. “It was a fight.

“They (the Thunder) put out a great fight, and we just had to buckle down and play harder. The O-line played phenomenal. The receivers are playing great.

Ethan Paslowski (#63) and Luciano Jolly (#58) lead the way.

“The defence was stopping the run and stopping the pass. We just had to come together and win.”

The physical tone was set in the first half as the Hilltops rumbled for 157 yards on the ground over the first 30 minutes.

Despite controlling the line of scrimmage, the Thunder went into the halftime break holding a 9-7 edge on the scoreboard.

After forcing the Thunder to punt on the first possession of the third quarter, the Hilltops went back to work on the ground.

Jonathan Chisholm sets up at his right tackle position.

On their first offensive series of the third quarter, the Hilltops rolled off a number of powerful runs in a physically dominant drive. The drive culminated with a three-yard touchdown run by Davidsen to put the visitors in front 14-9.

The Hilltops never looked back powering their way to victory from that point piling up 229 yards on the ground.

By game’s end, the Thunder looked like they have been run over by an 18-wheeler semi-truck on the Trans-Canada Highway.

“The O-line was absolutely amazing today and the running backs with Carter (McLean) and Boston (Davidsen) are just jelling,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “We got a great one-two punch.

“I’m just proud of all they’ve done. This team is only getting better, and we’re going to work them harder. They are going to play better.”

Mason Ochs gets set to make a block in pass protection.

The Hilltops got on the board first at the 11:29 mark of the first quarter, when Dutton connected with receiver Boden Marley on a shovel/jet sweep style pass play that went four yards for a touchdown to put the visitors up 7-0.

In the second quarter, Thunder kicker Eric Maximuik hit three field goals from respective distances of 43, 39 and 27 yards out to give the host side a 9-7 edge. The first field goal was set up after the Hilltops were stopped on a third-and-two gamble at the Thunder 44 yard line, and the third field goal came off a series that was set up by an interception from linebacker Stephen Smith.

The Hilltops had a chance to take the lead on the final play of the first half, but kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas came up short on a 40-yard field goal attempt to allow the Thunder to go into the break with a two-point lead.

Luciano Jolly (#58) and Jayson Kehler, right, gang up on a block.

After Davidsen put the Hilltops up 14-9 on their first offensive series of the third quarter, Abel-Douglas hit a 10-yard field goal before the frame expired to increase the ’Toppers advantage to 17-9.

The field goal was set up by an interception from Hilltops defensive back Wade Keating.

Near the start of the fourth quarter, the Thunder had a chance to cut into the Hilltops lead, but Maximuik misfired on a kick after he stalled on his approach to the ball resulting in no points being scored for the host side.

Luciano Jolly gets set to snap the ball from his centre position.

Just past the midway point of the fourth quarter, Dutton ran a quarterback draw up the gut from six yards out for a touchdown that put the Hilltops up 23-9. The snap on the ensuing convert attempt was botched resulting in no extra point.

With 2:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, Dutton scored another rushing touchdown from six yards out, but this major score came on a bootleg run. The Hilltops tried to go for a two point conversion, but a pass to Ochs on a lineman eligible play fell incomplete to allow the game’s final score to sit at 29-9.

“The first half, it was just a low scoring game,” said Chisholm. “We had to make sure our skilled guys were catching the ball and making sure that we were going down the field.

“The O-line played a great game. The defence played a great game. The second half we just had to get in the locker room and just regroup and just focus in and just be that fourth quarter team.”

Jayson Kehler sets up at his left guard position.

Dutton did enough in the passing game to keep the Thunder off balance completing 15-of-22 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown, while throwing two interceptions. Hilltops star receiver Ethan Godson hauled in three passes for a game high 98 yards receiving.

Thunder star quarterback Carter Shewchuk completed 16-of-34 passes for 197 yards, while throwing one interception.

Thunder receiver Rylan Sokul, who was named the PFC’s most valuable player, caught four passes for just 31 yards. Isaac Foord, who is the Thunder’s other star receiver, was held to one catch for 25 yards.

On the ground, the Thunder ran for 130 yards as a team.

Luciano Jolly (#58) locks up in pass protection.

Hilltops star outside linebacker Konner Johnson said his squad worked a lot on disrupting the Thunder’s passing game.

“I think we were great at cluing in where their stars were in number 80 (Rylan Sokul) and number eight (Isaac Foord),” said Johnson, who had five defensive tackles, three defensive tackle assists and one sack in the win. “We spied them a lot of the game.

“They didn’t get a lot of catches, and that was huge on defence for us.”

 Defensive back Evan Mantyka had a sack for the Hilltops.

Veteran linebacker Davin Williamson had four defensive tackles and three defensive tackle assists for the Thunder, while linebacker Ryan Mills had an interception for Regina.

Ethan Paslowski (#63) ensures QB Damon Dutton throws deep.

When the game came to an end, Johnson was pumped to have helped the Hilltops win another PFC title.

“It feels amazing,” said Johnson. “They never get old.

“This was a hell of a game. You hear the huge crowd. It was the best day.”

The Hilltops, who have won six straight games, improved their overall record to 8-2. They entered the PFC final as slight underdogs with the Thunder having won both regular season encounters between the two sides by three points on each occasion.

The Thunder were undefeated heading into Sunday’s game and finish the 2021 campaign with an 8-0 regular season record and a 9-1 overall mark.

Wade Keating (#20) returns an interception for the Hilltops.

Sargeant got to experience another special PFC final victory in Regina way back in 1985, when the Hilltops upset the Regina Rams 31-24 at historic Taylor Field. The Rams, who moved to the U Sports ranks in 1999, had an 8-0 regular season record in that 1985 campaign, while the Hilltops were 5-3 in the regular season.

Sargeant was a tight end on that 1985 Hilltops squad, which would go in to win the CJFL championship. It was the first of 16 total CJFL title wins Sargeant would experience with the Hilltops.

The sideline boss said he remembers that 1985 PFC final victory over the Rams, but he said it was a unique special to win a PFC final in Regina for the first time as a coach.

Eric Maximuik (#1) makes one of his three field goals for the Thunder.

“When you become a coach, it is different, because now you get to live through the players,” said Sargeant, whose team has won a CJFL record 22 consecutive post-season games. “You live it through their eyes.

“Look at the joy, the excitement, the family, everybody coming together and it just makes you proud. The Hilltops are about being proud, and we’re proud in what we did today. It was extra special, because it was a hostile environment, and these kids just wanted it more at the end.

Konner Johnson had five defensive tackles for the Hilltops.

“They deserve everything. As I said, we have a long ways to go. I see two more games in front of us, and I’m not stopping now.”

The Hilltops, who have won the last six straight CJFL championships before the 2020 campaign was canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, advance to play a CJFL semifinal contest this coming Saturday against the Langley Rams at McLeod Stadium in Langley, B.C.

The two sides met the last two times the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – was contested. The Hilltops took the 2018 Canadian Bowl in Saskatoon 58-21 and the 2019 Canadian Bowl in Langley 11-6.

Johnson expects another tough battle with the Rams.

“We’re going back there, and they are a tough team,” said Johnson. “They are well coached.

The Hilltops meet their supporters after their PFC final win.

“We’ll just have to get into film tomorrow and see what they have.”

NOTES – The Rams (9-1 overall) took the British Columbia Football Conference final 7-4 against the Okanagan Sun (8-2 overall) in a rain soaked game in Langley this past Saturday.

Also this past Saturday, the St. Clair Fratmen (9-0 overall) rolled to a 47-3 win over the Quinte Skyhawks (2-7 overall) in one Ontario Football Conference semifinal in Windsor, while the London Beefeaters (7-2 overall) posted a 24-0 victory over the visiting Hamilton Hurricanes (4-5 overall) in the other OFC semifinal.

The Hilltops O-line crew is pictured with the PFC championship trophy.

The Fratmen host the Beefeaters this coming Saturday in the OFC final. The OFC final winner will host the CJFL semifinal game winner in the Canadian Bowl on Dec. 4.

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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