Hilltops’ Johnson gets boost from Roughriders camp

Saskatoon drops heartbreaker in Winnipeg 19-16

Hilltops LB Konner Johnson attended Roughriders training camp.

Even for an experienced football player like Konner Johnson, he had some good nervous energy when he found out he could realize a classic Saskatchewan childhood dream.

Johnson, who will turn 22-years-old in early September, attended training camp with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders this past May and June as a territorial junior before being returned to the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops for the 2022 campaign. During his preparations in the off-season, the outside linebacker was informed by Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant that there could be an opportunity with the Roughriders.

“I talked to coach ‘Sarge,’ and he said that it was going to be a possibility,” said Johnson, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 220 pounds. “He didn’t guarantee anything, because it wasn’t up to him.

“He said just be ready in case. I trained my butt off and got the phone call about three weeks before camp started. That is when I found out.”

As the start of the rookie part of Roughriders camp approached on May 11, Johnson began to feel like a kid right before opening gifts at Christmas.

“I was really nervous but also really excited,” said Johnson. “I didn’t really know what to expect.

“I didn’t know what I was walking into. It was a great experience, and I learned a lot.”

Johnson’s experience with the Roughriders helped give him a boost upon rejoining the Hilltops. He helped the Hilltops get off to a 2-0 start in the 2022 regular season.

On Sunday, the Hilltops dropped their first game of the 2022 campaign falling 19-16 to the Rifles in Winnipeg. With the two sides locked in a 16-16 tie, Rifles kicker Donavon Downing booted a 10-yard field goal with 36 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to deliver the Winnipeg side to victory at East Side Eagles Field.

The Hilltops fell to 2-1 with the setback, while the Rifles improved to 1-2.

Konner Johnson was a PFC all-star in 2021.

At Roughriders camp, Johnson took part in activities as both an outside linebacker and long snapper. The Melfort, Sask., product said the Roughriders didn’t do a lot of contact drills, but the pace with how everything was done on the field was heightened compared to the Canadian junior ranks.

“It is quite a bit different,” said Johnson. “The speed is a lot different.

“They don’t practice like physically, because they have to save themselves for game day and they are professional athletes. Just the speed at practice was crazy. They go full speed on everything.

“That is what we are trying to replicate here is just practising full speed. It helps a lot on game day.”

Johnson enjoyed getting reps as an outside linebacker with the Roughriders and learning the CFL club’s defensive system.

“I didn’t know how they played their linebackers,” said Johnson. “Here (with the Hilltops) I am a weak side linebacker, and that is what I ended up doing there too.

“Their schemes were a lot different, so you had to learn a lot of that stuff at the linebacker side.”

When it came to long snapping, Johnson got to work with Roughriders long snapper and Hilltops alumnus Jorgen Hus. Hus also played for the University of Regina Rams in the U Sports ranks and spent time as a long snapper with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs before joining the Roughriders before the start of the 2015 season.

Hus often helps coach various long snappers throughout Saskatoon during the off-season, and Johnson found Hus genuinely wanted to help the long snappers that came to the Roughriders.

“I got to learn from Jorgen (Hus) a bit,” said Johnson. “He, obviously, came from this program, went to the Rams and made the whole route there.

“He taught me a few things. I hope to just keep snapping well here and see what happens.”

Johnson said there is a big focus on the technical part of the long snapping skill at the professional level to ensure punters and holders for field goals get the ball exactly as they want it.

Konner Johnson said Roughriders camp was a great experience.

“It is one of those spots where you don’t get noticed unless you mess up,” said Johnson. “Not a lot of people can do it, and they don’t really understand it isn’t an easy job.

“You just have to keep doing it and keep practising until it becomes automatic for you.”

Sargeant was pleased to see Johnson got a chance to go to Roughriders training camp. The legendary sideline boss said the playmaking linebacker earned that opportunity with his performance in the 2021 season.

Over eight regular season games in the 2021 campaign, Johnson recorded 26 defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, 12 special teams tackles, three special teams tackle assists, one quarterback sack, five pass knockdowns, one fumble recovery and five interceptions. Johnson was named a PFC all-star for the 2021 season.

“We’re always excited when someone from the blue and gold gets an opportunity to fulfill a dream, when you play the game of football at such a high level,” said Sargeant. “We knew Konner (Johnson) had some long snap ability.

“He was an all-star last year in the league. It was amazing to see the confidence that he brought back. He had a great experience.”

Before coming to the Hilltops, Johnson played high school football in the nine man ranks with his hometown Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate Comets. Sargeant said the Hilltops have been fortunate to get numerous high quality character players from the Comets program guided by head coach David Rogers, and those players know how to work hard and have a solid base in playing the game.

After the 2020 CJFL season was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, Sargeant said you could tell Johnson put in quality work to prepare for the 2021 campaign that resulted in a breakout season.

“In our defence, that ‘will’ linebacker position there has always been great players who have come through there,” said Sargeant. “Usually at ‘will’ linebacker there is someone good in front of him.

“They do a lot of learning from that. At the end of the day when you look at Konner (Johnson), he put in the time there he got bigger, stronger and faster. He got smarter through the process, and what has that led to.

“It has led to him being a natural playmaker on the field, a big time player. He does everything right. He is a great captain and leader for our program.”

Konner Johnson is more confident about playing in the CFL one day.

At Roughriders camp, Johnson crossed paths with former Comets teammate and former foe with the Regina Thunder in Logan Ferland, who is the Roughriders starting left guard. While they played just one season together in high school, Johnson said it was good to chat with the fellow Melfort product.

“I hadn’t talked to him in years,” said Johnson. “I remember him beating up on me when he was in Grade 12 and I was in Grade 9.

“He used to throw me around a bit. We talked about that at camp a bit.”

After being at Roughriders camp, Johnson said it is in the back of his head that playing with the Roughriders or in the CFL is more of a real possibility in the future.

“It is definitely a hope for the future,” said Johnson. “Every kid that grows up playing football in Saskatchewan wants to play for the ’Riders one day.

“I’m worried about this season right now. After that, I definitely hope to see where the doors open up.”

Playing in his final season of CJFL eligibility with the Hilltops, Johnson said he wants to have a memorable campaign. He believes the Hilltops on 2022 have potential to do great things.

“I think we have a very high ceiling,” said Johnson. “I think we have to work our butts off.

“We have a lot of fifth year guys, a lot good leaders on the team, but we have a long ways to go. We just have to take it week by week right now.”

On Sunday’s clash with the Rifles, Winnipeg held a 13-10 lead at halftime thanks to two field goals from Downing and a touchdown run on a jet sweep by receiver Adam Fast. Saskatoon responded with a field goal from Connor Green and a rushing touchdown from power running back Boston Davidsen.

The Hilltops got a field goal from Green in the third quarter to pull even at 13-13. Green hit his third field goal of the game to push the Hilltops in front 16-13 at the 3:45 mark of the fourth quarter.

Konner Johnson (#42) believes the Hilltops can have a great 2022.

Downing nailed his third field goal of the contest with 7:50 remaining in the fourth quarter to force a 16-16 tie. That set the stage for Downing to hit the winner with 36 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

It is believed this marked the first time the Rifles have beaten the Hilltops since 2005, when the Winnipeg side finished first in the PFC for the only time to date in team history with a 7-1 record. The Rifles in 2005 fell in the PFC final 35-17 to the Edmonton Huskies, who advanced on to win the CJFL title.

The entire PFC now heads off on a bye week. The Hilltops return to action on Saturday, Sept. 10, when they host the 3-0 Thunder at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Roughriders alum Hughes coming to End Zone Dinner

A Roughriders promo picture of Neal Hughes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Neal Hughes gets pictured with a couple of small fans in 2011.

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

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

Tickets can be purchased online by clicking on a link right here.

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

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“Sarge,” Pingue highlight Hilltops major award winners for PFC

HC Tom Sargeant, right, give a play to Rylan Kleiter (#7)

    The fearless leader on the sidelines and a linebacker who had a career year were among four members of the Saskatoon Hilltops who claimed major awards for the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference on Friday.

    Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was coach of the year for the PFC for a second straight year, and Hilltops fifth-year middle linebacker Jadyn Pingue was named the conference’s most outstanding defensive player and most outstanding linebacker.

    The Hilltops, who are 9-0 overall, are set to host the PFC final on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Edmonton Huskies, who are 7-2 overall, at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    Sargeant and his coaching staff arguably did some of their best work this season guiding the Hilltops to an 8-0 record in the regular season for the second straight year. The Hilltops 8-0 regular season finish in the 2019 campaign was unexpected as the team turned over a high volume of starters from last season and had a number of players adjusting to new roles.

    Along the way, Sargeant collected his 200^th career win, when the Hilltops, who are the five time defending CJFL champions, downed the Thunder in Regina 34-16 on Aug. 25 in Week 2 of the CJFL campaign. Currently, the 54-year-old has a 207-30-2 career coaching record in both the CJFL regular season and playoffs.

    Under the guidance of Sargeant and his staff, the Hilltops have won their last 28 games in a row overall, a CJFL record 17 in a row in the post-season, and 27 straight games on the road including three appearances in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl.

Jadyn Pingue (#45) leads the Hilltops on to the field.

    Pingue was a regular starter for the first time this season in his five campaigns with the Hilltops, and he made the most of his opportunity being named the PFC’s most outstanding defensive player and most outstanding linebacker.

    The 22-year-old appeared in seven regular season games with the Hilltops in the 2019 campaign collecting 29 defensive tackles, seven assisted defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, one pass knockdown, one fumble recovery and one interception.

    Hilltops veteran Colton Holmes, who is in his final year of CJFL eligibility, came away as a major award winner taking the nod as the PFC’s most outstanding defensive back despite missing four games in the regular season due to a leg injury. In the four regular season games Holmes appeared in, he posted 12 defensive tackles, five defensive tackle assists, three special teams tackles, two pass knockdowns, one fumble recovery and one interception.

    Holmes attended the training camp of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders and was on the team’s practice roster until rejoining the Hilltops.

    Rylan Kleiter, who is a four-year veteran receiver/kicker with the Hilltops, captured honours as the PFC’s most outstanding special teams player. Kleiter hit 18-of-22 field goals for a success rate of 81.8 per cent with a long of 42 yards.

Colton Holmes, left, visits with supporters after a win in Regina.

    He kicked off 46 times for an average of 51.1 yards. Kleiter punted the ball seven times for an average of 36 yards per kick.

    As a receiver, Kleiter caught 22 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
    Hilltops fifth-year defensive end Caleb Haight took the PFC’s Al Park Community Service Award. He had 10 defensive tackles, five defensive tackle assists, one special teams tackle and two sacks in Saskatoon’s eight regular season games. 

    In the PFC final, the Hilltops will be facing one of the Huskies stars who captured three major PFC awards. Running back Brandt Burzuk was named the PFC’s most valuable player, most outstanding offensive player and most outstanding running back.

    Burzuk carried the ball 129 times for 824 yards and six touchdowns appearing in all of the Huskies eight regular season games.

    Sargeant expects to be in a tough battle with the Huskies.

    “They are very well coached, they are very physical and they love to make plays,” said Sargeant. “They had the most sacks this year.

    “They had lots of turnovers. Their defence played at a very high level. Then you look at (Brandt) Burzuk who was the unanimous running back (as a PFC all-star), a good quarterback, a good receive corps, they just have good athletes all across the board.”
    Saskatoon downed the Huskies 28-9 in last year’s PFC final. The Hilltops took the lone regular season meeting in 2019 between the two sides 24-22 on Sept. 1 in Edmonton.

    Sargeant said the this year’s PFC final is a game where his side needs to be error free.

    “We have to play smart,” said Sargeant. “We have to be in right spots, and we have to play great Hilltops football.

Rylan Kleiter (#7) hit 81.8 per cent of his field goals in the regular season.

    “It is not an easy task in front of us, but we’re excited for the challenge. The coaches have been working extra hard to come up with great game plans, and now we have to figure out how to execute them and put our players in some critical spots and then expect them to make the plays, when the plays come their way.”

    Players from the Regina Thunder took the other five major PFC awards.

    Thunder left-tackle Logan Ferland was named the conference’s most outstanding offensive lineman. Ferland is on the practice roster of the Roughriders.

    Isaac Foord was named the PFC’s most outstanding receiver hauling in 31 passes for 605 yards and scoring two touchdowns.

    Blake Scherle took home honours as the PFC’s most outstanding quarterback. He completed 144-of-247 passes for 2,196 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

    Carson Bell was named the most outstanding defensive lineman posting 11 defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, 2.5 sacks and one fumble recovery.

    Defensive back Justin McKerracher captured the PFC’s rookie of the year award recording seven defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists, two interceptions and two pass knockdowns.

Brandt Burzuk in action in last year’s PFC final.

    The Regina players compiled their statistics over seven regular season games due to claiming a home victory over the Winnipeg Rifles 1-0 by forfeit on Oct. 13. The Rifles were unable to make that contest due to snowstorm conditions in Manitoba.

    The Thunder were 6-2 in the regular season and 6-3 overall.

    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.