Hilltops romp over Rifles, take PFC semifinal 60-26

Charles Sawi (#18) jets home on a 27-yard touchdown run.

The Saskatoon Hilltops put on a running display that would have made the NFL’s famed 1972 Miami Dolphins proud.

On Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops piled up 380 yards rushing as a team and romped over the visiting Winnipeg Rifles 60-26 in a PFC semifinal contest. Saskatoon jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter, improved their advantage to 29-12 at halftime and cruised to victory from there before a crowd of 528 spectators, who weren’t scared away by sporadic windy conditions and overcast skies.

For Hilltops fifth-year right tackle Victoire Bikulo, he couldn’t think of a better way to get his final run through the CJFL Playoffs started.

The Hilltops offensive line opened the way for 380 yards rushing.

“It felt amazing,” said Bikulo, who wasn’t able to dress for any post-season games due to a leg injury in 2023 when the Hilltops won their last CJFL championship. “I’ve been waiting for this for about three years.

“It felt pretty great. I am happy to be out here.”

The win allowed the Hilltops, who improved to 7-2 overall, to advance to the PFC final, while the Rifles finished out at 4-5 overall. For the fifth straight year, the PFC final will be contested between the Hilltops and their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder.

David Collins had 16 carries for 207 yards and two touchdowns.

The Thunder thumped the Edmonton Huskies 49-10 in the other PFC semifinal on Sunday that was played at Leibel Field in Regina to improve to 8-1 overall, while the Huskies finished out at 3-6 overall. Regina will host the PFC final this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.

In the four previous meetings, the Hilltops picked up wins in 2021 and 2023, while the Thunder claimed victory in 2022 and 2024. For Bikulo, the Thunder are the only foe he has seen in the PFC final during his career with the Hilltops.

“We kind of always expect it to be them,” said Bikulo. “It is great to always play them, because they bring a lot of adversity, a lot of animosity and a lot of great energy that we kind of go against.

Corbin Ebben ran the ball six times for 24 yards and two TDs.

“It is pretty good there. They got a great team going on over there. They have a good running game, and we have a good one as well.

“I’m pretty sure we’ll be running the ball a lot, and it will be very interesting to see what their defence does this time. It will be fun. It will be interesting, and it is definitely something to look out for, for sure.”

In the win over the Rifles, the Hilltops relied on their stellar running back trio of David Collins, Charles Sawi and Corbin Ebben similar to how the 1972 Super Bowl winning 17-0 Dolphins relied on their ball carrying trio of Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick.

Collins ran the ball 16 times for 207 yards and two touchdowns, and he caught one pass for 21 yards. Sawi ran the ball three times for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and he returned three punts for 54 yards. Ebben ran the ball six times for 24 yards and two touchdowns, and he caught two passes for 17 yards.

Rifles receiver Cole Davies holds on to this catch for a 79-yard gain.

Bikulo said it was pretty advantageous to be able to block for that trio.

“It is unbelievable,” said Bikulo. “Once you have those three guys in the backfield, it messes up a lot of defences.

“You throw Corbin (Ebben) out at wideout. You throw Charles (Sawi) out there. You throw any of them out there it kind of throws away their defence and really helps us hone in on our ground game.

“We can really do a lot of things out of those formations. We can make a lot of things work, because we have those three guys in our offence in the backfield. You have Brex (Brexton Elias) back there who can throw it anywhere really, and it gets pretty dangerous and pretty awesome.”

Kaiden Banfield ran the ball 24 times for 123 yards and two TDs.

Elias got into the running parade too carrying the ball four times for 37 yards and one touchdown. Due to the fact the running game was rolling, Elias only completed 3-of-5 passes for 40 yards and no interceptions before giving way to backup Griffin Sander with just under five minutes to play in the third quarter with the Hilltops holding a 50-18 advantage.

Sander completed 8-of-9 passes for 87 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions before third stringer Charlie Molder entered the contest late in the fourth quarter.

The Hilltops also benefited from outstanding play from their starting offensive line in left tackle Davin Johnson, left guard Simon Clark, centre Matt Elash, right guard Jack Erlandson and Bikulo. Erlandson and Elash were announced as PFC all-stars before the start of Sunday’s games.

Riley Element had 338 yards passing for the Rifles.

“We have two all-stars there,” said Hilltops legendary head coach Tom Sargeant. “We feel we could have maybe one or two more.

“We’re a team that loves the offensive line. We coach into that and the defensive line. Today, we won the line of scrimmage, and that was the difference in the football game.

“We challenged those players that is what it was going to be, and they answered the bell. That is why we’re moving on to the PFC final next week.”

The Hilltops jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter thanks to a five-yard rushing major by Ebben and a 16-yard touchdown run by Elias. The Rifles answered with a one-yard touchdown plunge by star 22-year-old running back Kaiden Banfield to cut the Hilltops lead to 14-7. Collins proceeded to break off a 56-yard touchdown run to push Saskatoon’s advantage out to 21-7.

The Hilltops defence deflects a Rifles pass into the air.

Right before the end of the first quarter, the Rifles elected to gamble on a third and goal situation from the Hilltops two yard line. Rifles star quarterback Riley Element threw a pass to star receiver Jarome Penner in the end zone. Penner stretched out attempting to make a diving catch where the ball hit his hands but he couldn’t haul it in.

The Hilltops would concede a safety due to the bad field position early in the second quarter to cut their own lead to 21-9. Saskatoon would proceed to get a 49-yard punt single from Molder and a 27-yard rushing major from Sawi on a reverse to allow the hosts to have a 29-9 lead.

Johnson, who is in his fourth year with the Hilltops, said it is fun to be able to block for Collins, Sawi and Ebben.

Nate Gallant had two interceptions for the Hilltops.

“It is nice having those three guys,” said Johnson. “They each have their own style, and they each can make big plays.

“As long as we stay or just catch someone and make sure that we’re getting a body on someone, they will make a big play out of it.”

Before the second quarter ended, Rifles kicker Gabriel Yaipen hit a 30-yard field goal to shave the Hilltops lead to 29-12.

The Hilltops started the third quarter rolling off 21 unanswered points to push their advantage out to 50-12. Sawi ripped off an 80-yard rushing touchdown on another reverse, Collins ran home a score from 55 yards out, and Ebben added a nine-yard rushing touchdown.

Winnipeg replied with Element connecting with Penner on a 30-yard touchdown pass. After a failed two-point conversion, the Hilltops lead sat at 50-18.

Brexton Elias jets to the end zone on a 16-yard TD run.

Right before the third quarter came to an end, Sander hit fifth-year receiver David Boyd Jr. with a 29-yard touchdown pass to push the Hilltops advantage out to 57-18.

In the fourth quarter, Hilltops kicker Ryden Gratton hit a 35-yard field goal to make his team’s lead sit at 60-18.

Banfield ran home a major from two yards out for the Rifles. After another failed two-point conversion attempt, Saskatoon’s lead sat at 60-24. The Hilltops would concede a safety late in the fourth quarter to round out the 60-26 final score in their favour.

When the game ended, Johnson admitted the Hilltops offensive line does take pride in helping the squad put up a big rushing yardage total.

The Hilltop Cheerleaders perform at halftime on Sunday.

“It is always exciting,” said Johnson. “It shows that everybody is working hard, (and) everybody is coming together.

“We’re making good blocks. The running backs, they’re always doing their job. They are making good runs.

“It is good to see.”

The Rifles did put up some good offensive numbers in defeat. Element completed 24-of-45 passes for 338 yards and one touchdown, while throwing two interceptions. He also had one carry for 12 yards.

Hilltops RT Victoire Bikulo blocks out a Rifles defensive lineman.

Penner caught eight passes for 119 yards to go with his major through the air. Receiver Cole Davies hauled in seven passes for 116 yards including a monster 79-yard reception that set up Winnipeg’s first major.

Banfield ran the ball 24 times for 123 yards to go with his two majors along the ground. He also hauled in one pass for three yards.

Hilltops second-year safety Nate Gallant led his squad with 6.5 total tackles and two interceptions. He almost had a third interception on Sunday too. Defensive end Noah Chelsom had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for Saskatoon.

The Hilltops were without the services of fifth-year defensive tackle Nahom Menghestab and receiver/safety Isaiah Vallderruten due to injury.

Jarome Penner caught eight passes for 119 yards and one TD.

Middle linebacker Derek Gumieny recorded 6.5 total tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for the Rifles. Outside linebacker Kyler Banfield and defensive back Gage Richey each had 6.5 total tackles for Winnipeg. Defensive end Brock Beauchemin had one quarterback sack for the visitors.

“For three quarters, that is as good as we played all year,” said Sargeant. “The coaches did a great job of defining and setting what the game plans need to be, and the players did a heck of a job executing it.

“For 45 minutes, I was very happy with who and what we are, and then hey, our young guys got in and got to see that is a good football team there. You just have to look at the stats and see what they’ve accomplished this year. We need to be on point.

Charles Sawi (#18) rockets downfield on an 80-yard TD run.

“We got to jump to that early lead, and then boom, they came right back and hit us with a big shot up the middle. We learned a lot about ourselves. As a coach, I was very proud of the effort that I saw on this field today.”

Now, the Hilltops turn their attention towards the Thunder. The provincial rivals split their two head-to-head encounters in the regular season. Johnson expects the PFC final to be a physical contest and wasn’t surprised the Saskatoon versus Regina matchup materialized.

“That is what we expect when we come into the season,” said Johnson. “We know it is going to be them.

Griffin Sander completed 8-of-9 passes for 87 yards and one TD.

“They are a tough team. We’ve just got to be tougher, and it really comes down to the little things.”

NOTES – On Saturday, the Okanagan Sun downed visiting the Westshore Rebels 45-26 in the BCFC final at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, B.C. The Sun improved to 12-0 overall, while the Rebels finished out an 8-4 overall.

Also on Saturday, the defending CJFL champion St. Clair Saints blanked the visiting London Beefeaters 54-0 in the OFC title game at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont. The Saints improved to 10-0 overall, while the Beefeaters finished out at 7-3.

This coming Saturday, the Sun host the Saints in a CJFL national semifinal set for 1 p.m. local time at the Apple Bowl. The winner of that contest will travel to Saskatchewan to face the winner of the PFC final between the Hilltops and Thunder on November 9 in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

David Boyd Jr. (#82) celebrates a 29-yard TD reception.

The CJFL announced the PFC all-stars before Sunday’s game. That announcement 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’ Collins chases 1,000-yard club for rushing

David Collins has 909 yards rushing this season.

Individual milestones were not on David Collins’ mind when he joined the Saskatoon Hilltops but getting to enjoy the game of football for one more season was.

The 22-year-old running back, who is from St. Michael, Minnesota, joined the CJFL’s storied and historic Hilltops after taking a year off from the sport. Collins last played the sport in 2023 for the Central Lakes College Raiders in Brainerd, Minn., who are members of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

After seven games with the Hilltops, Collins, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 195 pounds, has carried the ball 114 times for 909 yards and 11 touchdowns. His rushing yardage total ranks second in the Prairie Football Conference, and his 11 rushing majors top the conference in both rushing and total touchdowns.

The Hilltops (5-2) close their regular season on Sunday when they host the Calgary Colts (2-5) at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. If Collins can collect 91 yards rushing in that contest, it will mark the 11^th time in the history of the modern version of the Hilltops dating back to 1947 that one player hit 1,000 yards rushing in one regular season.

“I am very blessed for the opportunity and being able to play for this long of a season, and hopefully we can go as far as we can go in the championship game,” said Collins. “(I am) really thankful for the O-line.

“Thank you for my team. Thank you for the coaches for giving me the opportunity and believing in me to even get this close to the chance.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said Collins is going to get his chance to hit the 1,000-yard rushing barrier as the Hilltops aim to get going in an upward trend as the CJFL playoffs are just around the corner for the Saskatoon side. 

In their last outing, the Hilltops dropped a 24-21 decision at Saskatoon Minor Football Field to their provincial rivals in the Regina Thunder back on September 27. Following action on September 27 and 28, all teams in the PFC headed out on a bye week.

David Collins leads the PFC with 11 total touchdowns.

Sargeant said the Hilltops path forward includes ensuring Collins is a major part of the offence.

“He (Collins) has got to touch that ball 20 to 25 times this weekend,” said Sargeant. “There is no question about it.

“The offence has got to go through him. That is the mentality. That is the reality.

“Let’s go out there and make it happen. When he is touching the ball, if he is getting his carries, that means we’re moving the chains and first downs lead to touchdowns, and that is the type of offence we want to run.”

Going into the final weekend of the regular season for the PFC, the Hilltops, who are rated fourth in the final CJFL Top 10 Power Rankings on Friday, still have an outside shot at top spot in the conference. If they beat the Colts and the Thunder (6-1) fall in their final regular season clash with the Edmonton Wildcats (2-5), the Hilltops would take top spot in the conference.

The Thunder and Wildcats go at it on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field in Regina. The Colts and Wildcats need to win their final respective contests, which would be big upsets, to keep their respective post-season hopes alive.

The Edmonton Huskies (3-4) will host the Winnipeg Rifles (3-4) at Jasper Place Bowl on Sunday at 1 p.m. local time. The winner will lock up third place in the conference. A tie would clinch post-season berths for both squads.

Currently, the Colts hold the tiebreaker over the Rifles. The Huskies hold the tiebreaker over the Colts. The Rifles hold the tiebreaker over the Wildcats.

The Wildcats hold the tiebreaker over the Colts and Huskies. If there ends up being a three-way tie for fourth place and the final playoff berth in the PFC, the points for and against ratio for each team could be the deciding tiebreaker.

When the Hilltops and Colts met back on September 14 in Calgary, Saskatoon romped to a 51-3 victory. Sargeant said that was his club’s most complete game of the 2025 campaign, and he wants his club to get back to and surpass that performance to make a long post-season run possible.

David Collins is enjoying his lone season with the Hilltops.

“I’m just trying to build this football team so that when we hit the playoffs we hit our stride, and we play with great confidence and get the ball to the right guys,” said Sargeant. “David Collins is certainly one of those guys.”

Going forward, Collins is looking forward to embracing all the remaining experiences with the Hilltops. He almost can’t believe his team will only play one more regular season contest before starting a journey through the single-elimination CJFL post-season.

“It (the 2025 season) has been super fast,” said Collins. “Especially like coming in late July and soon as like the season got started and going, it just was every day was like game after game.”

Saints and Sun rolling in 2025, other notes

The St. Clair Saints and Okanagan Sun have cemented themselves as the teams to beat in the CJFL in 2025.

Last year, the Saints and Sun met in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The host Saints claimed a 37-22 victory at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont.

This year the defending CJFL champion Saints have topped the Ontario Football Conference with an 8-0 mark and are rated first in the final CJFL Top 10 Power Rankings released on Friday. The Sun claimed first place in the British Columbia Football Conference with a 10-0 mark.

Due to the fact the champion of the Prairie Football Conference hosts the Canadian Bowl, the post-seasons in the CJFL Playoffs begin this weekend for teams in the OFC and the BCFC, while the PFC concludes its regular season.

The Saints open their post-season schedule hosting the Sault Ste. Marie Cougars (4-4) in an OFC semifinal at Acumen Stadium at 1 p.m. local time. The Sun host the Vancouver Island Raiders (5-4-1) in a BCFC semifinal at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, B.C., at 1 p.m. local time.

The BCFC champion will host the OFC champion in this year’s CJFL national semifinal set to be held on October 25.

• Winnipeg Rifles receiver Jarome Penner leads the PFC in receptions (39) and yards (760). He also has three receiving touchdowns on the campaign.
• Winnipeg Rifles linebacker Kyler Banfield leads the PFC with 118 defensive points. He tallied up that total recording 34 defensive solo tackles, 25 defensive tackle assists, one special teams tackle, one special teams tackle assist, two quarterback sacks, four pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
• Saskatoon Hilltops defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens leads the PFC with three quarterback sacks.
• On Thursday, I had new content appear on the Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I put together a feature on Bedford Road Collegiate Redhawks Football Team star in Parker Bond. Bond is a natural middle linebacker, and has filled the roles of running back, fullback, receiver, starting quarterback and played on all special teams with the Redhawks this season. The piece on Bond can be found by clicking right here. I also put together a photo roundup that is dominated by images of high school football and the Toon Squad Female Flag Football League. The photo roundup also contains photos from baseball, softball, track and field and a couple of other surprises. That post 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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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.

CJFL coach of the year award long time coming for “Sarge”

Legendary Hilltops sideline boss last took honour in 2003

Tom Sargeant, centre, checks out action on the field. 

It felt like a much-deserved legacy moment for legendary Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant.

Last Friday, Sargeant was named the winner of the CJFL’s Gord Currie Coach of the Year award at the circuit’s Celebration of Excellence in Windsor, Ont. It marked the third time Sargeant was named the CJFL’s coach of the year with the previous two occasions coming way back in 2000 and 2003.

The third CJFL individual nod was a long time in coming for Sargeant. Since becoming the Hilltops head coach in early December of 1997, Sargeant has posted a 245-38-2 career record in both the regular season and post-season as the club’s top sideline boss. 

He has guided the Hilltops to 14 CJFL championships as head coach with the last coming in 2023.

He is the all-time leader in career head coaching victories for amateur post-secondary football in Canada. Glen Constantin, who is the legendary head coach of the Universite Laval Rouge et Or Football Team in U Sports, currently sits second on that list with 218 victories. Constantin has a 218-39 record in regular season and post-season play as Rouge et Or head coach including 10 Vanier Cup titles as U Sports champions.

Looking at the Hilltops record of success, one wonders how Sargeant didn’t have a CJFL coach of the year award win between 2003 and this year. That included a stretch where the Hilltops won three straight CJFL titles from 2010 to 2012 and six straight from 2014 to 2019.

The 2024 campaign was a different year. The differences went beyond the Hilltops posting an 8-0 record in regular season play to top the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference, winning a PFC semifinal 33-18 against the Edmonton Huskies before falling to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 24-19 in the PFC final.

om Sargeant overcame a significant health scare in the off-season

In an interview with Saskatoon StarPhoenix forever sports writer Darren Zary for a story published on September 14, Sargeant detailed that he had open heart, double-bypass surgery back in March of this year. Sargeant said he remembered one game late in the 2023 CJFL title winning campaign that he had a weird sensation in his chest.

After the Hilltops downed the Westshore Rebels 17-10 in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., on November 11, 2023 for their 23^rd CJFL championship, Sargeant went and saw his doctor. He failed a heart stress test and found out he had four blockages over 90 per cent. He could have had a heart attack at any time.

In his open heart, double-bypass surgery this past March, doctors took a vein out of his Sargeant’s left leg to reroute blood flow to his heart.

Following the medical procedure, Sargeant turned 59-years-old in May and retired as the principal of Walter Murray Collegiate at the conclusion of the school year in June. When the Hilltops opened training camp on July 28, Sargeant was the all ready to go.

The first thing you noticed was he had lost a considerable amount of weight from the end of the 2023 campaign, and he looked a lot healthier physically. Sargeant was able to keep the trimmer and physically healthier look for the rest of the campaign.

When others in the coaching profession in sports deal with a similar serious health scare, it is not uncommon to see those coaches retire once they went through their procedures or comeback for just one last farewell season. Fading off into the sunset to enjoy time with the family becomes the understandable preferred option.

Tom Sargeant, centre, was named the CJFL’s coach of the year.

Sargeant took a page out of the playbook of late CFL icon coach and manager Cal Murphy, who is best remembered for his time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1983 to 1996 that included Grey Cup championship wins in 1984, 1988 and 1990. Murphy survived heart attacks in 1978 and 1985 and returned to coaching in the CFL both times.

In 1992, he underwent emergency heart bypass surgery that kept him alive before being saved by a last-second donor and successful heart transplant surgery. 

Murphy returned to the Blue Bombers after that medical ordeal. He remained working in football and was still a scout for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts at the time of his passing on February 18, 2012 at age 79.

While those that knew Murphy knew no matter what he was Blue Bombers “blue and gold” through and through, Sargeant is Hilltops “blue and gold” through and through. Before being the Hilltops head coach, he was a slotback for the team for four seasons in 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1987 and served as an assistant coach from 1991 to 1997.

Sargeant was part of a CJFL championship winners as a player in 1985 and as an assistant coach in 1991 and 1996. If you knew “Sarge,” there was no way he was not going to return to the Hilltops sidelines as head coach in 2024.

While the Hilltops didn’t win a PFC title or a CJFL crown in 2024, the biggest victory looking at the overall big picture was that Sargeant returned to coach this season at all. On the health front, the possibility was there for things to not work out this way.

Tom Sargeant talks to his players during a timeout.

After the Hilltops were eliminated from the CJFL post-season, Sargeant was making his rounds scouting high school football games with members of his coaching staff. It appears 2024 won’t be a last hurrah.

With how passionately his wife, Kris, adult daughters, Macy and Abby, and grandson Jaylen are into the Hilltops, Sargeant has a strong backing at home to continue coaching the Hilltops for as long as he would like to coach the team. After all the years Sargeant put into the team, you have to think the Hilltops head coach position is his for however long he wants it.

Sargeant is more than deserving of his third nod as the CJFL’s coach of the year. No one could have thought after the Hilltops won the CJFL title in 2023 that the fact Sargeant made it back to the sidelines would be the ultimate victory of all.

Guardians end Saskatoon’s 6A high school title jinx

Samuel LaFreniere had a monster season for the Guardians.

In what seemed like big relief for all of high school football in Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association’s 6A title jinx for “the Bridge City” is over.

Last Saturday, Saskatoon’s St. Joseph High School Guardians faced the host Campbell Collegiate Tartans in the SHSAA’s 6A title game at Mosaic Stadium. The Guardians left no doubt about the final outcome rolling to a 52-14 victory.

With the win, the Guardians ended a drought of 15 years of Saskatoon teams not winning the SHSAA’s 6A provincial championship in football. Before the Guardians victory last Saturday, the last Saskatoon school to claim that distinction was the Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears back in 2009, when they downed Regina’s Winston Knoll Collegiate Wolverines 20-19. At that time, the 6A level was known as 4A until the levels of high school football were reclassified in Saskatchewan following the 2018-19 school year.

The Guardians won their only other provincial title way back in 2003. They had a season to remember in 2024 that included a trilogy of exciting games against their top rivals in Saskatoon in the Holy Cross High School Crusaders in Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate play.

On October 4, the Guardians dropped a heartbreaker to the Crusaders 29-28. On October 17, the two sides closed their respective regular season schedules against each other. The Guardians led 35-34 going into the fourth quarter and ultimately fell 48-35.

The two sides met for the Saskatoon city title on November 1 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. They played an all-time classic with the Guardians coming out on top 38-34.

The battles between the Guardians and Crusaders were highlighted by duels between Guardians Grade 11 running back Samuel LaFreniere and Crusaders Grade 12 tailback Aulain Penner. That city title clash may have been their greatest showdown.

LaFreniere ran the ball 25 times for 305 yards and four touchdowns. Penner carried the ball 29 times for 305 yards and three major scores. They had a cool “bro” embrace with each other following that contest.

Following that contest, the Guardians advanced to the SHSAA’s 6A title game where they downed the Tartans. St. Joseph finished the 2024 campaign with an 8-2 overall record including play in the regular season and post-season.

LaFreniere was the Guardians biggest star. While end of year individual football statistics haven’t been released, odds are high LaFreniere surpassed 1,300 yards rushing in the Guardians seven regular season games and 2,000 yards rushing in the squad’s 10 contests overall.

The 2024 Guardians ended a provincial title drought that seemed to take on a life of its own for Saskatoon. They will always have a soft spot in the collective hearts of Saskatoon’s football community for being the team from the city that finally captured the SHSAA’s 6A championship once again.

Saints end OFC’s CJFL title drought, other notes

The St. Clair Saints pulled off one of the biggest shockers in the history of the CJFL and restored respect to the circuit’s Ontario Football Conference in the process.

Last Saturday at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont., the host Saints upset the British Columbia Football Conference champion Okanagan Sun 37-22 in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – before 2,750 spectators. The Sun led 15-6 at halftime and were up 22-9 at one point in the third quarter.

The Saints closed things out scoring the game’s final 28 points with two majors in the third quarter and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pull out the 15-point win. Their victory marked the first time a team from the OFC won a CJFL title since 1999.

Back in 1999, the Saints, when they were known as the Windsor AKO Fratmen, beat the Sun 32-29 at Windsor Stadium for the OFC’s previous CJFL title win.

The St. Clair College Student Athletic Association bought the Fratmen in February of 2020. The club played as the St. Clair Fratmen in 2021 and took on the St. Clair Saints name before the start of the 2022 campaign.

In the CJFL title clash this past Saturday, Saints quarterback Maurice Sodja had a monster outting being named the offensive player of the game. He completed 15-of-25 passes for 249 yards and one touchdown, while throwing one interception. Sodja carried the ball 25 times for 122 yards and three touchdowns.

Saints receiver Cameron St. Kitts-Park also had a big game catching six passes for 137 yards. He took home honours as the special teams player of the game.

On top of his receiving skills, St. Kitts-Park punted the ball eight times for 273 yards or an average of 34.1 yards per kick. He returned two kickoffs for 45 yards and ran for eight yards on a fake punt.

Sun linebacker Jacob Bond was the defensive player of the game recording six solo defensive tackles, three defensive tackle assists, three special teams tackles, one forced fumble and one interception.

The Saints finished the 2024 campaign posting an 11-0 overall record. The Sun posted a 13-1 overall mark.

Last year, the Saints made it to a CJFL semifinal contest and were thumped 43-0 by the host Saskatoon Hilltops at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Hilltops advanced onward to claim the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions for a 23^rd time in team history.

For a large number of years, it was common for OFC champions to lose in the fashion the Saints did when they started playing out of conference opponents. When the Saints got drubbed by the Hilltops in the 2023 CJFL semifinal encounter, they obviously took a lot of lessons out of that contest.

Just over a year later, they come out as a sound winner in a CJFL title game played on home turf. Heading into the Canadian Bowl clash between the Saints and Sun, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the Sun would win.

On top of ending the OFC’s CJFL title drought, the Saints gained back a measure of respect for their conference. In the process, the CJFL was the biggest winner as you can say the teams that win their conference have a real shot at capturing the Canadian Bowl.

• The Saskatoon Hilltops had six players named CJFL first team all-Canadian all-stars for the 2024 campaign. They include quarterback Trey Reider, receiver Drake Douglas, running back Corbin Ebben, right tackle Cody Shumanski, defensive end Kai Kukurudza and safety Dalton Urban. The Hilltops had three players named CJFL second team all-Canadian all-stars for 2024. They included defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens, middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk and punter Teijon Abel-Douglas.
• Last Friday, Regina Thunder middle linebacker Stephen Smith was named the winner of the Larry Wruck Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the CJFL. In the Thunder’s eight regular season games, Smith recorded 34 solo defensive tackles, 20 defensive tackle assists, 2.5 tackles for a loss, two pass knockdowns and one interception.
• Nathan Reiter of Prince Albert Daily Herald put together a great story on Prince Albert’s Carlton Comprehensive High School Crusaders Football Team winning their first ever provincial title. They claimed the SHSAA’s 5A championship last Saturday with a 35-34 victory over Saskatoon’s Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Reiter’s 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 set to rock ’n’ roll in PFC final against Thunder

Saskatoon aims to shine on big game stage again

Drake Douglas, left, holds on to a deep pass for the Hilltops.

The Saskatoon Hilltops we built for the bright lights of the big game.

Their 23 CJFL championships and 35 conference titles since the modern day version of the club hit the field in 1947 is testament to that. On Sunday, the Hilltops will be playing for their 24^th Prairie Football Conference title and 36^th conference crown overall.

They will host their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in the PFC final.

The Hilltops first conference title came in their inaugural 1947 campaign when they claimed the Saskatchewan Junior Football Rugby Union championship. They proceeded to win the Saskatchewan Junior Football League four times and claim the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Junior Football League crown seven times. From there, 23 PFC titles followed.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said his storied squad is always up for these huge moments.

“It is why we have the tradition that we have,” said Sargeant. “We win big games.

“We’re in a lot of big games. We take advantage of the opportunities. It is who we are.

“These moments aren’t too big for us. We embrace that, we’re excited for it, and we expect to be in them. It is nothing bigger than that.”

The defending CJFL champion Hilltops head into Sunday’s contest sporting a 9-0 overall record and having won their last 21 games overall. The Thunder have a 7-2 overall record and fell to the Hilltops in last year’s PFC final at SMF Field 21-13.

Hilltops QB Trey Reider is the MVP of the PFC.

Saskatoon goes into this year’s PFC final with their 2024 version of “The Triplets” in fifth-year quarterback Trey Reider, fifth-year receiver Drake Douglas and third-year power running back Corbin Ebben. All three were PFC all-stars.

During the regular season, Reider completed 119 of 185 passes for 1,685 yards and 17 touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions. His 119.8 quarterback rating topped the PFC. He picked up honours as the PFC’s most outstanding quarterback, most valuable player and offensive player of the year.

Douglas led the PFC in receptions (58), receiving yards (955) and receiving touchdowns (eight) during the regular season. Over the Hilltops eight regular season contests, he returned 38 punts for a PFC leading 342 yards. The consistent pass catcher claimed honours as the PFC’s most outstanding receiver and most outstanding special teams player.

Ebben ran the ball 157 times for 964 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season, and he got better as the campaign moved on. His rushing yardage total topped the PFC.

Reider enjoys hitting the field with both Douglas and Ebben by his side.

“It obviously helps me out a lot when Drake (Douglas) is catching every ball I’m throwing at him,” said Reider. “When Ebben is running for 10 yards a carry, it really helps us out.

“Corbin (Ebben) has been working hard. Drake (Douglas) has been working hard. That stuff just doesn’t happen overnight.

“It starts at the practice field.”

Corbin Ebben led the PFC with 964 yards rushing.

In the Hilltops two regular season wins over the Thunder, Reider said the team’s offensive line was the reason the venerable club put up the points that allowed victory to be possible. The Hilltops will be looking to their starting offensive line of left tackle Davin Johnson, left guard Erik Barsness, centre Matthew Noble, right guard Jack Erlandson and right tackle Cody Schumanski to have another big outing.

“We’ve been able to control the line of scrimmage,” said Reider. “Our O-line has been doing a great job, and that has been opening up everything else for us.

“I just have to give a big shout out to our O-line for everything they’ve been doing. They’re working hard.”

This will mark the fourth straight year the Hilltops and Thunder have gone at it in the PFC final. Saskatoon claimed two of the previous three meetings.

Hilltops safety Dalton Urban, who picked a PFC all-star selection in 2024, said it is pretty easy to get motivated to play the Thunder in the post-season.

“It is a big tradition,” said Urban. “We always expect to see them at the end of the year.

“It is a long season, but they’re always the team that we have kind of a target on at the end of the year. We’re at this point now. We just have to finish and show up and get the job done.

“They’re always going to be physical. We have to match that, bring our energy, and I think we’ll be good to go.”

Sargeant said both teams have earned their way to get to this point in the campaign. He added the club that plays the best on Sunday will earn the PFC title.

Hilltops RG Jack Erlandson, left, faces Thunder MLB Stephen Smith.

“It is what it is,” said Sargeant. “We’re in the league that we’re in, and we’ve worked hard to finish first.

“They’ve worked hard to finish second, so the best part of all that is we get to host at home. We love home field advantage. We know we have to come out and play our best game of the year, because they’re very well coached and have good players.

“They’re going to come out and play their best game of the year, so we have to match their intensity. We have to match their physicality, and it is just going to come down to who makes more plays that is all it is. That is what it has been the first few times we face each other this year.”

Sun win Cullen Cup to become BCFC champs, other notes

The Okanagan Sun are going to Saskatchewan.

On Saturday at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, B.C., the host Okanagan Sun raised the Cullen Cup as British Columbia Football Conference champions for the second time in three years. In the latest BCFC final, they downed the Westshore Rebels from Langford, B.C., 23-17.

The Rebels entered the contest as the defending BCFC champions. This was also the third straight year the Sun and Rebels met in the BCFC final.

In Saturday’s encounter, the Sun took a 17-3 lead into halftime of their clash with the Rebels. The Rebels got a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter to even the score 17-17 heading into the fourth quarter.

Sun kicker Liam Attwood hit field goals from 31 and 26 yards out in the fourth quarter to push the Sun out to their six-point win. He made all three of his field goals on the day.

Sun defensive back Easton Fenske picked off Rebels quarterback Ethan Pickard on the final play of the contest to preserve victory for the host side.

Backup Liam Kroeger started at quarterback for the Sun in place of Marek Filipek.

Okanagan improved to 12-0 with the win, while Westshore finished out with a 6-6 overall mark.

With the win, the Sun advance to play in a CJFL semifinal against the winner of the PFC final to be played between the defending CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops and the Regina Thunder at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The CJFL semifinal between the Sun and the PFC champion will be played on Sunday, October 27.

The last time the Sun won the BCFC title in 2022 they advanced on to capture the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions.

·         A website called Castanet had a game story of the Okanagan Sun’s Cullen Cup victory over the Westshore Rebels to take the BCFC title. That piece can be found by clicking right here.

·         On Saturday in London, Ont., the host London Beefeaters hammered the Quinte Skyhawks from Belleville, Ont., in an Ontario Football Conference semifinal 65-7.  The Beefeaters improved to 7-2 overall with the win, while the Skyhawks finished at 6-4 overall.

·         On Sunday at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont., the St. Clair Saints (8-0) host the Ottawa Sooners (5-4) in a second Ontario Football Conference semifinal at 7 p.m. local time.

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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Was Hilltops defence in 2023 the best in team history?

Saskatoon gave up club record low 6.3 points per game

The Hilltops knock down a last play pass on October 8.

One play in “garbage time” typified the tenacity and compete level of the Saskatoon Hilltops defence in 2023.

To put it bluntly, there was no such thing as “garbage time.”

Back on October 8, the Hilltops were leading the visiting Winnipeg Rifles 39-1 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in the final CJFL regular season game for both sides. On the last play of the contest, the Rifles were in range to throw one pass into the Hilltops end zone to try and get a major score.

The Hilltops had been playing with their reserves on defence for a solid stretch as the outcome of the contest wasn’t in doubt. Saskatoon was going to finish out the regular season with a perfect 8-0 record, and the Rifles would miss the CJFL playoffs with a 2-6 mark.

All there was to play for was competitive pride on one play.

Rifles quarterback Myles Desmarais heaved a “Hail Mary” pass into the end zone looking for a major. Hilltops safety Jackson Dean and defensive backs Carter O’Reilly and Carter Borsa all leaped up to knock the ball to the ground to ensure the final outcome finished 39-1.

DC Jeff Yausie calls played for the Hilltops defence.

That knockdown resulted in the Hilltops allowing just 51 points against over their eight regular season games. It was the lowest points allowed total for the team in regular season play dating back to 1949.

At the time that knockdown was made, no one knew the historical significance of what had been accomplished with respect to the storied history of the team. The current modern day version of the Hilltops began play in 1947.

Had the Rifles gotten a last play touchdown, that historical accomplishment of giving up the fewest point in regular season play since 1949 would have been gone just like that.

Word spread amongst the team at practice the following week as the Hilltops prepared to host a PFC semifinal against the high-powered Calgary Colts. After the players on the Hilltops defence heard what they had accomplished, they took things took things to another level and things on that side of the ball took on a life of their own.

The Hilltops defensive players didn’t want to allow opposing teams to get anything in the post-season. The players on the Hilltops defence wanted to live up to what had been accomplished in the regular season.

The Hilltops proceeded to crush the Colts 53-2 in the PFC semifinal. Saskatoon slugged past their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 21-13 in the PFC final.

Linebacker Matt Wist controlled the middle of the Hilltops defence.

The ’Toppers then blanked the OFC champion St. Clair Saints from Windsor, Ont., 43-0 in a CJFL semifinal. In the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl – held this past Saturday, the Hilltops downed the host and BCFC champion Westshore Rebels 17-10 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

Saskatoon gave up just 25 points in four post-season games. On the campaign itself, the Hilltops posted a 12-0 overall record giving up a total of 76 points against, which is the team’s lowest total in that department since 1949.

In 1949, Canadian Football Hall of Fame member Ron Atchison was playing his final campaign for the Hilltops on the offensive and defensive lines. The Hilltops gave up 70 points in 10 overall games that season falling in the Western Canada Championship game 16-12 to the Vancouver Blue Bombers.

For historical references, touchdowns in 1949 were worth five points instead of six points before a team tried to tack on a one or two-point conversion.

When the 2023 Hilltops beat the Rebels last Saturday, the venerable Saskatoon club captured a 23^rd CJFL title and the sixth perfect season in team history. The 2023 Hilltops gave up fewer points than any of the team’s previous 22 CJFL championship winners.

Riece Kack (#47) had six sacks in the CJFL semifinal.

Actually when it comes to combined action in both the regular season and post-season, the 1949 Hilltops are the only squad in the history of the team to give up fewer points against than the CJFL championship winning 2023 Hilltops did.

When you break things down to average points allowed per game, the 2023 Hilltops in overall play gave up an average of 6.3 points a game, which is the lowest total in team history.

Looking at all those statistical facts, it can be strongly argued that the defensive unit of the 2023 Hilltops was the greatest defensive unit of all-time in the team’s history.

Of course, the Hilltops teams from 1947 onwards played with various different rules as the years and decades went on. With that noted, the rules in today’s version of football are geared to allow the offences to ride high.

In theory, today’s football rules should have prevented the Hilltops from giving up their second lowest points allowed total of all-time in team history.

The crazy part of the Hilltops defence in 2023 was it wasn’t just a finesse unit. The players on the Hilltops defence in 2023 could hit hard.

Wade Keating, right, makes a sack for the Hilltops.

The defence of the 2023 Hilltops was aided by a veteran presence. Out of the eight players the Hilltops had on their roster who were playing in their final campaigns of CJFL eligibility, five of those players were on defence.

Middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert and defensive tackle Craig Torgerson were all holdovers for the Hilltops 12-0 CJFL championship winning team in 2019, which marked the last time the Hilltops captured the Canadian Bowl until 2023. Linebacker Jordan Levesque joined the Hilltops following the 2019 campaign, but he missed a sizable portion of the 2023 season due to a leg injury.

Wist, Keating and Wingert all started, while Torgerson was part of a regular rotation on the defensive line, which saw him take some repetitions at defensive end.

The defence was anchored by first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars in defensive end Riece Kack and defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens. Wist and hard hitting and ball hawking safety Dalton Urban were named second team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars.

During the post-season, Kack had a memorable performance in the CJFL semifinal win over the Saints on October 29 at SMF Field. Kack pile up six sacks to set a new record for a CJFL playoff game. He actually became the first player to register six sacks in any CJFL contest be it regular season, playoffs or CJFL championship game.

Carter Wingert (#21) made big plays in the Hilltops secondary.

In the Canadian Bowl win over the Rebels, Wist accumulated 36 defensive points, which is a new record for a CJFL championship game. He also equaled the record for most interceptions in a CJFL championship game at three, which had been achieved on five previous occasions.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant and his long time defensive coordinator in Jeff Yausie saw the Hilltops defence play at a level that that has rarely been seen in the CJFL. The Hilltops have traditionally played in the CJFL’s toughest conferences for most of their history be it the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Junior Football League or the Alberta Junior Football League that became the PFC.

It can even be argued that the 2023 Hilltops had one of the greatest defences in the history of the CJFL. 

Of course, there will be arguments from the 1947 Vancouver Blue Bombers, various Winnipeg Rods teams from the 1950s, the Edmonton Huskies of the early 1960s, the Gord Currie coached Regina Rams of the 1960s and 1970s, the Frank McCrystal coached Regina Rams of the 1980s and 1990s and the 2021 Langley Rams.

With that said, the Hilltops are an uncommon football team that strives to hit new heights of competitive greatness.

The Hilltops defence celebrated many big plays in 2023.

What the 2023 Hilltops did on the defensive side of the ball raised a bar that might not be reached for a very, very long time.

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Hilltops offence comes in under radar at Canadian Bowl

Boston Davidsen topped the PFC with 1,184 yards rushing.

In 2023, the Saskatoon Hilltops are living out a campaign where the defence has overshadowed the offence.

The defence of the venerable CJFL club has garnered the bulk of the attention on the team after giving up just 51 points in eight regular season games, which is the lowest points allowed total for the squad in the regular season dating back to 1949. The Hilltops have given up just 15 points in three post-season games. In building an 11-0 overall record, the Hilltops are giving up an average of just six points a game.

While the defence is having a special season, the Hilltops offence has quietly has a great season of its own with some strong accomplishments. The Hilltops topped the PFC in regular season scoring with 335 points for an average of 41.9 points per game. Saskatoon finished second in total offensive yards gained in the PFC at 3,556.

In three post-season contests, the Hilltops have scored 117 points for an average of 39 points scored per game.

The PFC champion Hilltops close their 2023 campaign Saturday, when they face the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The two sides will go at it at Starlight Stadium at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

The Hilltops will be attempting to win their 23^rd CJFL championship and first title since 2019, while the Rebels are still searching for their first CJFL title in team history. The Rebels lost their only two CJFL championship appearances in team history back in 2016 and 2003, when they were known as the Victoria Rebels, to the Hilltops.

Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen will be playing the final game of his CJFL career on Saturday before exhausting his junior eligibility. Davidsen led the PFC in carries (170), rushing yards (1,184) and rushing touchdowns (nine). He believes the Hilltops offence will play a factor in how Saturday’s CJFL title game turns out.

“I think that offensively it is less about the stats and more about the will we have each game,” said Davidsen. “I think we will come with that on Saturday.

“I think the stats that we’ve put out haven’t been the most accurate of our offence. I think we’ve done a good job of improving every game in mental aspects as well. It is stuff that doesn’t necessarily show up on the stats sheets.

“I think we will look forward to translating that to Saturday.”

Drake Douglas is a reliable sure-handed receiver.

The Rebels offence has been in the spotlight heading into the Canadian Bowl along with the Hilltops defence. In 10 regular season games, the Rebels scored 583 points for an average of 58.3 points scored per game. Westshore has scored 73 points in two post-season contests for an average of 36.5 points per game.

The Rebels have the CJFL’s marquee player in quarterback Te Jessie. In the Rebels 10 regular season games, Jessie was outstanding completing 150-of-212 passes for 2,453 yards and 41 touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions.

He had a quarterback rating of 135.1, and his 41 touchdown passes set a new record for CJFL regular season play. A graduate of the St. Paul’s High School Crusaders Football Team in Winnipeg, Man., Jessie topped the CJFL’s annual Top 50 players to watch list heading into the 2023 campaign. He was named a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star on Thursday.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant respects the Rebels but said he likes his guys on offence going into the CJFL title contest.

“We just are who we are,” said Sargeant, whose 235 career head coaching victories are the most for post-secondary amateur football in Canada. “We’re going to run the football.

“We’re going to get Trey (Reider) going and get our receivers going. They know who were going to throw the ball too. As I said, we’re very confident with who we are and how we do business, and I am sure they are too.

“The difference is we’re walking into their barn. This team, they’ve displayed and showed the ability to you know what, they’ve handled all circumstances. They’ve done it all year and done it very admirably.”

Hilltops star quarterback Trey Reider has had a great season. He completed 108-of-167 passes for 1,571 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing five interceptions during the regular season. He topped the PFC with a 114.6 quarterback efficiency rating.

Sure-handed receiver Drake Douglas hauled in 56 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns for the Hilltops. Pass catcher Noah Flaman, who is known as “TD Noah,” caught 21 passes for 422 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season.

The Hilltops showed they could change up their strategy during their 43-0 victory over the OFC champion St. Clair Saints from Windsor, Ont., in a CJFL semifinal played on October 29 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Saskatoon created big plays off the play-action pass to build a 21-0 advantage just 33 seconds into the second quarter and cruised to victory at that point.

Trey Reider had a 114.6 quarterback efficiency rating this season.

Davidsen was a decoy in a lot of instances in that contest carrying the ball 13 times for 62 yards. The Hilltops still piled up 165 yards rushing in that contest to go with 235 yards passing.

In going against a Rebels defence that gave up an average of 11.2 points per game in the regular season, Davidsen didn’t tip his team’s hand but added his side will be prepared entering the Canadian Bowl.

“All I know is our coaches have a great game plan for us,” said Davidsen. “We have been reliant on our defence at times this year.

“We’re going to try and take another step forward in our final game together with this group to maybe lead the charge a little bit. I think that it is just going to come down to can we work together, can we get it done. It is more about how much we want it than any kind of play we can put out there.”

Davidsen believe the players on the Hilltops offence are going to rally together to have a good outing against the Rebels.

“I’m as confident as the guys around me are confident,” said Davidsen. “It is not something that I can project confidence on to this team, or they can tell me everything is going to be fine.

“It is has to be something we do together. We put our arms around each other, work as hard as we can and I think if we, you know, give it our all things will turn out OK.”

With the Hilltops last appearing in the Canadian Bowl in 2019 when they down the Rams in Langley 11-6, the experience of playing in the CJFL championship game is new to almost all the players. The Hilltops have six holdovers who were members of the 2019 CJFL title winning squad.

Sargeant and his coaching staff have lots of experience guiding their squad in the CJFL championship game. While the experience is new for most of his players, Sargeant is going in expecting to close out a campaign the right way having already guided the Hilltops to 13 CJFL title wins as head coach.

“We expect to be in big games all the time,” said Sargeant. “As I said, this coaching staff has done a great job with the pedigree they have to get this team to start believing where they should be and what they need to do to get there.

“They’ve done that. You know what, we’re excited for the process that is taking place. When you’ve come this far, you want to finish it off now. We know it is not going to be easy.

Noah Flaman has been money in the end zone.

“We know going into Westshore we’re the underdogs. Hey, the B.C. league has won the Canadian championship the last two years. We need to get real about that.”

Davidsen, who was a member of the 2019 CJFL title winning team, added the fact Saturday’s game will be the last for his CJFL career has crossed his mind more and more. His goal is to leave one last final good impression.

“It is a bit of a surreal feeling,” said Davidsen. “It feels like I’ve been part of this team for a huge portion of my life, and it has been.

“It has been a good five years. I think the mindset has to be make sure you don’t regret you last moment as a Hilltop.”

Last hurrah for Hilltops grads, other notes

Matt Wist will play his final CJFL game on Saturday.

The Saskatoon Hilltops are one win away from once again helping their graduating players depart their junior football careers as CJFL champions.

On Saturday, the PFC champion Hilltops (11-0) close the 2023 campaign taking on the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The two sides will go at it at Starlight Stadium at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

For eight members of the Hilltops, the CJFL title game will be the final contest of their junior football careers.

The group of eight includes six players who were members of the Hilltops last CJFL title winning team in 2019. The holdovers include defensive tackle Craig Torgerson, middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert, running back Boston Davidsen and receiver Evan Ward.

Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker, who joined the Hilltops after the 2019 campaign, will also exhaust their CJFL eligibility when the Canadian Bowl wraps up. The Hilltops will be trying to win their 23^rd CJFL title in team history.

For a lengthy stretch of time, the Hilltops mantra has been to help their graduating players leave the CJFL as champions. Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said the team’s graduating players have played a huge part in helping the club go undefeated heading into the CJFL title game.

“If it wasn’t for our fifth-year players, we’re not in the game,” said Sargeant. “We need them to be our best players like they’ve been all year.

Evan Ward has made key timely catches for the Hilltops.

“I don’t see any of that to change. We’re going to put them in the spots. We’re going to give them the play calls for them to do what we’ve seen all year and that is about as simple as that.

“It will be their job to lead on the field and make the plays, and the other guys will follow suit. If we do that, then things are always going to go well for the blue and gold.”

Wist took home individuals honours this season being named a second team CJFL all-Canadian all-star at linebacker and a first team all-Canadian at punter. The 22-year-old recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and three interceptions during the regular season.

On the punting side during the regular season, Wist punted the ball 47 times for a gross average of 37.7 yards per kick, a net average of 32.2 yards per kick and three singles. He has been soaking in his final days as a CJFL player.

“Time has definitely flown by,” said Wist. “Day in and day out, it just goes by in a flash, so I am just soaking this last week in.

“I’m just glad to be around the guys for this last week. We’re going as far as we can, so it makes me happy.”

• The Hilltops and Rebels last met head to head in the CJFL title game on November 12, 2016 at what was known as then Westhills Stadium at Langford. The Hilltops claimed a 37-25 victory on that day. The post about that contest can be found by clicking right here.
• The Hilltops and the then Victoria Rebels went head-to-head in the CJFL championship game on November 8, 2003 at Exhibition Stadium in Chilliwack, B.C. The Hilltops romped to a 59-0 victory in that contest. The 59 points the Hilltops scored that day is still a record for a CJFL championship game.
• Westshore Rebels head coach Dexter Janke played running back for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team in the U Sports ranks from 2010 to 2013. He claimed honours as the BCFC’s coach of the year this season.
• The Hilltops will be attempting to complete their sixth perfect season in team history on Saturday. Saskatoon’s first perfect season came in 1958 at 11-0, the second in 1978 at 12-0, the third in 2003 at 12-0, the fourth in 2018 at 11-0 and the fifth in 2019 at 12-0.
• I was back in the pages of the Prince Albert Daily Herald on Wednesday with a story on University of Alberta Pandas Women’s Hockey Team power forward Abby Soyko. Soyko is an alumna and an all-time great with the Prince Albert Northern Bears female under-18 AAA team. The story on Soyko can be found by clicking right here.
• On November 9, I had new content appear on the Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I put together a piece on star pitcher Andrew Albers, who had stints in the MLB from 2013 to 2021 with three different teams, electing to retire from playing to move into coaching in baseball on a full-time basis. The piece on Albers can be found by clicking right here. I also put together a photo roundup that shows a CJFL record being broken and focuses on various championship chases in football drawing to a conclusion. That post 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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