Jolly centre of focus and fun on Hilltops offensive line

Luciano Jolly has had a standout season as the Hilltops centre.

As a backup centre, Luciano Jolly created the signature fun off-field moment that will be remembered forever by the Saskatoon Hilltops 2019 CJFL championship winning team.

Following a 49-22 victory over the Winnipeg Rifles on October 6, 2019 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, a photo I took of then fifth-year right guard Taylon Elderkin running the ball for a 13 yard gain ran with the game story posted on this blog. The picture was placed as a solo post on my Twitter account.

Jolly and Elderkin are long time best friends having played football together during their high school days with the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings. When Jolly discovered the photo, he sent it to a site called Linemanprobs.com.

Linemanprobs.com ran the photo on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds and the picture went viral racking up views.

“Seeing him run for 13 yards, it could have been a touchdown in my opinion, but it is what it is,” said Jolly. “I saved it immediately, sent it into that linemen page and it kind of just blew up from there.”

Jolly said it is the dream of every offensive lineman to touch the ball. Now as the Hilltops starting centre this season, Jolly touches the ball on every play as he snaps it back to the quarterback.

Still, the other four members of the offensive line might touch the ball the rare time on a trick play or recovering a fumble.

Looking back on that moment of Elderkin’s photo from 2019, Jolly thought that helped keep things fun and in a positive groove for the offensive line and team.

Luciano Jolly, right, opens a hole for Boston Davidsen.

“We were already like a tight brotherhood I guess you could say,” said Jolly, who stands 6-feet and weighs 260 pounds. “Seeing one of us make it up higher and getting the recognition we finally wanted, that just made it 10 times better.”

This season, Jolly is doing a little more than helping provide levity off the field. As the starting centre, Jolly is looked upon to be the leader on the offensive line, and he is responsible for calling out blocking adjustments.

The 22-year-old has played centre on the offensive line since Grade 9. With the Hilltops, he toiled as backup for his first three seasons helping the Hilltops win CJFL championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019. After the 2020 season was lost due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, Jolly was elated to move into the starter’s role this season.

“I don’t know how to put this,” said Jolly, whose Hilltops (3-2) host the Edmonton Huskies (4-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at SMF Field. “It feels like I’m just finally earning my place like I’ve been riding the bench for so long.

“Finally, I’ve moved up and this is my spot now.”

Jolly said he was ready to take on the starter’s role and believes the Hilltops offensive line has been communicating and working together well as a unit. It seemed natural for him to step in and call out the adjustments on the offensive line.

“I’ve kind of been in that position since Grade 9, so it is nothing really new for me,” said Jolly. “It is nice being able to have the guys communicate.

The viral Taylon Elderkin run on Instagram from 2019.

“I need to say something to them, and they say it right back. We automatically know what we are doing on that play or just getting people riled up.”

Jolly’s play has pleased legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. Sargeant said Jolly put in the work to be ready to become the starting centre, and the hard work is paying off.

“First thing first, Luciano paid the price in his first three years in terms of just being on the practice roster and being a backup and developing,” said Sargeant. “We thrust him into the starting lineup, and he has been one of our more consistent football players.

“Our centre position is something we were concerned about. Luciano has come and erased those question marks or doubts. He has been an outstanding performer.

“As I said, he has been a real difference maker this year, very proud of him.”

Sargeant admitted that Jolly could have started in the 2019 campaign, if then fifth-year centre Patrick Arno had gone down to injury. Arno was in his fourth full season as the Hilltops starting centre in 2019 and had a big edge over Jolly in the experience department.

This season, Sargeant said only three-time all-Canadian all-star left tackle Mason Ochs has performed better on the offensive line than Jolly has.

“Luciano is probably performing at the second highest level right now in terms of doing his job and doing it with physicality and understanding and executing his assignments,” said Sargeant. “I’m very impressed and very happy with how he is playing.”

Luciano Jolly, with hand on ball, calls adjustments on the O-line.

Jolly said he enjoyed learning and playing behind Arno and the other veterans he was teammates with on the offensive line who have since graduated from the program. From the veterans, Jolly learned about the focused and fun vibe the offensive line has and works to pass that down to the younger offensive linemen on the team.

“It is a great group of guys,” said Jolly. “We always like to say that we’re like a pod of dolphins, because dolphins are smart and they always communicate with each other and everything.

“We always like to say we are a pod of dolphins just to keep us like together.”

After last season was nixed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jolly has enjoyed playing games that much more this season. Going into Sunday’s clash with the Huskies, he has that big game excited feel.

The winner of that CJFL regular season clash will hold second place in the Prairie Football Conference. The Hilltops claimed the first encounter between the two sides 18-17 on August 22 at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton.

A win by Saskatoon on Sunday would allow the Hilltops to sweep the season series 2-0 and give them the standings tiebreaker with the Huskies.

Jolly said his Hilltops still have to show how good they really can be and the encounter with the Huskies provides a chance to do that.

Luciano Jolly (#58) is looking forward to big game days with the Hilltops.

“We’re just trying to prove ourselves,” said Jolly. “That is our second place spot, and we want it.

“We want to go get it.”

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Hilltops’ Arno aspires to make classroom a long time home

Centre Patrick Arno locks up on a block for the Hilltops.

    Patrick Arno is strong at focusing on the Saskatoon Hilltops next game, but he admits his thoughts have drifted to thinking about the day after the team’s next game.

    On Saturday, the Hilltops (11-0 overall) travel to Langley, B.C., to face the host Rams (12-0 overall) in the CJFL championship game – The Canadian Bowl. The Hilltops will be trying to win an unprecedented sixth straight CJFL title in that contest.

    On Sunday, Arno will no longer be the starting centre on the Hilltops offensive line. He will have finished playing in his fifth campaign with the venerable Saskatoon side and have exhausted his CJFL eligibility.

    “It is going to be a reality check,” said Arno. “It is going to be different.

    “It is going to be something I have almost a feeling of losing something or losing someone, because it will be a club that is close to me. It will just be kind of over in a split second, so it will be different.”

Patrick Arno gets set to snap the football.

    Arno has taken steps to transition out of his life as a hulking 6-foot-4, 300-pound leader of the Hilltops offensive line to one day becoming a teacher. He has attended classes for some time at the University of Saskatchewan, and he has been accepted into the faculty of education at the University of Regina starting in January of the new year.

    A graduate of Saskatoon’s high school football ranks in the Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers, the move to the Saskatchewan capital will mark the first time Arno has not lived in “The Bridge City.”

    “It is a little bit different,” said Arno. “I’ve never lived away from home.

    “I’m just trying to find a place and trying to figure out where there is a good place to live in Regina and where is not to live. I’m just figuring out my schedules and all that kind of stuff.”

    Arno said he hasn’t talked to the University of Regina Rams about playing football for them at the U Sports level. Actually, he said he hasn’t talked to any U Sports football program about extending his time in the game.

    The 22-year-old’s focus after Hilltops has revolved around setting up his life after football.

Taylon Elderkin (#67) and Patrick Arno (#57) team up on a block.

    “I’m just going to school and focusing on my career so far,” said Arno. “If something comes, then I will figure it out then.”

    Arno has made tonnes of good memories playing with the Hilltops. He said his eyes were opened about possibly joining the storied junior team, when Hilltops defensive backs coach Brent Turkington visited with him during an awards banquet at Tommy Douglas.

    After that awards banquet, Arno attended Hilltops spring camp in 2015. Hilltops offensive line coach Donnie Davidsen told Arno he was competing for a spot along with another Tommy Douglas grad.

    The other Tommy Douglas grad elected not to rejoin the Hilltops for their main training camp, and Arno’s time with the team began.

Patrick Arno (#57) gets things set on the Hilltops offensive line.

    “It has really gone by really fast, quicker than when you imagine at the start,” said Arno, who was a practice roster player in his first season. “It has been a long ride.

    “It has been a good ride.”

    During his rookie campaign in 2015, Arno spent his time learning from a veteran offensive line. Centre Jordan Hydomako, left guard Nathan Heide and left tackle Terry Thesen were all in their fifth-years of eligibility and starred at their respective positions.

    Arno proved to be a quick study. He found himself taking over as the team’s starting centre in his second year in 2016 after the graduation of the three fifth-year veterans.

    “I had good leaders,” said Arno. “It was good to start.

Patrick Arno (#57) and the Hilltops stellar starting offensive line.

    “I was thrown into things quickly and kind of just had to figure it out as quick as I could. It was really good. It was really fun, and I think that experience has made me into the player that I am today.”

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said Arno gained his starting spot quickly by earning the trust of the team’s coaches with his play.

    “Number one, I’ve always loved his consistency as a snapper,” said Sargeant. “The other thing I’ve liked about him was his frame.

    “He is a big man. You get that big guy in the middle, and it makes a big difference. He creates a lot of space.
    “He likes to play physical. He likes to have fun. The guys really rally around him, and I love coaching him.”

Patrick Arno (#57) in action in last year’s Canadian Bowl.

    Over the years, Sargeant said Arno kept playing at a high level and always handled the complexities of the centre position well.

    “As a centre, you have to make a lot of the line sight adjustments and get everything orchestrated, and he has done a real good job of communicating,” said Sargeant. “As a captain this year, he has brought very valuable and strong leadership.

    “It is fun to see him evolve over the last three or four years to be a dominant offensive lineman on a team that is known for running the ball.”

    Arno said starting as a second-year player was one of his biggest memories with the team, even though an injury kept him out of that season’s Canadian Bowl game victory.
    He has enjoyed playing in the Hilltops last two Canadian Bowl wins and is looking forward to a third straight start in the CJFL title game on Saturday.

Patrick Arno (#57) walks on to SMF Field with mom, Brenda Arno.

    On top of playing football, Arno has an appreciation for the Hilltops history. He felt fortunate he could celebrate national title win in the team’s now demolished old clubhouse and the state of the art new one the club moved into before the start of last season.

    “Lots of guys here don’t really have those memories,” said Arno. “I was lucky enough to be in the old clubhouse for three years.

    “It is just lots of tradition there. Lots of these young guys don’t really know what it was like. They just come here and they have this new big clubhouse, and it is completely different then from when I started.

    “I like to keep the tradition going of what I knew from the old clubhouse to this clubhouse. It has been good.”

    Of course, Arno wants to help the Hilltops complete another successful chapter in their story by helping the club win an unprecedented 22^nd CJFL championship.
    He will soak in being in the middle of the offensive line that contains pals in Jonathan Chisholm at right tackle, Taylon Elderkin at right guard, Ryder Klisowsky at left guard and Mason Ochs at left tackle for one last time.

Patrick Arno (#57) celebrates with part of the Canadian Bowl last year.

    This year’s battle in the Canadian Bowl with the Rams presents a unique challenge as the two sides meet in the CJFL’s title game for a second straight year.

    A year ago, the Hilltops hammered the Rams 58-21 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field to retain possession of the Canadian Bowl. Now that the Rams know what the Hilltops are about, Arno is expecting a lot tougher encounter this time around.

    “It will be interesting,” said Arno. “I think we are just looking to run the ball.

    “I want to get the O-line going, and I think the team will take care of itself. We’ve been preparing ourselves enough for this all year. My experience and my O-line’s experience and my team’s experience has been building up for this moment.”

Haight takes CJFL’s community service award

Caleb Haight (#53) won the CJFL’s Past Commissioner’s Award.

    Caleb Haight’s community involvement has been recognized at the national level in the CJFL.

    On Tuesday, the defensive end for the Saskatoon Hilltops was named the winner of the CJFL’s Past Commissioner’s Award for his community service work. Haight was named the winner of the Prairie Football Conference’s Al Park Community Service award earlier this post-season.

    The 22-year-old is playing in his final campaign of CJFL eligibility and his third full season with the Hilltops.

    Haight, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 260 pounds, has had his hand in many community endeavors. In 2016, he started out by driving local inner city kids to court-mandated community service and volunteered at local church youth groups.

    During the 2017 and 2018 high school football seasons, Haight served as the defensive line coach for the Bedford Road Collegiate Redhawks, while still playing with the Hilltops.

Caleb Haight, left, has had a strong post-season for the Hilltops.

    He became involved in the Hilltops outreach program and represented the team in various parades and community breakfasts. Haight tutored high school debate teams and volunteered as a judge at local tournaments.

    The Clavet, Sask., product has volunteered his time as a defensive line coach at the Hilltops last two high school camps.

    This season, Haight served as the head coach of the six-a-side Kensington Stampeders Grade 5/6 football team. On top of that, Haight volunteers with the Kinsmen Hockey League tying skates and working the scoreboard.

    On the field, Haight is have a strong post-season run piling up three sacks, six defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists, two special teams tackles and one pass knockdown in the Hilltops three playoff games.

    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 grind way to 4-0 start, control destiny going forward

Hilltops RB Ben Abrook fights his way for an extra yard.

    It was far from easy, but the Saskatoon Hilltops are 4-0 in a reloading season.

    The five-time defending Canadian Junior Football League champions expected to be in for a challenging campaign in 2019 having graduated a large number of players after going 11-0 in 2018. They opened the 2019 season with a meat grinder of a schedule starting with three straight road games before hosting their home opener.

    In those first four games, the Hilltops took on the Winnipeg Rifles once, the Edmonton Huskies once and the Regina Thunder twice. Those three teams were slated to be the three other toughest clubs in the six-team Prairie Football Conference.

QB Tyler Hermann has two fourth quarter comebacks this season.

    In 2018, the Hilltops were impressive trailing on the scoreboard for a total of 81 seconds throughout their 11 overall games. Their closest game on the scoreboard was downing the Huskies in the PFC final 28-9.

    With the turnover the Hilltops experience in personnel, their conference rivals had to be feeling they could finally take the venerable Saskatoon side down.

    Facing four early big season games, the Hilltops showed off their big game mystique. Often veteran players came through in big moments allowing the team to pull out victory.

    Third-year power running back Ben Abrook has been a tank for the blue and gold. Over four games, he has carried the ball 123 times for 642 yards and four touchdowns.

    He has paced the Hilltops offence running behind a powerful and veteran offensive line in left tackle Mason Ochs, left guard Ryder Klisowsky, centre Patrick Arno, right guard Taylon Elderkin and right tackle Jonathan Chisholm. Chisholm is the only new starter on the unit, but he is in fourth year with the team.

Mason Ochs, left, locks up on a block for the Hilltops.

    In the season opener in Winnipeg, the Hilltops posted a solid 34-20 win with fifth-year receiver Connor Graham hauling in five passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. The Rifles were pesky, but the Hilltops subdued them winning the turnover battle 6-1.

    On August 25 in Regina, the Hilltops downed the host Thunder 34-16. With the win, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant picked up his 200^th win combining action in the CJFL’s regular season and post-season.

    Still, this game had its nervous moments. The Hilltops held a slim 14-9 edge and the Thunder had the ball on the Saskatoon four yard line with one play remaining in the third quarter.

    Hilltops third-year safety Brant Morrow played the role of hero intercepting a pass and racing 113 yards in the other direction for a touchdown that sparked the Hilltops to a sound win.

    The Hilltops really got pushed in their next two games resulting in fifth-year quarterback and first year starter Tyler Hermann getting credited with two fourth quarter comebacks. 

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant, right, get the game ball for career win 200.

    In a rarity, Saskatoon entered the fourth quarter in back-to-back games trailing on the scoreboard.

    On Sept. 1 in Edmonton, the Hilltops fell behind the host Huskies 14-0 in the first quarter, 19-7 at halftime but down just 19-17 after three quarters.

    The Huskies got ahead 22-17 in the fourth quarter before Abrook powered home for the winning touchdown with 1:47 remaining in the frame to give the Hilltops a 24-22 victory. Abrook finished that game carrying the ball 29 times for 204 yards and one touchdown.

    On Sept. 7, the Hilltops finally hosted their home opener at Saskatoon Minor Football Field against the Thunder. Regina held a slim 18-17 edge heading into the fourth quarter, and the Hilltops offence looked stalled to that point in the second half.

Hilltops receiver Keegan Dicks, right, looks to get past a Thunder defender.

    After kicker/receiver Rylan Kleiter gave the Hilltops a 20-18 lead with a 22 yard field goal, the Thunder jumped back in front on a 45 yard field goal from kicker Eric Maximuik with 1:24 remaining in the fourth quarter.

    The Hilltops proceeded to drive down to the Thunder one yard line, where Hilltops backup and short-yardage quarterback Doug Fleming fumbled the ball away to the Regina side. The play was negated by an offside penalty against the Thunder.

    Had the fumble stood up, the Thunder would have likely been able to run out the clock as both clubs had used up their timeouts at that point in the contest.

Brant Morrow (#22) made a game-changing play.

    The Hilltops hopes were still alive because of a break.

    Abrook proceeded to dive home for the winning touchdown from a yard out on the next play, and the Hilltops added a two-point convert for a 28-21 victory.

    Going into the second half of their regular season schedule, the Hilltops are still riding a 23 game winning streak overall including action in the regular season and playoffs. The Hilltops have won their last 26 straight road games including three victories in the CJFL championship game –the Canadian Bowl.

    So far in 2019, Sargeant said he and his staff have to keep finding ways to do things better in the coaching department. When he evaluates games, Sargeant said there have been times he and his staff haven’t put their players in the best positions to succeed.

    The players themselves know they have to be better.

    There is a realization by all parties everyone a lot of players are learning and growing in new roles as the campaign goes on.

The Hilltops defensive line springs into action.

    Looking ahead, the Hilltops will have lots of opportunity to improve. On paper, their last four regular season games are considerably easier than their first four regular season games.

    Right now, the Hilltops need to win three out of their last four regular season games to once again lock up first place in the PFC. They play the Calgary Colts (1-3) once and the Edmonton Wildcats (1-3) twice along with one more date against the Rifles.

    No one likes to count wins before the happen, but the Hilltops should collect three victories from their encounters with the Colts and Wildcats. If the Colts or Wildcats were able to beat the Hilltops, it would be a monumental upset.

The Hilltops keep making and enjoying coming through with big plays.

    The Hilltops begin the second half of their regular season on Sunday, September 22, when they host the Colts at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

    Saskatoon one again controls its own destiny. Getting to that point over their first four games has been tougher than previous years.

    The Hilltops will have ample time to get things tuned up to their storied standards before the post-season rolls around.

    At the moment, they are beatable, but when the chips are down, they still find ways to pull through.

    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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Klisowsky fits in as new O-line starter, Hilltops hammer Colts

Ryder Klisowsky, left, is the Hilltops new starting left guard.

    Ryder Klisowsky was ready to be a starter on the Saskatoon Hilltops offensive line, but that still didn’t prevent him from being attacked by pre-game nerves.
    On Saturday, the fourth-year Watrous, Sask., product made his second career start for the Hilltops slotting in at the left guard position on the offensive line. Klisowsky and the Hilltops first offensive unit piled up 354 yards of offence and a 45-0 lead by halftime of a Canadian Junior Football League regular season clash with the Calgary Colts.
    With the offensive starters getting a rest for the second half, the Hilltops cruised to a 59-1 victory before 1,065 spectators at Saskatoon Minor Football Field to improve to 2-0 on the campaign. The Colts fell to 0-2.
    Klisowsky went the distance in the Hilltops 41-7 regular season opening win over the Thunder in Regina on Aug. 18. The 21-year-old has enjoyed the anticipation that comes, when a start closes in.

Ryder Klisowsky, right, forces a Colts pass rusher into a double team.

    “It is a big change,” said Klisowsky, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 318 pounds. “It was kind of nerve-racking the first couple of games, because I’ve never really started.
    “It was an interesting thing to play a whole game and start off. I like it, and it feels good to start finally.”
    When he attended Winston High School in Watrous, Klisowsky played six-man football. He was placed in a pure offensive line position in the six-man game, which he said eased his transition to the 12-man game.

    In the six-man game, some offensive linemen can become pass receivers.
    “It wasn’t that bad of a change,” said Klisowsky. “It was kind of easier coming, so you didn’t have to run patterns or anything.
    “It was just straight up blocking.”

Ryder Klisowsky, left, protects the Hilltops pass pocket.

    In his preparation to become a starter with the Hilltops, Klisowsky said he was able to refine his game due to the help of the club’s long time offensive line coach in Donnie Davidsen.
    “He (Davidsen) has been a good help,” said Klisowsky. “He is a nice coach. He is great on the line.
    “He knows his stuff. He helps us out a lot. It is nice to have him around.”
    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was pleased by the effort put in by the Hilltops starting offensive line on Saturday. The four other starters include Kirk Simonsen at right tackle, Taylon Elderkin at right guard, Patrick Arno at centre and Mason Ochs at left tackle.
    Simonsen, Elderkin and Ochs were all Prairie Football Conference all-stars last season, while Simonsen and Ochs earned nods as CJFL all-Canadian all-stars. 

Ryder Klisowsky (#61) gets set at the line of scrimmage.

    Simonsen took home honours as the PFC’s most outstanding lineman last season as well.
    “Ryder (Klisowsky) is fantastic, and they all played great,” said Sargeant. “We know we are physical.
    “We know we can run and pass for the most part. The tape we are putting out is pretty good tape right now.”
    Klisowsky faced the challenge of fitting in as the only new starter on the Hilltops offensive line replacing Jack Sloboda, who exhausted his CJFL eligibility at the end of last season, coming into the current campaign.

Joshua Ewanchyna (#18) ran for a pair of touchdowns for the Hilltops.

    “I had to kind of mesh with them better, but I think we are doing well as a unit so far,” said Klisowsky. “We need to work on some more things, but I think we’re getting to that point that we are feeling good as a unit.”
    During his time with the Hilltops, Klisowsky has helped the club win CJFL titles in his first three campaigns with the team. He said that has been a highlight along with being around the rest of the players on the squad.
    “It is a blast,” said Klisowsky. “We are all a good group of guys.
    “It is all fun. We all have a good time on and off the field. It is nice to start and be a part of it all.”

    The Hilltops are trying to win an unprecedented fifth straight CJFL title this season, but Klisowsky said no one on the team is dwelling on the “drive for five” concept.

Keegan Dicks secures a catch near the sidelines.

    “It is in the back of everyone’s mind for sure, but we try to focus on our next game,” said Klisowsky. “That is our most important is the next game coming up.”
    The Hilltops stormed out to a 17-0 lead with just 6:12 elapsed in Saturday’s game as running back Joshua Ewanchyna ran in major scores from three and 20 yards out respectively and David Solie booted a 46 yard field goal.
    Saskatoon’s edge expanded to 31-0 by the end of the first quarter thanks to a one-yard plunge by fullback/defensive tackle Garth Knittig and a 12-yard touchdown reception from receiver Tanner Rhode, which was thrown by star quarterback Jordan Walls.
    In the second quarter, Walls hit receiver Keegan Dicks with an eight-yard touchdown toss and ran in a major score from 10 yards out to give the host side a 45-0 lead.
    Hilltops backup quarterback Tyler Hermann started the second half. In the third quarter, he connected with receivers Dillan Heintz and Carter Norrish on respective 31 and 27 yard touchdown passes to give the Hilltops a 59-0 advantage.

Hilltops DT Garth Knittig stops Colts RB Vad Wayne Kiana.

    Shortly before the third quarter expired, Colts kicker Dylan Pye scored a single on a missed 31-yard field goal attempt to round out the 59-1 final score.
    Walls connected on 14-of-19 passes for 231 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Ewanchyna ran the ball 11 times for 98 yards and scored two touchdowns.
    The Hilltops piled up 163 yards rushing and 348 yards passing of gross offence as a team.
    The Colts had 109 yards rushing and 80 yards passing of gross offence.

    Defensive tackle Jesse McNabb had four tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery for the Hilltops. 
    Backup defensive end Connor Delahey had a pair of sacks for the Hilltops, while fellow backup defensive end Jordan Seipp also had a sack.

    Safety Brant Morrow had an interception for Saskatoon.

Hilltops receiver Carter Norrish (#88) zips to the end zone after a catch.

    “We certainly challenged our team that we want to come out and play at a high level of great execution on offence, defence and specials teams, and we did that,” said Sargeant. “At the end of the day, it was fun to watch, fun to coach and fun to play.

    “More importantly, we got to build some capacity and got a lot of players on the field and that is only going to make us practise better and compete better and make this team better in the long run.”

    The Hilltops return to action on Sept. 2, when they travel to Winnipeg to take on the Rifles (1-1).

    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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Abrook goes beast mode in Hilltops 41-7 romp at Mosaic

Ben Abrook (#32) jets home on a 22-yard touchdown run for the Hilltops.

    REGINA, Sask. – The Regina Thunder likely saw enough of Ben Abrook for one night.
    The third-year Saskatoon Hilltops running back left a host of would be Thunder tacklers laid out all over the turf at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday making the first start of his Canadian Junior Football League career.

    When the dust settled, Abrook ran the ball 27 times for 171 yards and scored three touchdowns as the four time defending CJFL champion Hilltops rumbled over the Thunder 41-7 in the regular season opener for both sides played before 2,043 spectators.

    Abrook’s biggest run came with 32 seconds remaining in the first half. With the Hilltops holding a 13-7 lead and gambling on a third-and-one situation at the Thunder 22 yard line, Abrook powered the ball on a run off the left off tackle and darted home for his second touchdown of the game to put the Toppers up 20-7.

Hilltops RB Ben Abrook powers his way through all obstacles.

    The 20-year-old’s dash to pay dirt capped a 105-yard touchdown drive.

    “It was awesome to get our (offence) all the way down the field and get a touchdown,” said Abrook. “It felt awesome to the team. It gave us confidence.”

    Abrook was looking forward to running behind the Hilltops starting offensive line made up of right tackle Kirk Simonsen, right guard Taylon Elderkin, centre Patrick Arno, left guard Ryder Klisowsky and left tackle Mason Ochs.

    “The O-line couldn’t have played better,” said Abrook. “I owe it all to them honestly.

    “It is just a veteran O-line group. They do it.”

The Hilltops celebrate a third touchdown from Ben Abrook (#32).

    Lost in Abrook’s overpowering performance was the fact Hilltops fifth-year starting quarterback Jordan Walls had an outstanding night. Walls hit eight different receivers completing 20-of-29 passes for 316 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

    Still with the Hilltops having lost Adam Marchart to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team in the U Sports ranks and Joshua Ewanchyna sitting out Saturday’s game with a minor ailment, Abrook’s impact was a welcome sight to Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant.

    “Ben Abrook is a third year, and this is his time,” said Sargeant. “He was ready to go.

    “What we thought we knew, now we know. He is a primetime player, played his butt off today and everyone rallied around him. We all know that Josh (Ewanchyna) is a key player to what we are going to be doing this year.

Receiver Connor Graham comes down with a circus catch for the Hilltops.

    “Ben has moved up the ladder. He has got more opportunity. He is going to get more touches to continue to impact games like he did today.”

    Abrook scored his first touchdown on a six-yard run that capped the Hilltops first offensive series of the game early in the first quarter, which happened to be the first offensive possession of the contest.

    The Thunder tied things up at 7-7 later on in the opening 15-minutes, when quarterback Brock Sich hooked up with receiver Tanner Zaharia on a deep 41-yard touchdown pass.

    Saskatoon exited the first quarter holding a 10-7 lead after David Solie booted home a field goal from 42 yards out. 

Hilltops DB Logan Bitz sacks Thunder QB Brock Sich.

    Near the midway point of the second quarter, Solie hit a 36-yard field goal to give the Hilltops a 13-7 lead.

    Late in the second quarter, it appeared the Hilltops would be pinned deep in their end of the field, when they started a drive at their own five yard line. On a fairly well-executed march that included a couple of circus catches from receiver Connor Graham, the Hilltops drove for a key score that put them in control of the contest at halftime holding a 13-point lead.

    “That is just experience,” said Sargeant. “We went with a different formation.

    “We were able to put some guys in spots. Connor Graham made some big catches all the way down the field that set that up. That was Connor’s touchdown.”

    Early in the third quarter, Abrook ran in his third touchdown of the contest to give the Hilltops a 27-7 edge.

QB Jordan Walls threw for 316 yards for the Hilltops.

    Just 12 seconds into the fourth quarter, Walls hit Matt Turple with a six-yard touchdown toss to give the Hilltops a 34-7 advantage. After substituting in a number of backup players, the Hilltops rounded out the game’s scoring with 2:22 to play, when running back Kelton McLean scored on a one-yard plunge.

    Sich completed 13-of-24 passes for 205 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. The Thunder gained 233 yards as a team through the air and 66 yards on the ground.

    Hilltops third-year defensive back Logan Bitz helped disrupt the Thunder passing game with three well-timed halfback blitzes. He picked up a key sack in the third quarter after the Hilltops went ahead 27-7.

    “That is how I got on the field last year is that coach likes me blitzing,” said Bitz. “That is my kind of calling card I guess.

    “It is nice to get out there and show I can get do something different that everybody else doesn’t do, like get out there and make my mark. Hopefully, I will get a couple more this year.”

Hilltops DB Logan Bitz (#23) and LB Landon Schutte (#46) make a tackle.

    Bitz said this was the first campaign he was slated to be a full-time starter on the Hilltops defence. The graduate of Saskatoon’s St. Joseph High School received a boost of confidence with how Saturday’s game played out.

    “I woke up this morning in a minor panic attack,” said Bitz. “I was flailing everywhere. I didn’t know what to do.

    “I just finally got here, and I think after the first quarter it was finally out when I make a couple of plays and couple of tackles. It was just like, ‘OK, I can play in this league and not be an average player and make some plays. Overall, I can make my mark.’”

Hilltops RB Kelton McLean picked up a few fourth quarter carries.

    Fifth-year receiver Jason Price topped the Hilltops with 74 receiving yards coming off three catches. Veteran Thunder receiver Lee Brown led all pass catchers with eight receptions for 113 yards.

    The Thunder return to action this coming Saturday, when they host the Winnipeg Rifles at 4 p.m. at Leibel Field.

    The Hilltops return to Saskatoon to host their home opener this coming Saturday against the Calgary Colts at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    Overall, Sargeant liked what he saw from his squad in the opener, but he still sees room for improvement going forward.

    “I’m very proud,” said Sargeant. “At the end of the day, I wasn’t happy with how we started with a lot of little mistakes, but you know first game jitters.

The Hilltops celebrate their season opening victory.

    “Once we got through that, the team started to roll with the flow. Young guys were making plays. We had a lot of guys running around making plays, and we felt good about that and lots to build on.

    “There are a lot of correctable things I am still not very happy about, if you know my style. We’re going to pound on these guys hard and keep the expectations even higher, so we come out and play even better.”

    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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