Showing posts with label Ramsey Derbas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ramsey Derbas. Show all posts

Sunday, 10 November 2019

Huskies playoff exit stings

Football team agonizingly close to big things

Adam Machart had a record breaking season for the Huskies.
    The family feeling inside of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team might be as strong as it has ever been over the past 10 years.
    It is that family feeling that makes a playoff exit tough to take. On Saturday, the Huskies fell 29-4 to the host University of Calgary Dinos at McMahon Stadium in the Canada West Conference championship game – the Hardy Cup.
    One year earlier the Huskies captured the Hardy Cup 43-18 against the Dinos in that same venue.
    The Huskies went into the 2019 campaign returning a large group of players from the squad that won the conference title one year earlier. Hopes were high amongst the Huskies that they would win the Hardy Cup for a second straight year and maybe advance further on the U Sports post-season trail and capture the Vanier Cup as national champions for the first time since 1998.
Nelson Lokombo was the top defensive player in Canada West.
    The fact the Huskies won’t be gathering for film sessions on Monday and hitting the turf at Griffiths Stadium for a full practice on Tuesday seems numbing.
    Still, the Huskies in the current day are still trying to build a new tradition of success that can link back to the team’s glorious past.
    U of S entered the 2018 post-season having lost eight straight playoff games and having missed the playoffs entirely in 2017.
    When the Huskies won the Hardy last year for the first time since 2006, the success felt new again and excitement was high. The 2018 playoffs came to an end in a U Sports semifinal contest, when the Huskies fell 47-24 to the University of Western Ontario Mustangs in the Mitchell Bowl.
    The Huskies added another playoff win this season, when they downed the University of Alberta Golden Bears 28-23 in a Canada West semifinal game on Nov. 2 at Griffiths Stadium. That was the Huskies first post-season home game since 2014 and first playoff home win since 2009.
Mason Nyhus had a solid campaign as the Huskies starting QB.
    While post-season wins are starting to come, the Huskies are still going to experience some learning and growing pains in attempting to make playoff success a habit again.
    For the second straight year, the Huskies posted a 5-3 record in the regular season, but this time that mark was good enough for a second place finish in the Canada West standings. U of S placed third in Canada West in 2018 with a 5-3 mark.
    The Huskies were at their best when they played at home this season winning all four of their home dates in the regular season and their one home date in the post-season.
    It was a different story on the road, where the Huskies posted a 1-3 record in the regular season and lost their lone road playoff game in the Hardy Cup.
    Looking back at the regular season, the Huskies would likely have some regrets for letting two road contests get away.
    On Sept. 21, they dropped a 19-17 decision to the Golden Bears in Edmonton, Alta., and fell 38-37 to the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on Oct. 19 in Vancouver, B.C.
Losing Colton Klassen to injury was a blow to the Huskies.
    Had the Huskies won just one of those games, they would have finished first in Canada West due to the fact they held the standings tiebreaker against the Dinos. The two sides met once in the regular season with the Huskies pulling out a 29-15 victory on Sept. 27 at Griffiths Stadium.
    Due to the fact Canada West hosts one of the two U Sports semifinals this season, the Huskies would have had home field advantage in the playoffs with a first place finish in Canada West up until the Vanier Cup.
    Those road losses show how much of a difference a play or two can make towards how a season plays out.
    The Hardy Cup could have played out differently had the Huskies been successful on a third-and-goal gamble from the Dinos two yard line on the final play of the first half.
Evan Machibroda made big plays for the Huskies.
    Had the Huskies been successful, they would have had an 8-4 lead at halftime and might have not been chasing the game like they ultimately did in the second half.
    Also, losing star utility player Colton Klassen to a campaign ending broken right leg in the final contest of the regular season hurt a tonne too.
    Of course, the Huskies had lots of highlights this season. Third-year quarterback Mason Nyhus became the Huskies starter and completed 138-of-228 passes for 1,739 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Regina, Sask., product was a highly touted recruit joining the team as a red shirt in 2016 and looks to be on his way to fulfilling star potential.
    Running back Adam Machart had a dream season being named the player of the year for Canada West via unanimous selection. Machart carried the ball 156 times for 1,334 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns.
    He set a Huskies team record for most rushing yards in a regular season and most combined yards in one regular season at 1,538.
    Fifth-year defensive tackle Evan Machibroda was named the most outstanding lineman for Canada West. Defensive back Nelson Lokombo picked up honours as the most outstanding defensive player.
Mattland Riley, centre, and the offensive line made the Huskies go.
    Linebacker Ramsey Derbas had an unreal season at age 18 picking accolades as the rookie of the year for Canada West via unanimous selection. Derbas led the Huskies with 43 total tackles to go along with an interception and a half sack.
    In his third campaign guiding the Huskies as head coach, Scott Flory took home honours as the coach of the year for Canada West.
    The five individual Canada West awards won by the Huskies this season was an all-time high for the program. All five winners could possibly claim those same accolades at the U Sports national level.
    The future is still bright for the Huskies, and they may accomplish their lofty team goals next season by winning another Canada West title and the Vanier Cup.
    Still in the more immediate aftermath in the Hardy Cup loss to the Dinos, the disappointment lingers of what might have been.

Rouge et Or get tweet of the week


    You have to love U Sports athletic department Twitter accounts that have a sense of humour.
    Due to the fact main university communications departments keep track was what is posted on the social media accounts of the institutions’ respective athletic departments, humour is often avoided.
    Still, the Universite Laval Rouge et Or posted a total winner in the humour department on Saturday. Since 1999, the Rouge et Or football program has won the Vanier Cup as U Sports national champions 10 times. Laval’s 10 Vanier Cup titles are the most by any U Sports football team.
    The Rouge et Or entered the 2019 season as defending Vanier Cup champions and were hoping to qualify for the U Sports title game for a fourth straight year. Laval plays host to this year’s Vanier Cup.
    In the last two Vanier Cups, the Rouge et Or faced the University of Western Ontario Mustangs, and the Mustangs won the national title in 2017.
    This season Laval topped the Quebec Student Sports Federation conference standings with a 7-1 regular season record. On Saturday, the Rouge et Or fell in the QSSF title game – the Dunsmore Cup – 25-10 to their archrivals the University of Montreal Carabins.
    The Mustangs finished first in the Ontario University Athletics conference standings with an 8-0 record. On Saturday, they fell in the OUA title game – the Yates Cup – 29-15 to the McMaster University Marauders.
    Following their respective U Sports post-season losses, the Rouge et Or sent a tweet the Mustangs way asking if they wanted to join the Quebec powerhouse squad to drink away the sorrows.
    With Laval’s season having come to an end, it should be noted that Rouge et Or head coach Glen Constantin has the second most career wins in the history of U Sports posting a 186-33 record including action in both the regular season and post-season.

Stars’ Kliewer shines on the national stage


    Arden Kliewer is a natural when it comes to excelling in the spotlight of big games.
    On Satruday, Kliewer, who is a star netminder for the Saskatoon Stars female midget AAA hockey team, played one of her best games ever on national television for Team Saskatchewan at the National Women’s under-18 Championship in Winkler, Man.
    The 17-year-old did her best to steal the gold medal game for Team Saskatchewan turning away 32-of-34 shots sent in her direction. Kliewer had three stops shared on the Women’s Sports Highlights Twitter account.
    While Kliewer had a stellar game, Team Saskatchewan still fell to a powerful Team Ontario Red 3-1, which included an empty-net goal by the Ontario side.
    Kliewer is in her fourth season with the Stars and has posted a 39-9 record, a 1.80 goals against average, a .918 save percentage and 10 shutouts in 49 career SFMAAAHL games. She is the all-time wins leader in the history of the Stars program.
    Kliewer helped the Stars win SFMAAAHL titles in each of the past two seasons and appear in the Esso Cup female national midget AAA championship tournament.
Arden Kliewer in action last season with the Stars.
    The Stars made the championship game of the 2018 Esso Cup falling 2-1 to the Alberta-based St. Albert Slash.
    Kliewer has often been an underrated part of the Stars team as the Stars carried a number of elite level players on their roster like Mackenna Parker, Grace Shirley, Anna Leschyshyn, Joelle Fiala, Ashley Messier and Chase Sperling.
    Kliewer has committed to joining the University of Regina Cougars women’s hockey team next season.
    This season, Kliewer, who is playing her final midget AAA campaign, is doing her best to give her Stars a chance to be in most games as they go through a huge rebuild undergoing a lot of turnover in players and coaches.
    In six regular season appearances in the current campaign, Kliewer has a 1-5 record, a 3.51 goals against average and a .893 save percentage.
    Kliewer was joined on Team Saskatchewan by current Stars teammate Makena Kushniruk and now Stars alums Messier and Sperling. Messier was named the most valuable player of the National Women’s under-18 Championship.
    The silver medal finish marked the first time Team Saskatchewan has earned a medal at the National Women’s under-18 Championship.
    Messier currently plays for the Selects Hockey Academy in Rochester, New York.
    Sperling is playing this season for the Pursuit of Excellance Hockey Academy in Kelowna, B.C.

Clark hat trick powers Canada over U.S.


    Emily Clark had one of her biggest days on the international stage on Sunday.
    Playing for Canada’s senior national women’s hockey team, Clark scored a hat trick to power Canada to a 5-3 victory over the United States in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. Clark tallied goals at even strength, on the power play and short-handed in the win.
    Canada was playing a two-game series against the United States taking the first encounter 4-1 on Friday.
An Emily Clark hockey card.
    In Sunday’s encounter, Canada held a 3-0 lead after the first and second periods. Canada was up 4-1 in the third before the United States cut the lead to 4-3.
    Clark sealed the victory scoring her short-handed goal with 4:14 remaining in the third period.
Melodie Daoust and Natalie Spooner netted singles for Canada.
    Kendall Coyne Schofield, Dani Cameranesi and Kelly Pannek replied with singles for the United States.
    Emerance Maschmeyer made 31 saves to pick up the win in goal for Canada. Kaitlin Burt turned away 23 shots to take the setback in goal for the United States.
    Clark, who is 23-years-old, played female midget AAA hockey with her hometown Saskatoon Stars from 2009 to 2012 collecting 45 goals and 46 assists in 82 regular season games.
    The skilled forward played four seasons with the University of Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team starting in 2015 and wrapping up last season with an NCAA national championship win. Clark piled up 70 goals and 76 assists in 147 overall games with the Badgers.

Will Roughriders versus Blue Bomber CFL West final sellout?

The Roughriders and Blue Bombers will battle in the West final.
    It appears the Saskatchewan Roughriders ticket sellers and marketers received an early Christmas gift.
    The Roughriders, who finished first in the CFL’s West Division with a 13-5 record, will host the West final on Sunday, November 17 at 3:30 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium. To make that contest more enticing, the opponent will be the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (12-7).
    This past Sunday, the Bombers advanced to the West Final by upsetting the defending Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders 35-14 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alta. The Stampeders finished the 2019 campaign with a 12-7 overall record.
    The Roughriders have had strong attendances, but they aren’t selling out as many games as they once did. Their only sellout this season was the Labour Day Classic back on Sept. 1, when they downed the Bombers 19-17.
    The question remains will a sellout crowd of 33,356 spectators attend the West final between the two sides.
    There was a time Roughriders playoff home games would sellout in a matter of hours, especially during the rare occasion when they host the West final.
The Roughriders celebrate their win in the Labour Day Classic.
    The last time the Roughriders hosted the West Final was 2009, when they downed the Calgary Stampeders 27-17 at Taylor Field. Before the 2009 game, the Roughriders previously hosted the West final way back in 1976, when they downed the Edmonton Eskimos 23-13 at Taylor Field.
    Checking the Ticketmaster map of Mosaic Stadium after Bombers beat the Stampeders, there were still lots of tickets available for the West final, especially in the upper decks. The Pil Country standing room section is sold out.
    At the moment, the entire sports industry in Canada is seeing attendance declines. In recent years, people don’t seem to want to attend live football games in cold weather that is slightly cold.
    One would think a West final at Mosaic Stadium between the Roughriders and Bombers would automatically sellout, but these are different times in the current day.

    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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Saturday, 9 November 2019

Huskies’ Hardy Cup dreams fall 29-4 in Calgary

Josiah Joseph, left, ran in two touchdowns for the Dinos.
    Chalk this one up as a learning experience for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team.
    One turning point was likely the moment that did in the Huskies in the Canada West Championship game – the Hardy Cup – on Saturday in Calgary, Alta.
    The Huskies, who came into the game as the defending Hardy Cup champions, found themselves behind the host University of Calgary Dinos 4-1 with one second remaining in the first half. The visitors faced a third and goal from the Dinos two yard line.
    In what had been a haphazard first half that included both sides committing key turnovers, the Huskies could have hit a chip shot field goal and gone in at halftime even up at 4-4 despite all the miscues.
    Instead, the Huskies elected to gamble and go for a touchdown and the lead. Quarterback Mason Nyhus threw a pass into the end zone attended for receiver Sam Baker but the pass fell incomplete as a penalty flag flew.
Mason Nyhus passed for 240 yards on Saturday for the Huskies.
    It appeared the Dinos were going to be called for pass interference. The officials picked up the flag saying Nyhus’s pass wasn’t catchable causing the Huskies to head into the dressing room down 4-1.
    From that point, it felt like the Huskies were trying to chase the contest for the whole second half.
    Thanks to being behind, the Huskies elected to receive the second half kickoff as the spectre of snowy conditions hung over the game. The Dinos elected to get the wind advantage for the fourth quarter, but before that frame came around, the host side’s offence found traction.
    With 9:40 remaining in the fourth quarter, Dinos star quarterback Adam Sinagra hit second-year receiver Tyson Philpot with a 30-yard touchdown pass to complete a 96-yard scoring drive giving the host an 11-1 advantage.
    Sinagra was injured on that scoring play, but it felt like the Huskies were sinking in quick sand.
    Dinos standout kicker Niko DiFonte kicked a single on the ensuing kickoff to put the Dinos up 12-1.
Jesse Kuntz caught six passes for 125 yards for the Huskies.
    From there, the Dinos sailed off to a 29-4 victory before 1,263 spectators at McMahon Stadium. The Dinos were appearing in the Hardy Cup for the 12th straight year and were claiming the conference title for the ninth time over that span of time.
    U of C will keep pursuing an elusive U Sports title that keeps escaping its grasp gunning to make the Vanier Cup and win it. The Dinos last won the Vanier Cup back in 1995.
    The Dinos, who improved to 8-2 overall, will first host a U Sports semifinal in the Mitchell Bowl on Saturday, November 16, against the Ontario University Athletics champion University of McMaster Marauders (8-2 overall).
    The Marauders captured the OUA title on Saturday traveling to London, Ont., and upsetting the host University of Western Ontario Mustangs 29-15. The Mustangs were undefeated heading into Saturday’s action, but finished the 2019 U Sports campaign with a 9-1 overall mark.
    In Canada West, the Huskies finished with a 6-4 overall record that included posting a 5-3 mark during the regular season.
Adam Machart ran the ball 16 times for 112 yards on Saturday.
    During the Canada West title game, the Huskies found themselves behind the eight ball due to their own errors.
    They exited the first quarter trailing the Dinos 2-0 after conceding a safety, when kicker/punter David Solie had to boot the ball through his own end zone after a bad snap.
    With 10:07 remaining in the second quarter, the Huskies had to concede another safety to fall back 4-0, when Nyhus had to boot the ball through the end zone after an errant shotgun snap on offence.
    The Huskies got on the scoreboard with 5:20 remaining on the second quarter on a missed field goal single from 29-yards out by Solie, who was kicking into the wind. The single cut the Dinos edge to 4-1.
    That set the stage for the dramatics right before halftime. At halftime, the Huskies had outgained the Dinos in gross offence 235 to 192.
    After the Dinos assumed their 12-1 lead, Solie hit a field goal from 28-yards out with 4:07 remaining in the third quarter to cut the U of C edge to 12-4. That was as close as the Huskies would get.
Adam Sinagra, left, threw the Dinos only TD pass on Saturday.
    Dinos backup quarterback Josiah Joseph ran in a touchdown from a yard out on the first play of the fourth quarter to put the hosts up 19-4.
    DiFonte hit a field goal from 37 yards out and Joseph ran in another major from a yard out with seven seconds remaining in the frame to round out the scoring for the Dinos.
    Nyhus completed 18-of-29 passes for 240 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Calgary product Jesse Kuntz led the Huskies in receiving hauling in six passes for 125 yards.
    Star running back Adam Machart carried the ball 16 times for 112 yards to top the Huskies in rushing. He also caught seven passes for 43 yards.
    Sinagra connected on 11-of-17 passes for 197 yards for one touchdown and one interception. He ran the ball six times for 50 yards.
    Joseph hit on 9-of-10 passes for 95 yards and ran the ball eight times for 26 yards to go with his two scores on the ground.
Ben Whiting had nine total tackles for the Huskies.
    Jalen Philpot topped the Dinos in receiving catching six passes for 91 yards. First-year running back Robinson Rodrigues carried the ball 18 times for 92 yards to lead the Dinos in rushing.
    Fifth-year linebacker Ben Whiting led the Huskies with nine total tackles and one sack. Star rookie linebacker Ramsey Derbas was second on the team with seven tackles.
    Defensive end Nicholas Dheilly had a sack and an interception, while defensive end Nathan Cherry had a single sack.
    Linebacker Grant McDonald led the Dinos with 11 total tackles, and he had one sack. Max Baatar and Tyrese Best had single sacks for the Dinos, while Charlie Moore had an interception.
    Saturday’s post-season loss brought an end to the careers of Huskies fifth-year players in Whiting, Payton Hall, Eric Thakurdeen, Evan Machibroda, Andrew Serke and Tanner Secord.
    A year ago, those six helped the Huskies win their first playoff game since 2009 and Canada West title since 2006. The Huskies downed the Dinos 43-18 in last year’s Canada West championship game in Calgary.
Robinson Rodrigues carried the ball 18 times for 92 yards for the Dinos.
    U of S proceeded to fall in the Mitchell Bowl 47-24 to the Mustangs in London, Ont., bringing the Dogs run in 2018 post-season to an end.
    The Huskies had lost eight straight U Sports post-season games heading into the 2018 playoffs. That included missing the playoffs entirely in 2017.
    During the 2018 and 2019 campaigns, the Huskies have won three post-season games.
At the moment, the Dinos are still the team that have a habit of consistently winning conference titles and making long post-season runs.
    The Huskies are a step closer to becoming a squad that could potentially makes those runs on a consistent basis.
The Huskies saw their 2019 campaign end against the Dinos on Saturday.
    While Saturday’s loss in the Hardy Cup is tough to take and provided some learning experiences, the Huskies are still miles ahead of where they were just a short time ago.

    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.
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Thursday, 7 November 2019

Huskies aim to keep Hardy Cup away from Dinos

Mason Nyhus (#8) and the Huskies aim to get past the Dinos.
    While they still have the Hardy Cup in hand, long playoff runs are still a novelty for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team.
    They are a habit for the University of Calgary Dinos.
    Last year, these two teams battled for the Hardy Cup at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alta., to determine a champion for the Canada West Conference. The Huskies stormed to a 43-18 victory to claim their first conference title since 2006.
    On Saturday, these two teams will meet again at the same location on the U Sports playoff trail. The Huskies (6-3 overall) and Dinos (7-2 overall) will battle it out again for supremacy in the Canada West in this year’s Hardy Cup (2 p.m. Saskatchewan time, CJWW 600, SaskTel TV).
    The winner earns the opportunity to host a U Sports semifinal playoff contest in the Mitchell Bowl.
    On top of trying to bring the Hardy Cup back to Saskatoon for a second straight year, the Huskies are appearing in their second conference title game in the last 10 U Sports campaigns.
The Huskies will try to get to Dinos QB Adam Sinagra, left.
    The Dinos are appearing in the Hardy Cup for the 12th straight year and have captured the Hardy Cup eight times in their previous 11 visits. U of C will host the conference championship game for a 10th straight year.
    “They are a very good team,” said Huskies quarterback Mason Nyhus. “They always have been.
    “I’m sure they will be for years to come. We have our work cut out for us, but I am very excited for the opportunity.”
    The two sides met once this season, with the Huskies pulling out a 29-15 victory on Sept. 27 at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon. The Dinos are 5-0 this season at home in action during the regular season and post-season, while the Huskies are 1-3 on the road.
    Even though U of S won this same contest last year in Calgary, Huskies defensive back Nelson Lokombo said that doesn’t mean history will repeat itself in this year’s encounter.
Ben Whiting had 39.5 total tackles in the regular season for the Huskies.
    “I think it is better to prepare for this year’s Calgary team,” said Lokombo. “That is the best thing to do.
    “The past is done now. We have to focus on the future.”
    Nyhus completed 138-of-228 passes for 1,739 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions during the regular season for the Huskies.
    Jesse Kuntz and Sam Baker are the Huskies two biggest threats at receiver. Kuntz caught 29 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns in eight regular season games.
    Baker missed the Huskies first five regular season games due to injury. In the squad’s last three regular season games, Baker hauled in 15 passes for 236 yards and four touchdowns.
    Star running back Adam Machart has a superb year carrying the ball 156 times for 1,334 yards and eight touchdowns during the regular season. He also hauled in 20 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
Deane Leonard led the Dinos with four interceptions in the regular season.
    His total of 1,334 yards rushing and 1,538 all-purpose yards are new Huskies team records for one season. Machart was the top rusher this season in U Sports.
    The Dinos are led by fifth-year star quarterback Adam Sinagra. During the regular season, Sinagra completed 159-of-256 passes for 2,014 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
    Sophomore receiver Jalen Philpot was the Dinos top pass catcher hauling in 52 passes for 767 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season.
    Robinson Rodrigues has taken over the starting duties at running back for the Dinos, and he carried the ball 54 times for 271 yards during the regular season.
    On defence, super rookie outside linebacker Ramsey Derbas led the Huskies with 43 total tackles in the regular season, while outside linebacker Ben Whiting had 39.5 total tackles.
Sam Baker has returned to top form with the Huskies.
    Defensive tackle Evan Machibroda and defensive end Nicholas Dheilly each had five sacks to top the Huskies in that department in the regular season, while Lokombo led U of S with four interceptions. Lokombo returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns.
    Middle linebacker Grant McDonald topped the Dinos with 40.5 tackles, and he also had 2.5 sacks and one interception in the regular season. Defensive tackle J-Min Pelley had 13 total tackles and equalled McDonald for the team high in regular season sacks at 2.5.
    Defensive back Deane Leonard led the Dinos with four interceptions during the regular season, and he returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns.
The Huskies need to celebrate a number of big plays to win the Hardy Cup.
    Huskies head coach Scott Flory said what happened in last year’s Hardy Cup won’t have an effect on this year’s game.
    “They have a whole bunch of different players, different staff,” said Flory. “They are a different football team.
    “They are going to be prepared. They are well coached.”
    Lokombo said his side just wants to get the game on.
    “This is what we’ve been working towards during the season, so it is always a good feeling knowing that it has paid off,” said Lokombo. “All the guys are super excited.
    “We really stressed that we wanted to do it for our guys, our fifth-years and just allowing ourselves to have an extra week to play football with each other. It is awesome.”

Huskies haul away five Canada West season awards

Adam Machart (#20) is the Canada West player of the year.
    The U of Saskatchewan Huskies football team piled up the individual major Canada West conference awards in a massive fashion.
    On Thursday, the Huskies claimed five out of the seven major awards handed out by the conference. That marked the most major individual conference awards the Huskies have won in any season in program history.
    Huskies star running back Adam Machart was named the player of the year for Canada West by unanimous selection after a sensational campaign. He carried the ball 156 times for 1,334 yards and eight touchdowns during the regular season. He also hauled in 20 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
    His total of 1,334 yards rushing and 1,538 all-purpose yards are new Huskies team records for one season. Machart led U Sports in rushing.
    Defensive tackle Evan Machibroda claimed honours as the conference’s most outstanding lineman. The fifth-year veteran piled up 22 total tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery during the regular season.
    Third-year defensive back Nelson Lokombo was named the conference’s most outstanding defensive player. Lokombo topped the Huskies with four interceptions, and he returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns.
    He posted 23.5 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and four pass breakups.
Scott Flory was named the Canada West coach of the year.
    Linebacker Ramsey Derbas took honours as the rookie of the year by unanimous selection for the conference. Derbas started the last seven of the Huskies eight regular season games and posted a team high 43 tackles to go along with an interception and a half sack.
    Huskies head coach Scott Flory was named the coach of the year for the Canada West Conference after guiding the team to a 5-3 regular season record for the second straight campaign. Flory is in his third season as the Huskies head coach.
    He guided the Huskies to a Canada West title last season and has the Huskies back in this year’s Canada West final. This year’s Canada West title game will see the Huskies face the U of Calgary Dinos on Saturday at McMahon Stadium in Calgary.
    Fifth-year defensive lineman Derek Dufault from the University of Manitoba Bisons took home the student-athlete community service award for Canada West.
    Veteran U of Regina Rams defensive line coach Greg Nesbitt was named the Canada West nominee for the Gino Fracas Award as conference’s volunteer coach of the year. Nesbitt has been on the Rams staff for a lengthy stretch of time.

CTV vet creates Hilltops in video game form


    Matt Young might be best known as an on-air talent for CTV in Saskatoon, but what most don’t know is he is a video game guru and connoisseur.
    On Wednesday, Young put out a tweet to show he created the 21-time CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops on a PlayStation 4 game called “Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football 2019.” The game includes Canadian teams and allows for customization.
    Young put in the time on the customization feature to create the Hilltops with their current roster. The video Young posted sees the Hilltops taking on their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder.
    You see plays of Hilltops star power running back Ben Abrook running with the ball. You see quarterback Tyler Hermann hit receiver Dillan Heintz with a deep pass.
    Hermann also connects with receiver Connor Graham on a deep post route for a touchdown that is caught in the back of a 20-yard deep end zone.
    Hilltops kicker/receiver Rylan Kleiter nails a convert from the professional football spot at 32 yards out.
    Of course, you can’t go to your nearest video game story and purchase this game with the Hilltops already installed. If you want to put in the time that Young did into customizing a team, you can plays as the storied CJFL club in video game form.
    You can bet anyone associated with the Hilltops will get a kick out of this video.

A reset for the CJFL?

    One of the most interesting pieces that was written about the CJFL this week came from Blake Roberts, who was a long time executive on the circuit mainly with the Okanagan Sun of the British Columbia Football Conference.
    Roberts has been overseeing a podcast called Dieters CJFL Podcast and a blog under that same name. On Wednesday, Roberts put together a post entitled, “Time for the CJFL to press reset.”
    In the piece, Roberts makes a well thought out case for why the CJFL should move from being a 22-and-under league to a 20-and-under league. Part of the argument centres around creating more competitive games and positioning the CJFL as mainly a feeder league for the Canadian university football programs in U Sports.
    Roberts, when he was still the vice-president of the BCFC, made a presentation at the CJFL annual general meeting a year ago in Saskatoon on the merits of making an age change.
    I am just putting both things out there for readers to think about hopefully with an open mind. The link to Roberts piece from Wednesday can be found by clicking right here.
    The link to the paper of his presentation at the 2018 CJFL annual general meeting can be found by clicking right here.
    I will admit I am intrigued by the outside the box thinking, and I welcome it.
    Knowing how people in today’s world like to overact, I must note these are ideas that are put forward. The CJFL will not be changing its age rules tomorrow just because ideas are put forward.
    With how politics works generally in Canada’s amateur sports world, changes usually happen at a medium to slow pace.
    Both of Roberts’ pieces talk about working with U Sports in order to create a better development football system for Canada. My concern there is that if you do get the CJFL clubs to agree on an age change, I am not certain what type of motivation there would be on the U Sports side of things to work with the CJFL.
    When you deal with U Sports, you are not just dealing with the athletic departments at each school. You will ultimately deal with the academic institutions themselves.
    You can never predict where the politics of the academic institutions will take things, and it is possible an academic who is a university head will spin something in a direction to prevent any cooperation from happening.
    For now, Roberts put together a well thought out plan that he believes can make things better for the CJFL and football in Canada. Time will tell if these ideas do get any traction and become something more.
    Right now, this is likely something only the ultra-passionate CJFL followers will have taken a look at.

    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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Wednesday, 6 November 2019

Good out of the gate – Derbas vaults to star status with Huskies at age 18

Ramsey Derbas has made an immediate impact with the Huskies.
    Ramsey Derbas is the first to note he wasn’t a starter right from day one for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team.
    The 18-year-old rookie linebacker dressed as a defensive substitute that came off the bench and a special teams player, when the Huskies fell in their U Sports regular season opener 43- 19 against the University of Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg, Man., on Aug. 30. The graduate of Saskatoon’s powerhouse Holy Cross Crusaders football team recorded four tackles in that setback.
    Derbas started the Huskies very next game on Sept. 6, when they dumped the visiting University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 40-7 at Griffiths Stadium. He equalled fifth-year veteran Huskies outside linebacker Ben Whiting for second on the team with six total tackles in that contest.
Ramsey Derbas, right, takes down a Thunderbirds receiver.
    Derbas has remained a starter since that time, and in the Huskies eight regular season games, he topped the squad with 43 total tackles and added in a half sack and an interception.
    “It is just everything I could have asked for,” said Derbas, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 210 pounds. “It has been really good.
    “The players have accepted me, and the coaches have given me opportunity to play and make mistakes and learn and grow, so it has been great.”
    On Saturday, Derbas and his Huskies, who are 6-3 overall, will travel to Calgary, Alta., to face the University of Calgary Dinos, who are 7-2 overall, in the Canada West Conference championship game – the Hardy Cup. The two sides met in last year’s Hardy Cup that was also held in Calgary, which the Huskies romped to a 43-18 victory in.
Ramsey Derbas sizes up an opposing offence.
    In his first U Sports playoff game last Saturday, Derbas came through with a big play for the Huskies. He had the second of three interceptions the Huskies had on the Golden Bears first three offensive possessions to start the second half.
    The Huskies scored 10 points off those turnovers to post a 28-23 victory.
    Early in his time with the team, Derbas got a notion from the Huskies coaches that he could have a chance to gain a starting position as a rookie.
    “I knew I would have an opportunity to come in early and play,” said Derbas. “I wasn’t sure if that would be starting or how I would manage my way into playing.
    “I just knew I would be able to play and contribute.”
    He was happy the Huskies coaches had faith in how quickly he could contribute this season.
Ramsey Derbas, in back, sets to hit a U of Regina Rams receiver.
    “It is just everything I could have asked for,” said Derbas. “It has been really good.
    “The players have accepted me, and the coaches have given me opportunity to play and make mistakes and learn and grow, so it has been great.”
    Huskies head coach Scott Flory said the team’s coaching staff was still tinkering with the roster going into the team’s first game, where Derbas didn’t start. Following that first game, Flory said the coaches knew that Derbas had to be on the field playing.
    “We definitely knew he (Derbas) was a talented player that is why he was very high on our priority list to sign as a recruit,” said Flory. “I know how talented he was and how good of a young man he was.
    “When we got a glimpse there in the spring of just what he could do, we knew he could make the transition quickly, and we knew it wouldn’t be long before he was a big contributor. He has adjusted very well.”
Ramsey Derbas, left, celebrates an interception in a Canada West semi.
    Flory said Derbas has a natural feel for the game.
    “He is around the ball,” said Flory. “He has a nose for it
    “He really does. He has a knack, and football players do. He is a football player.
    “He has just got a knack to find the ball.”
    Derbas said he felt a sense of accomplishment, when the Huskies coaches told him he would be starting. He has enjoyed being in the starting linebacker group with brothers Ben and Tom Whiting, who is in his third-year with the team.
    “Obviously, Ben is a fifth-year, and he has so much knowledge,” said Derbas. “He has been great.
    “Tom is awesome. They are an awesome linebacking combo.”
    Derbas said he was able to hit the ground running with the Huskies thanks to the tutelage he received from his high school head coach in Scott Hundseth at Holy Cross. 
Ramsey Derbas led the Huskies in total tackles.
    Hundseth played for the Huskies first Vanier Cup U Sports national championship winner in 1990.
    “It (playing at Holy Cross) definitely helped a lot just with coach (Scott) Hundseth, and how he does things,” said Derbas. “He is the head coach of that program, and he was the linebacker coach.
    “He helped me out a tonne. It definitely got me prepared to take on new challenges that presented themselves here.”
    On the academic front, Derbas said he regularly maintained an 85 per cent average at Holy Cross. He is in his first year of studies as a business major at U of S and believes he has adapted well to the work required in university.
    “It is definitely an adjustment at first,” said Derbas. “(Special teams) coach (Jerry) Friesen with his study hall, he has great resources for us, so it has definitely helped the transition.”
Ramsey Derbas (#26) aims to enjoy more big plays with the Huskies.
    Of course, Derbas is hoping to make a big impact for the Huskies in the Hardy Cup.
    “I am just super excited,” said Derbas. “There are only eight teams in the country get to be practising right now, so I am just trying to enjoy the moment and do everything I need to do to be ready to play.”
    While he is focusing on the present, Derbas is anticipating hitting bigger heights in the future. He is looking forward to crushing his off-season workouts to hit the field as a sophomore even stronger and faster than he is now.
    “I am definitely eager already for the off-season,” said Derbas. “I think there are a lot of things I need to get better at for next year.
    “I am looking forward to just all that time to being able to get my body to where it needs to be.”

Hilltops sweep player awards in CJFL semifinal win

Connor Graham hit the CJFL record books in the Hilltops last playoff win.
    A lopsided win in a CJFL semifinal contest allowed the Saskatoon Hilltops to take all the individual player awards from that contest.
    Last Saturday, the Hilltops, who are the five-time defending CJFL champions, traveled to London, Ont., and hammered the host Beefeaters 51-1. The Hilltops claimed the player of the game awards on offence, defence and special teams, which the CJFL dubbed as player of the week awards for the game on Tuesday.
    Hilltops fifth-year receiver Connor Graham was named the top offensive player for hauling in four passes for 154 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 38.5 yards per catch to set a new CJFL interconference playoff game record for highest yards per reception average.
    The old record of 36 yards per catch was held by Rick Price of the now defunct Vancouver Meralomas that was set on Oct. 21, 1973. Price had seven catches for 252 yards in that contest.
Rylan Kleiter (#7) hit three field goals in the CJFL semifinal.
    Graham equalled the record for most touchdown receptions in a CJFL interconference playoff game with his three touchdown catches. 
    The record had been achieved on five previous occasions.
    The last of those occasions came on Oct. 27, 1984, when Geoff Hainstock caught three touchdown passes for the now defunct St. Vital Mustangs, who were based in Winnipeg, Man.
    Hilltops defensive end Tristan Hering was named the top defensive player recording three sacks, three defensive tackles and one special teams tackle.
    Hilltops receiver/kicker Rylan Kleiter took honours as the top special teams player for the game. He made all three of his field goal attempts and all six of his converts in the win. Kleiter kicked off seven times for 322 yards for an average of 46 yards per kick.
    On top of his efforts on special teams, Kleiter caught a pass for 36 yards on offence.
    The Hilltops, who are 11-0 overall, will attempt to win a sixth straight CJFL title, when they travel to Langley, B.C., on Nov. 16 to take on the host Rams, who are 12-0 overall, for the Canadian Bowl.

“Sarge” cracks on to CBC with 209th win

News of Tom Sargeant’s milestone 209th win is spreading.
    The praise and congratulations seems to be raining down from everywhere for Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant after he recorded his 209th career win.
    Sargeant picked up the milestone last Saturday, when the Hilltops thumped the London Beefeaters 51-1 in a CJFL semifinal in London, Ont. The total of 209 wins moves Sargeant ahead of retired Regina Rams head coach Frank McCrystal for the most wins in Canada’s amateur post-secondary football ranks.
    Sargeant has a 209-30-2 career record in CJFL regular season and post-season action since becoming the Hilltops head coach before the start of the 1998 campaign.
    McCrystal was the head coach of the Rams from 1984 to 2014, and they played 15 seasons in the CJFL and 16 campaigns in U Sports over that time as the University of Regina Rams. Over those 31 seasons, McCrystal compiled a 208-104-2 record as head coach in the regular season and post-season in both the CJFL and U Sports.
    The Hilltops, who are 11-0 overall, will attempt to win a sixth straight CJFL title, when they travel to Langley, B.C., on Nov. 16 to take on the host Rams, who are 12-0 overall, for the Canadian Bowl.
CBC in Saskatoon picked up on the story of Sargeant’s accomplishment. I was interviewed by Jen Quesnel for CBC Saskatoon’s radio morning show on Tuesday.
    I was also interviewed for a CBC web story by Scott Larson, who has worked in Saskatoon’s media scene for a long time as a savvy sports scribe. As usual, Larson did a great job.
    Larson’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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    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.
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