Canadian Bowl loss will sting for Thunder for a bit

Regina club had great season but missed out on some spoils

Carter Shewchuk has played his final game with the Thunder.

Had all gone to plan, the Regina Thunder could have been the local darlings of Grey Cup week.

Instead, the powerhouse CJFL club had to wonder what might have been. Last Saturday, the Thunder were on the cusp of arguably the biggest moment in program history looking to complete the club’s first perfect season at Mosaic Stadium hosting the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The Okanagan Sun, who are based out of Kelowna, B.C., spoiled the party. The BCFC champions downed the PFC champions 21-19 erasing a 15-point deficit in front of about 1,400 spectators.

The Sun completed their first perfect season with a 14-0 record to account for their third CJFL title in team history. 

They had an undefeated season in their first CJFL championship campaign in 1988 that included one tie in posting an 11-0-1 mark. Okanagan also captured the CJFL crown in 2000.

The Thunder, who first took the field in 2000, finished the 2022 campaign with a 10-1 record. Had Regina won that encounter with the Sun, they could have enjoyed some spoils of Grey Cup week in Saskatchewan’s capital city.

Odds are high the team could have taken the Canadian Bowl trophy to various events during Grey Cup. They could have had alums Dan Clark and Logan Ferland, who are both members of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, in tow too. The two linemen could have pumped up the CJFL club they once played for.

Being able to show off a Thunder CJFL championship team could have been the big thing local football fans including the casual ones who could have beamed with pride and bragged about to visitors coming in from across Canada.

With the setback, the mainstream outlets that were giving the Thunder attention got the game story done as fast as possible and quickly turn attention to other things.

With all that noted, there are always two clubs trying to win a game when it comes to team sports. In championship games, you usually have a clash between two high caliber squads, or at least two teams that are battle tested via post-season play. The Sun were intent on writing their story, when it came to the CJFL title match up.

Rylan Sokul was held to one catch for 12 yards in the Canadian Bowl.

For the first 29 minutes of the Canadian Bowl, it looked like it was going to be the Thunder’s day. After a scoreless opening quarter, the Thunder surged out to a 15-0 lead in the second.

Star running back Ryland Leichert had a one-yard touchdown run, and quarterback Carter Shewchuk followed with a six-yard touchdown run. The surge was capped by a 44-yard punt single by star kicker and punter Eric Maximuik.

The Sun proceeded to get the ball down to the Regina six-yard line with enough time to run one last play before halftime. Instead of running out the field goal unit, the Sun elected to go for the end zone.

Sun quarterback Dominic Britton was able to stick in a six-yard touchdown pass into the upper pads of a tightly covered receiver in Colby Milleto to cut the Thunder lead to 15-7. That score proved to be a key turning point in the game.

Had the Thunder gone in at halftime holding a 15-0 lead, you had to think doubt would have started to creep in on the Sun’s side. The host Thunder would have had confident control of the contest.

Instead, the Sun went from being in position to being on the cusp of being out of the game to all of a sudden getting back into the contest going in at halftime. The belief in being able to win the contest had to have grown exponentially on the Sun’s side, which was going to make the second half a challenging one for the Thunder.

The visitors had to concede a safety at the 7:15 mark of the third quarter due to bad field position to allow the Thunder’s edge to grow to 17-7. That lead would evaporate before the third quarter ended.

With 5:07 remaining in the third quarter, Sun running back Jevan Garwood ripped off a 53-yard touchdown run to trim the Thunder’s advantage to 17-14.

A short time later, the Sun got the ball back thanks to an interception at midfield by linebacker Dawson Puk. On the ensuing offensive series with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter, Britton hit receiver Mike O’Shea with a 24-yard touchdown toss to put the Sun in front 21-17.

Ryland Leichert had a TD in the Canadian Bowl.

The Thunder weren’t able to recover. With 35 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, the Sun conceded a safe due to bad field position and also trying to run down the clock to round out the final score of 21-19 in their favour.

The win marked the first time a BCFC champion won a Canadian Bowl in a game hosted by the PFC champion. It also marked the second straight year a BCFC team won the Canadian Bowl as the 2021 CJFL title was claimed by the Langley Rams.

Garwood was named the offensive player of the game carrying the ball 21 times for 128 yards to go with his major score. He also caught two passes for 10 yards.

Puk took home honours as the defensive player of the game. He had two solo defensive tackles and three defensive tackle assists to go with this timely interception.

O’Shea was tabbed the special teams player of the game. He returned two kickoffs for 70 yards and five punts for 38 yards.

On offence, O’Shea led all pass catchers with 69 receiving yards coming off five catches that included his touchdown grab. He also had one carry for eight yards.

Britton completed 16-of-31 passes for 130 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Shewchuk completed 18-of-36 passes for 188 yards, while throwing one interception. He ran the ball twice for eight yards including his touchdown jaunt.

Leichert ran the ball 22 times for 77 yards to go with his major score. He also returned three kickoffs for 67 yards. Isaac Foord led the Thunder with 68 receiving yards coming on four catches. Rylan Sokul was held to one catch for 12 yards.

Linebacker Stephen Smith paced the Thunder defence with five solo defensive tackles and seven defensive tackle assists.

Kicker/punter Eric Maximuik exhausted his CJFL eligibility.

Shewchuk, Foord, Sokul and Maximuik all exhausted their CJFL eligibility following the completion of last Saturday’s contest. The Thunder will have to figure out next season how they will move on without those long time stars.

Thunder head coach Scott MacAulay claimed the CJFL’s Gordon Currie Coach of the Year award, and the Thunder were named the winners of the inaugural Rick Smoke Team Award for exemplary community service.

The Thunder had an outstanding season, and their 10 overall wins are a team record for most victories in a single CJFL campaign.

As time passes, the sting from the loss in last Saturday’s Canadian Bowl will die down. Still in the immediate aftermath, the Thunder have to wonder what the spoils of victory would have felt like with Grey Cup week happening in their own backyard.

Congratulations to the @okanagan_sun for winning the Canadian Bowl.#canadianbowl #cjfl pic.twitter.com/QBF1xjNKbw

— Regina Thunder (@reginathunder) November 12, 2022

Hilltops’ Johnson and Sawi pick up major CJFL awards

Konner Johnson is the CJFL’s most outstanding defensive player.

The Saskatoon Hilltops saw two of their stars capture major honours at the CJFL awards.

Last Friday at the CJFL awards banquet in Regina, Hilltops weak side linebacker Konner Johnson won the CJFL’s Larry Wruck Most Outstanding Defensive Player award, and running back Charles Sawi took home the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Johnson, who is a 22-year-old from Melfort, Sask., played out his final campaign of CJFL eligibility with the Hilltops this season. During the Hilltops eight regular season contests, Johnson piled up 31 solo defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, two special teams tackle assists, two quarterback sacks, five pass knockdowns and four interceptions.

Individually, Johnson picked up a lot of accolades this season. He was named a PFC all-star, the PFC’s most outstanding linebacker, the PFC’s most outstanding defensive player and a CJFL first team all-Canadian all-star.

Johnson started his career with the Hilltops in 2018 and was a member of their 11-0 CJFL championship team that season and their 12-0 CJFL title winner in 2019. This past May and June, Johnson attended the training camp of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Before Johnson, the last Hilltops player to be named the CJFL’s most outstanding defensive player was linebacker Jadyn Pingue in 2019.

Charles Sawi was named the CJFL’s rookie of the year.

Sawi played through his rookie campaign in the CJFL at just 17 years of age and made some of the season’s most electrifying plays on offence and special teams. During the regular season, Sawi carried the ball 30 times for 342 yards and scored two touchdowns.

On special teams, Sawi returned seven kickoffs for 168 yards and one touchdown, and five missed field goals for 271 yards that included a 125-yard return for a touchdown.

Johnson and Sawi helped the Hilltops finish second in the PFC’s regular season standings with a 5-3 record. The Hilltops advanced to the PFC final, where their season came to an end with a 39-21 loss to the Regina Thunder.

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Thunder get Sask. sports media spotlight to themselves

Canadian Bowl hosts deserving of extra attention

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carter Shewchuk calls signals for a dynamic Thunder offence.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rylan Sokul is a clutch receiver for the Thunder.

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

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

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

Hilltops nab three CJFL all-Canadian awards, other notes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Thunder triplets too much for Hilltops in PFC final

Saskatoon’s run of consecutive conference crown ends

Konner Johnson, right, gives a five to his mom, Dawn.

REGINA, Sask. - Moments after his CJFL playing career with the Saskatoon Hilltops came to an end, Konner Johnson was thinking about his coaches.

On Sunday before 1,207 spectators at Mosaic Stadium, the Hilltops 2022 campaign concluded with a 39-21 loss to the host Regina Thunder in the PFC final. With the win, the Thunder, who are 10-0 overall, advance to host the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl – on November 12 at 1 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium against the Okanagan Sun. The Hilltops exit the 2022 campaign with a 6-4 overall mark.

On Saturday at Acumen Stadium in London, Ont., the BCFC champion Sun downed the host and OFC champion St. Clair Saints 42-24 in a CJFL semifinal contest to advance to the Canadian Bowl. The Sun are 13-0 overall, while the Saints conclude the 2022 campaign with a 10-1 overall mark.

The Thunder celebrate with the PFC championship trophy.

Johnson joined the Hilltops in 2018 and was a member of their 11-0 CJFL championship team in 2018 and 12-0 CJFL tile winner in 2019. After the 2020 CJFL campaign was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, Johnson rose to star status as a weak side linebacker with the Hilltops in 2021 helping them win a seventh straight PFC title taking the conference championship game 29-9 at Mosaic Stadium.

The Hilltops followed that victory by falling in the CJFL semifinal 17-14 to that year’s BCFC champion Langley Rams at McLeod Stadium in Langley, B.C. The Rams advanced on to win the Canadian Bowl to become CJFL champions.

Carter Shewchuk threw for 312 yards for the Thunder.

Johnson had his heart set on helping the Hilltops return to the Canadian Bowl to once again become CJFL champions along with the club’s 19 other graduating players. The Melfort, Sask., product said there were a lot of things he would take away and remember from his time with the Hilltops.

One of the biggest will be the impact the coaching staff led by legendary head coach Tom Sargeant and his right hand man in defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jeff Yausie had on the team.

“They turn boys into men these coaches,” said Johnson, who had 10.5 total tackles in his final CJFL contest. “They’re amazing coaches and good role models in life.

Ryland Leichert carried the ball 33 times for 190 yards and two TDs.

“I’m definitely going to miss it. I am pretty sad.”

In Sunday’s PFC final, the Hilltops had all sorts of problems with the Thunder’s triplets in quarterback Carter Shewchuk, running back Ryland Leichert and receiver Rylan Sokul. All three Regina stars had big days.

Shewchuk completed 25-of-31 passes for 312 yards, one touchdown and didn’t throw any interceptions. To compliment his passing, Shewchuk ran the ball six times for 40 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Leichert carried the ball 33 times for 190 yards and two touchdowns. He also hauled in one pass for 15 yards. Sokul hauled in seven passes for 101 yards.

Rylan Sokul had seven catches for 101 yards for the Thunder.

On top of the big games Shewchuk, Leichert and Sokul had, Johnson was disappointed with how things went in the turnover department for his team. The Hilltops defensive unit that is usually so proficient in forcing turnovers wasn’t able to force a single turnover out of the Thunder offence.

The Thunder defence forced four turnovers from the Hilltops offence including an interception and three turnovers on downs.

“We always want to get five turnovers in a game,” said Johnson, who is a graduate of the Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate Comets nine-man football team. “That really helps the offence.

“Today, I don’t know if we got any, so that really affected the game a lot.”

Konner Johnson had 10 total tackles for the Hilltops.

For a time in the first quarter, it appeared the Hilltops were destined to win an eighth straight PFC crown. The Thunder set up to try a 37-yard field goal on the game’s first possession, but kicker Eric Maximuik’s boot sailed wide.

Hilltops 17-year-old rookie running back Charles Sawi returned the missed kick to the Saskatoon 53 yard line. The visitors proceeded to engineer a touchdown drive from that point that concluded with starting quarterback Trey Reider hitting veteran receiver Presley Peterson with an 11-yard touchdown toss to put the Hilltops up 7-0.

The Thunder answered back on their ensuing offensive series that concluded with Shewchuk connecting with depth receiver Garion Miller for a two-yard touchdown toss that evened the score at 7-7 with 36 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Presley Peterson, left, hauls in an 11-yards TD catch for the Hilltops.

At the 8:33 mark of the second quarter, Maxmuik connected on a 29-yard field goal with the wind to put the Thunder in front 10-7. After that kick, a key turning point occurred.

On Hilltops first play on their ensuing offensive possession, Reider was intercepted by Thunder second-year defensive back Adam King giving the host side’s offensive a short field. The Thunder offense quickly drove the short field with the series ending in a one-yard touchdown run on a quarterback sneak by Shewchuk to increase Regina’s lead to 17-7.

That score gave the Thunder command of the game, and Johnson said his defensive unit needed to come up with a turnover after King’s interception halt Regina’s scoring run.

Garion Miller secures a TD catch for the Thunder.

“The defence just had to go out there and make a play back and get the ball back for our offence,” said Johnson. “We didn’t do that at that time, so then momentum kind of swung a bit.

“It just kind of affected the game there.”

With 1:59 remaining in the second quarter, Leichert ran in a major from 20 yards out for his first score of the contest to give the Thunder a 24-7 edge going into halftime. Regina’s 17-point lead really limited the Hilltops ability to use star power running back Boston Davidsen in attempting to overcome the three-score deficit.

The Hilltops inserted 22-year-old veteran quarterback Damon Dutton into the game for the first offensive series of the third quarter. Dutton completed 2-of-4 passes for 33 yards before the drive stalled.

Boston Davidsen ran the ball 13 times for 80 yards for the Hilltops.

The visitors reinserted Reider for their second series of the third quarter, and the 20-year-old engineered a scoring drive that concluded with him hitting Peterson with a 25-yard touchdown pass that cut the Thunder lead to 24-14.

Just 25 seconds into the fourth quarter, Maximuik came out to attempt a 26-yard field goal with the wind, but a gust of wind blew the kick attempt wide of the uprights and through the back of the end zone into the stands for a single point that gave the Thunder a 25-14 edge.

The Hilltops quickly drove downfield on their ensuing offensive series, and Reider scored on a quarterback sneak to trim the Thunder advantage to 25-21 with 11:54 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Ryland Leichert, left, gets help from his teammates on a run.

The Thunder didn’t lose their cool and responded on their ensuing offensive possession. The hosts engineered a scoring drive that concluded with Shewchuk scoring a major on a one-yard bootleg run to increase the Thunder lead to 32-21.

Shewchuk said his offensive unit was confident they would get a score to reassert control of the contest after the Hilltops cut the host’s lead to four points.

“Obviously, it was huge, and we knew we could score at will really,” said Shewchuk, who is playing out his final campaign of CJFL eligibility. “We just made a couple of mental errors that kind of slowed us down at the beginning of that second half there.

The Thunder celebrate Ryland Leichert’s first TD on Sunday.

“Obviously, just knowing and going back to what we were doing in the first half and knowing that we were the better team and just imposing the will on the line of scrimmage really helps.”

The Thunder proceeded to tack on a two-yard touchdown run from Leichert with 1:49 remaining in the fourth quarter to round out the 39-21 final score in favour of the host side.

Sargeant said the Hilltops were trying to focus on shutting down Leichert and the Thunder running attack as a main point of emphasis, but Leichert and the Thunder offensive line including left tackle Riley Schick, left guard Noah Steinly, centre Max Mcfadden, right guard Nicholas Makowsky and right tackle Conner Klassen didn’t allow it.

Charles Sawi returns a kickoff for the Hilltops.

“We tried everything, but at the end of the day, their O-line were getting on us and pushing us,” said Sargeant. “They just wanted it more.

“I didn’t think it was more simple than that, so it was disappointing. We have to live with our performance, and we have to grow and learn and get better. We have to get in the weight room and get bigger and stronger - bottom line.”

Sargeant gave Thunder head coach Scott MacAulay, his coaching staff and his team full credit for the victory on Sunday and wished them well as they embark towards the CJFL title game.

“It wasn’t much of a game today,” said Sargeant. “That Regina Thunder is a good football team.

The Mosaic Stadium faithful cheer on the Thunder.

“They came out, they were on point, and they certainly were the more physical team. I thought we had to do a better job on the line of scrimmage. We just couldn’t get any energy there.”

Shewchuk was elated that his side came out with the victory on Sunday. The 23-year-old signal caller has been with the Thunder since 2017, and he was pumped his squad is finally going back to the CJFL title game for the first time since 2013, when the Thunder downed the Vancouver Island Raiders 55-26 at historic Taylor Field.

“You work so hard and put so much time and effort in,” said Shewchuk. “You sacrifice so many different things in order to reach one goal.

Carter Shewchuk ran the ball for 40 yards and two TDs

“I’ve been doing that for six years. I think 11 or 12 of us have been doing it for six years throughout a pandemic, throughout a loss in the championship game and everything like that. It is really indescribable what it means to me, because it is just nice to know all that time and effort paid off.”

Reider finished the contest completing 16-of-25 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing one interception. Rookie Drake Douglas led the Hilltops in receiving with six catches for 76 yards.

Davidsen topped the Hilltops with 80 yards rushing on 13 carries.

On defence, middle linebacker Matt Wist led the Hilltops with 14 total tackles.

Linebacker Stephen Smith led all Thunder players with seven total tackles.

The Hilltops players meet their fans after Sunday’s PFC final loss.

While Johnson was disappointed his playing career with the Hilltops has come to an end, he said the Thunder earned full marks in picking up the victory on Sunday to advance to the Canadian Bowl.

“It is a tough loss, and we didn’t play our best today,” said Johnson. “Credit to the Regina Thunder, they had a good game today.”

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Ochs sets standard for Hilltops in post-season

Saskatoon set to face Thunder in PFC final in Regina

Mason Ochs had a big fumble recovery in a PFC semifinal game.

Mason Ochs was looking for an opportunity to make another block, when he made one of the biggest plays to date in the 2021 CJFL post-season for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

Last Sunday with the Hilltops locked in a 24-24 tie with the Edmonton Huskies inside the final six minutes of the fourth quarter in a PFC semifinal contest at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the ’Toppers were driving to go ahead on the scoreboard.

On the Huskies side of midfield, Hilltops quarterback Damon Dutton connected with receiver Dillan Heintz on a pass and run play that gained a first down. After the first down was gained, Heintz fumbled the ball away.

Ochs, who is the Hilltops star left tackle, had run downfield after the pass completion looking to make another block somewhere to help Heintz gain more yards. When Ochs saw the football lying loose on the SMF Field turf, he charged past everyone to pounce on the loose ball to allow the Hilltops to retain possession.

That drive ultimately resulted in Hilltops kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas hitting a 23-yard field goal to give the hosts a 27-24 edge with 3:58 to play in the frame.

The Hilltops ultimately pulled out a 33-31 victory to advance to the PFC final, which will be hosted by the Thunder in Regina at 1 p.m. this coming Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.

“I started running to hopefully like spring a block,” said Ochs about the play where he made the key fumble recovery. “I wasn’t thinking about a fumble.

“I’m running down there I just kind of had tunnel vision and didn’t see much. I’m just kind of doing what I was coached to do and that is about it. It shows the small things count.

“That is not something you really think about during the game. You chase the play down at the end it is a little thing. It pays off sometimes.”

Ochs’ hustle provided an important teaching and reminder point in the video room for legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant for the rest of the team. Sargeant said that play was highlighted in team meetings this week.

Mason Ochs (#73) makes a block on the Hilltops winning TD.

“As coaches, we always say play to the whistle, and there was a great example of a player playing to the whistle,” said Sargeant. “When your best player is doing that, that should really motivate everyone else.

“There is a fifth-year player that is on borrowed time. He is not going to cut a corner. You watch that game tape and there were other players that were cutting corners.

“It was good learning for all of us. The evidence is always on the game film and proof is in the pudding.  Hopefully, every player has learned from that lesson, and we will get a more consistent and sturdy performance by everyone come this Sunday.”

When Ochs made his fumble recovery last Sunday, it gave the Hilltops and infusion of energy at that point in time.

“That was the biggest play of the game for us was seeing Ochs come down and just firing down the field and just seeing him as animated as he gets,” said Hilltops defensive tackle Jaxon Funk, who is in his fourth full season with the team. “It really gets the guys going, and it just shows you what it means to our fifth year players and how much we want to win for them.”

While Ochs effort on his fumble recovery showed the rest how much it means to continue playing, the four-time PFC all-star, three time all-Canadian all-star and this season’s PFC most outstanding offensive lineman wasn’t dwelling on finality.

The 23-year-old said he treating every game this season as an opportunity. When the 2020 CJFL campaign was canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world, Ochs had moments where he thought his CJFL career was over.

When the Hilltops downed the Rams in Langley 11-6 in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl – at McLeod Stadium on November 16, 2019, Ochs thought that might have been his final CJFL contest.

The graduate Saskatoon’s Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers football team later found out he would get to play his fifth season with the Hilltops when the CJFL ruled that players that were 22-years-old and on CJFL rosters in 2020 would be able to play as 23-year-olds in 2021.

With that new lease on his CJFL football life, Ochs treats every game as an extra chance to do something good.

Mason Ochs has piled up lots of accolades with the Hilltops.

“I thought my last game could have been that last game in Langley with COVID and all of that,” said Ochs. “I didn’t know we were going to get the year back, so every game is a gift.

“It is special every time you get to run out there.”

The Hilltops enter the PFC final with a 6-2 regular season record and a 7-2 mark overall. The Thunder were 8-0 in the regular season and have a 9-0 mark overall.

Regina won both head-to-head meetings between the two sides.

During the regular season, Hilltops starting quarterback Damon Dutton completed 127-of-183 passes for 1,528 yards and 12 touchdowns, while throwing six interceptions.

Thunder starting quarterback Carter Shewchuk connected on 104-of-164 passes for 1,630 yards and 14 touchdowns, while throwing four interceptions.

On the ground, Hilltops running backs Boston Davidsen and Carter McLean finished second and third respectively in the PFC in rushing yards. Davidsen carried the 98 times for 634 yards and scored six touchdowns, while McLean had 125 carries for 599 yards and four touchdowns.

Ryland Leichert led the Thunder in rushing yards carrying the ball 86 times for 498 yards and four touchdowns.

Receiver Ethan Godson led the Hilltops and was fourth in the PFC in receiving yards hauling in 30 catches for 524 yards and six touchdowns.

PFC MVP Rylan Sokul led the conference in receiving yards hauling in 38 catches for 621 yards and six touchdowns.

On defence, Hilltops outside linebacker Konner Johnson had a massive year finishing second in the PFC in defensive points. Over eight regular season games, Johnson recorded 26 defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, 12 special teams tackles, three special teams tackle assists, one quarterback sack, five pass knockdowns, one fumble recovery and five interceptions.

Mason Ochs (#73) sees every game of the 2021 season as a gift.

Thunder linebacker Ryan Mills finished fourth in the PFC in defensive points. Over eight regular season games, Mills recorded 26 defensive tackles, 13 defensive tackle assists, 4.5 sacks, two pass knockdowns, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two interceptions.

The Hilltops enter the PFC final as slight underdogs, but Funk said any of the outside noise doesn’t change how his team prepares for the game.

“We’re going to take the same approach to it,” said Funk. “The coaches are going to put us in great spots, and we’re going to play it like we play every game.

“We’re just going to work hard and make sure everyone does their job. We’re just going to make sure we come out and play the best game of the year.”

Funk in right spot for key interception

The Hilltops celebrate an interception by Jaxon Funk (#77).

Saskatoon Hilltops defensive tackle Jaxon Funk said he was in the right place in the right time to make a game sealing interception in his team’s PFC semifinal win last Sunday at SMF field.

After the Hilltops took a 33-31 lead over the Edmonton Huskies with 21.3 seconds to play, Saskatoon’s victory was cemented with an interception from Funk.

Funk made his interception after Hilltops defence end Riece Kack forced Huskies quarterback Declan O’Flaherty to send the ball high into the air. That preserved the 33-31 final outcome.

“I mean that was a gift for me,” said Funk. “Riece Kack had a great rush off the edge.

“He forced that whole play. I was just in the right spot at the right time to be able to come down with the ball. It was a great way to finish off the game, but obviously, a lot of other players made a lot of better plays than that.”

Before joining the Hilltops Funk played for the Hague High School Panthers six-man football team. Back in those days, he got a bit of experience when it came to holding on to the football.

“We didn’t have a tonne of players, so I played both ways on defence and offence,” said Funk. “I had some time as a receiver just as a kind of an end on there, so I got the ball a bit.

“I love playing defence now.”

Can Hilltops channel spirit of 1985?

A team picture of the 1985 Hilltops.

The Saskatoon Hilltops are heading into this year’s PFC final in Regina as slight underdogs, but there was a time the Hilltops went into that game when it was held in the Saskatchewan capital as huge underdogs.

This year, the Hilltops, who were 6-2 in the regular season and 7-2 overall, will face the Regina Thunder, who were 8-0 in the regular season and are 9-0 overall, in the PFC final at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mosaic Stadium. The Thunder took both head-to-head encounters with the Hilltops posting victories by three points in each of those outings.

Way back in 1985, the Hilltops in that year appeared to have a daunting task of trying to win the PFC final against the Regina Rams at historic Taylor Field in Regina.

In 1985, the Hilltops finished second in the PFC regular season standings with a 5-3 record and had a 6-3 overall mark going into the PFC final.

The Rams topped the PFC standings with an 8-0 record and were 9-0 overall against CJFL foes going into that contest. Actually, the Rams were 10-0 overall having defeated the University of Alberta Golden Bears of the U Sports ranks 22-17 in an exhibition game at Taylor Field on September 7th of that year.

The Rams ultimately joined the U Sports ranks in 1999. The Thunder took their place in the CJFL in 2000.

The Hilltops in 1985 were guided by a first year head coach in Kevin Scott. They also had to deal with a number of injuries to key players early in the campaign.

In their home opener and second regular season game, the Hilltops fell to the Edmonton Wildcats 24-16.

Saskatoon lost both regular season head-to-head encounters with Regina. The Rams romped to a 40-16 victory in the first meeting.

As the campaign went on, the Hilltops started to get their injured players back. In their last regular season game, the Hilltops fell again to the Rams, but the contest was a close one with Regina prevailing 38-32.

Tom Sargeant circa 1985.

When the Hilltops advanced to the PFC final to play the Rams, the Saskatoon side wasn’t given much hope when it came to pulling out a victory.

In the words of famed NFL football broadcaster Chris Berman, “That’s why they play the game.”

The Hilltops would pull off a stunning 31-24 upset victory over the Rams in that PFC final.

Following that victory, the ’Toppers returned home to Gordie Howe Bowl, which is now known as SMF Field, and prevailed in the CJFL’s Western final 28-26 over the Richmond Raiders from B.C.

In the CJFL title game, the Hilltops traveled to Ottawa to play the host Sooners, who were the defending CJFL champions. Playing before 8,500 spectators, the Hilltops downed the Sooners 29-11 to capture the Armadale Cup as CJFL champions.

It marked the seventh time the Hilltops had won the CJFL title.

By the end of the season, the 1985 Hilltops were known as a team of heart and character, and a club that bent but didn’t break. They were the team that wasn’t supposed to win, and ultimately did win it all.

That 1985 Hilltops team had a tight end on their roster named Tom Sargeant. That season marked the first time Sargeant experienced a CJFL championship win.

Of course, Sargeant would go on to win two more CJFL championships as a Hilltops assistant coach, and as the team’s current head coach, he has won 13 CJFL titles.

Current Hilltops defensive backs coach Brent Turkington was also a player on that 1985 Hilltops team.

Graduating star quarterback Tony Gagnon was the best known player from that Hilltops squad.

Still to this day, the 1985 Hilltops have to be credited with pulling out the club’s biggest PFC final win, when that contest is played in Regina.

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