Showing posts with label Teijon Abel-Douglas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teijon Abel-Douglas. Show all posts

Saturday, 12 October 2024

Huskies have Hilltops attention heading into PFC semifinal

Two sides go at it Sunday at SMF Field

Hilltops MLB Isaac Michayluk (#48) tackles a Huskies ball carrier.
Tom Sargeant said you have to give the Edmonton Huskies their due for creating headaches for his Saskatoon Hilltops.

Sargeant, who is the Hilltops legendary head coach, has seen his Hilltops go at it in all sorts of close contests since the 2016 campaign with the Huskies. The commonality in all those clashes is the Hilltops have always found a way to win.

For the 2024 campaign, the defending CJFL champion Hilltops (8-0) and Huskies (3-5) will battle for a third and final time in a PFC semifinal at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Hilltops took both regular season encounters with the Edmonton side.

The two clubs opened their respective regular season schedules against each other on August 11 at SMF Field with the Hilltops claiming a 38-13 victory. The Hilltops and Huskies closed their respective regular season schedules against each other last Sunday with Saskatoon pulling out a 21-14 victory at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton.

The Huskies attempt at a two-minute drill drive in the fourth quarter to change the latter contest’s final result came to an end with an interception by Hilltops rookie defensive lineman Noah Chelsom with 14.4 seconds remaining on the clock at Saskatoon’s 26 yard line. Two plays before Chelsom’s interception, Huskies backup quarterback Wyatt Matson just missed receiver William Campbell on a deep slant pattern that would have been home free for a touchdown.

Sargeant said last Sunday’s game was a reminder that his side has to continue to be aware of what the Huskies can do.

“We are heading into game nine,” said Sargeant. “At the end of the day, we know the Edmonton Huskies are a good football team.

“They have played us tough over the last five to eight years, a proud organization, and they’ve got good football players. They have a good team. Records mean nothing now when you’re heading to playoffs.

Carson Eddy charges upfield for the Huskies.
“All the 8-0 does for us is it gives us home field advantage. That is all that means.”

Sargeant knows his Hilltops need to have a better performance in the PFC semifinal compared to what happened this past Sunday. If the Hilltops have a repeat of what happened last Sunday, the Huskies might find the one or two plays they need to claim victory.

“Can we get better? Absolutely,” said Sargeant. “We have to get better.

“We’ve got to play better. We’ve got to coach better, and we’ve got to perform better. I’m sure the Edmonton Huskies are saying the same thing.”

During the regular season, the Hilltops led the PFC in points scored at 325 and allowed the fewest points against at 106. The Huskies were fourth in the PFC for points scored at 159 and third in allowing the fewest points against at 184.

The backbone this season of the Huskies offence was their running game as they topped the PFC in rushing yards at 1,475 yards. Running backs Carson Eddy, Nolan Baragar and Titus Fagnan along with starting quarterback Jackson Harnett all made sizable contributions to that rushing total.

Hilltops star middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk knows his side is facing more than a formidable opponent in the Huskies.

“It is going to be a challenge for sure,” said Michayluk, who led the PFC with 113 defensive points. “Every week is a challenge.

“Every team that we play we give them the respect that they deserve. The Huskies are no different. They are a good team.

“They’re physical. They play hard. We’re going to practice hard here on the practice field and just prepare for them the best we can.”

The Hilltops enter the game with some of the biggest stars in the PFC on offence. Fifth-year quarterback Trey Reider topped conference with a 119.8 quarterback efficiency rating. He completed 119-of-185 passes for 1,685 yards and 17 touchdowns, while throwing just two interceptions.

Corbin Ebben led the PFC with 964 yards rushing.
Fifth-year receiver Drake Douglas led the PFC in receptions (58) receiving yards (955) and receiving touchdowns (eight). Third-year power running back Corbin Ebben carried the ball 157 times for 964 yards and six touchdowns. He led the PFC in rushing yards.

When the dust settles in the PFC semifinal against the Huskies, Sargeant believes his players will raise the effort to another level.

“We learned a lot about ourselves,” said Sargeant. “We need to correct a lot of mistakes.

“If we’re able to do that, I’m pretty sure these players will rally around each other, play for the fifth-year player, and you know what? - Come out and play our best game of the year in game nine.

“That is all I’m looking for.”

Hilltops pick up 11 PFC all-star selections

Trey Reider topped the PFC with a 119.8 quarterback rating.
After posting an 8-0 regular season record for the second straight year, it was no surprise the defending CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops picked up 11 Prairie Football Conference all-star selections.

The CJFL announced the PFC all-stars on Friday. The Hilltops picked up five all-star selections on offence, four on defence and two on special teams.

Fifth-year star quarterback Trey Reider helped highlight the offensive all-stars. He led the conference with a 119.8 quarterback efficiency rating. Reider completed 119-of-185 passes for 1,685 yards and 17 touchdowns, while throwing just two interceptions.

The Hilltops PFC all-stars on offence also included receivers Drake Douglas and Datiel Fountaine, power running back Corbin Ebben and right tackle Cody Shumanski.

Third-year middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk highlighted the Hilltops PFC all-stars on defence. Michayluk led the PFC with 113 defensive points. He picked up those points by recording 33 defensive solo tackles, 27 defensive tackle assists, five special teams solo tackles, four special teams tackle assists, one pass knockdown and one interception.

The Hilltops PFC all-stars on defence also included defensive end Kai Kukurudza, defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens and safety Dalton Urban.

Douglas picked up a second all-star nod as the PFC’s return specialist on special teams. He returned 38 punts for 342 yards. His punt return yardage total topped the PFC.

Hilltops kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas took home honours as the PFC’s all-star punter. Abel-Douglas punted the ball 39 times for 1,433 yards for an average of 36.7 yards per kick. His punting average led the PFC.

Along with the all-stars, the Hilltops claimed a pair of PFC all-rookie team selections on Friday as well. Brody Kormarnicki was named all the all-rookie team running back and Charlie Molder captured honours at the all-rookie team quarterback. Kormarnicki and Molder are backups at their respective positions.

Abel-Douglas takes PFC player of the week nod

Teijon Abel-Douglas was the PFC’s special teams player of the week.
Saskatoon Hilltops kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas had another clutch performance in his team’s final regular season game.

As a result of his efforts, Abel-Douglas was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week on Tuesday. In the Hilltops 21-14 victory over the Huskies at victory at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton last Sunday, Abel-Douglas nailed 4-of-5 field goal attempts and booted his only one-point conversion attempt to account for 13 out of the Hilltops 21 points. The Humboldt, Sask., product connected on field goals from 22, 35, 36 and 26 yards.

Along with his field goals, Abel-Douglas punted the ball five times for 203 yards for an average of 40.6 yards per kick. He also kicked off twice for 103 yards for an average of 51.5 yards per kick.

In the Hilltops final two regular season contests of the 2024 campaign, Abel-Douglas has connected on 9-of-10 field goal attempts and all four of his one-point converts.

Winnipeg Rifles running back Kaiden Banfield claimed honours as the PFC’s offensive player of the week for his performance in his club’s 32-21 season ending loss to the Edmonton Wildcats at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. In that contest, Banfield carried the ball 36 times for 216 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 25 yards.

Regina Thunder star middle linebacker Stephen Smith claimed the PFC’s defensive player of the week award. Smith had a big outing this past Sunday, when the Thunder downed the visiting Calgary Colts 40-21 at Leibel Field in Regina. He recorded six solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists and returned one interception 23 yards.

Douglas comes up just short of 1,000 yards, other notes

Drake Douglas led the PFC with 955 receiving yards.
Drake Douglas came up just short of doing something no other member of the Saskatoon Hilltops had ever done before.

Throughout the 2024 regular season, the fifth-year star receiver was in pursuit to try and become the first Hilltops player to ever hit 1,000 yards receiving for one regular season. He finished the regular season topping the PFC in receptions (58), receiving yards (955) and touchdowns (eight). Douglas came up just 45 yards short of the 1000-yard plateau, but he still had a spectacular season.

To go along with his receiving exploits, Douglas also returned 38 punts for 342 yards. His punt return yardage total topped the PFC.

In a 52-19 victory over the Colts in Calgary on August 25, Douglas also threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to power running back Corbin Ebben off a fake field goal.

On Friday, Douglas picked up PFC all-star selections as a receiver on offence and a return specialist on special teams.

Douglas also came up just shy of the Hilltops record for most receiving yards in one regular season held by one of the storied squad’s all-time greats in Andrew Busby. In 2006, Busby caught 73 passes for 974 yards and nine touchdowns. His receiving yardage total from that regular season is still a Hilltops record.

Busby holds the CJFL’s career regular season record for receiving yards. He piled up 3,109 receiving yards playing for the Hilltops from 2004 to 2008.

Late in the Hilltops 36-11 victory over the Regina Thunder at Saskatoon Minor Football Field on September 28, Douglas had a deep pass reception nullified due to a holding penalty. That catch would have given him the Hilltops receiving yardage record for one regular season and would have put him close to 1,000 yards receiving.

  • Hilltops star fifth-year quarterback Trey Reider has a 24-1 career record as the venerable club’s starting signal caller at the conclusion of the 2024 regular season.
  • The Regina Thunder (6-2) host a PFC semifinal match against the Calgary Colts on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field. The winner faces the victor of Sunday’s PFC semifinal between the defending CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops (8-0) and the visiting Edmonton Huskies (3-5) at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
  • In the final CJFL Top 10 Power Rankings that were released on Wednesday, the defending CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops were rated first, the Regina Thunder came in at fourth and the Calgary Colts were listed at seventh. The Okanagan Sun, who topped the British Columbia Football Conference with a 10-0 mark, were ranked second. The St. Clair Saints, who finished first in the Ontario Football Conference at 8-0, were rated third. The Saints are based out of Windsor, Ont.
  • Saskatoon Hilltops star defensive end Kai Kukurudza led the PFC with seven quarterback sacks.
  • Cohen McCluskey of the Winnipeg Rifles, Lorrin LeBlanc of the Regina Thunder and Keon Raymond Jr. shared the lead in interceptions for the PFC at four.
  • Regina Thunder kicker Shawn Green made 16-of-22 field goal attempts with a long from 44 yards out and all 30 of his one-point conversion attempts. All of those numbers led the PFC in their respective categories.
  • The Saskatoon Hilltops topped the PFC in the takeaway-giveaway category at plus-24.
  • 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 Samuel LaFreniere, who is the star running back of Saskatoon’s St. Joseph High School Guardians Football Team. LaFreniere is having an insane overall football year in 2024. That piece can be found by clicking right here. I also put together a photo roundup that is anchored by pictures that show the memories that are made at the home games of the CJFL’s storied Saskatoon Hilltops. It also includes photos from high school football and the YXE First Responders Fitness Festival. That post can be found by clicking right here.

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

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Sunday, 6 October 2024

All in the family – Gedir has lifelong ties to Hilltops

Saskatoon goes 8-0 to close regular season

Noah Gedir, middles, walks with mom Ashley and dad Michael.
For Noah Gedir, the Saskatoon Hilltops have always been part of his life.

His links to the storied CJFL club go back to the fact his father, Michael, played centre on the squad’s offensive line from 1997 to 2001. Michael helped the Hilltops win their 10th CJFL championship in his final season, when Saskatoon hammered the Okanagan Sun 45-11 at Foote Field in Edmonton, Alta., on November 4, 2001.

Noah was born just over nine months later after that championship game win. Some of his earliest recollections revolve around coming out to the old Hilltops clubhouse to see his father play in the annual Alumni Game for the Alumni Team at Ron Atchison Field.

“I have a vague memory of one of the Alumni Games back here at the Hilltops clubhouse,” said Noah, who is a fifth-year star outside linebacker for the Hilltops in the current day. “We have a picture hanging on the fridge of him holding me when I was maybe three-years-old.

“I look back at that and some of the same coaches actually coached him, and now, they’re coaching me so just that Hilltop tradition. He lived through it, and now, I get to live through it. It is pretty special to have that moment.”

While playing defence as opposed to offence, the son followed in this father’s footsteps. Last year on November 11, 2023, Noah helped the Hilltops win their 23rd CJFL title when they downed the host Westshore Rebels 17-10 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., to capture the Canadian Bowl. The high-motor linebacker recorded four defensive solo tackles and three defensive tackle assists in the win.

“I’ve been around the ‘H’ for a while now, pretty much my whole life,” said Noah. “We definitely have that winning mindset in the family, which is awesome to have.”

On Sunday, Noah and the Hilltops downed the host Huskies 21-14 at Jasper Place Bowl in Edmonton in the final CJFL regular season clash for both clubs. The Huskies attempt at a two-minute drill drive in the fourth quarter to change the contest’s final result came to an end with an interception by Hilltops rookie defensive lineman Noah Chelsom with 14.4 seconds remaining on the clock at Saskatoon’s 26 yard line.

Noah Gedir (#36) charges to the field with the Hilltops.
The win allowed the defending CJFL champion Hilltops, who already have first place in the Prairie Football Conference locked up, to finish the regular season with an 8-0 record and improve their overall winning streak to 20 games. The Huskies, who were locked into finishing fourth in the PFC, fell to 3-5 with a fourth straight setback.

The two sides go at it again this coming Sunday in the CJFL playoffs going head-to-head in a PFC semifinal contest at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Hilltops have homefield advantage through the CJFL post-season up to the CJFL title game, which will be hosted on November 9 by the champion of the Ontario Football Conference.

With Noah’s family ties to the Hilltops, he said his family played a big role when it came to him getting interested in the game.

“Obviously, with my dad playing football, and then at a young age, my whole family has always been a big CFL family and diehard ’Riders fans,” said Gedir referencing the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. “My grandparents always came out to my games.

“They’ve had season tickets to the Hilltops for I think it is 23 years now or something crazy like that. Football has kind of been a Gedir family thing. I started when I was young and got to play until I’m now.”

Still, Noah developed his own love for the game, which came from the defensive side of the ball. The 22-year-old said he quickly discovered he got pumped up when he could fly around to the ball and make hits on opposing players.

“I just like, honestly, the controlled violence of it,” said Gedir, who stands 6-feet and weighs 220 pounds. “You only get so many opportunities to go out there and play football.

Noah Gedir was a PFC all-star last year.
“It was just so fun to throw on the pads. Obviously, I play linebacker. I like doing the hitting.

“I don’t like being hit, so I chose defence. It is fun to fly around and just the team aspect of the sport having the 12 guys relying on each other is something really special. You don’t really get it anywhere else in the world.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was the venerable squad’s head coach for Michael’s last four years with the team and an assistant coach during Michael’s rookie year. When Noah decided to join the Hilltops after graduating from Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School Crusaders Football Team, Sargeant was confident he would have no worries when it came to intangibles.

“He (Noah) is just a quality kid,” said Sargeant. “You have to remember I coached his dad back in the day.

“There is a father-son combination, so that is pretty cool. He just walks around and brings confidence and poise to this group. He has high expectations on everybody, and it starts with himself.”

Last season in the Hilltops eight regular season games, Noah recorded 17 solo defensive tackles, 14 defensive tackle assists, nine special teams solo tackles, one quarterback sack, one pass knockdown, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in being named a PFC all-star. After the Hilltops first seven games this season, Noah has posted 19 solo defensive tackles, 15 defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, one special teams tackle assist, five pass knock downs and two fumble recoveries.

The quick-reaction linebacker’s 76 defensive points ranked 10th in the PFC heading into the final week of regular season play for the conference.

“He (Noah) has played a lot of football,” said Sargeant. “The ‘Will’ linebacker in the Hilltops defence is one of the more storied positions.

“We groomed him in that spot, and so when his opportunity came, he just took advantage of it. I think he is in the top 10 of defensive points in the PFC. He was around the ball flying around and leading his guys.

Noah Gedir (#36) has 76 defensive points in seven games in 2024.
“It is just a lot of fun to see that growth and development. The fifth years, the expectations on them are high. We’re expecting him to continue to lead us as we march in the playoffs.”

After graduating from Holy Cross, Noah said it wasn’t a “no doubt” decision when it came to joining the Hilltops due to his family’s links to the team. 

With that said, his family ties did help weigh his choice towards the Hilltops when it came time to make a selection of where he would play football after high school.

“I wouldn’t say it was a given,” said Gedir, who had five total tackles, one interception and one pass knockdown in Sunday’s win. “It was definitely on my mind that is for sure.

“I’ve always wanted to play for the Hilltops. I love the culture they have and the great coaching staff they have. Obviously my dad playing here back in the day, that was definitely in the back of my mind.

“I’m so happy to be here. It is my last year. I’m enjoying every minute I can with the guys that I have here.”

So far, Noah’s best memory playing for the Hilltops was the CJFL title win last season, where he played on a defence that hit some impressive milestones. During the regular season, the Hilltops gave up 51 points for the squad’s lowest points against total dating back to 1949.

Saskatoon proceeded to give up just 25 points over four post-season wins on the way to claiming the CJFL championship. The 76 points the Hilltops gave up overall in the regular season and post-season was again the squad’s lowest total dating back to 1949.

Noah Gedir is playing his final CJFL season with the Hilltops.
“I mean definitely raising that trophy last year was a pretty special feeling and having that amazing defence, that historic defence that we had last year,” said Noah. “We’re just trying to replicate that this year.

“Hopefully at the end of this year, we have that same exact feeling, so I can say it wasn’t 2023 that was the best time of my life with the Hilltops. It was 2024 in my last year when we won. That is the goal.

“Hopefully, we can get that job done.”

In Sunday’s regular season finale against the Huskies, the Hilltops built a 15-0 lead at halftime off two field goals by kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas, a five-yard touchdown reception from receiver Datiel Fountaine on a throw from star quarterback Trey Reider and one safety.

Abel-Douglas hit a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter to push Saskatoon’s advantage out to 18-0. 

Huskies backup quarterback Wyatt Matson hit receiver Cameron Coyne for a five-yard receiving major with 22.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter to cut the Hilltops lead to 18-7.

In the fourth quarter, Abel-Douglas hit his fourth field goal to push the Hilltops advantage out to 21-7. Matson then hit receiver William Campbell for an eight-yard touchdown toss for the Huskies with 8:20 remaining in the fourth quarter to cut Saskatoon’s lead to 21-14. The Hilltops held on from there.

With the post-season set to start, Noah said the finality that he is playing his final season for the Hilltops is hitting home as the 2024 campaign enters its final weeks. He wants to soak in every moment as it comes.

 “I wasn’t really looking at how many weeks we had left,” said Noah. “I was just kind of enjoying each day while I could be here and practise and be in the film room and be with the guys.

Noah Gedir signs autographs for some youngsters.
“I am just enjoying each moment I have with the team and being in the facility and a part of this great organization.”

NOTES – The Regina Thunder beat the visiting Calgary Colts 40-21 on Sunday at Leibel Field. The Thunder (6-2) and Colts (4-4) will go at it in a PFC semifinal this coming Sunday in Regina. Also on Sunday at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta., the host Edmonton Wildcats edged the Winnipeg Rifles 32-21. The Wildcats concluded their 2024 campaign with a 2-6 record, while the Rifles finished with a 1-7 mark.

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, 11 November 2023

Wist, Davidsen lead Hilltops to 23rd CJFL title

Saskatoon completes 12-0 perfect season

The Hilltops get presented the Canadian Bowl.
Matt Wist and Boston Davidsen went out in a blaze of glory.

Playing in the final contests of their CJFL playing careers, both had monster outings for the Saskatoon Hilltops on Saturday playing in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. Thanks to their efforts, the visiting PFC champion Hilltops downed the host and BCFC champion Westshore Rebels 17-10 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

With Saturday’s win, the Hilltops claimed the CJFL title for the 23rd time in team history. It was their first CJFL championship win since 2019.

Saskatoon also completed a perfect season with a 12-0 record. That would mark the sixth time the club has posted a perfect season. The Hilltops’ first perfect season came in 1958 at 11-0, the second in 1978 at 12-0, the third in 2003 at 12-0, the fourth in 2018 at 11-0 and the fifth in 2019 at 12-0.

The Rebels entered Saturday’s clash with a 12-0 record. They finish out the 2023 campaign with a 12-1 mark and have lost all three of their CJFL championship game appearances in club history, with all those losses coming against the Hilltops.

The Hilltops mantra has been to help their graduating players leave the CJFL as champions. They also look to their graduating players to lead the way on the field.

Wist, who is the team’s star 22-year-old middle linebacker, was named the defensive player of the game. The graduate of Saskatoon’s Bethlehem Catholic High School Stars Football team collected three big interceptions to go with nine solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists and one pass knockdown.

Wist was named a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star at punter, and he delivered in that department too. With most of the contest being played in a downpour, Wist punted the ball 10 times for 306 yards for an average of 30.6 yard per kick and a net average of 27.3 yards per kick.

Matt Wist (#44) was the defensive player of the game.
With the adverse weather conditions with a rain falling in Biblical proportions at times, the Hilltops needed Davidsen to come through with a big game, and he claimed honours as the offensive player of the game. The 22-year-old star power running back carried the ball 25 times for 158 yards and one touchdown. The major from the graduate of the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints Football Team ultimately held up as the winning score of the contest.

Expecting to play in the snow and cold at the tail end of the regular season and in the post-season, the Hilltops to their credit built their offensive unit to be balanced in the running and passing games. That type of planning helps for games played in a steady downpour too.

During the 2023 campaign, the Hilltops have been blessed with having good weather for their games. Before Saturday’s CJFL title game, the Hilltops only other adverse weather game this season came back on September 30, when they downed their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder 19-10 in a regular season contest played in a steady monsoon at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

That contest proved to provide valuable experience for what the Hilltops would face in the Canadian Bowl on Saturday at Starlight Stadium.

A crazy as it sounds, the adverse weather likely hurt the host Rebels more than the Hilltops. The Rebels have the CJFL’s marquee player in quarterback Te Jessie, who captured CJFL’s Peter Dalla Riva Outstanding Offensive player award on Friday.

In the Rebels 10 regular season games, Jessie was outstanding completing 150-of-212 passes for 2,453 yards and 41 touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions. He had a quarterback rating of 135.1, and his 41 touchdown passes set a new record for CJFL regular season play.

Facing the Hilltops stingy defence and the rain, Jessie was limited to completing 23-of-36 passes for 221 yards, while throwing two interceptions. Jessie ran the ball 10 times for 49 yards too.

Boston Davidsen (#24) was the offensive player of the game.
After the two sides played through a scoreless opening quarter, the Hilltops broke through on the scoreboard at the 2:35 mark of the second quarter as receiver Noah Flaman lived up to his nickname of “TD Noah.” With the ball at the Rebels 36 yard line, Hilltops star quarterback Trey Reider hit Flaman with a deep 36-yard touchdown pass to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.

Late in the second quarter, Wist made his first of three interceptions catching the football after it deflected off of about two sets of hands.

With the Hilltops defence shutting down the Rebels offence, Westshore’s special teams came through with a big play. Rebels receiver Cairo Berry ran the opening kickoff in the third quarter 81 yards for a touchdown to even the score at 7-7.

A short time later, the Rebels tried to take the lead with a field goal attempt from 40 yards out. After a bad snap, holder Ethan Pickard, who is the Rebels backup quarterback, rolled out with the ball and threw it downfield only to be intercepted by Wist, who set the visitors up at their own 34 yard line.

Later on in the quarter, the Hilltops were forced to punt and Berry fumbled the ball away to be recovered by defensive back Nathan Young at the Rebels 31 yard line. On the ensuing offensive series, the Hilltops cashed that turnover into a one-yard touchdown run by Davidsen on a third-and-goal gamble. That major gave the Hilltops a 14-7 lead at the 7:08 mark of the third quarter.

At the 5:15 mark of the fourth quarter, the Hilltops pushed their edge out to 17-7 with a 40-yard field goal from first team CJFL all-Canadian kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas.

The Rebels cut the gap to 17-10 with a 30-yard field goal from kicker Gio Linuzzi with 6:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. Westshore wasn’t able to get any closer as the 17-10 score would hold up as the game’s final outcome.

Wist ended the Rebels second last offensive series with his third interception of the contest.

Reider completed 12-of-19 passes for 162 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. Flaman topped the Hilltops with 94 receiving yards on three catches,which included his touchdown catch.

The Hilltops celebrate their CJFL title win.
Rebels star running back Gerren Hardisty ran the ball 16 times for 90 yards. Berry led all pass catchers with eight receptions for 102 yards.

Lot of players had big games on the Hilltops defence. Outside linebacker Wade Keating, who was playing the final game of his CJFL career, recorded six solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists and two special teams solo tackles.

Defensive end Ben Marce had four solo defensive tackles, one defensive tackle assist and two quarterback sacks. Star defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens had three solo defensive tackles, two defensive tackle assists and one quarterback sack. Star defensive end Riece Kack had two solo defensive tackles and one quarterback sack.

For the Rebels defensively, Defensive lineman Cody McMahon had six solo defensive tackles and one defensive tackle assist. Defensive back Oluwaferanmi Okunlola had five solo defensive tackles and two defensive tackle assists. 

Defensive lineman Ted Windom Jr. had four solo defensive tackles, one defensive tackle assist and one quarterback sack. Defensive lineman Praise Odogun has a fumble recovery, one solo defensive tackle, one defensive tackle assist and one pass knockdown for Westshore.

The Hilltops forced seven turnovers from the Rebels, while the Rebels made the Hilltops turn the ball over twice.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant enjoyed his 17th CJFL championship with the Hilltops on Saturday. Sargeant has won 14 of those titles as a head coach, two as an assistant coach and his first came as a receiver in 1985.

The Hilltops had six players who were holdovers from their 2019 CJFL championship team in Wist, Davidsen, Keating, defensive tackle Craig Torgerson, defensive back Carter Wingert and receiver Evan Ward. They all graduate from the program with two CJFL championship rings.

Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker, who joined the Hilltops after the 2019 campaign, also exhausted their CJFL eligibility at the conclusion of the Canadian Bowl. They will graduate from the Hilltops winning a CJFL championship in their final year of junior eligibility.

The Hilltops trophy case will repeat this look from early 2020.
In the CJFL title win on Saturday, Wist and Davidsen led the way and set the tone in their final game of junior eligibility. The rest of the team followed adding another storied chapter in the history of the venerable Hilltops.

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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Thursday, 19 October 2023

Noble finds home at centre of Hilltops O-line

Saskatoon aims to control PFC final with run

Matthew Noble (#54) locks up on a block for the Hilltops.
Matt Noble’s future starting life with the Saskatoon Hilltops came fast, and it included taking up a new position he quickly learned to love.

Last season, the Hilltops during practices started to look to see who would be their future starter at centre. Luciano Jolly was the team’s PFC all-star at centre, and he had a strong backup in Aidan Connoly. Both would exhaust their CJFL eligibility and graduate from the program at the conclusion of the 2022 campaign.

Knowing that there was going to be a big hole at centre with the departures of Jolly and Connoly, the Hilltops coaches were trying to find out if their starting centre for 2023 was already on the roster.

Noble has been a left guard playing for Saskatoon’s Bethlehem Catholic High School Stars. Before his high school days, Noble played guard on the offensive line and a little bit on the defensive line with Martensville Maddogs of the KFL.

When the Hilltops coaches approached Noble about giving the centre position a try, he took on that opportunity with some pretty good enthusiasm.

“They started to try to find guys, especially with knowing that Jolly was going to graduate and Aidan Connoly too our backup,” said Noble. “They had to start finding someone.

“Every night here we’d be spending the next 20 minutes after practice snapping maybe six or seven of us to try and find the next guy. I’m very lucky to get this opportunity. It is definitely really fun.

“I wish I would have started a lot sooner at centre.”

Noble improved quickly in his new position and was the Hilltops starting centre in his third season with the team when the 2023 campaign began. He was calling out the signals for a relatively new starting unit.

Erik Barsness is the oldest player on the Hilltops starting offensive line playing in his fourth year with the team starting for the first time at left guard. Davin Johnson, who is in his second year of eligibility, started part way through his rookie season at right tackle, and has started every game at left tackle in 2023.

Matthew Noble (#54) leads the O-line to the ball.
Cody Shumanski, who was with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team in the U Sports ranks in 2021, joined the Hilltops and became the starter at right tackle. 

Victoire Bikulo, who is in his third year with the Hilltops, started five games at right tackle last season. 

He was the starter at right guard this season until he was forced out of the lineup due to an injury to the lower part of his right leg in the team’s seventh regular season game.

Quinton Pike, who is in his second year with the Hilltops, has started at right guard since Bikulo got injured.

Together, the Hilltops offensive line helped the team lead the PFC in regular season scoring with 335 points and allowed fifth year star power running back Boston Davidsen to lead the PFC in rushing for a second straight campaign. Davidsen finished the eight game regular season with career highs in carries (170), rushing yards (1,184) and rushing touchdowns (nine).

“Boston (Davidsen) is a very awesome guy,” said Noble. “He is super humble.

“I remember when he reached his 1,000-yards this season ‘Sarge’ (legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant) talked him up. He had a huge accomplishment. I remember once ‘Sarge’ was done talking he came to the O-line corner, and he made sure he thanked every one of us.

“It was a very special moment, because he is very nice guy. We’re very proud of him, because he is a workhorse. He puts his head down and gets to work.”

The work of Noble and the offensive line has allowed the Hilltops to head into the PFC final with a 9-0 overall record. They host their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder (7-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Matthew Noble took up playing centre last year.
Noble doesn’t hide how he wants the Hilltops offence to take on the Thunder defence.

“The offence has to block,” said Noble, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 260 pounds. “We’re here to make plays.

“We’re here to be physical. I want to run the ball. The run game has done really well for us.

“I know Boston (Davidsen) is ready to go. He is excited for this. I know that is the guy you’re going to key on obviously, but yeah, we’re ready to just be physical and take it to them.”

Sargeant wants his Hilltops to showcase the run too, when they face the Thunder in the PFC final. The sideline boss is proud of how far the new starting offensive line has come in 2023, and how quickly Noble took to the centre position.

“He (Noble), number one, had big shoes to fill from Luciano Jolly,” said Sargeant. “He (Jolly) was an all-star centre for us.

“Matt (Noble) came in and had a great off-season, and it was so good that he earned the respect of the players and was named a captain, so we feel good about that. He (Noble) has been a very consistent player for us this year. He’s done his job.

“His stats have been consistent. He’s leading us in the run game. Any time you have a 1,000 yard rusher some things need to be going right.”

Sargeant said Noble is a well mannered and humble young man, who is committed to becoming the best he can be out on the football field. The long time head coach believes Noble will become an even better player as he plays through his next two seasons with the storied club.

“He’s a player we’ve embraced,” said Sargeant. “He is a third-year guy, so that gets the old coach excited knowing that he is only going to get bigger and better as we move forward.

“As a first year starter, he’s learning lots of lessons, and he is applying that. He’s making himself better through the process as well. As a coach, you really appreciate that.”

Matthew Noble (#54) is pictured with Maddogs alums.
Noble enjoyed playing with Jolly and Connoly along with the Hilltops other key offensive line veterans who also graduated following the 2022 campaign in Jordan Bisson, Jayson Kehler and Ethan Paslowski.

“It was awesome,” said Noble. “Last year, I got a little more time to spend with those guys.

“I started to develop those relationships. I still have them today. I spoke with Jolly last Sunday.

“They were awesome. I had a lot of fun. They instilled a lot of the traditions into us that we get to continue on with our guys now.”

Noble said the veteran who graduated following the 2022 campaign played a big role helping the younger O-linemen who would be returning to the team.

Still, the 20-year-old believes nerves caught up to him and the rest of the O-line when they played in the Hilltops Alumni Game in the pre-season and fell 32-1 to the Alumni Team on August 3 at Ron Atchison Field. 

Noble said Bikulo helped settle him down for the regular season opener against the Edmonton Wildcats, which the Hilltops romped to a 50-2 in back on August 13 at SMF Field.

“It was really nerve-racking, especially heading into the alumni game,” said Noble. “One thing Victoire (Bikulo) told me leading up to the (Edmonton) Wildcats game was you’re going to be really nervous all the way up until your first contact with the defence.

“Then, you will be good. It has held true all the way through. I’m very nervous before games, but then the moment you get that first snap and that first contact, everything is good.”

While Noble wants to do all he can to help the Hilltops post-season run continue in the present, he is pumped he will get to spend another two seasons with the team and wants to continue his improvement as a football player.

Matt Noble (#54) aims to line up at centre for his remaining CJFL days.
“It is exciting,” said Noble. “There is a lot of hope.

“Maybe I have a bad block in a game, but it is like I have two more years to figure this out and focus up. I’ve got film to watch for the next couple of years and just learn from my mistakes. A lot of the guys that we play against on Sundays we get to see them maybe two or three or four times over a year.

“You get to try and get better and just learn from your mistakes. It is exciting to have this opportunity now, because I’m so young and I get a couple of years of opportunity.”

Hilltops flood selections as PFC all-stars

Boston Davidsen was named a PFC all-star.
With having posted an 8-0 record in the CJFL’s regular season to finish first in the Prairie Football Conference, the Saskatoon Hilltops were able to come away with 11 selections on the PFC all-star team.

When the PFC all-stars were announced on Thursday, power running back Boston Davidsen and quarterback Trey Reider highlighted the Hilltops all-star selections on offence. Davidsen led the PFC in carries (170), rushing yards (1,184) and rushing touchdowns (nine) during the regular season.

Reider shared the quarterback selection with Liam Oczkowski of the Calgary Colts. In eight regular season games with the Hilltops, Reider completed 108-of-167 passes for 1,571 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing five interceptions. Reider’s quarterback rating of 114.6 topped the PFC.

Receiver Drake Douglas and right tackle Cody Shumanski rounded up the Hilltops all-star selections on offence.

Middle linebacker Matt Wist captured two all-star selections being named an all-star at linebacker and at punter. Wist recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two pass knockdowns.

In the punting department, Wist punted the ball 47 times for a gross average of 37.7 yards per kick, a net average of 32.2 yards per kick and three singles. Wist led the PFC in gross average, net average and punt singles.

Defensive end Riece Kack made the all-star team having topped the PFC with 7.5 quarterback sacks. Kack also recorded 11 defensive solo tackles, seven defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, two special teams tackle assists, two fumble recoveries and one pass knockdown.

Rounding out the Hilltops PFC all-stars on defence are defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens, outside linebacker Noah Gedir, and safety Dalton Urban.

Teijon Abel-Douglas was named a PFC all-star at kicker. He was good on 23-of-27 field goal attempts for an 85.2 per cent success rate. Abel-Douglas led the PFC in scoring with 104 points coming off 23 field goals, 31 converts and four singles.

Hilltops receiver Datiel Fountaine was named to the PFC’s all-rookie team on Thursday.

The Hilltops will host their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder in PFC final on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Thunder had six players named PFC all-stars.

Running back Ryland Leichert highlighted the offensive all-stars for the Thunder. Leichert carried the ball 152 times for 1,017 yards and eight touchdowns.

The other PFC all-stars on offence from the Thunder included receiver Isaiah Woodley, centre Riley Schick and left tackle Nicholas Makowsky.

The Thunder had two PFC all-stars on defence in linebacker Stephen Smith and defensive end Payton O’Connor. Smith led the PFC with 127 defensive points coming off 43 solo defensive tackles, 30 defensive tackle assists, one special teams tackle, one quarterback sack, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.

Thunder running back Peter Boersch was named to the PFC’s all-rookie team on Thursday.

Saskatoon dominates PFC player of the week nods

Charles Sawi (#18) was named a PFC offensive player of the week.
An impressive PFC semifinal victory allowed multiple Saskatoon Hilltops to capture PFC player of the week honours.

Last Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops crushed the Calgary Colts 53-2 in a PFC semifinal contest. Many members of the Hilltops had outstanding performances in that contest.

In the PFC player of the week announcements that came out on Tuesday, Hilltops running backs Boston Davidsen and Charles Sawi shared the offensive player of the week honour. Davidsen ran the ball 23 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the romp over the Colts. 

Sawi carried the ball 12 times for 127 yards and one touchdown in the win over Calgary. He also returned one missed field goal for 31 yards and one punt for five yards.

Hilltops middle linebacker Matt Wist shared PFC defensive player of the week honours with Edmonton Huskies linebacker Tristan Price. Wist recorded four defensive solo tackles, six defensive tackle assists, one special teams tackle, an interception and a pass knockdown in the victory over the Colts.

Price had a strong outing as his Huskies fell in the other PFC semifinal 20-17 against the Thunder in Regina at Leibel Field last Sunday. Price recorded six solo defensive tackles, five defensive tackle assists, one special teams tackle assist and one interception in his club’s season ending loss.

Hilltops kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week. In the Hilltops triumph over the Colts, Abel-Douglas made 3-of-4 field goal attempts with a long from 46 yards. He recorded a point on his missed field goal and made all six of his conversion attempts.

Abel-Douglas kicked off seven times for 326 yards averaging 46.6 yards per kick. He punted twice for 59 yards for an average of 29.5 yards per kick and recorded a rouge.

Super Saturday for CJFL playoffs

Te Jessie in a CJFL promo graphic.
It will be a super Saturday in the CJFL’s post-season with three games taking place.

In the British Columbia Football Conference, the Westshore Rebels (10-0) host the Langley Rams (5-4) in a conference semifinal game at 4 p.m. local time at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria, B.C. Rebels quarterback Te Jessie had an outstanding season completing 150-of-212 passes for 2,453 yards and 41 touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions.

Jessie had a quarterback rating of 135.1, and his 41 touchdown passes are a new record for CJFL regular season play. A graduate of the St. Paul’s High School Crusaders Football Team in Winnipeg, Man., Jessie topped the CJFL’s annual Top 50 players to watch list heading into the 2023 campaign.

The other BCFC semifinal will see the Okanagan Sun (8-1) host the Valley Huskers (7-3) at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, B.C., at 2 p.m. local time.

The Ontario Football Conference final will feature the host St. Clair Saints (9-0) taking on the London Beefeaters (7-2) at 7 p.m. local time at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont. The winner advances to play in a CJFL semifinal against the winner of the PFC final at the PFC champion’s home field on Sunday, October 29.

The PFC final will be played on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field between the host Saskatoon Hilltops (9-0) and their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder (7-2).

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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Sunday, 8 October 2023

Defence dominates as Hilltops go 8-0 in regular season

Starting QB Reider leaves game after big hit

Carter Wingert (#21) holds the ball after making a fumble recovery.
The Saskatoon Hilltops’ defensive unit in 2023 might be one of the best the storied team has ever had, and it might have to carry more of the load or possibly the day in the post-season.

In the Hilltops final CJFL regular season game of the 2023 campaign on Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops defense put together another stellar performance in a 39-1 victory over the Winnipeg Rifles. The Hilltops defence created six turnovers on four interceptions, one fumble recovery and one turnover on downs.

The ’Toppers defence held the Rifles to 41 yards rushing and 167 yards passing as team and allowed the Saskatoon side to finish the regular season topping the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference with an 8-0 record to the delight of the 1,809 spectators in attendance.

The Hilltops defence forces a fumble in the second quarter.
In the later stages of the third quarter with the Hilltops holding a 22-0 lead and scrimmaging from their own one yard line, Hilltops starting quarterback Trey Reider took a super hard hit from 22-year-old Rifles linebacker Brandon Kamenz while in the act of throwing the ball. Reider went down and had to be helped off the field.

He was moving really gingerly when he came off to the sidelines, and he did not return to the game. Brexton Elias came in to play relief, and Elias was pulled for third stringer Wil Ansell when the Hilltops were up 32-1 in the later stages of the fourth quarter.

“I guess at the end of the day we’ll certainly let our medical staff do their work,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant regarding Reider’s status. “We’ll wait and see.

Carter Wingert had a fumble recovery and an interception on Sunday.
“That sort of summed up how we sort of played today, especially on offence. We’re missing assignments. We just weren’t on point.”

The Hilltops put up 238 yards rushing and 205 yards passing as a team, but the club’s offensive unit had an up and down day. Saskatoon’s offence turned the ball over five times including on three fumbles, one interception and two turnovers on downs.

On defence, the Hilltops gave up a total of 51 points during their eight regular season games. That was a lower number than the 2018 Hilltops team that went 8-0 in the regular season and gave up just 70 points in those eight contests.

The 2018 campaign was one of the Hilltops more impressive statistical seasons where they thumped all their foes in posting an 11-0 overall record in capturing the CJFL title. They trailed for a combined 81 seconds in the regular season and playoffs, and their closest margin of victory was downing the Edmonton Huskies 28-9 in the PFC final.

Hilltops QB Trey Reider left the game after this third quarter hit.
The 51 points the Hilltops allowed in eight regular season games this season was the fewest points they’ve allowed in any regular season during the time Sargeant has been head coach starting in the 1998 campaign.

“Our defence has been unbelievable all year, and they proved it again,” said Sargeant. “Anytime you go 8-0 in the PFC you have lots to be thankful for.

“Hey, we have to play football, and we’ll continue to play to football. Brexton (Elias) went in and performed well. Hey, it is what it is.

“We’ll deal with what we will deal with, but we’re going to celebrate tonight a great regular season.”

Boston Davidsen piled up 148 yards rushing for the Hilltops.
Sargeant said it was a big achievement for the current Hilltops to have given up fewer points in the regular season than what the impressive 2018 squad did.

“It is unbelievable,” said Sargeant. “It is a real proud (accomplishment) for all of us.

“We play complimentary football where the offence, defence and special teams work hand in hand with each other. Any time you do that it certainly gives you a lot of confidence when you make decisions about how to move forward during the course of the game. We can be a little more aggressive knowing that our defence will consistently be on point.

“That is just a locked in group that is playing at such a high level right now.”

Part of the 1,809 spectators who were in attendance on Sunday.
In Sunday’s game, the Hilltops slowly built up a 22-0 lead by halftime. In the first quarter Reider hit star receiver Drake Douglas with an eight-yard touchdown catch to put the Hilltops up 7-0.

In the second quarter, Hilltops kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas booted a 36-yard field goal to put the host side up 10-0. Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen ripped off a 53-yard touchdown run and the Rifles conceded a safety due to bad field position to push the Hilltops advantage out to 19-0.

With 10.9 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Abel-Douglas connected on a 42-yard field goal to give the hosts their 22-0 advantage.

The Hilltops celebrate a TD catch from Drake Douglas (#86).
On defence, 22-year-old defensive back Carter Wingert helped push the Hilltops momentum recovering a fumble and hauling in an interception in the second quarter.

“Our defence has just played well all year,” said Wingert, who has three interceptions and two fumble recoveries this season. “The coaches are just giving us great plans coaching us well throughout the week.

“We’re playing together as one unit. It is not one guy doing anything out there. It is 12 guys doing their jobs wherever the ball goes.

“I know whichever guy it (the ball) goes to that guy is going to make a play.”

Rifles QB Myle Desmarais sets to run from Hilltops pressure.
With 61 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the Rifles cracked on to the scoreboard with a 36-yard missed field goal single from kicker Alex Minor to trim the Hilltops lead to 22-1.

At the 4:14 mark of the second quarter, Hilltops star 22-year-old middle linebacker Matt Wist deflected a pass by Rifles starting quarterback Myles Desmarais to himself and returned it five yards for a touchdown to put the Hilltops up 29-1.

Backup kicker Ryden Gratton hit a 22 yard field goal to give Saskatoon a 32-1 lead. The Hilltops rounded out the game’s scoring when Ansell hit third-year receiver Jacob Ambros with a six-yard touchdown pass to cement the 39-1 final score with 2:25 remaining in the contest. The throw was Ansell’s first career CJFL touchdown pass and Ambros’ first career CJFL touchdown catch.

Teijon Abel-Douglas (#80) hits a 42-yard field goal for the Hilltops.
Reider completed 7-of-16 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown, while throwing one interception before departing due to injury. Davidsen carried the ball 20 times for 148 yards to go with his major score. Pass catcher Noah Flaman topped the Hilltops with 80 receiving yards on three catches.

Desmarais completed 19-of-47 passes for 167 yards, while throwing four interceptions for the Rifles. Running back Kaiden Banfield carried the ball 11 times for 41 yards. Receiver Jarome Penner hauled in six passes for 60 yards.

The Hilltops celebrate a defensive TD from Matt Wist (#44).
On defence, safety Dalton Urban and defensive back Jackson Dean had interceptions for the Hilltops, while defensive end Kai Kukurudza had a quarterback sack. Defensive back Isaac Rivalin had three solo defensive tackles and three pass knockdowns for the host side.

Outside linebacker Derek Gumieny had a big game for the Rifles recording 8.5 total tackles, one quarterback sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Defensive back Joseph Funk-Clements and Minor had fumble recoveries for the Rifles, while Kamenz had an interception and blocked a field goal attempt for Winnipeg.

With the Hilltops defence having a big game, Wingert was asked if the Saskatoon defensive unit will have to carry the day a little more in the post-season if Reider is out for any length of time. Wingert said he was still processing what happened with Reider and wasn’t going to count his signal caller out.

Dalton Urban returns an interception for the Hilltops.
“I’m not sure how Trey (Reider) is doing, but I hope he is doing well,” said Wingert. “I’m sure he will be alright.”

The Rifles were eliminated from post-season contention with the loss and finished the regular season with a 2-6 mark to sit fifth in the PFC.

Out in Calgary on Sunday, the host Colts improved to 3-5 to claim fourth in the PFC and clinch a post-season berth with a 66-10 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats, who finish last in the six-team PFC at 1-7. 

The Colts will face the Hilltops in one CJFL semifinal this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

In Regina on Sunday, the host Thunder downed the Edmonton Huskies 33-10. The Thunder finish second in the PFC at 6-2, while the Huskies place third at 4-4. 

Jackson Dean makes an interception for the Hilltops.
Those two sides go at it again in the other PFC semifinal this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field.

The Hilltops claimed their lone regular season encounter with the Colts 50-18 back on August 27 at SMF Field. Looking towards the upcoming post-season clash with Calgary, Sargeant said the Colts have some star players his squad needs to be aware of.

“They have a lot of talent there,” said Sargeant. “They’re a lot of high end athletes, and they’re going to be hungry.

“At the end of the day, you’re coming into Saskatoon. We feel this is a pretty tough place to play.”

The Hilltops enjoy family time after Sunday’s game.
NOTES - The Hilltops held a moment of silence before Sunday’s game to remember and honour George Reed, who was the iconic fullback of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. Reed passed away on October 1. Davidsen finished the regular season for the Hilltops carrying the ball 170 times for 1,184 yards and nine touchdowns, and all those numbers were career highs. Abel-Douglas concluded the regular season scoring 104 points coming off 23 field goals, four singles and 31 converts.

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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