CJFL title capped rebound season for Hilltops in 2023

The Hilltops celebrate a TD from Drake Douglas, right.

Do you remember the Saskatoon Hilltops going 6-4 in 2022?

That season feels long forgotten after the Hilltops posted a perfect 12-0 record in 2023 culminating in the team’s 23^rd CJFL championship and sixth perfect season. The Hilltops closed out the 2023 campaign last Saturday downing the host Westshore Rebels 17-10 in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The Saskatoon side persevered through Biblical type rains to capture their first CJFL title since 2019 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria. It was a familiar sight seeing the Hilltops raise the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions.

A year ago at this time disappointment was the prevailing feeling around the Hilltops. Their 2022 campaign came to an end on October 30 of that year with a 39-21 loss to their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder in the PFC final at Mosaic Stadium in the Saskatchewan capital city.

Boston Davidsen ran for 1,184 yards in the regular season.

Saskatoon was 5-3 in the regular season and 6-4 overall. Before 2022, the last time Hilltops experienced those records was 1993. Between 1993 and 2022, the Hilltops had never lost more than two games in the regular season and won the CJFL title 14 times.

The Hilltops graduated 20 players from their roster following their loss to the Thunder in the 2022 PFC final. With the PFC going through a massive reset with all of its six teams experiencing sizable graduations, there was no certainty about where the Hilltops would stand going into the 2023 campaign.

The biggest thing for the venerable CJFL squad was the team’s legendary head coach in Tom Sargeant was back along with his long time defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jeff Yausie. Actually, all the members of the Hilltops coaching staff had been working with the team for a number of years.

The coaches were determined to get the Hilltops back playing up to their lofty standards of their CJFL championship seasons. Being good but not good enough like in 2022 wasn’t going to cut it.

MLB Matt Wist was a second team CJFL all-Canadian all-star.

The Hilltops had one of their more youthful rosters in 2023. Out of the eight players suiting up in their final seasons of CJFL eligibility, six of those players were holdovers from the team’s previous CJFL title winning season back in 2019, when the Hilltops posted a perfect 12-0 record at that time.

The six holdovers included middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert, defensive lineman Craig Torgerson, power running back Boston Davidsen and receiver Evan Ward. Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker were the other two graduating players who joined the Hilltops following the 2019 campaign.

Due to the fact only six players had CJFL championship rings, the journey through the 2023 season for the Hilltops had a newness feeling to it. The coaches had experience guiding more youthful rosters in the past, and they were able to draw on that experience and apply it this past season.

Trey Reider was named the PFC’s Most Outstanding Quarterback.

One of the biggest differences between 2022 and 2023 was the Hilltops defence rose to a higher level to achieve some historical accomplishments. The Hilltops allowed just 51 points through their eight regular season games posting the team’s lowest point against total in regular season play dating back to 1949.

The ’Toppers gave up just 25 points in four playoff games for a total of 76 points over 12 contests, which was the lowest points against total for the team including play in the regular season and post-season since 1949. In 1949, the Hilltops gave up 70 points in 10 overall games that season falling in the Western Canada Championship game 16-12 to the Vancouver Blue Bombers.

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

Wade Keating returns an interception for a TD for the Hilltops.

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

The second biggest thing that happened in 2023 was the Hilltops got their most consistent play at the quarterback position since winning the CJFL title in 2019. After the 2020 CJFL campaign was lost due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world, the Hilltops had campaigns in 2021 and 2022 that saw them change the starting quarterback near the midpoint of the regular season.

In the sixth game of the regular season in 2022, the Hilltops inserted Trey Reider into the starting spot at quarterback. He started the Hilltops final three regular season games and both their post-season games.

Noah Flaman jets downfield on a long TD reception.

Playing his 21-year-old season in 2023, Reider went the distance as the Hilltops starting signal caller. During the Hilltops eight regular season games, Reider has completed 108-of-167 passes for 1,571 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing five interceptions during the regular season.

He topped the PFC with a 114.6 quarterback efficiency rating, was named a PFC all-star and took honours as the PFC’s Most Outstanding Quarterback. With the 2023 season in the books, Reider is currently 16-1 overall as the Hilltops starting quarterback.

Reider’s favourite targets in 2023 included receiver Drake Douglas, who took first team CJFL all-Canadian honours after catching 42 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns in regular season play, and pass catcher Noah Flaman, who caught 21 passes for 422 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season earning the nickname “TD Noah” in the process.

Davidsen was a first team CJFL all-Canadian having had a monster campaign leading the PFC in carries (170), rushing yards (1,184) and rushing touchdowns (nine) during the regular season. Hilltops right tackle Cody Shumanski captured a first team CJFL all-Canadian spot on the offensive line.

Erik Barsness (#60) and Davin Johnson (#71) set the edge on a run play.

Saskatoon’s group of starters on the offensive line were all standouts with Davin Johnson at left tackle, Erik Barness at left guard, Matt Noble at centre and Victoire Bikulo at right guard. 

When Bikulo was lost for the season in the Hilltops seventh regular season game due to a leg injury, Quinton Pike filled in the rest of the way admirably at the starting right guard spot to ensure the Hilltops offensive line did not lose a step.

The Hilltops had to slug it out and persevere in some tough games. In the contest where Bikulo went down on September 30 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops had to grind out a 19-10 victory over the Thunder in the pouring rain that came down for the entire contest. 

When those same two squads met in the PFC final on October 22 at SMF Field, the Hilltops entered the fourth quarter trailing 13-9 before rallying back for a 21-13 victory.

Riece Kack makes a sack for the Hilltops.

In the CJFL championship game, they had battle it out against the Rebels in a game where the rain came down intensely. The Rebels also had the CJFL marquee player in quarterback Te Jessie, who was named a first team all-Canadian and claimed the CJFL’s Peter Dalla Riva Outstanding Offensive Player award.

While the contest was tied 7-7 early in the third quarter, the Hilltops scored the next 10 points to go up 17-7 and would close out a 17-10 victory. Wist and Davidsen both had big games.

Wist was named the defensive player of the game recording three interceptions, nine solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists and one pass knockdown. With those defensive statistics, Wist accumulated 36 defensive points, which is a new record for a CJFL championship game. His three picks equaled the record for most interceptions in a CJFL championship game.

Davidsen claimed honours as the offensive player of the game. He carried the ball 25 times for 157 yards and one touchdown. His major score ultimately held up as the winning score of the contest.

The Hilltops celebrate with the Canadian Bowl. (CJFL photo)

From an uncertain beginning, the Hilltops wrote another brilliant chapter to the storied legacy of the team. They ultimately finished off in a familiar spot standing tall on the CJFL mountain top.

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Was Hilltops defence in 2023 the best in team history?

Saskatoon gave up club record low 6.3 points per game

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DC Jeff Yausie calls played for the Hilltops defence.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Linebacker Matt Wist controlled the middle of the Hilltops defence.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Hilltops defence celebrated many big plays in 2023.

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

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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 23^rd 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 17^th 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.

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Torgerson faces last dance with storied Hilltops squad

DT to play final CJFL game in Canadian Bowl

Craig Torgerson (#56) mans the middle of the Hilltops D-line.

Craig Torgerson believes time on the football field should be cherished.

The 22-year-old defensive tackle will play his final game with the storied Saskatoon Hilltops on Saturday. The Hilltops will be attempting to win their 23^rd CJFL title in team history when they play in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The PFC champion Hilltops (11-0) will take on the host and BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria. While Saturday’s game will mark the last time Torgerson plays both for the Hilltops and for a CJFL title, he stressed the game was big for everyone on the venerable Saskatoon club.

“It is actually very important,” said Torgerson. “It kind of not only makes the team better, but it also shows that what the rookies are getting themselves into and also it helps better the team, because you get extra playing time and you get extra practice and practice always makes perfect.”

During his first year with the team in 2019, Torgerson was a rookie who was thankful to be getting extra practice time on the field. The graduate of Saskatoon’s Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints Football Team did his part on the practice field helping get teammates ready for games as the Hilltops posted a perfect 12-0 record and claimed their 22^nd and to date last CJFL championship.

The Hilltops traveled to Langley, B.C., for the Canadian Bowl in 2019 and downed the host Rams 11-6 at McLeod Stadium to win a sixth straight CJFL title. Torgerson wasn’t part of the team’s travel party that year.

“I did not get to dress for the championship game,” said Torgerson, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 225 pounds. “All I remember was I was listening to it on the radio, and I could feel the anticipation and all the jitters just through that.

Craig Torgerson had three sacks in the regular season.

“It was definitely quite an experience.”          

Torgerson is one of six Hilltops players who are holdovers from the 2019 CJFL championship team and will exhaust their CJFL eligibility at the conclusion of the Canadian Bowl on Saturday. The other five include middle linebacker Matt Wist, outside linebacker Wade Keating, defensive back Carter Wingert, running back Boston Davidsen and receiver Evan Ward.

Linebacker Jordan Levesque and offensive lineman Justice Walker, who joined the Hilltops after the 2019 campaign, will also exhaust their CJFL eligibility when the Canadian Bowl wraps up.

While Torgerson was listening to the Canadian Bowl on the radio from Saskatoon in 2019, he will be in the middle of the action on Saturday. 

When it comes to the finality of the current post-season, Torgerson has elected to have fun with the experience and play as hard as he can.

“Definitely when playoffs came around, it was definitely do or die at this point,” said Torgerson, who had three quarterback sacks and seven total tackles in the Hilltops eight regular season games. “Hey, there is no better way than to go out on top.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant has enjoyed seeing how much Torgerson has grown during his time with the club. The sideline boss said Torgerson has set a good example of showing the effort on the practice field and in games that the team expects of its players.

“It has been great to see him develop into the player that he is today,” said Sargeant. “He is a dominant pass rusher.

Craig Torgerson will play his last CJFL game in the Canadian Bowl.

“He is a great special teams player, and he is well liked by his teammates. He shows up. He works hard.

“He practices with purpose, and he plays with purpose. He has been a real good example for how to practice and how to compete.”

Sargeant said Torgerson and the rest of the team’s graduating players played a big role in getting the club back into the CJFL title game since last winning it in 2019. 

As has been the Hilltops mantra for a lengthy stretch of time, the goal is to help those graduation players depart as CJFL champions.

“At the end of the day when you’re in your last game and you are in your last year, there is a different importance,” said Sargeant. “That is why we built this program to be a fifth-year program.

“We put a lot of pride in that. When we’re having out leadership meetings, we’re getting the input from them. We place the expectations.

“We challenge them. We’re always going to go after our best players the hardest and have the highest expectations. Look at this year, they’ve delivered.”

Torgerson still remembers learning about the work ethic players needed to have to be part of the Hilltops in his rookie year. He also recalls learning how everything they did in practice, the film room and off-season training all comes together and becomes a factor in how the team plays.

Craig Torgerson (#56) walks to SMF Field with his parents.

Overall, Torgerson said his best memories in playing for the Hilltops comes from the team bonding that happens in the off-season and throughout the football campaign. He also enjoyed and was thankful for the team suppers the parents prepared for the squad on the Thursday night before every game in the CJFL post-season.

He admits it is different that the end of his playing days with the Hilltops is drawing near.

“It is definitely crazy,” said Torgerson. “Time flew definitely.

“It just felt like a couple of years ago I was in my first year. It has been a great time.”

Wist, Urban named second team all-Canadians

Matt Wist was named a CJFL second team all-Canadian all-star.

Matt Wist and Dalton Urban were tabbed with CJFL individual honours on Monday.

Wist, who is the starting middle linebacker with the Saskatoon Hilltops, and Urban, who is the Hilltops starting safety, were both named CJFL second team all-Canadian all-stars. Both were key players in helping the Hilltops post an 11-0 overall record and advance to the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

The Hilltops will take on the host Westshore Rebels (12-0) at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time at Starlight Stadium Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria.

Wist recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and three interceptions during the Hilltops eight regular season games. The 22-year-old will play his final CJFL game on Saturday, when the Hilltops face the Rebels for the CJFL title.

Dalton Urban became a CJFL second team all-Canadian all-star.

Urban recorded eight solo defensive tackles, three defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, one pass knock down, one fumble recovery and five interceptions during regular season play for the Hilltops. On his fumble recovery, Urban returned the ball 61 yards for a touchdown in the Hilltops 49-0 win over the Rifles in Winnipeg on August 20.

Urban finishing out his third season with the Hilltops, and this was the first year he took up the spot as the team’s starting safety.

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Keating soaks in swan song run with storied Hilltops

LB says Saskatoon ready to go against Thunder in PFC final

Wade Keating returns an interception for a TD in a PFC semifinal.

Before his junior football career concludes, Wade Keating wants to increase the number of CJFL championship rings in the Saskatoon Hilltops dressing room.

The Hilltops outside linebacker, who is playing out the final weeks of his CJFL career as the post-season moves on, is one of six players currently with the venerable squad who owns a CJFL championship ring. The other five include middle linebacker Matt Wist, defensive back Carter Wingert, running back Boston Davidsen, defensive lineman Craig Torgerson and receiver Evan Ward. All six were rookies with the Hilltops in 2019, when the storied squad posted a 12-0 record on the way to winning the CJFL title.

One of the Hilltops goals year in and year out is to try and help their graduating players depart the program as champions. While Keating is part of the 2023 class of graduates, he would like to help all the players that haven’t experienced a CJFL championship win before get to that point in the team’s current post-season run.

“That has been on our minds since last year when we lost to Regina,” said Keating. “I think we’re a really determined group.

“That’s definitely the way we want to go out as champions.”

Wade Keating is one of the Hilltops defensive captains.

The loss to Regina that Keating refers to was the 2022 PFC final, where the Hilltops dropped a 39-21 decision to the host Thunder at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on October 30 of that year. Those two sides went at it in the 2021 PFC final at Mosaic Stadium, where the Hilltops prevailed 29-9.

This season’s PFC final will be held at the Hilltops home park in Saskatoon Minor Football Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Hilltops head into that clash with a 9-0 overall record, and the Thunder go into that heavyweight tilt with a 7-2 overall mark.

“We see them three times a year most years,” said Keating, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 185 pounds. “This group is ready to go.

“We’ll see them on Sunday.”                                                                                 

In 2023, Keating is part of a Hilltops defensive unit that appears intent on carving out a memorable place in team history. During the team’s eight-game regular season, the Hilltops allowed 51 points against, which is the team’s lowest total in that department since 1949.

During the regular season, Keating recorded 17 solo defensive tackles, 10 defensive tackle assists, two special teams solo tackles, one special teams tackle assist, one pass knockdown, one fumble recovery and one interception. 

Last Sunday in the Hilltops 53-2 romp over the Calgary Colts in a PFC semifinal, Keating had two solo defensive tackles, three defensive tackle assists and one interception that he returned 26 yards for a touchdown. It was the first pick six of his CJFL career.

Wade Keating can play at the line of scrimmage and in coverage.

Keating said it seems like everyone on the Hilltops defensive unit is stepping up to make plays in 2023.

“For guys that weren’t starters last year, we had guys stepping up this year and just making crazy plays,” said Keating, who is a graduate of Saskatoon’s Centennial Collegiate Chargers Football Team. “(Defensive tackle) John Stevens, how many turnovers has he had this year?

“Matthew Wist, Dalton Urban and the list goes on. I think that is just the veteran leadership and carrying over to everyone else as well.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said Keating’s toughness and ability to lead by example have been highly valuable for the club.

“Wade has been absolutely outstanding,” said Sargeant. “Here is a guy a couple of years ago we moved to linebacker.

“He was a starting halfback, but he just has that innate toughness that we need. We wanted to move him close to the line of scrimmage, but we still put him in cover situations. He has just been on point.

“He has been one of our smartest players. He has been one of our toughest players, and he’s been a great leader and a great captain for this defence.”

Going into the 2023 campaign, Keating said he focused on doing well in his off-season workouts to help increase his self-belief on the field.

Wade Keating (#20) walks to the SMF Field surface with his parents.

“I really bought in this off-season, and it really transferred over to the field with just confidence,” said Keating. “Bigger, faster and stronger and especially just between the ears has just been a major difference.”

Keating said the current campaign has been his most fun season with the Hilltops. As the post-season moves on, he wants to take advantage of the opportunities that are presented and soak in and enjoy each day as they come.

“I think that is part of the whole fifth-year mantra as well,” said Keating. “Definitely, it has been a tonne of fun.

“These are my brothers, so it’s been awesome.”

Davidsen racks up three major PFC awards

Boston Davidsen is the PFC’s Most Valuable Player.

When it came to handing out the PFC’s major individuals awards for 2023, the spotlight shined brightly on Boston Davidsen.

The Saskatoon Hilltops star power running back picked up three individual honours when the conference’s awards were announces on Friday. Davidsen was named the PFC’s Most Outstanding Running Back, Most Valuable Player and the Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the year.

During the CJFL’s regular season, Davidson topped the PFC in carries (170), rushing yards (1,184) and rushing touchdowns (nine). He also caught four passes for 33 yards.

Hilltops signal caller Trey Reider took honours as the PFC’s Most Outstanding Quarterback. During the regular season, Reider completed 108-of-167 passes for 1,571 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing five interceptions. His 114.6 quarterback rating topped the PFC.

Hilltops defensive end Riece Kack captured the PFC’s Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman award. Kack led the PFC with 7.5 quarterback sacks. He recorded 11 solo defensive tackles, seven defensive tackle assists, four special teams solo tackles, two special teams tackle assists, one pass knockdown and two fumble recoveries.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant claimed honours as the PFC’s Coach of the Year.

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

Thunder linebacker Stephen Smith was named the PFC’s Most Outstanding Linebacker and Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year. Smith led the PFC with 127 defensive points during the regular season 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 centre Riley Schick captured honours as the PFC’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.

Thunder defensive tackle Liam Sellwood was named the PFC’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. Sellwood had two solo defensive tackles, one defensive tackle assist and an interception during the regular season.

Saints march to OFC title, Rebels and Sun advance

The St. Clair Saints are holding on to the Teddy Morris Memorial Trophy as champions of the CJFL’s Ontario Football Conference.

On Saturday, the host Saints slipped past the London Beefeaters 32-31 at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont., in the OFC final. The win marked the second straight year the Saints have captured the OFC championship.

With the win, the Saints improve to 10-0 overall, while Beefeaters finish out with a 7-3 overall record.

The Saints will travel to Saskatchewan to take part in a CJFL semifinal contest with the time of that clash still to be announced. They will face the winner of the PFC final between the host Saskatoon Hilltops (9-0) and Regina Thunder (7-2) that is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Also on Saturday in Kelowna, B.C., the defending CJFL champion Okanagan Sun downed the visiting Valley Huskers 33-16 in a British Columbia Football Conference semifinal. The Sun improve to 9-1 overall with the win, while the Huskers finish up at 7-4 overall.

In Saturday’s other BCFC semifinal, the Westshore Rebels romped over the Langley Rams 40-14 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, which is a suburb of Victoria, B.C. The Rebels improve to 11-0 overall, while the Rams finish out at 5-5 overall.

The Rebels will host the Sun in the BCFC final with the time of that clash still to be announced. In the lone regular season encounter played between the two squads back on August 26 at Starlight Stadium, the Rebels downed the Sun 52-23.

The BCFC champion will host the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl – on Saturday, November 11.

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

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Hilltops crush Colts 53-2

Saskatoon to host PFC final versus rival Thunder

Hilltops DB Jace Mowles breaks up a Colts pass attempt.

The Saskatoon Hilltops defence looks ready to build off its historic run in the regular season.

The ’Toppers offence appears intent on giving the defence lots of breathing room in case there is any error. That combination spelled doom for the Calgary Colts.

On Sunday playing before 886 spectators at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Hilltops crushed the Colts 53-2 in a PFC semifinal contest. The Hilltops ran their overall record to 9-0 on the campaign, while the Colts, who had the second high scoring offence in the PFC during the regular season, finished out with a 3-6 overall mark.

With the win, the Hilltops advance in the CJFL playoffs to host their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder, who are 7-2 overall, in the PFC final this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at SMF Field. Thunder rallied past the Edmonton Huskies 20-17 in the other PFC semifinal played on Sunday at Leibel Field in Regina. The Huskies finish with a 4-5 overall mark.

Wade Keating returns an interception 26 yards for a touchdown.

During their eight regular season games, the Hilltops allowed 51 total points against, which is the lowest total for the club dating back to 1949 when Canadian Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman Ron Atchison played for the storied squad. Saskatoon was also plus-25 in the takeaway-giveaway department, which was tops in the PFC.

Against the Colts on Sunday, the Hilltops played to form.

The Hilltops defence held the high-powered Colts offence to 91 yards rushing and 149 yards passing. Saskatoon intercepted the ball seven times and forced Calgary to turn the ball over on downs on three occasions. The Hilltops turned the ball over only once on a fumble.

To start the contest, the Hilltops kicked off to allow the defence to set the tone. That first series ended with Colts quarterback Caine Harrison being picked off by Hilltops rising star safety Dalton Urban.

Wade Keating, right, reacts to scoring on a pick six.

From that point, the Hilltops rolled off 27 straight points to lead 27-0 with 24 of those points coming off turnovers.

“What they’ve been doing all year is what they did today,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “They are just on board.

“They’re a special group. That is why we made sure we kicked the ball off to get them on the field and let them set the tone. They certainly did that today.

“Then the offence got their legs underneath them. We’re just flowing and going. Everyone was feeling good, and the plays were the plays. The players made the plays today. It was fun to watch.”

Matt Wist had eight total tackles and an interception for the Hilltops.

Following Urban’s opening series interception, the Colts defence was able to rally and hold the Hilltops to connecting on a 19-yard field goal from kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas, which gave the hosts a 3-0 lead.

Just before 11 minutes had expired in the first quarter, the Colts had to fall on the ball due to a bad punt snap resulting in a turnover on downs. The Hilltops concluded the ensuing offensive series with a one-yard touchdown run from star power running back Boston Davidsen to lead 10-0.

On the final play of the first quarter, Abel-Douglas connected on a field goal from 46 yards out to put the Hilltops lead out to 13-0.

Dalton Urban runs back a first quarter interception.

At the 5:55 mark of the second quarter, Hilltops outside linebacker Wade Keating, who is playing out his final season of CJFL eligibility, intercepted Harrison and ran it back 26 yards for a touchdown to push the host side’s lead out to 20-0.

“That was the first one in CJFL history for me in my fifth year, so that is pretty awesome,” said Keating about his pick six. “You know what? I had some good blocks to get it to the end zone too.”

Right before he made his pick six, Keating said he heard Sargeant calling that it was going to the veteran’s turn to make a big play.

“I heard the big man saying it,” said Keating. “He was calling it out that it was coming to me and just to be ready.

The Hilltops celebrate a second interception from Jace Mowles (#23).

“It came to me, and I was ready.”

Shortly after Keating’s score, the Colts turned the ball over in downs again after having to jump on a loose ball from another bad long snap on a punting situation.

On the ensuing offensive series, Hilltops starting quarterback Trey Reider hit third-year receiver Noah Flaman with a six-yard touchdown pass to give the hosts a huge 27-0 lead.

Before the second quarter ended, the Hilltops had to concede a safety due to bad field position to allow the Colts to get on the scoreboard trimming Saskatoon’s lead to 27-2. A short time later, Colts kicker James Keane was wide on a 44-yard field goal attempt, but Hilltops big play sophomore running back Charles Sawi ran the ball out of the end zone to allow the Hilltops to hold a 27-2 advantage at halftime.

Boston Davidsen ran the ball for 132 yards and two touchdowns.

Sargeant chuckled at the notion the Hilltops defence has gotten to the point of not wanting to give any points and any time.

“It is a stingy group (and) a gritty group that has come so far in a short period of time,” said Sargeant. “There are a lot of new starters out there.

“They’ve embraced their roles. They’ve embraced their jobs. As I said, the coaches put them in good spots.

“It is awesome how they react. I don’t know how many interceptions we had today, but that ball wasn’t going where they (the Colts) wanted it to go. It was exactly where our players needed to be.”

The Hilltops got the third quarter out to an explosive start with a 56-yard touchdown run by Sawi on an outside running play at the 2:08 mark of the frame. That score gave Saskatoon a 34-2 advantage.

Charles Sawi (#18) ran for 127 yards and a TD for the Hilltops.

A short time later, Davidsen scored on another one-yard plunge giving the Hilltops a 41-2 lead.

Hilltops rookie safety Zaden Taylor proceeded to make another interception for the host side. That turned into a single point from a 47-yard missed field goal by Abel-Douglas to inch the Hilltops huge lead to 42-2.

Following that score, the Hilltops pulled Reider out of the contest to allow backup Brexton Elias to get reps the rest of the way.

Right before the third quarter ended, Hilltops third-year cornerback Jace Mowles made his first of two interceptions in the contest. The ensuing offensive series went into the fourth quarter and concluded with a 23-yard field goal by Abel-Douglas to push the Hilltops lead to 45-2.

Xavier Sabo caught five passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.

At the 7:14 mark of the fourth quarter, Elias hit rookie running back Xavier Sabo with a swing pass, and Sabo took the reception 78 yards for the Hilltops final major score putting their lead up to 52-2.

With 68 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Abel-Douglas round out the game’s scoring with a rouge off a 31-yard coffin corner punt attempt that went out of bounds one-yard in the end zone to finalize the 53-2 final outcome in Saskatoon’s favour.

Mowles recorded a sack and a pass knock down to go with his two interceptions. He said it felt good to hold the Colts to two points.

“Our defence is really good, and we want to set the tone for the game for the whole offence,” said Mowles. “We just want to do good and set the tone.”

Part of the 886 spectators who came to SMF Field on Sunday.

Offensively, the Hilltops had a big game on the ground piling up 310 yards rushing as a team.

Davidsen topped the Hilltops in rushing with 23 carries for 132 yards to go with his two rushing touchdowns. Sawi ran the ball 12 times for 127 yards to go with his major score.

Reider had more of a quiet day completing 8-of-11 passes for 65 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He ran the ball twice for 11 yards. Elias hit on 6-of-9 passes for 103 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

Sabo caught five passes for 101 yards and ran the ball once for 17 yards.

The Hilltop Cheerleaders perform at halftime on Sunday.

Harrison completed 12-of-23 passes for 127 yards for the Colts, while throwing six interceptions. Receiver Nicholas Sirleaf finished the contest playing quarterback in relief for the Colts in the fourth quarter completing 2-of-6 passes for 22 yards, while throwing one interception.

Hilltops star 22-year-old middle linebacker Matt Wist had a big game recording eight total tackles, an interception and a pass knockdown. Defensive back Joe Yausie had an interception for Saskatoon.

Middle linebacker Shamus Harrison had eight solo defensive tackles and a fumble recovery for the Colts.

Joe Yausie (#9) secures an interception for the Hilltops.

“We have a lot of respect for Calgary, but these guys were on point today,” said Sargeant. “They defended their home turf.

“Everything that was in front of us we knew what they did. It was fun to watch today. The players had a lot of fun.

“The coaches had a lot of fun. It was a great team win.”

Now, the Hilltops will play the PFC final at home for the first time since 2019, when they won their last CJFL championship posting a 12-0 record in that campaign. Keating was a rookie on that squad and is looking forward to playing in a home conference championship game in his final CJFL campaign.

The Hilltops mark their PFC semifinal victory over the Colts.

“It is a game changer,” said Keating. “You have all the family and friends supporting.

“The atmosphere will be great. It will be a great one.”

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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