Hilltops set to rock ’n’ roll in PFC final against Thunder

Saskatoon aims to shine on big game stage again

Drake Douglas, left, holds on to a deep pass for the Hilltops.

The Saskatoon Hilltops we built for the bright lights of the big game.

Their 23 CJFL championships and 35 conference titles since the modern day version of the club hit the field in 1947 is testament to that. On Sunday, the Hilltops will be playing for their 24^th Prairie Football Conference title and 36^th conference crown overall.

They will host their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in the PFC final.

The Hilltops first conference title came in their inaugural 1947 campaign when they claimed the Saskatchewan Junior Football Rugby Union championship. They proceeded to win the Saskatchewan Junior Football League four times and claim the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Junior Football League crown seven times. From there, 23 PFC titles followed.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said his storied squad is always up for these huge moments.

“It is why we have the tradition that we have,” said Sargeant. “We win big games.

“We’re in a lot of big games. We take advantage of the opportunities. It is who we are.

“These moments aren’t too big for us. We embrace that, we’re excited for it, and we expect to be in them. It is nothing bigger than that.”

The defending CJFL champion Hilltops head into Sunday’s contest sporting a 9-0 overall record and having won their last 21 games overall. The Thunder have a 7-2 overall record and fell to the Hilltops in last year’s PFC final at SMF Field 21-13.

Hilltops QB Trey Reider is the MVP of the PFC.

Saskatoon goes into this year’s PFC final with their 2024 version of “The Triplets” in fifth-year quarterback Trey Reider, fifth-year receiver Drake Douglas and third-year power running back Corbin Ebben. All three were PFC all-stars.

During the regular season, Reider completed 119 of 185 passes for 1,685 yards and 17 touchdowns, while throwing two interceptions. His 119.8 quarterback rating topped the PFC. He picked up honours as the PFC’s most outstanding quarterback, most valuable player and offensive player of the year.

Douglas led the PFC in receptions (58), receiving yards (955) and receiving touchdowns (eight) during the regular season. Over the Hilltops eight regular season contests, he returned 38 punts for a PFC leading 342 yards. The consistent pass catcher claimed honours as the PFC’s most outstanding receiver and most outstanding special teams player.

Ebben ran the ball 157 times for 964 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season, and he got better as the campaign moved on. His rushing yardage total topped the PFC.

Reider enjoys hitting the field with both Douglas and Ebben by his side.

“It obviously helps me out a lot when Drake (Douglas) is catching every ball I’m throwing at him,” said Reider. “When Ebben is running for 10 yards a carry, it really helps us out.

“Corbin (Ebben) has been working hard. Drake (Douglas) has been working hard. That stuff just doesn’t happen overnight.

“It starts at the practice field.”

Corbin Ebben led the PFC with 964 yards rushing.

In the Hilltops two regular season wins over the Thunder, Reider said the team’s offensive line was the reason the venerable club put up the points that allowed victory to be possible. The Hilltops will be looking to their starting offensive line of left tackle Davin Johnson, left guard Erik Barsness, centre Matthew Noble, right guard Jack Erlandson and right tackle Cody Schumanski to have another big outing.

“We’ve been able to control the line of scrimmage,” said Reider. “Our O-line has been doing a great job, and that has been opening up everything else for us.

“I just have to give a big shout out to our O-line for everything they’ve been doing. They’re working hard.”

This will mark the fourth straight year the Hilltops and Thunder have gone at it in the PFC final. Saskatoon claimed two of the previous three meetings.

Hilltops safety Dalton Urban, who picked a PFC all-star selection in 2024, said it is pretty easy to get motivated to play the Thunder in the post-season.

“It is a big tradition,” said Urban. “We always expect to see them at the end of the year.

“It is a long season, but they’re always the team that we have kind of a target on at the end of the year. We’re at this point now. We just have to finish and show up and get the job done.

“They’re always going to be physical. We have to match that, bring our energy, and I think we’ll be good to go.”

Sargeant said both teams have earned their way to get to this point in the campaign. He added the club that plays the best on Sunday will earn the PFC title.

Hilltops RG Jack Erlandson, left, faces Thunder MLB Stephen Smith.

“It is what it is,” said Sargeant. “We’re in the league that we’re in, and we’ve worked hard to finish first.

“They’ve worked hard to finish second, so the best part of all that is we get to host at home. We love home field advantage. We know we have to come out and play our best game of the year, because they’re very well coached and have good players.

“They’re going to come out and play their best game of the year, so we have to match their intensity. We have to match their physicality, and it is just going to come down to who makes more plays that is all it is. That is what it has been the first few times we face each other this year.”

Sun win Cullen Cup to become BCFC champs, other notes

The Okanagan Sun are going to Saskatchewan.

On Saturday at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, B.C., the host Okanagan Sun raised the Cullen Cup as British Columbia Football Conference champions for the second time in three years. In the latest BCFC final, they downed the Westshore Rebels from Langford, B.C., 23-17.

The Rebels entered the contest as the defending BCFC champions. This was also the third straight year the Sun and Rebels met in the BCFC final.

In Saturday’s encounter, the Sun took a 17-3 lead into halftime of their clash with the Rebels. The Rebels got a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter to even the score 17-17 heading into the fourth quarter.

Sun kicker Liam Attwood hit field goals from 31 and 26 yards out in the fourth quarter to push the Sun out to their six-point win. He made all three of his field goals on the day.

Sun defensive back Easton Fenske picked off Rebels quarterback Ethan Pickard on the final play of the contest to preserve victory for the host side.

Backup Liam Kroeger started at quarterback for the Sun in place of Marek Filipek.

Okanagan improved to 12-0 with the win, while Westshore finished out with a 6-6 overall mark.

With the win, the Sun advance to play in a CJFL semifinal against the winner of the PFC final to be played between the defending CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops and the Regina Thunder at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The CJFL semifinal between the Sun and the PFC champion will be played on Sunday, October 27.

The last time the Sun won the BCFC title in 2022 they advanced on to capture the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions.

·         A website called Castanet had a game story of the Okanagan Sun’s Cullen Cup victory over the Westshore Rebels to take the BCFC title. That piece can be found by clicking right here.

·         On Saturday in London, Ont., the host London Beefeaters hammered the Quinte Skyhawks from Belleville, Ont., in an Ontario Football Conference semifinal 65-7.  The Beefeaters improved to 7-2 overall with the win, while the Skyhawks finished at 6-4 overall.

·         On Sunday at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ont., the St. Clair Saints (8-0) host the Ottawa Sooners (5-4) in a second Ontario Football Conference semifinal at 7 p.m. local time.

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Hilltops’ Michayluk modest on PFC defensive points title win

Saskatoon hosts PFC semifinal Sunday against Huskies

Isaac Michayluk (#48) topped the PFC in defensive points.

Isaac Michayluk was well aware he was filling big shoes at middle linebacker for the Saskatoon Hilltops, because he looked up to his predecessor.

Matt Wist was the Hilltops star starting middle linebacker during his last three years with the team from 2021 to 2023. On November 11, 2023, Wist closed out his Hilltops career in a blaze of glory at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C.

Taking on the host Westshore Rebels in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl, Wist piled up three interceptions, nine solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists and one pass knockdown in the Hilltops 17-10 victory. He was named the defensive player of the game.

With Wist having exhausted his CJFL eligibility, Michayluk came into the 2024 campaign playing his third season with the Hilltops and first campaign as the starting middle linebacker. 

He remembers Wist’s final big game that helped the Hilltops win their 23^rd CJFL title in 2023 well. Michayluk wanted to live up to what Wist did with the team, but he did feel the butterflies at the start of the campaign.

“Definitely, I was a bit nervous for sure,” said Michayluk. “I looked up to Matt (Wist) quite a bit.

“He is a role model, and I watched him a lot on the practice field and in games. It is an opportunity that I was given, so I’m just kind of taking it and running with it.”

Michayluk said the 2023 was a big learning year as a backup for the Hilltops as the team posted a 12-0 record to take the CJFL title. During the regular season, the Hilltops gave up 51 points for the squad’s lowest points against total dating back to 1949.

Isaac Michayluk (#48) is one of the PFC’s best run stoppers.

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.

The biggest thing Michayluk observed was Wist and the veterans brought the lunch buckets to every film meeting, practice and game.

“There are no days off,” said Michayluk, who is the team’s backup long snapper. “If you keep working, you keep grinding, it doesn’t really matter what happens.

“If you put the work in, you’ll get what you want out of it.”

Michayluk, who is a graduate of the Bishop James Mahoney High School Saints Football Team, showed in 2024 he was a good student who was able to apply what he learned. In helping the Hilltops post an 8-0 record in the regular season to top the PFC standings, Michayluk led the conference with a 113 defensive points due to 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.

He has become one of the top players on the Hilltops defence as they enter the CJFL playoffs hosting a PFC semifinal contest against the Edmonton Huskies (3-5) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. When it comes to topping the PFC’s defensive points race, Michayluk said the individual accomplishment was a team accomplishment.

“It is pretty cool to have that recognition, but a lot of it is credit to my teammates and the guys up front in the trenches,” said Michayluk, who stands 6-feet and weighs 230 pounds. “Big ‘Nomer’ (Nahom Menghstab) and John Stevens, when they do their job they make it a lot easier for me to do my job.

“A big credit goes out to all my teammates.”

Isaac Michayluk (#48) calls out pre-snap adjustments.

With the Hilltops giving up the fewest points against in the PFC at 106, Michayluk said everyone on the Hilltops defence has had a good year. He can go through the Hilltops defensive unit and note how everyone has done something special. As the middle linebacker, Michayluk said he benefits from the fact everyone around him is playing well.

“It is a lot of fun to play,” said Michayluk. “It is a lot of fun to be around when all the guys are flying around doing their jobs.

“You trust the guy beside you, and you know they’re going to make a play. It is a lot of fun.”

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said the coaching staff is pleased with what Michayluk has been able to do this season. Sargeant said Michayluk put in the work and is getting rewarded for his efforts.

“He is a Hilltop,” said Sargeant. “When Matt (Wist) left, hey, you (Michayluk) are the starting middle linebacker.

“We expect him to play at a high level, and that is exactly what he has done. He had a lot of growing pains, but the good thing last year was we got him in some games too. He got to see himself develop, see himself on film, learn from his mistakes, and that is what he has done.

“He is taking his game to the next level. We are going to need more and more of that, because playoff football is here right now.”

Sargeant said Michayluk has been able to make a lot of plays because the Hilltops defensive line has had a good season. 

Isaac Michayluk (#48) said his teammates make his job easier.

With that said, the sideline boss said it benefitted the first year starter to be a backup behind Wist and pick up nuances of the game from the now graduated star.

“He (Michayluk) had a good role model to follow and learn from,” said Sargeant. “He has stepped right in and played high-end football.

“It is the reason we’ve given up the least amount of points this year as a defence. As a coach, that is always something we look at. Isaac (Michayluk) is a premier run stopper in the PFC.

“We’re very proud of his performance so far, but hey, playoff football is just around the corner. To win in playoff football in my books you have to run the football. We’re going to need him more than ever.”

Michayluk is looking forward to the post-season, and he said his squad was reminded to not take the Huskies lightly when the two sides met last Sunday in Edmonton to close their respective regular season schedules. 

In that contest, the Hilltops prevailed 21-14 holding off a late Huskies fourth quarter drive with an interception by Hilltops rookie defensive lineman Noah Chelsom.

As has been the Hilltops tradition, Michayluk wants to help the squad’s nine graduating players depart their junior careers as CJFL champions.

“That is what this program is built on is winning a championship for the fifth-year guys,” said Michayluk. “That is huge.

Isaac Michayluk (#48) aims to enjoy more big moments with his teammates.

“That is what we’re going to try and duplicate that this year and play for our fifth years.”

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Hilltops CJFL title wins always beat solo honours for ‘Sarge’

Sideline boss still deserves another CJFL coach of the year nod

Tom Sargeant has guided the Hilltops to 14 CJFL titles as head coach.

Being named CJFL coach of the year isn’t high on the priority list of Tom Sargeant.

The legendary head coach of the Saskatoon Hilltops is doing just find lifting the Canadian Bowl over his head as his team wins another CJFL championship. It gives him great pride in his players knowing that the Canadian Bowl will once again reside in the trophy case of the Saskatoon Hilltops clubhouse.

In posting a perfect 12-0 record during 2023 CJFL campaign, the Hilltops captured all the team trophies they could possibly win. The Canadian Bowl was the last of the trophies the Hilltops needed to win to complete the set.

They accomplished that on Saturday when they downed the host Westshore Rebels 17-10 in a CJFL championship game played under a Biblical style downpour at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria. The victory marked the 23^rd time the Hilltops won the CJFL title

With that win in the books, Sargeant has won 14 CJFL titles as the Hilltops head coach, two as an assistant coach and his first came as a receiver in 1985. He is the owner of 17 CJFL championship rings in total.

Despite the impressive total of league title wins, Sargeant has only been named CJFL coach of the year on two occasions. The first came in 2000, when the Hilltops fell 36-28 in the CJFL title game to the Okanagan Sun in Kelowna, B.C. That marked the first time the Hilltops played in the CJFL championship game with Sargeant as head coach.

Sargeant was named the CJFL’s coach of the year for a second time in 2003. The Hilltops blanked the Rebels, who were known as the Victoria Rebels at that time, 59-0 in the CJFL championship game.

Tom Sargeant, second from right, contemplates an offensive play.

The storied Saskatoon club capped a 12-0 perfect season with that win where they set a record that still stands for most points scored in a CJFL championship game. That was the third CJFL title Sargeant won as the Hilltops head coach completing a run where the Hilltops won three straight CJFL titles.

While Sargeant was named the coach of the year for the Prairie Football Conference on numerous occasions since 2003, he has not been given another CJFL coach of the year award even with the Hilltops winning 11 CJFL championships since 2003.

Sargeant has a beyond impressive 236-37-2 career record as the Hilltops head coach, and he holds the record for most amateur post-secondary football head coaching victories in Canada.

The CJFL coach of the year award is named after the late Gord Currie, who is the Canadian Football Hall of Fame having won six CJFL championships as head coach of the Regina Rams from 1965 to 1976. If Currie was still alive, he would have been uncomfortable with the fact Sargeant has only been named the CJFL Gordon Currie Coach of the Year twice despite his Hilltops winning 14 CJFL titles under his watch.

In 2023, Dexter Janke, who was serving his first year as Rebels head coach and assistant general manager, was named the CJFL coach of the year. 

Janke was deserving of the honour as the Rebels posted a 12-1 overall record win 2023, with the one loss coming to the Hilltops in the Canadian Bowl by a seven-point margin.

He is well-known in Saskatoon’s football circles having played running back for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the U Sports ranks from 2010 to 2013. Janke is a quality person, and the odds are high the Rebels will remain in contention to win CJFL titles for however long he wants to remain head coach.

Tom Sargeant has 236 victories as the Hilltops head coach.

With having played defensive back in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders from 2015 to 2017 and winning a Grey Cup with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2019, Janke will likely have an opportunity to coach at that level somewhere down the road, especially with the fact he is still relatively young at age 31.

Still, the Hilltops under Sargeant put together a special campaign in 2023. In the teams eight regular season games, the Hilltops gave up just 51 points, which is the storied squad’s lowest points against total dating back to 1949. 

The 2023 Hilltops gave up fewer points during the regular season than any of the club’s previous 22 CJFL championship winners.

The Hilltops gave up just 25 points in their four post-season games. In their 12 overall contests, the Hilltops outscored their opposition 469-76.

They had this impressive campaign coming off a 2022 season, where they were 6-4 overall and fell in the PFC final to their provincial rivals the Thunder in Regina 39-21. The Hilltops lost 20 players to graduation following that contest, and they didn’t know where they would stack up as the PFC went through a great reset will all clubs graduating a number of players.

At this point at age 58, it seems like the only way Sargeant will win another CJFL coach of the year award if he announces at the start of a season that campaign will be his last as the Hilltops head coach before riding off into the sunset, and the Hilltops proceed to go to the CJFL championship game. 

While that type of last dance run would bring out Hilltops alums in big numbers to their home games to wish Sargeant well, Sargeant wouldn’t be one to have a known final farewell tour season.

On top of that, the idea of Sargeant having a last run isn’t on the radar at the moment. With how passionately his wife, Kris, and adult daughters, Macy and Abby, are into the Hilltops, Sargeant has a strong backing at home to continue coaching the Hilltops for the foreseeable future.

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant stands for the national anthem.

With that said, it shouldn’t take the notion of going on a farewell tour to bring up the possibility of Sargeant winning the CJFL’s coach of the year award again. Still, winning that award is of little concern to Sargeant.

In the big picture, it is about getting the Hilltops players to be at their best on the field in game day action and away from the field in their everyday lives in the community. If the team’s coaches do their job correctly, the CJFL title will follow.

Plus, Sargeant will tell you it is always a beautiful site when the Hilltops keep their trophy case full of all the trophies they can possibly win over the course of a campaign.

The team that wins the Canadian Bowl as CJFL champions will be the happiest and most satisfied at the end of the day, and Sargeant has experienced his share of memorable championship moments at the end of a season.

Wist set CJFL title game record, equals another, other notes

Matt Wist (#44) had an all-time great game in the Canadian Bowl.

Matt Wist’s final CJFL game was one for the record books.

The 22-year-old star middle linebacker and punter had a spectacular outing for the Saskatoon Hilltops as they downed the Westshore Rebels 17-10 on Saturday in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. In that contest played in a heavy downpour at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria, 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. The old record of 28 defensive points was set by Okanagan Sun defensive lineman Matt Lammerding on October 30, 2004. Lammerding piled up his defensive points as the Sun fell 24-7 in the CJFL title game to the host Huskies in Edmonton at Commonwealth Stadium.

Wist’s three interceptions equals the record for most interceptions by an individual in a CJFL championship game. That record was achieved on five previous occasions before Wist picked up three Rebels passes on Saturday.

Larry West of the Edmonton Wildcats was the first individual to intercept three passes in a CJFL championship game. He achieved that feat on November 12, 1967 in the Wildcats 29-6 over the Burlington Braves from Ontario in a CJFL title game played at a neutral site in Regina, Sask.

Bob Korpan was the first Hilltops player to intercept three passes in a CJFL title game making his three picks on November 15, 1969. The Hilltops downed the host Sooners in Ottawa 28-7 in that CJFL championship contest.

Before Wist made three interceptions, Hilltops defensive back Graig Newman has been the last player to record three interceptions in a CJFL championship game on November 12, 2011.  Newman intercepted three passes in the Hilltops 29-1 victory over the host Hurricanes in Hamilton at Ivor Wynne Stadium in that CJFL title game.

On the punting side of things in adverse conditions, Wist punted the ball 10 times for 306 yards for an average of 30.6 yards per kick and a net average of 27.3 yards per kick.

• In the Hilltops 17-10 CJFL championship game over the Rebels on Saturday, Rebels receiver Cairo Berry was named the special teams player of the game. Berry returned one kickoff for 81 yards for a touchdown and seven punts for 33 yards.
• The CJFL handed out its major award last Friday. Head coach Dexter Janke of the Rebels was named the Gordon Currie Coach of the Year, quarterback Te Jessie of the Rebels was the Peter Dalla Riva Outstanding Offensive Player, linebacker Stephen Smith of the Regina Thunder was the Larry Wruck Outstanding Defensive Player and defensive back Dylan Roberts of the London Beefeaters was special teams player of the year. The offensive rookie of the year was receiver Darius France of the St. Clair Saints, and the defensive rookie of the year award went to linebacker Noah Nelson of the Ottawa Sooners. Kicker Ethan Hartman of the Edmonton Huskies took the Past Commissioners Award for community involvement, Paul Dimini of the Calgary Colts took the CJFL Stewart MacDonald Executive of the Year award, CJFL deputy commissioner Paul Shortt took the Ed Henick Meritorious Service Award, Darcy Park of the Edmonton Wildcats took the CJFL Life Member Award and the Hamilton Hurricanes claimed the Rick Smoke Community Involvement Award.
• Trey Reider has a 16-1 career record as the Hilltops starting quarterback. He is eligible to play one more season for the storied CJFL club.
• Rob Vanstone, who is the senior journalist and team historian of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, put together a great piece on the Hilltops CJFL championship game win over the Rebels. That piece can be found by clicking right here.
• Vanstone checked in with another great piece on Darren Abel, who is a football consultant on the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles Football Team. Abel has a long history with the Eagles that includes playing for the team from 1981 to 1983 and serving as head coach from 1995 to 2019. The piece came out this past Wednesday before the Eagles downed the visiting Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears from Saskatoon 35-15 in the SHSAA’s 5A championship football game. The piece on Abel can be found by clicking right here.
• Regina’s Miller Comprehensive Catholic High School Marauders won the SHSAA’s 6A football championship on Saturday for a third straight year. In Saturday’s title game, the visiting Marauders slipped past the host Holy Cross High School Crusaders of Saskatoon 12-10 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
• On Saturday at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver, B.C., the host University of British Columbia Thunderbirds slipped past the University of Alberta Golden Bears 28-27 in the Canada West Conference championship game – the Hardy Cup. Trailing 27-21, Thunderbirds quarterback Garrett Rooker hit receiver Sam Davenport with time expired in the fourth quarter with a 13-yard touchdown toss to win the game.

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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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.

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 offence comes in under radar at Canadian Bowl

Boston Davidsen topped the PFC with 1,184 yards rushing.

In 2023, the Saskatoon Hilltops are living out a campaign where the defence has overshadowed the offence.

The defence of the venerable CJFL club has garnered the bulk of the attention on the team after giving up just 51 points in eight regular season games, which is the lowest points allowed total for the squad in the regular season dating back to 1949. The Hilltops have given up just 15 points in three post-season games. In building an 11-0 overall record, the Hilltops are giving up an average of just six points a game.

While the defence is having a special season, the Hilltops offence has quietly has a great season of its own with some strong accomplishments. The Hilltops topped the PFC in regular season scoring with 335 points for an average of 41.9 points per game. Saskatoon finished second in total offensive yards gained in the PFC at 3,556.

In three post-season contests, the Hilltops have scored 117 points for an average of 39 points scored per game.

The PFC champion Hilltops close their 2023 campaign Saturday, when they face the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The two sides will go at it at Starlight Stadium at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

The Hilltops will be attempting to win their 23^rd CJFL championship and first title since 2019, while the Rebels are still searching for their first CJFL title in team history. The Rebels lost their only two CJFL championship appearances in team history back in 2016 and 2003, when they were known as the Victoria Rebels, to the Hilltops.

Hilltops star power running back Boston Davidsen will be playing the final game of his CJFL career on Saturday before exhausting his junior eligibility. Davidsen led the PFC in carries (170), rushing yards (1,184) and rushing touchdowns (nine). He believes the Hilltops offence will play a factor in how Saturday’s CJFL title game turns out.

“I think that offensively it is less about the stats and more about the will we have each game,” said Davidsen. “I think we will come with that on Saturday.

“I think the stats that we’ve put out haven’t been the most accurate of our offence. I think we’ve done a good job of improving every game in mental aspects as well. It is stuff that doesn’t necessarily show up on the stats sheets.

“I think we will look forward to translating that to Saturday.”

Drake Douglas is a reliable sure-handed receiver.

The Rebels offence has been in the spotlight heading into the Canadian Bowl along with the Hilltops defence. In 10 regular season games, the Rebels scored 583 points for an average of 58.3 points scored per game. Westshore has scored 73 points in two post-season contests for an average of 36.5 points per game.

The Rebels have the CJFL’s marquee player in quarterback Te Jessie. 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. 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. He was named a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star on Thursday.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant respects the Rebels but said he likes his guys on offence going into the CJFL title contest.

“We just are who we are,” said Sargeant, whose 235 career head coaching victories are the most for post-secondary amateur football in Canada. “We’re going to run the football.

“We’re going to get Trey (Reider) going and get our receivers going. They know who were going to throw the ball too. As I said, we’re very confident with who we are and how we do business, and I am sure they are too.

“The difference is we’re walking into their barn. This team, they’ve displayed and showed the ability to you know what, they’ve handled all circumstances. They’ve done it all year and done it very admirably.”

Hilltops star quarterback Trey Reider has had a great season. He 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.

Sure-handed receiver Drake Douglas hauled in 56 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns for the Hilltops. Pass catcher Noah Flaman, who is known as “TD Noah,” caught 21 passes for 422 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season.

The Hilltops showed they could change up their strategy during their 43-0 victory over the OFC champion St. Clair Saints from Windsor, Ont., in a CJFL semifinal played on October 29 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Saskatoon created big plays off the play-action pass to build a 21-0 advantage just 33 seconds into the second quarter and cruised to victory at that point.

Trey Reider had a 114.6 quarterback efficiency rating this season.

Davidsen was a decoy in a lot of instances in that contest carrying the ball 13 times for 62 yards. The Hilltops still piled up 165 yards rushing in that contest to go with 235 yards passing.

In going against a Rebels defence that gave up an average of 11.2 points per game in the regular season, Davidsen didn’t tip his team’s hand but added his side will be prepared entering the Canadian Bowl.

“All I know is our coaches have a great game plan for us,” said Davidsen. “We have been reliant on our defence at times this year.

“We’re going to try and take another step forward in our final game together with this group to maybe lead the charge a little bit. I think that it is just going to come down to can we work together, can we get it done. It is more about how much we want it than any kind of play we can put out there.”

Davidsen believe the players on the Hilltops offence are going to rally together to have a good outing against the Rebels.

“I’m as confident as the guys around me are confident,” said Davidsen. “It is not something that I can project confidence on to this team, or they can tell me everything is going to be fine.

“It is has to be something we do together. We put our arms around each other, work as hard as we can and I think if we, you know, give it our all things will turn out OK.”

With the Hilltops last appearing in the Canadian Bowl in 2019 when they down the Rams in Langley 11-6, the experience of playing in the CJFL championship game is new to almost all the players. The Hilltops have six holdovers who were members of the 2019 CJFL title winning squad.

Sargeant and his coaching staff have lots of experience guiding their squad in the CJFL championship game. While the experience is new for most of his players, Sargeant is going in expecting to close out a campaign the right way having already guided the Hilltops to 13 CJFL title wins as head coach.

“We expect to be in big games all the time,” said Sargeant. “As I said, this coaching staff has done a great job with the pedigree they have to get this team to start believing where they should be and what they need to do to get there.

“They’ve done that. You know what, we’re excited for the process that is taking place. When you’ve come this far, you want to finish it off now. We know it is not going to be easy.

Noah Flaman has been money in the end zone.

“We know going into Westshore we’re the underdogs. Hey, the B.C. league has won the Canadian championship the last two years. We need to get real about that.”

Davidsen, who was a member of the 2019 CJFL title winning team, added the fact Saturday’s game will be the last for his CJFL career has crossed his mind more and more. His goal is to leave one last final good impression.

“It is a bit of a surreal feeling,” said Davidsen. “It feels like I’ve been part of this team for a huge portion of my life, and it has been.

“It has been a good five years. I think the mindset has to be make sure you don’t regret you last moment as a Hilltop.”

Last hurrah for Hilltops grads, other notes

Matt Wist will play his final CJFL game on Saturday.

The Saskatoon Hilltops are one win away from once again helping their graduating players depart their junior football careers as CJFL champions.

On Saturday, the PFC champion Hilltops (11-0) close the 2023 campaign taking on the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels (12-0) in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The two sides will go at it at Starlight Stadium at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

For eight members of the Hilltops, the CJFL title game will be the final contest of their junior football careers.

The group of eight includes six players who were members of the Hilltops last CJFL title winning team in 2019. The holdovers include defensive tackle Craig Torgerson, 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. The Hilltops will be trying to win their 23^rd CJFL title in team history.

For a lengthy stretch of time, the Hilltops mantra has been to help their graduating players leave the CJFL as champions. Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said the team’s graduating players have played a huge part in helping the club go undefeated heading into the CJFL title game.

“If it wasn’t for our fifth-year players, we’re not in the game,” said Sargeant. “We need them to be our best players like they’ve been all year.

Evan Ward has made key timely catches for the Hilltops.

“I don’t see any of that to change. We’re going to put them in the spots. We’re going to give them the play calls for them to do what we’ve seen all year and that is about as simple as that.

“It will be their job to lead on the field and make the plays, and the other guys will follow suit. If we do that, then things are always going to go well for the blue and gold.”

Wist took home individuals honours this season being named a second team CJFL all-Canadian all-star at linebacker and a first team all-Canadian at punter. The 22-year-old recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and three interceptions during the regular season.

On the punting side during the regular season, 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. He has been soaking in his final days as a CJFL player.

“Time has definitely flown by,” said Wist. “Day in and day out, it just goes by in a flash, so I am just soaking this last week in.

“I’m just glad to be around the guys for this last week. We’re going as far as we can, so it makes me happy.”

• The Hilltops and Rebels last met head to head in the CJFL title game on November 12, 2016 at what was known as then Westhills Stadium at Langford. The Hilltops claimed a 37-25 victory on that day. The post about that contest can be found by clicking right here.
• The Hilltops and the then Victoria Rebels went head-to-head in the CJFL championship game on November 8, 2003 at Exhibition Stadium in Chilliwack, B.C. The Hilltops romped to a 59-0 victory in that contest. The 59 points the Hilltops scored that day is still a record for a CJFL championship game.
• Westshore Rebels head coach Dexter Janke played running back for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team in the U Sports ranks from 2010 to 2013. He claimed honours as the BCFC’s coach of the year this season.
• The Hilltops will be attempting to complete their sixth perfect season in team history on Saturday. Saskatoon’s 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.
• I was back in the pages of the Prince Albert Daily Herald on Wednesday with a story on University of Alberta Pandas Women’s Hockey Team power forward Abby Soyko. Soyko is an alumna and an all-time great with the Prince Albert Northern Bears female under-18 AAA team. The story on Soyko can be found by clicking right here.
• On November 9, I had new content appear on the Howe Happenings blog that supports the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. I put together a piece on star pitcher Andrew Albers, who had stints in the MLB from 2013 to 2021 with three different teams, electing to retire from playing to move into coaching in baseball on a full-time basis. The piece on Albers can be found by clicking right here. I also put together a photo roundup that shows a CJFL record being broken and focuses on various championship chases in football drawing to a conclusion. 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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Hilltops defence faces greatest challenge in Canadian Bowl

Rebels high-powered offence led by CJFL’s marquee player

The Hilltops defence had made life miserable for opponents.

The stingy Saskatoon Hilltops defence will finish the 2023 campaign facing its toughest test to date.

In 2023, Saskatoon’s defence is having a season for the ages. The Hilltops gave up just 51 points in eight regular season games, which was their lowest points allowed total dating back to 1949 and lower than any of the regular season points against totals given up by the storied squad’s 22 CJFL championship winning clubs.

In the post-season, the Hilltops have given up just 15 points in three games. While building an 11-0 overall record, the Hilltops are giving up an average of just six points a game.

On Saturday, the PFC champion Hilltops close the 2023 campaign taking on the BCFC champion Westshore Rebels in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl. The two sides will go at it at Starlight Stadium at 3 p.m. local time which is 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time in Langford, B.C., which is a suburb of Victoria.

The Rebels went 12-0 overall thanks to the work of their high powered offence, which is led by the CJFL’s marquee player in quarterback Te Jessie. 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. 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. He was named a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star on Thursday.

“You see why both teams are in the Canadian final,” said legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant. “They have an offence that is certainly worthy of big play potential and putting all those points on the board.

“Our defence has been as stingy as any defence in Canada. You are getting two marquee units going at it, so it comes down to our offence versus their defence and our special teams, which is a third of the game. There are a lot of things in play here.

Dalton Urban returns an interception for the Hilltops.

“Hey, that is why you play the games. It is lot of fun to coach and prepare. As I said, we’re one of two teams left in the CJFL playing. That means a lot to us.”

Hilltops defensive tackle Craig Torgerson, who will exhaust his CJFL eligibility once the Canadian Bowl ends, said it was a source of pride for the players on the club’s defence to have allowed the fewest points against since 1949.

“It is actually very special,” said Torgerson. “It is probably one of the better defences I’ve ever played on in my life.

“I definitely won’t take it for granted. The defence has put in a lot of hard work as well as the offence. I just like to see it paying off.”

A lot of players on the Hilltops defence had big seasons. Defensive end Riece Kack topped the PFC in sacks in each of the past two seasons recording 7.5 sacks in each of those campaigns respectively. Safety Dalton Urban finished second in the PFC in interceptions with five.

Defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens collected 20 solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists, three quarterback sacks, one pass knockdown, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Defensive back Carter Wingert had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries playing out his final CJFL campaign for the Hilltops. Matt Wist, who is the Hilltops star 22-year-old middle linebacker, recorded 22 solo defensive tackles, 17 defensive tackle assists, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and three interceptions this season.

Wade Keating, who is an outside linebacker, 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.

Outside linebacker Noah Gedir had a breakout season for Saskatoon with 17 solo defensive tackles, 14 defensive tackle assists, nine special teams solo tackles, one quarterback sack, two pass knockdowns, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Wade Keating has been a consistent outside linebacker.

Rebels’ running back Gerren Hardisty powered the Rebels rushing attack running the ball 108 times for 1,084 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season. Receiver Cairo Berry had 41 catches for 526 yards and 18 touchdowns. Pass catcher Kieran Poissant had a big campaign for the Rebels hauling in 54 passes for 849 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Wist said the players on the Hilltops defence are eager to see how they match up against the Rebels offence.

“It is definitely going to be a challenge for us, and we’re looking forward to it,” said Wist, who will be playing his last career CJFL game in the Canadian Bowl. “We’re always looking to build to be a better team, and they are going to give us a good challenge.

“I’m just looking forward. It is going to be a good game. I think we’re going to show up and do what we can.”

Matching up against a quarterback that has piled up the accomplishments an accolades Jessie has also has gotten the players on the Hilltops defence excited.

“It is kind of at the back of your mind a little bit,” said Kack. “He (Jessie) is certainly a spectacular player.

“We’re definitely looking to get after him and give him a bit of our treatment.”

One of the tradition strengths of the Hilltops defence under defensive coordinator Jeff Yausie has been the unit’s ability to create turnovers. Wist said his club’s defence will try to repeat that traditional trend.

“Those turnovers would definitely help our offence in just field position wise,” said Wist. “I think, if we are doing our jobs and executing our assignments, I think we will be in the right spots to make those turnovers.”

The Hilltops defence hopes to celebrate big plays in the CJFL final.

Going into Saturday’s game, Wist said the Hilltops confidence is in the right place.

“It is definitely high, but we are definitely humble,” said Wist. “They are a good team.

“We know that. They went undefeated as well. They have set records this year, so it is going to be a good matchup.

“We’re definitely coming in there confident, because we know what we’ve done this season and have accomplished.”

Davidsen, Kack lead Hilltops all-Canadian parade

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

The Saskatoon Hilltops saw a number of their best players earn CJFL all-Canadian all-star honours with the team posting an 11-0 record and earning a berth 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.

On Thursday, the first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars on offence were announced. Hilltops power running back Boston Davidsen was named a first team all-Canadian after carrying the ball 170 times for 1,184 yards and nine touchdowns in eight regular season games.

Receiver Drake Douglas also took first team all-Canadian honours after catching 42 passes for 591 yards and four touchdowns in regular season play. Hilltops right tackle Cody Shumanski captured a first team all-Canadian spot on the offensive line.

Teijon Abel-Douglas claimed honours as first team all-Canadian 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.

Quarterback Te Jessie and receiver Kieran Poissant were the members of the Rebels offence who were named first team all-Canadians.

Riece Kack (#47) led the PFC with 7.5 sacks in the regular season.

On Wednesday, the first team CJFL all-Canadian all-stars on defence were announced. Hilltops defensive end Riece Kack and defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens claimed first team all-Canadian honours.

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.

Stevens collected 20 solo defensive tackles, four defensive tackle assists, three quarterback sacks, one pass knockdown, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Hilltops middle linebacker Matt Wist took honours as a first team all-Canadian at punter. He 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.

Linebacker Demar Hohnstein and defensive back Gio Linuzzi were the Rebels first team all-Canadians on defence.

On Tuesday, the Rebels had four plays named second team all-Canadian all-stars on offence. Running back Gerren Hardisty, receiver Cairo Berry and offensive linemen Xavier Venkataya and Camauri Barney were second team all-Canadians.

The second team all-Canadian all-stars on defence were announced on Monday. Wist and safety Dalton Urban claimed second team all-Canadian honours from the Hilltops, while defensive lineman Cody McMahon of the Rebels was dubbed a second team all-Canadian.

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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