The Saskatoon Hilltops had already suffered their first loss in 2024, but head coach Tom Sargeant was not overly concerned.
The Hilltops — minus some starters and key players — dropped a 28-8 decision to the Hilltops alumni. Unlike a year ago, when the younger Toppers were hammered 32-1 by the older Hilltops, this did not set off alarm bells for Sargeant and the coaching staff.
“I’m way happier (this year),” said Sargeant, whose reigning Canadian Junior Football League champion Hilltops open the Prairie Football Conference season Sunday (1 p.m.) at home against the Edmonton Huskies at SMF Field.
“We played way better against the alumni. It’s given us a lot of confidence. You’re going to see an exciting brand of Hilltop football and a team that’s going to be extremely physical and fast and that’s going to love to make a lot of big plays.”
Of course, despite a poor showing a year ago against the alumni, the Toppers went on to capture their 23rd Canadian Bowl title last season. Sargeant said he’s confident heading into the 2024 campaign with a team that has retained 11 of 12 starters on offence.
“Can’t wait,” he said this week as the team prepared for its season-opener.
“That’s a pretty exciting offence.”
He said the team strengths lie in the starters and it begins at the quarterback position with the dynamic Trey Reider. Running backs Charles Sawi and Corbin Ebben are expected to make the “key runs, big runs and the exciting runs,” he added.
Defensively, the team has lost six starters from last year, but six remain along with a lot of back-ups “who got a lot of quality time and playing experience because of how dominant that football team was last year,” he said.
Teijon (Able-Douglas) is back as the opening-day kicker.
“We feel we’re pretty locked and loaded,” summed up Sargeant, “and ready for another great year in 2024.”
Here’s a look at the 2024 Hilltops edition by position:
QUARTERBACK
Reider is back at the helm as one of the CJFL’s top pivots, along with back-up Brexton Elias.
Hayden McMahon and Charlie Molder round out the QB group.
RUNNING BACK
With PFC leading rusher Boston Davidsen out, Ebben and Sawi are the main guys running out of the backfield.
Rookie Brody Komarnick, who was the top newcomer at spring camp, will provide depth along with Stratton Mair, Colton Zimmer, Mitchell Robbie and Talon Coquet.
RECEIVERS
All-Canadian Drake Douglas and Noah Flaman — a “big-time player” — lead the way.
Sargeant predicts that Datiel Fontaine’s is “going to be a breakout player for us” to round out the top three targets.
Other starters include Kyler Kok and Tiernan Braun.
“Coach (Shane) Reider and his offensive staff will create some multiple different looks too,” added Sargeant. “We’re going to be tough to defend.”
OFFENSIVE LINE
Right guard Victoire Bikula returns from a serious leg injury that knocked him out of the lineup last season.
Bikula is joined by fellow starters Cody Shumanski, Jack Erlandson, Matt Noble and Erik Barsness on the O-line.
“You’ve got five guys there who played a lot of football last year,” noted Sargeant. “That’s really exciting to get that offensive line back intact. That’s been as good of a camp surprise as any, just how well that O-line has played for us.”
DEFENCE
D-LINE
Johnathon Stevens, an all-Canadian, “will be huge” and anchors the D-line.
“Kai (Kukurudza) will be our rush end, bringing pressure off the edge — he’s good — and there’s Nahom (Menghestab) inside and Lucas Sosnowski will patrol the boundary and he’s performed well,” assessed Sargeant, adding that Ryan Adamko will also get a lot of playing time.”
Rounding out the D-line are Saskatchewan Huskies transfer Noah Chelsom, Jackson Howes, Javen Mann, Hunter Laursen and Huntur Johnson.
LINEBACKER
Noah Gedir, an all-star last year, returns at Will (weak-side) linebacker.
Issac Michayluk is ready to go, a third-year player, at Mac. “He’s a big physical player,” said .Sargeant.
Andy Scrivens and Zaden Taylor are fighting for the Sam (strong-side) position.
“We’re in good shape.”
Back-ups include Maddox Huynh, Rudolph Osborne, Ty Deutscher, Scott Adamko, Aiden O’Neill and Denym Mantyka.
DEFENSIVE SECONDARY
Safety Dalton Urban — “He had an outstanding year (in 2023)” — leads the way at safety.
He’s joined by returnees Justin Adamko and Jace Mowles at corner, along with starting halfbacks Nathan Young and Isaac Rivalin, who “have had lots of playing time last year and they’ve earned their stripes,” noted Sargeant. “It’s sort of like in-between starters (last year) anyways.
“Our deep third is as good as I can remember in a long time.”
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