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Global News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
Conference final loss still cuts deep for Saskatoon Hilltops entering 2025 season
Visions of watching the Regina Thunder celebrate a Prairie Football Conference title on his home turf of SMF Field still haunt Saskatoon Hilltops veteran defensive lineman Johnathon Stevens. Fast forward 10 months later after that devastating loss, it's a feeling that's motivating the two-time conference all-star heading into the 2025 season. 'To an extent it's good to have that taste in your mouth just to remember how it felt,' said Stevens. 'It's just figuring out what we did wrong and also expanding on the things that we did right.' The Hilltops are ready to kick off their 2025 Canadian Junior Football League season on Sunday, hitting the road to battle the Winnipeg Rifles. Saskatoon's defence will be led by Stevens once again, entering a brand new season as a key member of the Hilltops defensive line and being named a second-team All-Canadian at his position. Story continues below advertisement That dominance last season caught the attention of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders, who invited Stevens and Hilltops teammate Dalton Urban to the team's rookie and main training camps in May. That stint at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus included several memorable moments, including a one-on-one matchup with Grey Cup champion and four-time CFL all-star Micah Johnson which became the focal point of practice. 'He's strong,' said Stevens. 'He's strong and he knows some tips there. I know for a fact when we went against each other he was probably licking his lips like, 'Oh I know I'm going to beat him.' Ultimately he did, but I still got something out of it even though I lost.' Stevens was able to parlay that experience towards joining the Roughriders' practice squad, competing on the field nearly every day at Mosaic Stadium over the past two months. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It's an experience he said was a highlight of his football career, with lessons he's aiming to share with his teammates back on the Hilltops. 'I was blessed to have that opportunity,' said Stevens. 'It's only right that I try to at least share that with lots of my teammates, if I ever can.' Tom Sargeant has watched the Eatonia product develop into one of the top defensive linemen in western Canada, a fact which the Roughriders have also identified in their conversations with the Hilltops head coach. Story continues below advertisement 'Talking to the brass down in 'Riderville' he took full advantage of it,' said Sargeant. 'He's a great kid, a character guy, he shows up every day and just works hard. He's brought the same mentality back here. He's working hard, he's a playmaker and he just makes us better. He's educating and working with some of the younger players, providing that valuable experience.' While Stevens will help provide a veteran presence on the Saskatoon defence this season, it will be a much younger Hilltops team taking the field compared to their 2024 roster with nine graduates leaving the program. 2:05 Regina Thunder upset undefeated Saskatoon Hilltops to win 2024 PFC championship The most notable of which being Hilltops quarterback and PFC most valuable player Trey Reider, who threw for 1,685 yards and 17 touchdowns in eight regular season games and won a national championship with the organization in 2023. Reider's departure from the team has opened the door for backup quarterback Brexton Elias to take over behind centre after four seasons waiting for his opportunity to earn a starter's role. Story continues below advertisement 'We're excited for his opportunity because he's been very patient,' said Sargeant. 'He's waited and he's deserving of this chance, so now he's got to take advantage of it. In the blue and gold we're measured by wins and losses, it ain't more simple than that.' Game-planning for a new quarterback leading the offence, Sargeant added the coaching staff has developed new play calls for Elias which allow him to use his legs and put defences on their heels. 'He can run it at any time,' said Sargeant. 'We've given the green light that we're going to run some option, we're just going to change it up and get him moving a little differently. Trey was more of a gunslinger, he'd rip that ball all over the place. 'Brexton is just [playing] a different style of game.' Suffering their first loss in almost two years last October to the Thunder in the PFC final, the Hilltops have seen their streak of 21 consecutive victories come to an end. Unable to stop the run against Regina in the championship game, that has been a key part of training camp for the 'Toppers' according to Sargeant. 'I want to have the most physical team that blocks the best and tackles the best,' said Sargeant. 'If we do those things, then we should be able to run the ball real well and we should be able to stop the run. So that's the whole focus this year.' Story continues below advertisement The Hilltops will have plenty of work ahead towards getting back on track and claiming a 24th national title, however the memories of that game are dictating the lessons learned in defeat for the Hilltops. They're lessons which Stevens said will be displayed starting in their Week 1 contest against the Rifles. 'It's just about growing,' said Stevens. 'It's all we can do coming into this next season. Hopefully looking forward to another good year, but hopefully and ultimately completing the mission.' The Hilltops will kick off their 2025 CJFL season at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Winnipeg, before returning to SMF Field for their home opener on Aug. 17 against the Edmonton Huskies.
CTV News
01-08-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
‘We know what we need to do': Saskatoon Hilltops prepare for season with title aspirations
Hilltops Head Coach Tom Sargeant says the motivation is 'burning bright as ever' when asked about getting back to the PFC final after losing the conference title game against the Regina Thunder last season. 'We know what we need to do. We know how we need to do it. Let's see how it starts tonight,' Sargeant said ahead of Thursday's annual alumni game at Ron Atchison Field. The Hilltops enter the season with some returning veterans at key positions, along with a few younger players hoping to step up, including at quarterback. With the departure of Trey Reider, it would be expected that fifth year pivot Brexton Elias would step into the starting role to carry the offense. But on Thursday, Sargeant says Elias is hurt right now and would not play in the alumni game. So the Week 1 starting quarterback could be Charlie Molder or Hayden McMahon, both of whom saw playing time last season. 'They are in an interesting spot – a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old that have to step up. Until Brexton is healthy, it's who we are and it's what we are.' At running back, the powerful Corbin Ebben is back to carry the rock after averaging 120 yards a game on the ground last season. And Charles Sawi, who returned a missed field goal attempt 112 yards for a touchdown in last year's conference semifinal, is also back with the blue and gold. Defensively, Sargeant says Johnathon Stevens is expected to be a major presence. Stevens, an imposing six-foot, two inches, 285-lb defensive lineman, is back after being invited to Roughrider camp earlier this season, which no doubt offered a great experience. Stevens registered three sacks last year and four tackles for a loss in six games and had six sacks in 11 games in 2023, along with four forced fumbles. Sargeant says he's expecting big things out of Stevens, along with Isaac Michayluk and cornerback Jayce Mowles. But outside of that, Sargeant says the Hilltops still need to put some pieces in place. The Saskatoon Hilltops will open the season on the road on Aug. 10 against Winnipeg before returning for their home opener on Aug. 17 against the Edmonton Huskies.
