TOPPERS FOUR-PEAT
Win CJFL final 56-11
Four-peat — it sounds so neat — and not to mention a real rare treat.
“No one in 110 years (of junior football history) had won four in a row, and we just did that,” pointed out Saskatoon Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant, whose team set a Canadian Junior Football League record over the weekend by capturing a fourth straight Canadian Bowl with a convincing 56-11 victory over the Windsor AKO Fratmen at Windsor, Ont.
“That tells me what a unique coaching staff I have and what a unique group of men we’re able to coach. This is football — things don’t always go the way you want it to go — and we found a way to do it four times in a row. So many programs, they just want to do it once; this is our 20th national championship. That’s off the charts.”
Saskatoon has now won seven of the last eight Canadian Bowl finals.
Running back Joshua Ewanchyna and fifth-year graduating receiver Ryan Turple led the way Saturday with a pair of touchdown runs each for the Hilltops, who were quickly up 16-0 after the opening quarter.
Running back Logan Fischer, quarterback Jordan Walls and fifth-year graduating defensive end Tommy Schnitzler also scored TD majors for Saskatoon.
Walls, who took over the reins as starting quarterback this season following the graduation of Jared Andreychuk, was named Canadian Bowl MVP on offence. Walls completed nine of 13 passes for 153 yards and two TDs. He also ran the ball once for a 32-yard TD.
Defensively, the Hilltops were able to capitalize on numerous Fratmen turnovers, including a fumble recovery on the one-yard line by Tommy Schnitzler during the opening series of the game after a bad snap sailed over the Fratmen punter.
“We made too many fundamental mistakes, too many mental errors,” said AKO defensive coordinator and team owner Mike Morencie.
“They (the Hilltops) don’t make mistakes or turnovers. They keep the pedal on the metal.”
In their drive for four straight titles, the Toppers had four fumble recoveries. Graduating fifth-year senior defensive back Luke Melnyk, who was named the Canadian Bowl defensive MVP, added a pair of interceptions.
“There’s no other feeling in the world,” said Melnyk.
“Going back to my rookie year, we were on the brink of a threepeat and we came up short. Just the look on their faces, it really brought our rookie group (now fifth-years) together. We came out and played our best football over the past four years.”
On Saturday, the game was never in doubt for Saskatoon, which led 37-7 at the half and 44-11 after three quarters. The Hilltops racked up 401 yards in total offence, including 188 rushing yards and 213 passing yards.
Adam Machart carried the ball 11 times for 80 yards. Fischer had 14 rushes for 46 yards to go along with three catches for 83 yards. Turple had three receptions for 38 yards and two majors.
Windsor had 188 rushing yards and 213 passing yards but lost 124 yards due to penalties.
The Hilltops and Fratmen last met in the national championship in 1996, with Saskatoon prevailing 39-7.
Saskatoon went 11-1 this season after finishing with a 7-1 record in the Prairie Football Conference. The Hilltops racked up playoff wins over the Winnipeg Rifles, Regina Thunder and Vancouver Island Raiders before defeating the Fratmen.
The Hilltops have risen to the top 20 times since 1953 with 11 of those coming under coach Sargeant.
“As you get older, you appreciate it more,” admitted Sargeant, “but it also grinds on you a little more.
“This was the right team to get that No. 4. To see them accomplish that here, our coaching staff was exemplary in preparation, performance and belief in the players. This team just had a resiliency and character about it that was so unique and for them to be the first team ever (to win four straight) means a lot.
“It’s been a long year. We’re just going to sit back and enjoy it. This has been one year to remember.”