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The Saskatoon Hilltops took care of the St. Clair Saints 43-0 to advance to the Canadian Bowl.
This is the first time since 2019 the Hilltops have been in the Canadian Bowl.
Despite the cool conditions Sunday at SMF Field, the Hilltops’ offence was on fire from the moment the game started.
The Hilltops were blessed with a Saints fumble that resulted in an early touchdown.
Saskatoon head coach Tom Sargeant said he couldn’t be more proud of his team.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling,” said Sargeant. “(I’m) so proud of my fifth-year players and my coaching staff who galvanized (and) got this thing sorted out.”
Hilltops quarterback Trey Reider connected for three touchdowns on the day.
Hilltops running back Charles Sawi ran in the fourth touchdown of the game for the Hilltops.
The Canadian Bowl will feature a 2016 rematch between the Hilltops and the BCFC-champion Westshore Rebels, a game which the Hilltops won.
Sargeant said he knows going into the Canadian Bowl his squad is going to be seen as the underdog.
“It’s not often we are in that position but we are going to embrace that,” said Sargeant.
Going into the game a lot of focus was put on the weather and if the Saints would be able to adjust to the cooler conditions.
Throughout the game it was noticeable that it took some of the Saints players a considerable amount of time to get up after a tackle compared to the Hilltops.
Sargeant said he thinks the weather did play a huge factor in the game.
“I think it’s huge, you know they came from about 24 degrees, you come to this and we embrace this,” said Sargeant. “When they were landing it was like they were landing on concrete and we were landing on trampolines.”
But it wasn’t all offence Sunday for the Hilltops as defensive lineman Riece Kack set a Canadian Junior Football record for the most sacks in a playoff game with six.
Sargeant said Kack is a leader, an energy guy and someone they lean on.
“He loves the game and we feed off him,” said Sargeant. “For him to have that type of play today in the biggest game of our season so far, that just speaks volumes of who he is and what he means to us.”
As for Kack he credits his teammates for his success.
“Without the DBs, linebackers, that wouldn’t have been possible,,” said Kack.
This was the first time all season the Saints have been shut out.
