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First place clinched.
Check.
Home-field advantage.
Check.
The Saskatoon Hilltops have not only wrapped up first place in the Prairie Football Conference but they’ve been assured of home-field advantage for the upcoming PFC playoffs and potentially the Canadian Junior Football League national semi-final should the Toppers get that far.
At 7-and-0 and savouring a big 36-11 win over the provincial rival Regina Thunder on Saturday night, the Hilltops are clearly on a roll and on the right path.
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“This is the best we’ve played all year. Everything’s coming at the right time,” acknowledged Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant.
“We had to come out and play hard and play aggressive, and that’s what we did. Super happy with what took place and now we’ve got to keep building. We clinched first, but now, who cares?
“We’ve got to keep moving.”
The Hilltops will move on to their final regular-season game. They’ll visit the Edmonton Huskies (3-4) in what could be a preview of a PFC semifinal playoff matchup, which Saskatoon would host on Oct. 13 at SMF Field.
The Huskies are in fourth and would remain there with a loss to the Hilltops this weekend.
“We love playing at home,” noted Sargeant. “We worked hard to be in the spot we’re in. Now we’ve got to take advantage of it.
“We’re off to the Edmonton Huskies (next game). We could be playing them two weeks in a row. You know what? We just can’t give an inch to anything or anyone. This is the type of group that’s pretty locked and loaded right now.”
Saturday’s contest against Regina was the final regular-season home game for graduating senior players on the Hilltops who were honoured, along with their parents, prior to Saturday’s contest.
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Included in that group is middle linebacker Noah Gedir.
“It’s good to have that fifth-year appreciation night and walk out with the parents and really take this moment in because you only get so many opportunities to play here at SMF,” said Gedir. “Enjoy it while it lasts, and we’re definitely going to enjoy it now.
“Hopefully we can keep moving forward.”
Overall, Regina was held to 281 yards in total offence while Saskatoon racked up 493 yards.
Veteran quarterback Trey Reider shone in the win, slinging the football for 14 completions, 272 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball four times for 26 yards.
The prime targets were Datiel Fountaine, who caught six passes for 106 yards and two TD majors, and leading PFC receiver Drake Douglas, who had five receptions for 132 yards.
“It’s just the evolution of what (Reider) has become,” noted Sargeant. “He’s a dominant football player. He runs our systems exactly how they need to be run. He’s on point with all of his throws.”
Running back Corbin Ebben had his best night as a Hilltop, running the ball 29 times for 196 yards and a TD. He also caught one pass for 14 yards.
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“And Corbin Ebben, how about that?” noted Sargeant. “Look at what that’s becoming.”
Place-kicker Teijon Abel-Douglas nailed five of five field-goal attempts for Saskatoon. Shawn Green was good on one of two tries for Regina.
dzary@postmedia.com
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