CJFL: Hilltops three-peat

Langley, BC: The Saskatoon Hilltops completed the “three-peat” after their come from behind 23-21 victory over the Langley Rams in the 2012 Canadian Bowl on Saturday afternoon.

 

It’s the Hilltops 16th Canadian National Championship in 66 years and third in a row.

 

After a scoreless first quarter the Rams would break the tie first just 1:36 into the second quarter as Greg Bowcott hooked up with Malcolm Williams on a 16 yard strike.

 

The Hilltops would come right back on their next drive finished off by Zach Schmidt and an 18 yard field goal.  Eight minutes later Schmidt again would kick a field goal, this time from 32 yards out to bring the defending champs within one.

 

Before the end of the half Bowcott would connect with Michael Patko for a 73 yard catch and run for a touchdown.  The lengthy receiver broke two tackles to find the end zone with 2:18 to go in the second quarter.

 

At halftime the Rams led the Hilltops 14-6.

 

Four minutes into the third quarter Rams’ running back Daniel Xavier would punch it in from a yard out to extend the Rams lead to 21-6.

 

On their next possession Nick Downey of the Rams fumbled and completely changed the momentum of the game.  Mike Waldron recovered the fumble and returned it to the five yard line.    On the next play Andre Lalonde would scamper into the end zone to bring the score to 21-13.

 

Then in the fourth, Schmidt would connect on his third field goal of the game, hitting from 30 yards out.

 

The comeback from the Hilltops was completed when quarterback Matt Karpinka found Graham Unruh for a 40 yard catch and run for a touchdown.  It was the Hilltops first lead of the game, one they would not relinquish.

 

Unruh would make six catches for a game high 208 yards and a major.  He would be named the Offensive Player of the Game.  Jon Trumpy would add three catches for 47 yards.

 

Karpinka finished six of 23 for 123 yards and a score, and threw two interceptions.  He would platoon with rookie Andreychuk who finished four of 11 for 69 yards.

 

On the ground Andre Lalonde fought for 112 yards on 23 carries.  Andreychuk added six rushes for 47 yards.

 

Defensively the Toppers were led by the Defensive Player of the Game Dylan Kemp. He would tie a Canadian Bowl record with 11 solo tackles.  PFC Defensive Player of the Year Ben Cressman finished with five solo tackles and had an interception.   All-Canadian Donovan Dale had four tackles and the only two sacks the Hilltops would record.  Waldron would add an interception.

 

The Hilltops 16th national championship moves them one head of the Regina Rams for most national titles in Canadian Junior Football League history.

 

Rams quarterback Greg Bowcott would finish 17 of 29 for 198 yards and throw two touchdowns.    He would find six different receivers including Dylan McDermid who caught a game high seven passes for 46 yards.  Patko hauled in three passes for 105 yards.

 

On the ground the Rams were led by Kyle Albertini who carried the ball 14 times for 93 yards.  Downey rushed five times for 31 yards.

 

Linebacker Arie Nakagawa was the best Ram on the field with five tackles and the only sack of the game.   Joe Patko also had five tackles.  The Rams would force four turnovers as Tanner Hamade picked off two passes while Carlo Graziano had an interception in the end zone.  Nick Felicella recovered a fumble.

 

The Rams fall to 0-2 in Canadian Bowl games in franchise history.

 

Canadian Junior Football League
Canadian Bowl – CJFL National Championship
Game Summary
Date: Saturday, November 10, 2012 Start Time: 1:00 PM PST
Saskatoon Hilltops at Langley Rams
at McLeod Stadium, Langley, BC
Game Day Weather
Game Weather: Sunny
Played Outdoor on Artificial Turf
Temp: 6C
Humidity: 42%
Wind: From E 11 km/h
Lineups
Saskatoon Hilltops
Offense
C Rehn Taylor
OL 52 Ben Hodson
OL 55 Keenan Carrier
OL 56 Katlin Dickson
OL 61 Kyle Gordon
OL 65 Matt Leung
OL 67 Keiler Cherry
OL 68 Tristain Hoath
WR 9 Lane Bannerman
WR 11 Chad Braun
WR 12 Graham Unruh
WR 28 Kyle MCginnis
WR 71 Evan Turkington
WR 75 John Trumpy
WR 77 Coleman Young
QB 5 Jared Andreychuk
QB 8 Matt Karpinka
RB 20 Andre Lalonde
RB 21 Tom Shockey
RB 22 Wayndell Lewis
RB 30 Brendan Gryba
Defense
DL 43 Derrick Sorenson
DL 53 Matt Kozun
DL 64 Clayton Sarich
DL 74 Adam Morrison
DL 76 Brett Pisio
DL 79 Donovan Dale
LB 35 Ben Cressman
LB 45 Justin Filteau
LB 47 Quinn Pearce
LB 48 Gaetan Lalonde
LB 50 Dylan Kemp
LB 70 Brennan Thorpe
DB 3 Chris Friesen
DB 17 Austin Thorarinson
DB 23 Colin Keys
DB 24 Mike Waldron
HB 34 Joel Haight
S 19 Reed Hnidy
K/P 73 Zach Schmidt

 

LANGLEY RAMS
Offense
OL 45 Andrew Chicka
OL 50 Anthony Daley
OL 55 Jamie Wandell
OL 58 Shawn Mellesmoen
OL 61 Connor Nopan
OL 64 Brad Goodchild
OL 68 Spensor Lang
QB 2 Greg Bowcott
QB 7 Cecil Belanger
WR 3 Steven Martinez
WR 6 Nick Downey
WR 80 Dylan McDermid
WR 81 Malcolm Williams
WR 89 Michael Patko
RB 5 Kyle Albertini
RB 8 Cory Nitchie
RB 25 David Saringer
RB 27 Daniel Xavier
RB 87 Davi Edmonds
Defense
DL 44 Dan Broberg
DL 65 Alex Agnoletto
DL 90 Evan Foster
DL 92 Luke Andrews
DL 93 Brandon Klein
DL 94 Kyle Griffioen
DL 99 Daniel Sharpe
LB 10 Adam Konar
LB 24 Joe Patko
LB 34 Curtis Schindel
LB 46 Jeremy Preston
LB 47 Jarron Ralf
LB Arie Nakagawa
DB 4 Tanner Hamade
DB 17 Carlo Graziano
DB 21 Jordan Linnen
DB 22 Jaleel Barrett
DB Nick Felicella
DB 28 Joe Lester
DB Ryan Reid
K/P 9 Nick Naylor