The first season in the Canadian Junior Football League as members of the Saskatoon Hilltops is one that Taylon Elderkin and Jesse McNabb won’t soon forget.
The North Battleford natives and former players for the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings football team had the chance to hoist the Canadian Bowl trophy on Saturday in Langford, B.C.
“It’s been a pretty unreal experience in a number of ways,” Elderkin, who plays on the offensive line, said.
“To come in as a first-year player and help the team win a third straight national title is something that’s pretty hard to explain.”
The Hilltops picked up their 19th national title, and their sixth in the last seven years Saturday, after a 37-25 win over the Westshore Rebels.
“I think a lot of people assume that we’re the best team in the country, but there’s a lot of hard work that everyone does in order to be successful,” McNabb, who plays on the defensive line, said.
“We’ve approached every game like it’s the first game of the season. We have a great leadership group of fifth year players that help us to keep our heads on straight and remind us of what we have to do.”
Having both finished up their high school football careers last season, Elderkin and McNabb both spent the early part of the campaign getting used to playing at a higher level of football in the Prairie Football Conference.
“The speed and intensity is a lot different than what you experience while playing in high school,” Elderkin said. “It’s a high energy level at practice and it’s pretty crazy to go out there and see how things are done.”
“The size of the guys you are playing against is something you notice right away,” McNabb added. “The offensive line on the Rebels was huge compared to some of the teams that we faced this year, so you have to be ready for that.”
Although McNabb didn’t suit up for Saturday’s final, the experience of being on the sideline with the Hilltops was something that he says he’ll remember for a long time.
“Flying out there with the guys and seeing all of the preparation from our veterans on what you have to do in order to be ready for a championship game was very exciting,” McNabb said.
“Even as a first-year player, the veteran players on the Hilltops make it really easy for you to get used to playing for a new team and in a new league. I made the most of my chances to be on the field this year and I hope to build on that experience when I come back next year.”
Elderkin and the rest of the offensive line played a key role in running back Logan Fisher’s success, as he won the offensive most valuable player award after rushing for 202 yards and scoring a pair of touchdowns.
“For him to do that in a Canadian Bowl final is something that was pretty stunning to witness,” Elderkin said.
“Once we were able to get our running game going, it allowed us to open up things on offence and we were able to have some big passing plays.”
Elderkin will also be returning to the Hilltops next season as the team looks to win a fourth straight title.
