Head coach since 1998, Tom "Sarge" Sargeant is set to begin yet another year leading the Hilltops, whose season opener is set for Sunday.
Head coach since 1998, Tom "Sarge" Sargeant is set to begin yet another year leading the Hilltops, whose season opener is set for Sunday.
The Saskatoon Hilltops will be taking territory, not going into taken territory, if Tom Sargeant successfully leads his troops in Winnipeg.
On Sunday, his Toppers battle the host Winnipeg Rifles in their Prairie Football Conference season opener. Coach Sargeant — Sarge, as he has been known for decades — said he is cautiously optimistic, especially with Winnipeg as their first challenge.
"We're feeling pretty good heading into Winnipeg, but, you know, this is where things went south last year," Sargeant said with a chuckle, referring to the Hilltops' 31-11 season-opening loss against the Rifles at the exact same place and almost the exact same date in 2025.
"So we know we're up against it," he added, noting the team is still "excited to go back there" and "redeem ourselves for how we performed last year."
Ultimately, that opening loss mattered little by November, when the Hilltops beat the Okanagan Sun 21-18 at home to win the Canadian Bowl, their league-leading 24th national title.
"Anytime you win a national championship, guys are feeling pretty good about themselves," Sargeant said.
Lots of good recruits but veterans stand out
Besides being returning champs, Sargeant cited as boons to their confidence a great off-season as well as an alumni game victory last Thursday — the latter of which have been rare over the past decade.
More confidence boosters for the Hilltops are the recruits who shone in spring camp and made the roster. Though plenty of promising rookies are coming in, Sargeant instead highlighted players who have done it all before.
"If we're going to have great success," he said, "it's going to be on the backs of my 21 and 22 year olds."
In other words, veterans of junior football.
Sargeant's offensive core includes quarterback Griffin Sander, running back Corbin Ebben, receiver Luke Bednarek and linemen Davin Johnson and Jack Erlandson.
On defense, Sargeant will rely on rush ends Noah Chelsom and Huntur Johnson, linebackers Rudolph Osborne and Zaden Taylor, defensive back Hudson Arneson, and kicker Ryden Gratton.
"And no one can forget about the explosive (special teams standout) Charles Sawi," Sargeant added, whom he expects to have a great year.
For those vets, the Hilltops are "sort of their football team."
Sarge still marching nearly three decades later
As it has been for 27 years as head coach and 34 years overall with the program, Sargeant's goal is a national title — what would be his 16th as head coach.
But it's not so much for him, he said. It's so his fifth-year players can leave as champions.
Though the long-time Walter Murray principal is now retired and peacefully walking, golfing and spending time with his grandson, he says he has the grit for at least one more season on his contract.
"I still believe I got the energy and the passion to keep marching," Sargeant said.
"So I'm in it. I'm in it to win it."
*The Saskatoon Star Phoenix has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.
With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark thestarphoenix.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.*