Photo courtesy of Louis Christ Photography

The quarterback position is usually measured by wins and specifically playoff wins.

Since the 2014 season the Saskatoon Hilltops have not lost a playoff game on route to back to back Canadian Bowl titles and on Saturday they are searching for a three-peat.

Quarterback Jared Andreychuk has been at the helm for all Hilltops’ post season victories since ‘14 and with a win on Saturday could become the greatest CJFL playoff quarterback of all time.  He’ll play in his fourth Canadian Bowl in five years in his final game of junior football.

In his first two seasons (2012-2013) he played sparingly, until he took over the starting job in 2014 and is a perfect 8-0 as the Hilltops starter in the post season including the two victories this year.  During this span he’s completed 122 passes for 2,037 yards and thrown an incredible 21 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions.  He’s averaged 254.6 yards a playoff game and has completed 58% of his passes.
Under Andreychuk the Hilltops have outscored the opposition 301-150 in the post season and in the two previous Canadian Bowls have averaged a 19 point victory.

As a matter of fact since Andreychuk’s rookie season in 2012, the Hilltops have lost just one playoff game; the PFC Final in 2013. So with him on the playoff roster they are 15-1 with three Canadian Bowl titles, including two won in the BC.

“Here’s a guy in his fourth Canadian Bowl as a quarterback, I`m not sure if there’s a lot of people that can ever touch that,” says Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant .  “He`s just been fantastic and we’re looking for him to come out and show that experience and show that great play making ability he’s all about.”

When one compares Andreychuk’s numbers to one of the all time best CJFL quarterbacks of recent memory, the numbers are staggering.  Jordan Yantz of the VI Raiders (2009-2012) was absolutely lethal during the regular season seemingly setting a new record every year and finishing his career 38-1-1.   However with all his accolades in the regular season, it didn’t transpire into playoff wins.  He started four years with the Raiders and had a post season record of 9-3, appearing in the Canadian Bowl twice with a 1-1 record.

This Saturday Andreychuk’s counterpart Ashton MacKinnon is playing in his first Canadian Bowl, now in his second season with the Westshore Rebels.  He’s 2-0 in the two playoff games he’s appeared in, after a 2-8 season last year.

Win or lose on Saturday, Andreychuk will go down as one of, if not the best CJFL playoff performers in history.  With a victory and his fourth ring, he could be considered the best ever.  Let the debating begin!

Kick-off on Saturday for the 109th Canadian Bowl is set for 1:00pm at Westhills Stadium in Langford, just outside Victoria.