Photo courtesy of @in_motion_sports_photography

The 2024 CJFL season was a record breaking one with so many outstanding individual and team performances culminated with the St. Clair Saints hosting the 116th Canadian Bowl for the first time in 25 years.

In addition to team successes, there were plenty of individual players who had excellent campaigns. Some were rewarded for their efforts at the CJFL Celebration of Excellence, including Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year Elelyon Noa and Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year Stephen Smith. 

Other than the award winners, there were so many other players across the board, like receivers, defenders, kickers, and more, that had eye-popping seasons as well.

As we turn the calendar to 2025 the CJFL highlights some of the statistical regular season leaders of several categories as we put a stamp on 2024.

Photo courtesy of Louis Christ Photography

After every season CJFL teams across the country celebrate their graduating players.  Whether they play one season of junior football or stay for all five, these players make an impact on and off the field. 

Over the next few months we will recognize some of the graduates from the CJFL team by team and celebrate them as members of the CJFL Grad Class of 2024.

The Saskatoon Hilltops are the most storied franchise in CJFL history with 23 national championships.  The number of players that have graduated from this program is truly remarkable.  They recruit locally within or around the city of Saskatoon and each of the players buy into the system that the Hilltops have perfected over the years.

Following 2024, the Hilltops graduate some incredibly impactful players.

QB Trey Reider (in photo) was extremely dangerous every time he stepped on the field for the Hilltops with his ability to throw and run.   He led his club to a CJFL Canadian Bowl title in 2023 and the Prairie Conference title game each year he was on the roster.  In 2024 he completed a Conference best 64.3% of his passes, threw 17 touchdowns and had a passer efficiency rating of 119.8%.  He passed for 1685 yards on 119 completions and averaged 9.1 yards with each reception.   On the ground he tallied another four touchdowns on 26 carries and gathered 135 yards.  He was named the CJFL First Team All-Canadian quarterback.

REC/KR Drake Douglas was such a versatile part of the Hilltops in 2024.  He was named an CJFL All-Canadian receiver and the Prairie Conference Outstanding Special Teams Player of the Year as a returner and kick holder.   He led the Conference with 58 receptions, 955 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 16.5 yards with each catch.  On Specials he returned 38 kicks for 342 yards and was the holder on converts and field goals.

OL Cody Shumanski was a dominating force on the Hilltops offensive line and was named a CJFL First Team All-Canadian for the second consecutive season.  His blocking allowed quarterback Trey Reider the time to make easy completions down the field and gave the Hilltops running backs the opportunity to chew up big yards including All-Canadian Corbin Ebben and his six yards a carry.

LB Noah Gedir leaves a big hole in the middle of the Hilltops defence as he graduates following another solid season.  He collected 29 solo tackles and assisted on 18 others during the regular season.  Dropping back in pass coverage he intercepted a pass, knocked down six others and recovered a pair of fumbles. 

DB Justin Adamko was part of a very good secondary and held down the opposition’s passing attack.  He intercepted two passes, averaging 11 return yards, had five knockdowns along with 14 solo tackles, four assisted stops and forced and recovered a fumble returning it eight yards. 

DL Andy Scrivens didn’t put up massive numbers, but time and time again he caused the opposition’s offence to do things they didn’t want to do.   He applied pressure in the opponent’s backfield, changed the play calling of the quarterback and was an overall nuisance to play against.  During the regular season he collected six solo tackles, assisted on six others and had one tackle for a loss.  He was a big presence in the trenches and will be hard to replace.

OL Erik Barsness (#60 in photo) is another key piece of the Hilltops offensive line that will be missed next year.  He held the line giving his quarterbacks and running backs an opportunity to make a big play down the field.   This past season the Weyburn native even made one carry, rushing four yards but was stopped short of the end zone.

DB Isaac Rivalin was an important piece the Hilltops secondary this past regular season making 18 solo tackles, seven assisted stops, adding an interception, returning it 22 yards, knocked down three passes, forced a fumble and had 1.5 tackles for a loss.  His sheer presence in the secondary was enough to make some quarterbacks look elsewhere to throw the ball or hold onto it longer giving the pass rushers enough time to make a coverage sack.  

OL Jeremy Funk is a third offensive lineman that has graduated from the Hilltops program following the 2024 season.  He played a huge role protecting the quarterback and even showed off his catching skills making a two-yard reception for a touchdown in a game earlier this year. 

The CJFL wishes all of these players a happy graduation!