Pictured L-R: quarterback Damon Dutton (No. 19), receiver Presley Peterson (No. 83), and center Luciano Jolly (No. 58) are Battlefords products making an impact for the Hilltops this year. (Submitted photos/Louis Christ)

By Martin Martinson

Battlefords boys

Local Hilltops reflect on opportunity ahead at Conference Championship Game

Nov 10, 2021 | 3:00 PM

“It would mean everything.”

While just four simple words, perhaps there is no better way quarterback, Damon Dutton could convey just what a conference championship would mean to the Saskatoon Hilltops this weekend.

A Battlefords product, born and raised in the community, Dutton is currently in his fourth year with the Hilltops, and first as starting QB with the team.

One of three players from the community playing a pivotal role for Saskatoon this year, Dutton, who cut his teeth at the quarterback position with the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings, is also joined on the team by fellow NBCHS alumni, Luciano Jolly, who plays starting center for the Hilltops, and starting receiver, Presley Peterson.

Together the three – along with their teammates – will hope to lead the Hilltops dynasty to a seventh-straight national championship, which starts with the next step: a Conference Championship game against the top-seeded Regina Thunder, Sunday, Nov. 14 at Mosaic Stadium.

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It is an opportunity, following a lost season due to the pandemic last year, Jolly said they are really soaking in while in the moment, this time around.

“It’s hard to explain, but I think having that year off kind of makes you not take things for granted,” Jolly said. “It’s like anything can happen at any time, so having that year off just made me think like [man], am I ever going to play football again? So it’s been really great to be back.”

Battlefords locals, Luciano Jolly, Damon Dutton and Presley Peterson pictured here together with the Hilltops. (Submitted photo/Luciano Jolly)

Regina (8-0) were the lone team to finish ahead of the second-place Hilltops (6-2) this season, who’s lone two losses came at the hands of their nemesis to the south.

However, as the teams head into battle this weekend, the Hilltops do so as a club who have overcome adversity to get to where they are now, defeating Edmonton in the conference semifinal by a single score which came in the final half-minute of play.

Dutton, who found receiver Dillan Heintz for the game-winning touchdown with just 21 seconds to go on the clock last weekend, said it was great to see the way the team’s hard work and preparation came through for them in their winning drive.

“We were put in a position where we had repped that two-minute drill every day in practice, so we had had a lot of time preparing for it,” he said. “So just to get out there and execute with all the guys on the same page, it was definitely an exciting way to finish the game.”

“We were battling for our fifth-year players out there, as we knew that might have been their last game if we hadn’t come out with the victory,” Dutton continued. “We’re quite a tight-knit group and we all play for each other and practice hard each day to be the best we can be, so it means a lot to be playing with these guys.”

Peterson, who is also in his fourth year with the team, said that tight-knit comradery amongst the group is a real foundational piece to the success they have been able to achieve over the last number of years, which continues to this day.

“It definitely pushes us to keep going,” Peterson said. “We always strive to play our best game of the year the next game, and the team is very resilient as a group. We’re looking to play our best game again this weekend, and hopefully just keep moving forward.”

Sunday’s conference championship game, between Saskatoon and Regina will be played at Mosaic Stadium, with kickoff at 1 p.m. The winner will then advance to the national semi-final in B.C.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1