The semifinals are set in the Prairie Football Conference.
On Sunday afternoon at Leibel Field, the defending champion Regina Thunder will host the Edmonton Huskies. Last week, the Thunder wrapped up a dominant 7-1 regular season with a 56-3 win over the Edmonton Wildcats.
In that victory, the Thunder set a new CJFL single-game rushing record with 632 rushing yards.
Thunder offensive lineman Caleb Barajas, who also practices with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, says the 632 rushing yards mean a lot to the team.
“It means a lot. The guys work hard over the offseason, and just seeing them come together and work together. To be honest, our starters got pulled out at the half. So that goes to the whole O-line room, not even just starters. Right. It's a great feeling.”
Barajas, an offensive lineman from California, also contributed to the running game, catching a lateral and running 11 yards for the first touchdown in his career.
“We practiced it throughout the week. We didn't know if we would be able to do it because of the weather. But shout out to the O-line, right? That doesn't work unless the whole unit is doing its job.”
Barajas says that the job began when the coaches introduced the play.
“I was jumping out of my shoes. I couldn't wait for it. I was so happy. Yeah, just glad I got the opportunity.”
He admits that he felt the same when the play was called.
“So, the funny thing about that is we tried to run it a little earlier in the game, but we kept getting flags and trying to set it up off the left hash. The ball kept going to the right side, kept getting flags and all that. We were bummed going into halftime, but coming out of the half, we got the opportunity, and we knew it was going to happen.”
Barajas, who is in his first season with the Thunder, also had a first on Sunday afternoon.
“I could tell you that this past Sunday's game was my first time ever seeing snow and first time obviously playing in a snow game. I absolutely loved it. It's probably my new favourite weather game. It's just something different, right? And it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Like, you get numb to the cold after a little while. It's just so fun being out there with the guys, and you've got to take advantage of the moment.”
Barjas and the Thunder will host the Edmonton Huskies on Sunday afternoon, and he says their mindset is simple.
“Stay humble. Go 1-and-oh.”
Kickoff Sunday afternoon at Leibel Field is at 1.
Meanwhile, the Hilltops will host the Winnipeg Rifles in the other semifinal in Saskatoon.
Hilltops defensive lineman Johnathan Stevens also practiced with the Saskatchewan Roughriders to start the season, and he admits he learned a lot.
“I've taken away a lot of things from coaching aspects there, my own play and just the attitude and how I should prepare for games. I try to embrace everything they've taught me for this season. I've also tried to help out my teammates with what I've learned because you don't just get that kind of tips and that experience from just anywhere.”
At Riders' training camp, Stevens made the first interception for the defence, but he won’t take credit for it.
“That's them. They've been performing very well there. It's really fun to watch them and tell my parents, "Hey, I know that guy.”
The six-foot-2, 285-pound defensive lineman is also spotting defensive concepts that he’s learned.
“Yes, absolutely, I have. I've noticed a few times that it's this, this, and I call it out in my head. And it's like I go back there for just a split second and a wave of memories and a wave of plays just kind of rush over my head.”
Stevens’ Hilltops finished 6-2 in the PFC, and he admits it was a good season for him individually.
“I think it was a very good season. I felt I improved, definitely. I came on there with a different attitude. The team played really well, and now we're just focusing on the next week.”
Next week, the Hilltops play Winnipeg, a team against which they split their two-game season series. Stevens says they know what to expect.
“They're a good team. Obviously, they made the playoffs. It'll be a good game. We're going to go out there and do our best and work as hard as possible.”
“We just have to execute. That's it. We have a very talented group of guys and a hardworking group of guys. We have to be able to shut off our brains and just play football. That's all we have to do. It's an important game, but it is also just another game,” Stevens added.
The Hilltops and Rifles will play at 1 o’clock on Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
And that’s the Junior Football Report. I’m Dave Thoma
