Darren Zary
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
The forecast — be it as it may — calls for a 10-year reunion and another good football game.
Other than that, Okanagan Sun head coach Travis Miller doesn’t think cold weather or snow would be a factor during Sunday’s 1 p.m. Canadian Bowl clash against the host Saskatoon Hilltops at SMF Field.
“When we played Regina in ’22, it was minus-30 … so it didn’t impact us then,” recalls Miller, whose team defeated the Regina Thunder 21-19 that year in wintry conditions.
Miller, who is originally from Alberta, says most of his team is also from Alberta.
“At the end of the day, in the grand scheme of things … I definitely understand the brand of football that’s required to play at this time of the year, and that’s the way we’ve been on our team,” says Miller, who is in his fourth year as head coach of the Sun and fifth year on the staff.
“I don’t think, necessarily, it’s going to play a factor either way. Both teams have to play in the same weather, so it’s not something we’re concerned about and it’s not really something that’s impacted us in past years.”
Miller — who used to play centre on the Sun offensive line — has spent 10 years with the organization as either player or coach.
He’s well aware of the challenges his team faces against the Hilltops, another perennial Canadian Junior Football League powerhouse.
“We’re facing a really polished and well-coached team,” says Miller. “That’s evident any time you go to the Prairies. You’re in for a heck of a game. The expectation, from our standpoint, is we’re going to be facing off against one of the best teams in the country, if not the best team in the country. We’re excited for the opportunity to compete (with) a team that’s a perennial powerhouse.”
Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant says the same things about the Sun.
“What I’ve seen through my film study, they’re very well coached, very high-end athletes all along the line of scrimmage and in the skill positions,” Sargeant says. “They’re well orchestrated. They’ve got a good plan offensively, defensively and special teams. We’re going to need all hands on deck to come out and play our best game of the year to take this situation on.”
These two teams last met in the Canadian Bowl in 2015 — 10 years ago. The Hilltops won 38-24.
Miller was coaching football in Alberta at the time, but he remembers the game and watched it.
“We have some coaches who were a part of that team, including (assistant coach Shane Beatty) who was the head coach of the time. Definitely some continuity between that group and our group, obviously coach Sargeant and the success they’ve had.
“It’ll be a rematch in some capacity, for sure.”
Key to victory?
“The key, overall, is who makes the least amount of mistakes,” Miller says. “The way the Hilltops operate, they’re a very well coached team. They know their systems inside and out, and they’re very good at executing the systems that they play.
“So if you get into a scenario with them where you’re making a ton of mistakes, it’s not going to be favourable for anyone. On the flip side, I think our side takes advantage of those type of momentum shifts. We hope to do the same thing that they’re trying to do, and manage those kind of scenarios. It’s a cliche, but at the end of the day, the team that makes the least amount of mistakes will be the one who comes out on top.”
Back in 2000, the Sun downed the Hilltops 36-28.
Sargeant expects yet another formidable opponent this time around.
And a very balanced opponent that can both run and pass with the best, including backfield threat Gerran Hardisty, who played against the Hilltops two years ago while with the Westshore Rebels.
“He runs hard,” Sargeant says. “He’s physical, a real good slashing running style. And their quarterback (Liam Kroeger) has thrown for a lot of yards, so they have four or five elite receivers that run good underneath-passing (routes) and also get over top of you.”’
dzary@postmedia.com
