CIS Conference POW (8): AUS, RSEQ, OUA & CWUAA

AUS:

Offensive Player of the Week
Name: Kiel Ambursley
University: Acadia University
Position: Running back
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
Year of eligibility: Second
Academic program: Bachelor of commerce
Height and weight: 5’8”, 180lbs

Running back Kiel Ambursley of the Mount Allison Mounties is the Atlantic University Sport football offensive player of the week for the week ending Oct. 18, 2015.

A second-year commerce student from Toronto, Ambursley had 26 carries for 140 yards and two touchdowns in Mount Allison’s 38-21 victory over the Acadia AxemenSaturday in Wolfville.

His stats also included two receptions for five yards and two kick returns for 33 yards.

Defensive Player of the Week
Name: Jesse St. James
University: Acadia University
Position: Defensive lineman
Hometown: Pincourt, Que.
Year of eligibility: Fourth
Academic program: BBA
Height and weight: 6’2”, 240lbs

Defensive lineman Jesse St. James of the Acadia Axemen is the Atlantic University Sport football defensive player of the week.

A fourth-year business student from Pincourt, Que., St. James had 5.5 tackles (five solo and one assisted) in Acadia’s 38-21 loss to the Mount Allison Mounties Saturdayafternoon in Wolfville.

His three tackles for losses included two sacks for a loss of nine total yards. St. James also had a forced fumble and a blocked field goal in the loss.

Special Teams Player of the Week
Name: Idahosa Yorke
University: Mount Allison University
Position: Returner/wide receiver
Hometown: Bomanville, Ont.
Year of eligibility: First
Academic program: BA
Height and weight: 5’7”, 160lbs

Returner and wide receiver Idahosa Yorke of the Mount Allison Mounties is the Atlantic University Sport football special teams player of the week.

A first-year arts student from Bomanville, Ont., Yorke posted eight punt returns for 184 yards, including an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown, in the Mounties’ 38-21 victory over Acadia Saturday.

The freshman’s performance earned him a spot in the AUS record books with the seventh most single-game punt return yards in AUS history (good for second best in school history).

RSEQ:

Montréal, October 19, 2015 – Montréal running back Sean Thomas Erlington, Montréal defensive end Jonathan Boissonneault-Glaou and Concordia returnerJames Tyrell are the RSEQ University Football student-athletes of the week for the period ending October 18, 2015.

Offensive Student-Athlete Sean Thomas Erlington Running back Team: Carabins University: Montréal Hometown: Montréal, Québec Height: 5’9’’ Weight: 210 lbs Former team: Cégep du Vieux Montréal Highlights: Montreal running back Sean Thomas Erlington had his best individual performance since joining the Carabins three years ago. He carried the ball 16 times for 186 yards and a touchdown to help Montreal defeat the first-place Laval Rouge et Or 22-16. He also caught four passes for 28 yards, bringing his total to 214 yards on the day. Erlington set the tone in the first quarter when he scored the Carabins’ first points of the game with an electrifying 42-yard run touchdown run. Montreal never trailed in the game.

Defensive Student-Athlete Jonathan Boissonneault-Glaou Defensive end Team: Carabins University: Montréal Hometown: Lyster, Québec Height: 6’0’’ Weight: 230 lbs Former team:  Champlain-Lennoxville College Highlights: Defensive end Jonathan Boissonneault-Glaou played a crucial role in the Carabins’ outstanding defensive performance versus the Laval Rouge et Or on Saturday. Facing a powerhouse offence, he recorded five solo tackles and two assists. Two of his tackles were sacks for a total loss of seven yards.

Special Teams Student Athlete James Tyrrell Returner Team: Stingers University: Concordia Hometown: Dorval, Québec Height: 6’0’’ Weight: 190 lbs Former team: Holderness School Highlights: Rookie receiver and returner James Tyrrell set an RSEQ record with his exceptional performance in the Concordia Stingers’ 63-0 win over the Bishop’s Gaiters on Saturday afternoon in Montreal. He returned eight punts for 215 yards to break the single game record of 214 yards set in 2009 by Frank Bruno of the Montréal Carabins and matched in 2011 by Concordia’s Kris Robertson. Tyrrell averaged 26.9 yards a return, one of them for 55 yards and a touchdown. His efforts put him fourth on the CIS list for all-time best performances.

OUA:

HAROU, PENDERGAST AND NIEUWESTEEG NAMED OUA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

BURLINGTON, Ont. – The following athletes have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Football Players of the Week for the period ending October 19th, 2015.

OFFENCE: Yannick Harou (Gatineau, QC) – 4^th yr. – Western

Western Mustang running back Yannick Harou (Gatineau, QC) had a monstrous game for the Mustangs on Saturday, as the purple and white won the battle of the horses, stampeding over the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees 63-19.

Harou carried the ball 13 times for 140 rushing yards, while collecting four touchdowns.  His longest rushing touchdown of the day came on a 50-yard run in the 4th quarter.

The four touchdowns in a single game was a career high for the 5’10”, 183 lbs fourth-year Kings College student-athlete.

Harou and the undefeated Mustangs will head to Hamilton, Ont. this Saturday to take on the 6-1 McMaster Marauders in a game that could potentially shake up the standings going into playoffs.

DEFENCE: Matt Pendergast (Kingston, Ont.) – 2^nd yr. – Queen’s

Queen’s Gaels defensive back Matt Pendergast (Kingston, Ont.) came up huge against the York Lions this weekend, helping to not only secure a playoff spot but also bring home OUA Defensive Player of the Week honours in the process

The second-year commerce student-athlete collected nine total tackles, seven of which were solo efforts. The performance brings his season total up to 34.5, which ties him for fifth best on the Gaels roster.

The 5’11” 196 lbs defensive back led the way in a tight game against York, where the Gaels squeaked out a 33-32 win over Lions.

Next up for the Gaels is a visit from Laurier, in a game that the Golden Hawks need to win in to potentially claim a playoff spot.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Ryan Nieuwesteeg (Niagara Falls, Ont.) – 4^th yr. – Guelph

Ryan Nieuwesteeg (Niagara Falls, Ont.) was at it again this past Saturday, as the Guelph returner electrified fans with his spectacular effort in a 41-27 Gryphons victory over the visiting Windsor Lancers.

Nieuwesteeg returned 12 punts for a stellar 242 yards, including a 63 yard touchdown. It was the second punt return touchdown this season for the fourth-year sociology student-athlete, who also added one kickoff return for 44 yards to bring his total return yards up to 286.

The 5’8″ 170 lbs returner now has 721 punt return yards, the most in the CIS (250 yards more than the next closest player).

Guelph now heads to Ottawa, Ont. to take on the fourth place Carleton Ravens in a game with serious playoff implications.

CWUAA:

Buckley, Katsantonis, Jones get rewarded for key wins

Three key performers from their team’s Week 6 wins were rewarded for their efforts Monday, as Calgary Dinos quarterback Andrew Buckley (offence), UBC Thunderbirds defensive back Stavros Katsantonis, and Manitoba Bisons kicker Ryan Jones (special teams) were named the Canada West players of the week.

Buckley, who has now won the Canada West offensive player of the week award three times this season, led the CIS No. 1-ranked Dinos to a convincing 44-15 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies Friday night that locked up home-field advantage throughout the Hardy Cup Playoffs for Calgary.

In Vancouver, Katsantonis’ big day helped the T-Birds to a 54-10 win over the Alberta Golden Bears on Saturday. The Bakersfield, California native posted a pair of interceptions, along with a 61-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

Rounding out the Week 6 winners is special teams star Ryan Jones. The kicker was a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points and 4-for-4 on field goals Saturday against the Regina Rams, saving his biggest kick for last.

Jones’ 41-yard field goal in the final minutes lifted Manitoba to a 49-46 win to keep pace with UBC in the race for second in Canada West.

OFFENCE – Andrew Buckley

Calgary Dinos

Quarterback

6-0, 201, 5th year

Calgary, AB 

With Andrew Buckley at the controls, the top-ranked University of Calgary Dinos just keep winning.

In the latest instalment, the fifth-year quarterback completed 26-of-34 passes for 427 yards and two touchdowns, all while picking up 50 rushing yards and a major on seven carries to lead the Dinos to a 44-15 road win over Saskatchewan Friday night.

With the victory, the Dinos clinched top spot in Canada West and home-field advantage throughout the Hardy Cup Playoffs.

For his part, Buckley has now thrown for more than 400 yards in four straight games and is averaging nearly that many on the season as the nation’s leading passer. He’ll look to add to those totals Saturday when the Dinos (6-0) close out their home schedule against the Regina Rams (0-6) at McMahon Stadium at 1 PM MDT.

DEFENCE – Stavros Katsantonis

UBC Thunderbirds

Defensive back

5-11,1st-year

Bakersfield, CA

UBC’s Stavros Katsantonis dominated the first half in Saturday’s 54-10 win over the Alberta Golden Bears, starting with his interception of quarterback Ben Kopczynski in the first quarter.

The pick led directly to Brandon Deschamps’ 1-yard touchdown run, putting the ‘Birds up 10-0. Katsantonis added to the lead himself just minutes later, as UBC’s Adam Senuik popped the ball out of Alberta running back Ed Ilnicki’s hands, before Katsantonis scooped it up and ran untouched down the left sideline for a 61-yard fumble return touchdown.

Katsantonis kept up his brilliant afternoon early in the third quarter, as he jumped a short pass by Kopczynski on the left sideline and made a terrific play on the ball, bringing it in and getting his feet in-bounds for the pick.

Aside from his big plays, Katsantonis was wreaking havoc all over the field, as his 5.5 total tackles were key in slowing down an effective Alberta run game, headlined by Ilnicki.

No. 9 UBC (4-2), who clinched a spot in the Hardy Cup Playoffs with the win, returns to the field this weekend for a Friday night matchup with the Saskatchewan Huskies (2-4) at Griffiths Stadium (7 PM CST).

SPECIAL TEAMS – Ryan Jones

Manitoba Bisons

Kicker

5-10, 185, 2nd-year

Oakbank, MB

With the game on the line, Manitoba Bisons kicker Ryan Jones delivered.

Jones’ 41-yard field goal with only 1:32 left in the game, lifted the No. 8-ranked Manitoba to a wild 49-46 conference road victory over the Regina Rams on Saturday, October 17.

The second-year kicker had a strong day from start to finish, going 4-for-4 on field goals with successful attempts from 41, 35, 32 and 21 yards. In addition, the Oakbank, MB native had a 45.5 kickoff average on four kicks and boomed two punts inside the 20 for a 37.6 yards per punt average on seven kicks.

Jones finished with 17 points in the road victory and now sits third in conference in points with 65 and third in field goals with a 76% average, having gone 13-for-17 in six conference games.

Manitoba (4-2) hosts the Alberta Golden Bears (2-4) on Friday, October 23 at 7 PM CDT at Investors Group Field in the second meeting of the season between the two teams. With a win, Manitoba will clinch a spot in the Hardy Cup Playoffs.