Canada West Football Players of the Week: Walter, Famulak, Demski

EDMONTON – Calgary running back Matt Walter, Regina defensive back Steve Famulak and Manitoba return specialst Nic Demski have been named Week #5 Canada West football Players of the Week.

OFFENCE: #9 Matt Walter, Calgary

He’s sharing a backfield with two other outstanding running backs, but Sunday, Oct. 2 was Matt Walter’s show at McMahon Stadium.

Walter became the University of Calgary’s all-time leading rusher with 3,788 career yards, eclipsing Elio Geremia’s mark of 3,784 with a 178-yard, three-touchdown performance as the No. 3 Dinos dominated the Alberta Golden Bears 61-7 Sunday afternoon.

He also broke J.P. Izquierdo’s school mark of 27 career rushing TDs and moved into a tie for second place in the Canada West record book for all-purpose touchdowns.

It started with his first carry of the game, which was a career-long 78-yard romp to the end zone after breaking through a sloth of Golden Bears. It was the longest running play in the conference so far this season, and it catapulted the Dinos to the lopsided victory.

Helped mightily by that 78-yard TD, Walter averaged 17.8 yards per carry on the day, adding two more touchdowns on seven- and 12-yard runs.

DEFENCE: #19 Steve Famulak, Regina

Fourth-year Regina Rams defensive back Steve Famulak had an interception, a fumble recovery and one tackle during a 26-18 win over the Manitoba Bisons on Friday, Sept. 30.

Famulak, playing in his hometown of Regina, intercepted Bisons QB Khaleal Williams near the end of the third quarter at the Rams 47-yard line, preserving a 23-15 lead, and late in the fourth quarter he recovered a Williams fumble after teammate Akiem Hicks had sacked the U of M pivot on the Manitoba 45-yard line, thus preserving the victory.

With the win, Regina moves to 2-3 and a tie for fourth place, its second consecutive victory, and they are mathematically ahead of Manitoba based on the head-to-head victory.

After a bye week in Canada West the Rams travel to Vancouver for a key match-up with the UBC Thunderbirds (3-2) on Saturday, Oct. 15.

SPECIAL TEAMS: #29 Nic Demski, Manitoba

Demski played in his fifth CIS game with Manitoba and has already made the Canada West conference record book with his second kickoff return for a touchdown in his short career. He returned the opening kickoff for 100 yards, tied for sixth-longest in conference history, during a 26-18 road loss to the Regina Rams on Friday, Sept. 30.

The rookie kick returner/running back started the contest with an electrifying 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. His two kickoff return TDs are now tied for most in conference history with Anthony Parker – Calgary. He added a second kickoff return for 36 yards later in the game along with starting duties at running back.

The 17-year-old freshmen is first in CIS and Canada West in kick return average at 33.1 (10 returns/331 yards) plus number one in kick return touchdowns with two.

About Canada West Universities Athletic Association
Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), winning at least 10 CIS national titles every year, 1997 to 2010. Comprised of 16 schools, from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada West produces numerous major award winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with many going on to athletic success around the globe in pro leagues or events such as the Olympics, Paralympics or Universiade Games. “cwuaa” on Twitter.

A proud member of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).