CFL POW (DIVISION FINALS): Mitchell, Simpson, Banks & Cornish

TORONTO – Bo Levi Mitchell, Juwan Simpson, Brandon Banks and Jon Cornish were named the Canadian Football League Players of the Week for the Division Finals of the 2014 Canadian Football League season.

The four players were chosen by a panel of judges including: former Canadian Football League players Matt Dunigan and Duane Forde of TSN, and Pierre Vercheval of RDS.

CFL Offensive Player of the Week

Bo Levi Mitchell

QB – Calgary Stampeders

Edmonton Eskimos 18 @ Calgary Stampeders 43

Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was named the Offensive Player of the Week for the Division Finals. In his first career playoff start, Mitchell passed for 336 yards and recorded five total touchdowns as the Stampeders advanced to the 102nd Grey Cup in Vancouver.

The native of Katy, Texas connected with Marquay McDaniel, Jon Cornish and Eric Rogers twice to tie his career-high of four touchdown passes which was set earlier this season in Week 3 and matched again in Week 12.

The product of Eastern Washington also rushed for a two-yard scamper in the second quarter, giving him four rushing majors on the year.

Mitchell finished the 2014 regular season with 3,389 passing yards and passed for the second most touchdowns this season with 22.

Playing in his third season in the CFL, this is Mitchell’s second career Player of the Week award. His first came during the 2013 season in Week 5.

CFL Defensive Player of the Week

Juwan Simspon

LB – Calgary Stampeders

Edmonton Eskimos 18 @ Calgary Stampeders 43

Calgary Stampeders linebacker Juwan Simpson was named the Defensive Player of the Week for the Division Finals. Simpson collected seven tackles and a sack in the Stampeders’ convincing 43-18 home win over Edmonton.

Simpson, a former Alabama Crimson Tide, wrapped up Eskimos’ pivot Mike Reilly on the final play of the third quarter, resulting in a loss of eight yards.

The seven-year veteran finished second on the Stampeders with 74 tackles this season and added four sacks.

This is the native of Decatur, Alabama’s second Player of the Week honour of his career with his first coming in Week 19 of the 2011 campaign.

CFL Special Teams Player of the Week

Brandon Banks

KR/PR – Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Montreal Alouettes 24 @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats 40

Hamilton Tiger-Cats kick and punt returner Brandon Banks was named the Special Teams Player of the Week for the Division Finals. Banks collected 226 return yards on five punts and returned two punts for touchdowns as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats clinched their second consecutive Eastern Division title with a steady 40-24 victory over the visiting Alouettes.

In the first half, the product of Kansas State returned a Sean Whyte punt 93 yards to give the Ticats a 20-14 lead heading into halftime. Banks repeated the feat in the second half with an 88-yard return touchdown to help send Hamilton through to the Grey Cup.

The Garner, North Carolina native led the league with 618 punt return yards. He finished the year second overall with 1,342 combined return yards.

This is Banks’ third Special Teams Player of the Week award this season and his fourth in his two years in the league. 

CFL Canadian Player of the Week

Jon Cornish

RB – Calgary Stampeders

Edmonton Eskimos 18 @ Calgary Stampeders 43

Calgary Stampeders running back Jon Cornish was named the Canadian Player of the Week for the Division Finals. Cornish scored a pair of touchdowns to help propel the Stampeders to a flawless 4-0 record this season against their provincial Rivals.

Cornish accumulated 174 yards from the line of scrimmage and scored on a 78-yard catch-and-run touchdown. The former Kansas Jayhawk notched his second major on the day with a two-yard dash in the fourth to extend Calgary’s lead to 42-18.

The native of New Westminster, BC finished 2014 as the league’s rushing leader with 1,082 yards while tallying six total touchdowns.

This is Cornish’s sixth Canadian Player of the Week Award this season. He also took home the honour in Weeks 10, 11, 12, 14 and 17.