FRC – CIS football players of the week (#11) Dzwilewski, Lavaud, Lavoie honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Calgary quarterback Eric Dzwilewski and Laval teammates Samaël Lavaud and Patrick Lavoie are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Nov. 12, 2011.

The selection was made by a committee comprised of members of Football Reporters of Canada (FRC).

Dzwilewski, a second-year arts student from Boise, Idaho, was honoured on offence thanks to a record-setting performance in a 62-13 rout of sixth-ranked UBC in the Canada West final, last Friday in Calgary. The 6-foot, 185-pound sophomore crossed the goal line in every quarter against the Thunderbirds, from seven, three, five and seven yards out, to become the first pivot in CIS history to rush for four touchdowns in a playoff game. He finished with 101 yards on the ground on 14 carries and was also near-perfect through the air completing nine of 13 passes for 112 yards, one major and no interceptions. The No. 2 Dinos (9-1), who captured the Hardy trophy for the fourth straight year, host top-ranked Laval (10-1) for the Mitchell Bowl Friday at 7:30 p.m. MST at McMahon Stadium, live on TSN & RDS.

Acadia quarterback Kyle Graves, Laval running back Sébastien Lévesque and McMaster pivot Kyle Quinlan were also up for the award.

Lavaud, a fourth-year criminology student from Montreal, took home the weekly honour on defence after he helped the Rouge et Or claim a CIS-record ninth consecutive conference title with a 30-7 win over No. 7 Montreal, last Saturday in Quebec City. The 6-foot, 235-pound linebacker tallied a game-high six solo tackles, including a quarterback sack for a loss of 12 yards, and was the anchor of a defensive unit that held RSEQ all-star running back Rotrand Sené to 60 yards on 15 attempts. Laval hopes for a repeat performance on Friday against Calgary in a rematch of last year’s Vanier Cup final.

Acadia lineman Jake Thomas and linebackers Aram Eisho of McMaster and Jordan Verdone of Calgary were also nominated.

Lavoie, a fourth-year multidisciplinary student from Ste-Flavie, Que., was the choice on special teams thanks to his 3.5 tackles as part of the cover team and a game-changing play in the first quarter of the Dunsmore Cup final. After kicker Pierre-Paul Gélinas fumbled the exchange on a punt and was forced to run in an attempt to keep the Montreal drive alive, Lavoie, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound receiver, stopped him shy of the first down marker to force a turnover on downs. The Rouge et Or opened the scoring on the next play with a 26-yard touchdown and never looked back en route to the 30-7 victory.

Kickers Ryan Begin of Acadia, Marshall Ferguson of McMaster and Johnny Mark of Calgary were also up for the distinction.

Offensive nominees:

AUS: Kyle Graves, quarterback, Acadia

RSEQ: Sébastien Lévesque, running back, Laval

OUA: Kyle Quinlan, quarterback, McMaster

CWUAA: Eric Dzwilewski, quarterback, Calgary (recipient)

Defensive nominees:

AUS: Jake Thomas, lineman, Acadia

RSEQ: Samaël Lavaud, linebacker, Laval (recipient)

OUA: Aram Eisho, linebacker, McMaster

CWUAA: Jordan Verdone, linebacker, Calgary

Special team nominees:

AUS: Ryan Begin, kicker, Acadia

RSEQ: Patrick Lavoie, cover team, Laval (recipient)

OUA: Marshall Ferguson, punter, McMaster

CWUAA: Johnny Mark, kicker, Calgary

CIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

CIS semifinals

November 18

19:30 AST Uteck Bowl (Moncton Stadium): No. 4 McMaster (9-1) at No. 9 Acadia (8-1), TSN & RDS

19:30 MST Mitchell Bowl (McMahon Stadium): No. 1 Laval (10-1) at No. 2 Calgary (9-1), TSN & RDS

CIS final

November 25

18:00 PST 47th Vanier Cup at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, TSN & RDS

About Football Reporters of Canada – University Division

The Football Reporters of Canada – University Division represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958 the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) have been an organization of media members who have covered the Canadian Football League, serving to select the league’s outstanding players, coach-of-the-year and all-star teams through voting conducted by its members. In 2009, the FRC amalgamated with the University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC) to give the organization greater scope in its affiliation with amateur and college football.

The FRC also works with the CFL and CIS to establish guidelines and working conditions for the men and women who report on the game. Selected members of the FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.