Canwest players of week: Charles, Higgs, Thiel

Offence: Adrian Charles, RB, Regina

Running back Adrian Charles ran for a season-high 222 yards and had two touchdown rushes for the Rams as they moved into sole possession of first place in Canada West after a 41-19 road win over Manitoba on Saturday afternoon.

Charles registered touchdown runs on back-to-back possessions early in the fourth quarter. His five-yard touchdown gave the Rams their first lead of the game at the two-minute mark, and a 37-yard scamper put the Rams up by two scores less than four minutes later.

He also reeled off a 90-yard run for the second time this season, as he took the ball on 2[SUP]nd[/SUP]-and-10 from the Ramsā€™ own 15-yard line and ran it all the way down to the Manitoba five, which set up a short touchdown pass for Reginaā€™s first score of the game.

Charlesā€™ 222 rushing yards ranks as the third highest single-game total in U of R history, trailing only Neal Hughes (295 yards against Alberta on Oct. 25, 2003) and Ronald Arnold (249 yards against Saskatchewan on Sept. 23, 2000). His twin 90-yard rushes this year rank as the second longest in U of R history, trailing only Arnoldā€™s 97-yard run at UBC on Sept. 8, 2000.

Charles leads Canada West in both rushing yards (889) and rushing touchdowns (9). He needs just 65 yards to break Hughesā€™ school single-season record of 953 rushing yards and one more touchdown to become the U of Rā€™s single-season leader in that category.

The Rams (5-1) will be back in action on Friday night at home against Calgary (4-2).

Defence: Nico Higgs, LB, Saskatchewan

University of Saskatchewan linebacker Nico Higgs helped the Huskies hold the No. 2 ranked University of Calgary Dinos to just 17 points in a victory Friday.

Higgs and the rest of the Huskies allowed just one field goal, a punt return touchdown and gave Calgary three safeties for their score.

The fourth-year Business student was a big part of the defensive stand with five solo tackles and one sack. He also snared an interception 50 seconds into the fourth quarter returning it 41-yards for a touchdown. It made the game 34-10 for the Huskies.

Higgs and the Huskies travel to Vancouver to meet the UBC Thunderbirds on October 22.

Special Teams: Luke Thiel, PR, Saskatchewan

University of Saskatchewan Huskie Luke Thiel tallied 105 yards on punt returns including a 74 yard return for a touchdown in a 36-17 win over the No. 2 ranked University of Calgary Dinos Friday.

The second-year Kinesiology student racked up the yardage on four punts. The 74-yard touchdown was at 9:13 in the third quarter and broke the Huskies lead to 20-7. He also tallied a team-high seven tackles, one forced fumble and one interception on defence for the Huskies.

Thiel and the Huskies travel to Vancouver to meet the UBC Thunderbirds on October 22.

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