TORONTO – Ricky Ray, Dexter McCoil, Terrell Sinkfield and Andy Fantuz were named the Canadian Football League Players of the Week for Week 16 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
Ricky Ray
QB – Toronto Argonauts
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33 @ Toronto Argonauts 34
Toronto Argonauts quarterback Ricky Ray was named the Offensive Player of the Week for Week 16. Ray completed 34 of his 46 attempts (73.9 per cent) for a season-high 431 yards and four total touchdowns in the Argonauts’ thrilling 34-33 comeback victory over their provincial rivals, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The native of Happy Camp, California threw a trio of touchdown passes to three different receivers: Spencer Watt for two yards, Steve Slaton for six and Chad Owens for 69.
This was Ray’s second game this season with over 400 yards in the air and the fourth time this campaign he has thrown three or more touchdowns in a single contest.
The product of Sacramento State’s first rushing major on the year – a one yard dash with just over two minutes left in the match – set the stage for Toronto’s late-game heroics. Less than a minute later, the hometown team completed the comeback as Ray connected with Owens for the win.
The twelve-year veteran owns a 97.9 quarterback rating and leads the league in passing yards with 3,861 and touchdown passes with 27.
Ray has been named the Offensive Player of the Week twice this season; the first came in Week 2.
CFL Defensive Player of the Week
Dexter McCoil
LB – Edmonton Eskimos
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 9 @ Edmonton Eskimos 41
Edmonton Eskimos linebacker Dexter McCoil was named the Defensive Player of the Week for Week 16. McCoil filled the stat line with four tackles, a sack, a special teams tackle, and a fumble return touchdown as the home side prevailed 41-9 over the Blue Bombers. With the victory, the Eskimos punched their ticket to the Grey Cup Playoffs.
The former Tulsa Hurricane scored his third touchdown of the year after teammate Odell Willis sacked and forced a fumble on Drew Willy. McCoil recovered the loose ball and returned it 77 yards for the major to extend Edmonton’s lead to 21-0.
Late in the second quarter, McCoil registered his own sack by taking down Drew Willy in the end zone resulting in a safety.
The first-year player from Metairie, Louisiana is currently tied for first in the CFL with five interceptions and leads the Eskimos in tackles with 54.
This is the second Defensive Player of the Week honour this season for McCoil with his first coming in Week 9.
CFL Special Teams Player of the Week
Terrell Sinkfield
KR/PR – Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33 @ Toronto Argonauts 34
Hamilton Tiger-Cats returner Terrell Sinkfield was named the Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 16. Sinkfield returned the ball on seven occasions and amassed 210 return-yards against his former team, but the Ticats fell 34-33 to the Argonauts.
The product of the University of Northern Iowa returned five kickoffs, totaling 148 yards, including a 46-yard return. Sinkfield also ran back a pair of punts for a total of 62 yards, including a game-high 51-yard return.
Since joining the Ticats midseason, the native of Minnetonka, Minnesota has averaged 28.4 yards on nine kickoff returns, 15.9 yards on 15 punt returns and has scored a touchdown.
Sinkfield has now been recognized as the Special Teams Player of the Week twice in his rookie year with the first coming in Week 12.
CFL Canadian Player of the Week
Andy Fantuz
WR – Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33 @ Toronto Argonauts 34
Hamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver Andy Fantuz was named the Canadian Player of the Week for Week 16. Fantuz caught seven passes for 77 yards and added a touchdown in the Ticats’ narrow loss on the road to the Argonauts.
The former University of Western Ontario standout caught a three-yard touchdown pass on the Ticats’ first possession of the game to give Hamilton an early advantage. Fantuz’s eight-yard grab late in the fourth set up Justin Medlock’s 32-yard field goal to put Hamilton ahead 33-20.
The Chatham, Ontario native leads Hamilton in receiving yards with 625 and receptions with 61. His three touchdowns on the year are good for second on the team.
This is the nine-year veteran’s first Player of the Week honour this season and first since week 21 in 2013.
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