CIS Conference POWs: RSEQ, OUA & Canada West

RSEQ:

OUA:

HAMILTON, Ont. – The following athletes have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Players of the Week for the period ending November 17th, 2014.

OFFENCE: Christopher Pezzetta (Burlington, Ont.) – 2^nd yr. – McMaster

Running back Christopher Pezzetta had a strong outing in McMaster’s 20-15 Yates Cup victory over the Guelph Gryphons on Nov. 15, rushing for 144 yards on 23 carries.

In a game that was a defensive struggle from start to finish, Pezzetta was able to move the ball consistently averaging 6.3 yards per carry, including his longest run of 19 yards. He kept numerous McMaster drives alive by picking up positive yardage and key first downs, and his effort was a key factor in McMaster having almost 37 minutes of possession time.

The win gave McMaster its third Yates Cup championship in four seasons, however, it was Pezzetta’s first Yates Cup appearance since 2011 after missing the past two season with consecutive ACL injuries.

After extensive rehabbing, Pezzetta, whose career appeared in jeopardy after the second ACL injury, has once again emerged as a force on the McMaster offence. He took home Player of the Week honours on Sept. 29 for his performance in McMaster’s homecoming game against Queen’s, and has averaged 143.5 yards per game in the Marauders two playoff games this season.

DEFENCE: Joey Cupido (Hamilton, Ont.) – 5^th yr. – McMaster

Three things are certain in life: death, taxes, and Joey Cupido coming up with interceptions in the postseason.

That held true in the Yates Cup when Cupido recorded two interceptions in the first half of the game, giving him 14 career interceptions in 14 career playoff games. Making one of the most important plays of the afternoon, Cupido picked off a Jazz Lindsey pass in the McMaster end zone after a fumble gave Guelph possession inside the Marauders’ five-yard line.

For the game, Cupido had two interceptions, 3.5 tackles, and made a crucial pass breakup on the Gryphons final drive of the game. After the game, Cupido was awarded the Dalt White Trophy as the game’s most valuable player.

As a team, McMaster recorded five interceptions against a Gryphons offence that had only five during the entire regular season.

Cupido was also named an OUA First-Team All-Star this season, the second time in his career he has received the honour.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Tyler Crapigna (Nepean, Ont.) – 5^th yr. – McMaster

The CIS all-time field goal leader continued his incredible career in the Yates Cup, making good on all three of his field goal attempts from 32, 34, and 39 yards.

In a game that didn’t feature a Marauders offensive touchdown – McMaster’s lone TD came off an interception return – special teams and field position made all the difference.

Crapigna accounted for 10 of McMaster’s 25 points, and also punted eight times for a total of 256 yards, averaging 32 yards per punt on a cold and windy day, and twice pinning the Gryphons inside their own 20 yard line. He also forced Guelph to return the ball in difficult spots, limiting OUA’s leading punt returner Ryan Nieuwesteeg to just eight yards on five returns.

CANADA WEST:

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – The Manitoba Bisons trio of Kienan LaFrance, Tyler Fong and Zach Regert were honoured today as the football players of the week after leading their squad to the 2014 Canada West championship on Saturday, November 15.

The Bisons outplayed the Dinos in every aspect of the game, resulting in a 27-15 upset victory to give Manitoba their 11^th Hardy Cup title and first since 2007, ending the Dinos’ reign at six years.

OFFENCE: #27 Kienan LaFrance, Running Back (Manitoba Bisons)

Manitoba Bisons running back Kienan LaFrance was a force on offence in the Bisons’ upset win versus Calgary in the 2014 Canada West final.

LaFrance was the top producer on the ground, rushing for a game-high 155 yards on 30 attempts and a 5.2 average, and also found the end zone on 40-yard TD run in the first quarter.

The fourth-year veteran had the first offensive touchdown of the game for the Bisons when he scampered for a 40-yard touchdown halfway through the first quarter and the first lead of the game for the visitors. In addition, the Winnipeg native added runs of 10 or more yards on four occasions (21, 15, 13, 10) and another seven rushes of five or more yards in the road playoff win.

DEFENCE: #19 Tyler Fong, Safety (Manitoba Bisons)

Manitoba Bisons safety Tyler Fong was part of a strong defensive effort to limit the high octane offence of the #4 Calgary Dinos in the 2014 Canada West Final. Fong delivered an interception plus return that set up a touchdown and added a forced fumble, break-up and two tackles in Manitoba’s 27-15 upset playoff road win on Saturday, November 15.

In the second quarter, the second year starter had one of the team’s five interceptions during the game when Calgary was trying to cut into the Bisons lead. Fong grabbed the interception at midfield and returned it 33 yards to the Dinos’ 23-yard line. Manitoba responded with the terrific field position and scored a touchdown with just over a minute left in the half and changed a three-point game into a ten-point lead at the half for the Herd.

In the second half, the Victoria native made his presence felt again early as he forced a fumble from Calgary receiver Rashaun Simonise as the home side was driving to narrow the gap. The fumble was recovered by Manitoba and stopped any early momentum from the Dinos. Fong also had one break-up and two total tackles in the contest.

SPECIAL TEAMS: #88 Zach Regert, Punter/Receiver (Manitoba Bisons)

Manitoba Bisons punter/receiver Zach Regert was instrumental in the title win versus the Dinos on Saturday.

The freshman from Winnipeg, MB launched 12 times during the game, totalling for 475 yards and preventing the Dinos from getting their record-breaking offence going.

Regert’s longest was a 56-yarder late in the first half, one of his three in the day that pinned the Dinos inside their 20-yard line.  It was returned by Dinos receiver Michael Klukas, only to fumble the football and give possession back to the Bisons.  Manitoba proceeded to score a field goal on that possession to give the Bisons a 17-14 lead, a lead they would not squander.

A little more than four minutes later, Regert hauled in a seven-yard pass from quarterback Jordan Yantz to score a touchdown, giving the Bisons a ten-point cushion and all the momentum going into halftime.

Manitoba (regular season: 4-4; playoffs: 2-0) will now be the Canada West representative in the CIS-Semi-Final when they travel to play at the #2 Montreal Carabins (regular season: 7-1; playoffs: 2-0) in the Uteck Bowl on Saturday, November 22 at 12:30 p.m. ET.