OTTAWA – Mount Allison wide receiver Josh Blanchard, Manitoba defensive back Jonathan Jones and cover specialist Alex Christie, also from the Manitoba Bisons, are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending on Sept. 13, 2014.
Blanchard, a fourth-year sociology student in his fifth year of eligibility from Waaisis, N.B., was honoured on offence thanks to his three touchdown receptions in a 27-25 come-from-behind win over StFX on Saturday in Antigonish, N.S., including two scores in the final 64 seconds of the contest. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior, who caught the game-winning 32-yard TD pass from Brandon Leyh with 49 seconds remaining, finished the game with a team-record 222 receiving yards on 13 catches, which is tied for third most in AUS history. Blanchard’s other majors came from 32 and four yards out and helped the Mounties improve to 2-0 on the season and move up to eighth place in the national rankings.
Laval quarterback Hugo Richard, Wilfrid Laurier running back Dillon Campbell and Calgary quarterback Andrew Buckley were also up for the award.
Jones, a fourth-year arts student from Niagara Falls, Ont., took home the weekly honour on defence following a remarkable all-around performance in a 42-18 home win against Regina, on Friday night. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound veteran scored on a 52-yard interception return in the second quarter to give the Bisons a comfortable 20-2 lead. He also collected three tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and a pass break-up to help ninth-ranked Manitoba even its season record to 1-1.
Acadia defensive lineman Martin Pesek, Laval defensive back Michaël Langlois and Guelph defensive back Nick Parisotto were also nominated.
Christie, a second-year arts student from Thorold, Ont., was the choice on special teams thanks to his game-changing play in Manitoba’s win. With his team leading 7-2 midway through the second quarter, the 5-foot-9, 195-pound running back blocked a punt at the Regina 48-yard line and the ball was recovered by teammate Houston Rennie at the Rams’ one, leading to a Bisons’ touchdown on the next play. Christie also had a 19-yard kickoff return and one tackle on special teams in the victory.
Kickers Ryan Lambert of Mount Allison, Keegan Treloar of Concordia and Tyler Crapigna of McMaster were the other nominees.
Offensive nominees:
AUS: Josh Blanchard, wide receiver, Mount Allison (recipient)
RSEQ: Hugo Richard, quarterback, Laval
OUA: Dillon Campbell, running back, Wilfrid Laurier
CWUAA: Andrew Buckley, quarterback, Calgary
Defensive nominees:
AUS: Martin Pesek, defensive lineman, Acadia
RSEQ: Michaël Langlois, defensive back, Laval
OUA: Nick Parisotto, defensive back, Guelph
CWUAA: Jonathan Jones, defensive back, Manitoba (recipient)
Special team nominees:
AUS: Ryan Lambert, kicker, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Keegan Treloar, kicker, Concordia
OUA: Tyler Crapigna, kicker, McMaster
CWUAA: Alex Christie, cover, Manitoba (recipient)
CIS FOOTBALL WEEK 3 SCHEDULE (all times local)
September 19
19:00 Sherbrooke (1-1) at No. 10 Concordia (2-0) (StretchTV)
19:00 McGill (0-2) at No. 5 Montreal (1-1)
19:00 No. 2 Calgary (2-0) at No. 7 Saskatchewan (2-0) (CanadaWest.TV)
September 20
13:00 Windsor (2-0) at Waterloo (0-3) (OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 1 Laval (2-0) at Bishop’s (0-2) (Radio-Canada TV & ici.radio-canada.ca & Gaiters TV)
13:00 Queen’s (0-3) at No. 6 Guelph (2-1) (OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 4 McMaster (3-0) at York (0-3) (OUA.TV)
13:00 Ottawa (2-1) at Carleton (1-1) (Rogers TV Ottawa & OUA.TV)
13:00 Toronto (1-2) at No. 3 Western (2-0) (OUA.TV)
14:00 Saint Mary’s (0-2) at No. 8 Mount Allison (2-0) (Eastlink TV & AUStv.ca)
14:00 StFX (1-1) at Acadia (1-1) (AUStv.ca)
14:00 UBC (0-2) at No. 9 Manitoba (1-1) (CanadaWest.TV)
17:00 Regina (1-1) at Alberta (0-2) (Shaw TV & CanadaWest.TV)
About Football Reporters of Canada
Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958, Football Reporters of Canada has 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. 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 FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
About the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup
Canadian Interuniversity Sport will celebrate the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup throughout its 2014 football season. For the first time in history, the championship game will be staged in Montreal – at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium – on Saturday, November 29, at 1 p.m. ET, live on Sportsnet and Radio-Canada.
Official TELUS Vanier Cup website (including ticket information) www.vaniercup.com
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