OTTAWA – Montreal quarterback Gabriel Cousineau, Acadia defensive back Brett Backman and Guelph kicker Daniel Ferraro are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending on Oct. 11, 2014.
Cousineau, a fourth-year administration student from Montreal, was honoured on offence thanks to his near-perfect performance in a convincing 36-3 road win over nationally ninth-ranked Concordia, last Saturday. The 6-foot, 210-pound pivot completed 85 percent of his passes, going 23-of-27 for 300 yards, two touchdowns and no interception against a defensive unit that leads the country this season with 14 picks. After six starts this fall for the No. 5 Carabins (5-1), Cousineau tops all CIS quarterbacks with a remarkable 71.9 completion percentage.
Mount Allison wide receiver Josh Blanchard and Windsor running back Beau Lumley were also up for the award.
Backman, a fifth-year business administration student from Tantallon, N.S., took home the weekly honour on defence after he intercepted no less than three passes in a 26-4 home victory over StFX, on Saturday. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior had two picks in Acadia territory in the fourth quarter, including one at the Axemen’s three-yard line. Backman also added three solo tackles and a pass breakup in the win.
Linebackers Byron Archambault of Montreal and Michael Moore of Queen’s were also nominated.
Ferraro, a fourth-year psychology student from Mississauga, Ont., was the choice on special teams after he booted five field goals for the second straight game, this time in a 44-24 home win against Carleton, last Friday. The 5-foot-8, 185-pound veteran, who currently leads the nation with 21 field goals in six contests, connected on each of his three attempts from over 40 yards, splitting the uprights from 41, 42 and 43 yards out. Ferraro also averaged 43.7 yards on six punts against the Ravens, including three that ended up inside the 20-yard line.
Acadia kicker Ryan Begin and Montreal returner Mikhaïl Davidson were the other nominees.
Offensive nominees:
AUS: Josh Blanchard, wide receiver, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Gabriel Cousineau, quarterback, Montreal (recipient)
OUA: Beau Lumley, running back, Windsor
CWUAA: No nominee (bye week)
Defensive nominees:
AUS: Brett Backman, defensive back, Acadia (recipient)
RSEQ: Byron Archambault, linebacker, Montreal
OUA: Michael Moore, linebacker, Queen’s
CWUAA: No nominee (bye week)
Special team nominees:
AUS: Ryan Begin, kicker, Acadia
RSEQ: Mikhaïl Davidson, returner, Montreal
OUA: Daniel Ferraro, kicker, Guelph (recipient)
CWUAA: No nominee (bye week)
CIS FOOTBALL WEEK 8 SCHEDULE (all times local)
NOTE: Click HERE for the complete 2014 regular season schedule
October 17
19:00 No. 8 Saskatchewan (4-1) at Manitoba (2-3) (CanadaWest.TV)
October 18
13:00 Laurier (4-2) at No. 3 McMaster (6-0) (Cable 14 & OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 10 Windsor (5-1) at Carleton (3-3) (OUA.TV)
13:00 Sherbrooke (2-3) at McGill (0-5) (Radio-Canada TV & ici.radio-canada.ca & SSN Canada)
13:00 York (0-6) at Queen’s (1-5) (TVCogeco Cable 13 / HD Cable 700 & OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 4 Western (5-1) at No. 6 Guelph (5-1) (OUA.TV)
13:00 Waterloo (0-6) at Toronto (1-6) (OUA.TV)
14:00 Saint Mary’s (0-6) at StFX (3-3) (AUStv.ca)
14:00 No. 7 Mount Allison (6-0) at Acadia (2-4) (Eastlink TV & AUStv.ca)
14:00 No. 2 Calgary (4-1) at Alberta (3-2) (CanadaWest.TV)
14:00 Regina (1-4) at UBC (1-4) (Shaw TV & CanadaWest.TV)
October 19
13:00 Bishop’s (1-4) at No. 1 Laval (5-0) (ici.radio-canada.ca Quebec)
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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