CIS record chasers: Sinotte, Ross, Ifield, Milo, Fitzgibbon

August 31, 2010 (OTTAWA, Ont.) – While last year’s historic record chase between quarterbacks Michael Faulds and Danny Brannagan will be a tough act to follow, a number of CIS football players should find themselves at or near the top of prestigious career leader lists by the time the 2010 season is in the books.

CIS conference play gets underway Tuesday night when the Queen’s Gaels begin the defence of their Vanier Cup title at McMaster, while Ottawa pays a visit to Windsor. Twelve more games are scheduled in Ontario, Quebec and Canada West through Labour Day weekend, while the AUS campaign is set to kick off on Sept. 11.

A year ago, Western’s Faulds and Vanier Cup MVP Brannagan, both playing in their fifth and final OUA season, kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final week of the conference schedule in their quest to become CIS’ all-time passing leader. Faulds ended up on top with 10,811 yards compared to 10,714 for his archrival.

While the last two seasons have seen many of the most productive pivots in history wrap up their university careers (Faulds, Brannagan, McGill’s Matt Connell, Laval’s Benoit Groulx, Ottawa’s Josh Sacobie, Regina’s Teale Orban, Guelph’s Justin Dunk), players at other positions look to leave their mark in 2010.

Leading the pack is McGill fifth-year receiver Charles-Antoine Sinotte. In fact, the native of Trois-Rivières, Que., won’t exactly be chasing records this fall. Instead, he’ll be looking to add to his already impressive totals.

Sinotte already holds the CIS marks for most receptions in a career (199) and in a single season (72 in 2007) and is expected to become the first player in history to reach the 200-catch plateau when the Redmen open the campaign at Laval on Sept. 5. The 23-year-old also enters the season in 18th place on the CIS all-time list (third on the QUFL list) with 2,446 receiving yards and should easily finish his career in the national Top 10.

Another fifth-year receiver to keep an eye on in 2010 is Mount Allison’s Gary Ross, who is also making history as a punt and kick returner.

The native of Windsor, Ont., enters the new campaign as the AUS record holder in career receptions (172) and receiving yards (2,582), and ranks second in the conference in career punt return (1,679) and kickoff return yards (1,403). At the CIS level, Ross currently ranks ninth in career receptions (only one behind seventh place), 13th in receiving yards and eighth in punt return yards.

Ross and Sinotte hope to join only five former CIS receivers in the 3,000-yard club.
Among running backs, Guelph’s senior Nick FitzGibbon has a legitimate shot at the CIS career record of 51 all-purpose touchdowns. The product of Puslinch, Ont., who is coming off a 14-major season and who had scored 13 TDs in 2007, has reached the end zone 37 times since his Gryphons debut (20 rushing, 17 receiving).

Finally, two kickers could make a run at the CIS career mark of 70 field goals.
Calgary’s fifth-year veteran Aaron Ifield is the active leader with 53, which is good for 14th on the all-time list. The Saskatoon native kicked a personal-best 14 field goals as a freshman back in 2006 and has since followed up with three consecutive 13-FG campaigns.

Laval’s Christopher Milo is in 27th position on the career list with 47 field goals. The native of Montreal, who enters his fourth year with the Rouge et Or, set the single-season national record of 25 back in 2008.

CIS football records book available online at: [URL]http://english.cis-sic.ca/sports/fball
AUS football record book available online at [URL]http://www.atlanticuniversitysport.com/mens/football/records/


CIS CAREER LEADERS (regular season only):
Receptions
1. 199 Charles-Antoine Sinotte, McGill 2006-
2. 194 Erik Galas, McGill 2004-08
3. 189 Andy Fantuz, Western 2002-05
4. 186 Stefan Ptaszek, Laurier 1990-94
5. 185 Chris Evraire, Ottawa 1994-98
6. 178 Arjei Franklin, Windsor 2001-05
T7. 173 James MacLean, Queen’s 1998-01
T7. 173 Chad Goldie, Regina 2004-08
9. 172 Gary Ross, Mount Allison 2006-
T23. 147 Julian Feoli-Gudino, Laval 2007-

Receiving yards
1. 4123 Andy Fantuz, Western 2002-05
2. 3184 Ryan Janzen, McMaster 1996-00
3. 3138 James MacLean, Queen’s 1998-01
4. 3126 Stefan Ptaszek, Laurier 1990-94
5. 3031 Chris Evraire, Ottawa 1994-98
6. 2917 Scott Valberg, Queen’s 2004-09
7. 2913 Arjei Franklin, Windsor 2001-05
8. 2869 Vaughan Swart, McMaster 2001-05
9. 2781 Brad Coutts, UBC 1996-01
10. 2682 Brad Smith, Queen’s 2002 / 2004-06
11. 2655 Brian Fryer, Alberta 1972-75
12. 2611 Don Blair, Calgary 1992-95
13. 2582 Gary Ross, Mount Allison 2006-
18. 2446 Charles-Antoine Sinotte, McGill 2006-

All-purpose touchdowns
1. 51 Paul Brule, StFX 1964-67
2. 48 Dominic Zagari, Manitoba 1991-95
3. 47 Jesse Lumsden, McMaster 2001-04
4. 43 Randy McAuley, Western 2003-07
T5. 41 Mike Bradley, Waterloo 1997-01
T5. 41 Andy Fantuz, Western 2002-05
7. 40 Kojo Aidoo, McMaster 1998-02
8. 39 Daryl Stephenson, Windsor 2004-08
9. 37 Nick FitzGibbon, Guelph 2006-

Field goals
1. 70 Frank Jagas, Western 1990-94
2. 68 Jamie Boreham, UBC-Sask.-Man. 1996 / 1999 / 2001-03
3. 65 Justin Palardy, Saint Mary’s 2006-09
4. 63 Shawn McIsaac, UBC 2004-08
5. 61 Anand Pillai, McGill 1999-2003
6. 59 Michael Ray, McMaster 2001-04
7. 57 Rob Maver, Guelph 2006-09
T8. 56 Jadran Mlinarevic, StFX 1982-86
T8. 56 Perri Scarcelli, Regina 2005-09
10. 55 Dave Osiowy, Saskatchewan 1974-78
T11. 54 Terry Baker, Mt. Allison – Acadia 1982-86
T11. 54 Ara Tchobanian, Ottawa 2003-07
T11. 54 Kevin Reider, Windsor 2003-07
14. 53 Aaron Ifield, Calgary 2006-
27. 47 Christopher Milo, Laval 2007-

Punt return yards
1. 2517 Chris Evraire, Ottawa 1994-98
2. 2279 Eric Duchene, Saskatchewan 1999-03
3. 1964 Derek Townsend, UBC 2003-07
4. 1918 Chuck Wust, Acadia 1982-83 / 1985-87
5. 1886 Don Hollerhead, Windsor 1971-75
6. 1766 Mike Plante, Manitoba 1997-00
7. 1736 Kendall Jeske, Alberta 2002-06
8. 1679 Gary Ross, Mount Allison 2006-