FRC – CIS football players of the week (#10): Varga, Cupido, Bede honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Western Ontario running back Tyler Varga, McMaster defensive back Joey Cupido and Laval kicker Boris Bede are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Nov. 5, 2011.

The selection was made by a committee comprised of members of Football Reporters of Canada (FRC).

Varga, a first-year science student from Kitchener, Ont., was honoured on offence after he rushed for 209 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries to help the No. 3-ranked Mustangs (8-1) to a 33-27 OUA semifinal win over Windsor. The 5-foot-10, 218-pound freshman, who led the country during the regular season with 15 majors in only seven contests, scored from 10 yards out in the first quarter and on a six-yard run in the second frame en route to game-MVP honours. Two-time reigning conference champion Western hosts No. 4 McMaster (8-1) on Saturday in the 104th Yates Cup final.

Saint Mary’s running back Devon Jones, Montreal running back Rotrand Sené and UBC quarterback Billy Greene were also up for the award.

Cupido, a third-year kinesiology student from Hamilton, Ont., took home the weekly honour on defence thanks to his record-tying four interceptions in the Marauders’ 40-13 rout of Queen’s in the second OUA semi. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior, who also registered a pair of solo tackles in the lopsided affair, had two picks in each of the first two quarters to match the CIS record for most interceptions in a single game. McMaster will be looking for a first Yates Cup championship since 2003 on Saturday.

Saint Mary’s lineman Rob Jubenville, Montreal linebacker Anthony Coady and Calgary linebacker Sam Hurl were also nominated.

Bede, a first-year business administration student from Toulon, France, was the choice on special teams after he tied the single-game RSEQ playoff mark with five field goals in a 33-7 defeat of Concordia in the Quebec semis. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound rookie was good on all five of his attempts on Saturday as he split the uprights from 34, 39, 42, 44 and 41 yards out. The top-ranked Rouge et Or (8-1) hope to add to their CIS-record eight straight conference titles on Saturday when they host No. 7 Montreal (7-3) in the Dunsmore Cup final.

Fellow kickers Brett Lauther of Saint Mary’s and Darryl Wheeler of Western were also up for the distinction.

Offensive nominees:

AUS: Devon Jones, running back, Saint Mary’s

RSEQ: Rotrand Sené, running back, Montreal

OUA: Tyler Varga, running back, Western Ontario (recipient)

CWUAA: Billy Greene, quarterback, UBC

Defensive nominees:

AUS: Rob Jubenville, lineman, Saint Mary’s

RSEQ: Anthony Coady, linebacker, Montreal

OUA: Joey Cupido, defensive back, McMaster (recipient)

CWUAA: Sam Hurl, linebacker, Calgary

Special team nominees:

AUS: Brett Lauther, kicker, Saint Mary’s

RSEQ: Boris Bede, kicker, Laval (recipient)

OUA: Darryl Wheeler, kicker, Western Ontario

CWUAA: No nominee

Photo courtesy: www.geoffreymcmurray.com

CIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

Conference finals

November 11

18:00 MT No. 6 UBC (7-2) at No. 2 Calgary (8-1), TSN (TV)

November 12

13:00 AT Saint Mary’s (7-2) at No. 9 Acadia (7-1), EastLink (TV & webcast)

13:00 ET No. 7 Montreal (7-3) at No. 1 Laval (8-1), Radio-Canada (TV & webcast)

13:00 ET No. 4 McMaster (8-1) at No. 3 Western (8-1), The Score (TV & webcast)

About Football Reporters of Canada – University Division

The Football Reporters of Canada – University Division represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958 the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) have 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.

The 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 the FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.