FRC – CIS football players of the week (#11): Lumbala, St. James, Mark honoured

OTTAWA– Calgary running back Steven Lumbala, Acadia defensive lineman Jesse St. James and kicker Johnny Mark, also of Calgary, are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Nov. 10, 2012.

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

Lumbala, a fourth-year business student from Calgary, was honoured on offence thanks to his dominating performance on the ground in a 38-14 home win over Regina in the Hardy Cup final, last Saturday. The 5-foot-11, 220-pound senior amassed a career-best 251 rushing yards on 22 carries, including four second-half runs of 48 yards or more. The Dinos (9-1), who became the first team in history to claim five consecutive Canada West football banners, visit top-ranked McMaster (10-0) Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Mitchell Bowl national semi-final, live on TSN and RDS from Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton.

Acadia running back Thomas Troop, Laval running back Guillaume Bourassa and McMaster quarterback Kyle Quinlan were also up for the award.

St. James, a second-year student from Pincourt, Que., took home the weekly honour on defence after he led a phenomenal team effort in a 17-9 home victory against Saint Mary’s in the Loney Bowl, Saturday in Wolfville, N.S. The 6-foot-2, 252-pound sophomore recorded seven tackles, including 5.5 for losses and a pair of sacks, and also recovered a fumble as Acadia held its opponent to 97 yards of offence and one passing completion, for a loss of five yards. The reigning two-time AUS champion Axemen (8-1) travel to Quebec City this week to face Laval (10-1) in the Uteck Bowl, Saturday at 1 p.m., live on TSN and RDS from TELUS-Université Laval Stadium.

Laval defensive back Thomas Girard, McMaster linebacker Shane Beaton and Calgary safety Wyatt Getty were also nominated.

Mark, a second-year science student from Peterborough, Ont., was the choice on special teams after he was perfect on field goal attempts and accounted for 18 points in Calgary’s Hardy Cup triumph. The 6-foot, 175-pound kicker split the uprights from 13, 25, 21, 21 and 24 yards out to finish one short his personal record set earlier this season. The Canada West all-star also averaged 41 yards on three punts.

Acadia returner Suleiman Semalulu, Laval returner Maximilien Ducap Kamara and McMaster kicker Tyler Crapigna were also up for the distinction.

Offensive nominees:

AUS: Thomas Troop, running back, Acadia

RSEQ: Guillaume Bourassa, running back, Laval

OUA: Kyle Quinlan, quarterback, McMaster

CWUAA: Steven Lumbala, running back, Calgary (recipient)

Defensive nominees:

AUS: Jesse St. James, lineman, Acadia (recipient)

RSEQ: Thomas Girard, defensive back, Laval

OUA: Shane Beaton, linebacker, McMaster

CWUAA: Wyatt Getty, safety, Calgary

Special team nominees:

AUS: Suleiman Semalulu, returner, Acadia

RSEQ: Maximilien Ducap Kamara, returner, Laval

OUA: Tyler Crapigna, kicker, McMaster

CWUAA: Johnny Mark, kicker, Calgary (recipient)

SCHEDULE WEEKS 12-13 (all times local)

November 17

13:00 Uteck Bowl: No. 9 Acadia (8-1) at No. 2 Laval (10-1), TSN & RDS

16:00 Mitchell Bowl: No. 3 Calgary (9-1) at No. 1 McMaster (10-0), TSN & RDS

November 23

19:30 48^th Vanier Cup: Rogers Centre, Toronto, TSN & RDS

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.