FRC – CIS football players of the week (#12): Lumbala, Turcotte-Létourneau, Milo honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Calgary running back Steven Lumbala and a pair of Laval Rouge et Or, cornerback Olivier Turcotte-Létourneau and kicker Christopher Milo, are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Nov. 20, 2010.

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

Lumbala, a second-year business student from Calgary, was honoured on offence for his game-MVP performance in the Dinos’ 35-8 win over Saint Mary’s in the Mitchell Bowl, Saturday at McMahon Stadium. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound sophomore received the Maury L. Van Vliet trophy after he gained 127 yards on only 14 carries and scored a 33-yard touchdown that increased the Canada West champions’ lead to 15-0 early in the third quarter. No. 5 Calgary (9-2) returns to Quebec City for the third straight year this week to battle the top-ranked, hometown Rouge et Or (12-0) in the 46th Desjardins Vanier Cup, Saturday at 11:45 a.m. Eastern (9:45 a.m. MT) live on TSN and Radio-Canada.

Laval running back Sébastien Lévesque and Western Ontario guard Matthew Norman were also up for the award.

Turcotte-Létourneau, a fourth-year business administration student from Quebec City, took home the weekly honour on defence thanks to a pair of key interceptions in a thrilling 13-11 Uteck Bowl win over Western Ontario, Saturday at PEPS Stadium. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior, who also had two solo and two assisted tackles on the afternoon, led an outstanding effort on defence as the Rouge et Or picked off quarterback Donnie Marshall four times and held him to 61 passing yards on nine completions.

Western defensive end David Lee and Calgary defensive back Doctor Cassama were also nominated.

Milo, a fourth-year open studies student from Montreal, was the choice on special teams after he was named Uteck Bowl player of the game. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound veteran accounted for all the Rouge et Or scoring against Western thanks to four field goals and a single, including seven points in the final four minutes 34 seconds as Laval erased a late 11-6 deficit to advance to Saturday’s Desjardins Vanier Cup in front of its home fans. Milo’s fourth field goal of the afternoon, from 29 yards out with 1:46 on the clock, proved the game-winner.

Saint Mary’s returner Jahmeek Taylor and Western punter Darryl Wheeler were also up for the distinction.

Offensive nominees:
AUS: No nominee
QUFL: Sébastien Lévesque, running back, Laval
OUA: Matthew Norman, guard, Western Ontario
CWUAA: Steven Lumbala, running back, Calgary (recipient)

Defensive nominees:
AUS: No nominee
QUFL: Olivier Turcotte-Létourneau, cornerback, Laval (recipient)
OUA: David Lee, defensive end, Western Ontario
CWUAA: Doctor Cassama, defensive back, Calgary

Special team nominees:
AUS: Jahmeek Taylor, returner, Saint Mary’s
QUFL: Christopher Milo, kicker, Laval (recipient)
OUA: Darryl Wheeler, punter, Western Ontario
CWUAA: No nominee

CIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

November 27
11:45 a.m. ET Desjardins Vanier Cup: Calgary (9-2) vs. Laval (12-0), Quebec City (TSN & SRC) 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.

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