FRC – CIS football players of the week (#2): Kennedy, Michalchuk, Valleau honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Windsor quarterback Austin Kennedy, Saskatchewan linebacker Tony Michalchuk and Alberta kick returner Jess Valleau are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Sept. 11, 2011.

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

Kennedy, a second-year business major from Windsor, Ont., was honoured on offence after he racked up a remarkable 443 yards and five touchdowns through the air and 112 yards on the ground last Saturday to lead the visiting Lancers (2-0) to a come-from-behind, 41-40 upset of Wilfrid Laurier (1-1), which was ranked eighth nationally going into the contest. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound sophomore connected with Cory Fernandes on 16 yards with 65 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 40-40 and then rushed for 40 yards to the Laurier 18 on his team’s final drive to set up the winning rouge as time expired. The Lancers, who earned the final Top 10 spot following the dramatic victory, host No. 7 McMaster (1-1) on Saturday night.

Acadia quarterback Kyle Graves, Sherbrooke quarterback Jérémi Doyon-Roch and Calgary running back Steven Lumbala were also up for the award.

Michalchuk, a fifth-year arts and science student from Foam Lake, Sask., took home the weekly honour on defence thanks to his 12 total tackles, including 10 solo, and timely interception in a 33-10 home win over provincial rival Regina (0-2), last Friday. The 6-foot, 210-pound senior, who led a solid defensive effort that saw Saskatchewan hold its rivals to 229 total yards and 12 first downs, intercepted a pass at the Regina 25 with 41 seconds remaining in the first half to set up a field goal and send his team to the locker room with a 20-10 cushion. The No. 4 Huskies (2-0) visit Manitoba (1-1) in Winnipeg on Saturday.
Saint Mary’s lineman Wyatt Gray, Montreal linebacker Jonathan Beaulieu-Richard and McMaster linebacker Ryan Chmielewski were also nominated.

Valleau, a third-year physical education and recreation student from Wainwright, Alta., was the choice on special teams after he amassed 142 return yards in a 22-20 loss to Manitoba (1-1), including a 100-yard touchdown on a kickoff return, the third longest in Golden Bears’ history. The 6-foot wide receiver, who finished the game with 185 all-purpose yards, scored with 6:41 left in the third quarter to bring his team back to 16-11 going into the final frame. Alberta (0-2) travels to Vancouver on Saturday to battle UBC (1-1).

Returners Brett Lauther of Saint Mary’s, Guillaume Rioux of Laval and Felix Odum of Wilfrid Laurier were also up for the distinction.

Photo credit Edwin Tam Windsor Athletics, Saskatchewan Athletics, and Alberta Athletics

Offensive nominees:
AUS: Kyle Graves, quarterback, Acadia
RSEQ: Jérémi Doyon-Roch, quarterback, Sherbrooke
OUA: Austin Kennedy, quarterback, Windsor (recipient)
CWUAA: Steven Lumbala, running back, Calgary

Defensive nominees:
AUS: Wyatt Gray, lineman, Saint Mary’s
RSEQ: Jonathan Beaulieu-Richard, linebacker, Montreal
OUA: Ryan Chmielewski, linebacker, McMaster
CWUAA: Tony Michalchuk, linebacker, Saskatchewan (recipient)

Special team nominees:
AUS: Brett Lauther, returner, Saint Mary’s
RSEQ: Guillaume Rioux, returner, Laval
OUA: Felix Odum, returner, Wilfrid Laurier
CWUAA: Jess Valleau, returner, Alberta (recipient)

CIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

Friday, September 16
19:00 (MT) No. 3 Calgary (2-0) at Regina (0-2)

Saturday, September 17
14:00 (AT) McGill (0-2) at Acadia (1-0)
14:00 (AT) Bishop’s (0-2) at Mount Allison (0-1), EastLink
13:00 (ET) No. 8 Saint Mary’s (1-0) at No. 6 Montreal (1-1), Radio-Canada
13:00 (ET) StFX (0-1) at Concordia (1-1),
13:00 (ET) Guelph (1-1) at Toronto (1-1), The Score
13:00 (ET) Laurier (1-1) at Queen’s (0-2)
13:00 (ET) No. 9 Ottawa (2-0) at No. 2 Western (2-0)
13:00 (ET) York (0-2) at Waterloo (0-2)
13:00 (CT) No. 4 Saskatchewan (2-0) at Manitoba (1-1), SHAW / SHAW Direct 299
14:00 (PT) Alberta (0-2) at UBC (1-1)
19:00 (ET) No. 1 Laval (2-0) at No. 5 Sherbrooke (2-0)
19:00 (ET) No. 7 McMaster (1-1) at No. 10 Windsor (2-0)