FRC – CIS football players of the week (#4): Nixon, Robinson, Bodnar honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Saskatchewan quarterback Laurence Nixon, Western Ontario defensive end Zander Robinson and Regina kicker Chris Bodnar are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Sept. 26, 2010.

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

Nixon, a fifth-year arts and science student from Richmond, B.C., was honoured on offence after he threw for 425 yards and three touchdowns last Friday to help the Huskies (2-2) put an end to a two-game losing streak with a 33-9 road win over the Alberta Golden Bears (2-2), who were ranked seventh in the nation going into the contest. The 6-foot, 200-pound senior completed 25 of 34 passes on the night including 53 and 41-yard TD strikes to Jade Etienne and a five-yard connection in the end zone with Mitch Stevens. Saskatchewan, which moved back into the CIS Top 10 – at No. 9 – following the victory, hosts Manitoba (1-3) Friday evening.

Acadia quarterback Kyle Graves, Montreal running back Rotrand Sené and Queen’s receiver Giovanni Aprile were also up for the award.

Robinson, a fourth-year kinesiology major from Vancouver, took home the weekly honour on defence thanks to his 12.5 tackles, including nine solo and seven assisted, and 2.5 sacks for losses of 16 yards in the No. 5 Mustangs’ 15-8 road win over No. 10 and previously undefeated Guelph (3-1), last Saturday. The 6-foot-5, 253-pound veteran led an outstanding defensive effort as Western held its rivals to 286 yards of total offence, including 159 through the air. The Mustangs (4-1) host reigning Vanier Cup champion Queen’s (1-3) for their Homecoming on Saturday.

Acadia linebacker Tom Labenski, Laval lineman Arnaud Gascon-Nadon and Regina linebacker Bruce Anderson were also nominated.

Bodnar, a third-year kinesiology and health studies student from Saskatoon, was the choice on special teams after he was good on four of five field-goal attempts and threw a 73-yard touchdown pass on a fake punt in a dominating 41-6 Regina win over UBC (1-3), last Friday night in Vancouver. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound junior, who also averaged 44 yards on six punts in the game, split the uprights from 37, 20, 32 and 20 yards out and made it a 37-6 affair early in the fourth quarter when he connected with Matt Yausie on the long trick play. The No. 6 Rams (3-1), who are tied atop the Canada West standings with No. 4 Calgary, host Alberta (2-2) on Saturday.

Kickers John Szilagyi of Mount Allison, Josh Maveety of Bishop’s and Matthew Falvo of Ottawa were also up for the distinction.

Offensive nominees:
AUS: Kyle Graves, quarterback, Acadia
QUFL: Rotrand Sené, running back, Montreal
OUA: Giovanni Aprile, receiver, Queen’s
CWUAA: Laurence Nixon, quarterback, Saskatchewan (recipient)

Defensive nominees:
AUS: Tom Labenski, linebacker, Acadia
QUFL: Arnaud Gascon-Nadon, defensive lineman, Laval
OUA: Zander Robinson, defensive end, Western Ontario (recipient)
CWUAA: Bruce Anderson, linebacker, Regina

Special team nominees:
AUS: John Szilagyi, kicker, Mount Allison
QUFL: Josh Maveety, kicker, Bishop’s
OUA: Matthew Falvo, kicker, Ottawa
CWUAA: Chris Bodnar, kicker, Regina (recipient)

CIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

Note: Complete webcast and radio schedules at [URL]http://english.cis-sic.ca/sports/fball/2010-11/schedule

October 1
19:00 Acadia (2-1) at Saint Mary’s (0-3)
19:00 Manitoba (1-3) at No. 9 Saskatchewan (2-2)

October 2
13:00 Sherbrooke (1-3) at McGill (0-4) (SRC)
13:00 No. 3 Montreal (4-0) at No. 8 Bishop’s (3-1)
13:00 Queen’s (1-3) at No. 5 Western (4-1) (The Score)
13:00 No. 10 Guelph (3-1) at Laurier (2-2)
13:00 No. 7 McMaster (3-2) at York (0-4)
13:00 No. 2 Ottawa (5-0) at Toronto (1-3)
13:00 UBC (1-3) at No. 4 Calgary (3-1)
14:00 Mount Allison (2-1) at StFX (0-3) (EastLink)
19:00 Alberta (2-2) at No. 6 Regina (3-1)

October 3
13:00 Concordia (2-2) at No. 1 Laval (4-0)

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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