FRC – CIS football players of the week (#8): Shoiry, Hamel, Ifield honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Sherbrooke quarterback Jean-Philippe Shoiry, Montreal defensive back Julien Hamel and Calgary kicker Aaron Ifield are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Oct. 23, 2010.

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

Shoiry, a Masters of finance student from Montreal, was honoured on offence after he threw for 372 yards and five touchdown passes – to only one interception – to help the Vert & Or even their season record to 4-4 with a dominating 49-11 win over their cross-town rivals, the Bishop’s Gaiters (5-3), who were ranked ninth in the country going into the contest. The 6-foot-5, 211-pound fifth-year pivot, who had to watch from the sidelines due to an injury two weeks ago when his team lost 40-10 to Bishop’s, had his best game of the year when it mattered the most, completing 29 of 39 passes as Sherbrooke racked up 500 yards of total offence. The Vert & Or, who earned the No. 10 spot in this week’s CIS national rankings, can clinch a playoff spot with a home win over McGill (0-8) on Saturday and can still finish as high as third in the QUFL.

Saint Mary’s running back Craig Leger, Ottawa quarterback Brad Sinopoli and Alberta running back Matt Jarvis were also up for the award.

Hamel, a fifth-year physical education and health student from Boucherville, Que., took home the weekly honour on defence after he set a single-game Quebec conference record and tied the CIS mark with four interceptions – including a pair in the end zone – in a 21-14 loss to Concordia (4-4). The 5-foot-9, 195-pound senior, who became the first CIS player in 13 years to accomplish the feat, had 76 yards in returns on the four picks and added 5.5 tackles and a knockdown on the night. The No. 8 Carabins (5-3) can secure second place in the QUFL and home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a win over visiting Bishop’s on Saturday (Radio-Canada, 1 p.m.).

Acadia lineman Adran Saturley and linebackers Samuel Aird of Wilfrid Laurier and Jean-Marc Jones of Alberta were also nominated.

Ifield, a fifth-year arts student from Saskatoon, was the choice on special teams after he was perfect on four field goal attempts and averaged a season-best 47.5 yards on four punts to lead the No. 5 Dinos (5-2) to a huge 35-27 road win over the No. 6 Regina Rams (5-2), who were ranked third in the nation before the game. The 6-foot, 195-pound senior split the uprights from 14, 39, 27 and 23 yards out to set a new Canada West career record with 69 field goals, only one shy of the all-time CIS mark held since 1994 by Western’s Frank Jagas. Ifield will have a chance to make CIS history on Saturday when Calgary closes out conference play at home against Alberta (3-4), with a chance to finish first in the Canada West standings for the first time since 1995.

Saint Mary’s returner Jahmeek Taylor, Laval kicker Christopher Milo and Wilfrid Laurier returner Shamawd Chambers were also up for the distinction.

Offensive nominees:
AUS: Craig Leger, running back, Saint Mary’s
QUFL: Jean-Philippe Shoiry, quarterback, Sherbrooke (recipient)
OUA: Brad Sinopoli, quarterback, Ottawa
CWUAA: Matt Jarvis, running back, Alberta

Defensive nominees:
AUS: Adrian Saturley, defensive lineman, Acadia
QUFL: Julien Hamel, defensive back, Montreal (recipient)
OUA: Samuel Aird, linebacker, Wilfrid Laurier
CWUAA: Jean-Marc Jones, linebacker, Alberta

Special team nominees:
AUS: Jahmeek Taylor, returner, Saint Mary’s
QUFL: Christopher Milo, kicker, Laval
OUA: Shamawd Chambers, returner, Wilfrid Laurier
CWUAA: Aaron Ifield, kicker, Calgary (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 29
19:00 No. 6 Regina (5-2) at No. 3 Saskatchewan (5-2) (TV: Shaw)

October 30
13:00 OUA quarter-final: Queen’s (3-5) at No. 7 McMaster (6-2) (TV: Cable 14 in Hamilton & TVCogeco 13 in Kingston)
13:00 OUA quarter-final: Guelph (4-4) at Laurier (4-4) (TV & Web: The Score)
13:00 No. 1 Laval (8-0) at Concordia (4-4) (Web: SSN Canada)
13:00 Bishop’s (5-3) at No. 8 Montreal (5-3) (TV & Web: Radio-Canada)
13:00 McGill (0-8) at No. 10 Sherbrooke (4-4)
13:00 UBC (2-5) at Manitoba (1-6) (TV: Shaw – in Winnipeg & Vancouver)
13:00 Alberta (3-4) at No. 5 Calgary (5-2) (Web: www.godinos.com/dinovision)
14:00 No. 9 Saint Mary’s (4-3) at Acadia (4-3) (TV & Web: EastLink)
14:00 StFX (1-6) at Mount Allison (3-4)

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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