Gibson’s Finest 2013 CFL Players of the Week (Semifinals): Durant, Lawrence, Milo & Harris

TORONTO – Darian Durant, Simoni Lawrence, Chris Milo and Andrew Harris were named the Gibson’s Finest CFL Semi-Final Players of the Week, the Canadian Football League announced today.

The four players were chosen by a panel of judges including: former Canadian Football League players Matt Dunigan and Duane Forde of TSN, and Pierre Vercheval of RDS.

Gibson’s Finest CFL Offensive Player of the Week 
Darian Durant
QB – Saskatchewan Roughriders  
BC Lions 25 @ Saskatchewan Roughriders 29

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant was named the Offensive Player of the Week in the Western Semi-Final. Durant completed 19 of 23 passes (82.6%) for 270 yards and two touchdowns in Saskatchewan’s 29-25 Semi-Final win over the BC Lions.

Both touchdown passes were thrown to slotback Weston Dressler.

On a chilly day in Regina, Durant was also a threat on the ground, rushing the ball six times for 97 yards, including a 35-yard scamper.

Durant, a University of North Carolina product, led the CFL with 31 touchdown passes during the regular season and was third in passing yards with 4,154. He was also named Player of the Month in August and Player of the Week in Week 4.

Gibson’s Finest CFL Defensive Player of the Week
Simoni Lawrence
LB – Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Montreal Alouettes 16 @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19 (OT)

Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Simoni Lawrence was named the Defensive Player of the Week in the Eastern Semi-Final. Lawrence had a game-high seven tackles to help Hamilton advance to the Eastern Final, by defeating Montreal 19-16 in overtime.

Lawrence, a defensive co-captain with University of Minnesota, recorded 52 tackles, three special teams tackles, three interceptions and one fumble recovery in his second season in the CFL.

Gibson’s Finest CFL Special Teams Player of the Week 
Chris Milo
K – Saskatchewan Roughriders
BC Lions 25 @ Saskatchewan Roughriders 29

Saskatchewan Roughriders kicker Chris Milo was named the Special Teams Player of the Week in the Western Semi-Final. Milo was relied on heavily as he connected on five of his six field goal attempts to help Saskatchewan defeat the BC Lions 29-25 at home advance to the Western Final.

Milo accounted for 17 points in the game by kicking five field goals from; 45, 40, 29, 28, and 10 yards away, while adding a pair of converts in -20 Degree Celsius weather.

Milo, a Laval product went 46 for 54 on field goals this season (88.5%) and finished the year with 186 kicking points, good enough for second in the league.

Milo was named Special Teams Player of the Month for August.

Gibson’s Finest CFL Canadian Player of the Week
Andrew Harris 
RB – BC Lions 
BC Lions 25 @ Saskatchewan Roughriders 29

BC Lions running back Andrew Harris was named the Canadian Player of the Week in the Western Semi-Final. Harris ran for 93 yards on 10 carries (9.3 YPC) in the Lions’ Semi-Final loss to Saskatchewan.

Harris also added two receptions for 21 yards in the game.

The four-year CFL veteran from Winnipeg, MB finished the season third in the CFL in rushing with 998 rushing yards. He also added 513 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns.

This is Harris’ third Gibson’s Finest CFL Canadian Player of the Week this season with his others coming in Weeks 2 and 19.