OUA Players of week 6: Gillis, Surla & Hajrullahu

HAMILTON, Ont. – The following student-athletes have been named OUA Football Players of the Week for the period ending October 3, 2010.

OFFENCE: Andrew Gillis, Toronto Varsity Blues, Quarterback
Fourth-year quarterback Andrew Gillis (Markham, Ont.) threw a career-high 343 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Varsity Blues in a thrilling upset victory over the previously undefeated No. 2 Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday afternoon. Named the Varsity Blues player of the game, Gillis had a monster performance, going 28-for-45 and two TDs, while also rushing seven times for 43 yards. He connected on five and 24-yard passes for two majors in the first and third quarters. The pivot also led his team on back-to-back drives of 74 and 100-yards, respectively, to set up two Jordan Scheltgen (Surrey, B.C.) touchdowns in the second quarter.

DEFENCE: John Surla, Western Mustangs, Linebacker
Fourth-year middle linebacker John Surla (Niagara Falls, Ont.) led the Western Mustangs defence with 8.5 tackles in Western’s 46-10 win over Queen’s on Saturday. Western’s defence has only allowed 30 points in three games this season at home with Surla leading the way. He impressed again on Saturday with two solo and 13 assisted tackles. One of his tackles was for loss and he also had two breakups. Surla’s mobility and anticipation to read the Queen’s offence helped Western to hold the Gaels to just 10 points. He is now second on the team with 37 tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Lirim Hajrullahu, Western Mustangs, Placekicker
Second-year placekicker Lirim Hajrullahu (St. Catharines, Ont.) tied a Mustangs school record with six field goals on Saturday in Western’s 46-10 win over Queen’s. He completed all six field goals attempted from 37, 24, 21, 20, 13 and 12 yards out and added three extra points to lead Western’s offence with 24 points. Hajrullahu was just one field goal shy of the OUA record set by Lance Chomyc of Toronto in 1982 when he booted seven field goals in an Oct. 6 game against York. With two games remaining, he is just six field goals shy of the OUA single-season record of 22 field goals set in 2003 by McMaster’s Michael Ray, and four away from the school record of 20 set by Frank Jagas (1993) and Jeff Crews (1985). Western’s school record of six field goals in a game is now shared by Hajrullahu, Darryl Wheeler (Nov. 1, 2008 vs. Wilfrid Laurier, OUA semifinal) and Frank Jagas (Sept. 11, 1993 vs Guelph).