PFC announces all-stars and major award winners

PFC’S BEST OF 2011 HONORED AT AWARDS DINNER

Winnipeg Rifles quarterback Ryan Marsch was the big winner at Saturday night’s Prairie Football Conference Awards Dinner in Saskatoon as he won 3 awards.

The 3rd-year pivot that set a new Canadian Junior Football League single season passing yards mark with 3,030 and equalled Darryl Leason’s conference record for touchdown passes with 31 was a unanimous choice as both the conference’s Most Valuable Player and the PFC’s nominee for the Peter Dalla Riva Award as CJFL Offensive Player of the Year. Marsch also took home the Outstanding Offensive Back Award.

In addition to Marsch, 4 other Rifles earned hardware. Receiver Kurt Goodrich claimed Rookie of the Year, Alex Vitt captured Receiver of the Year honors & Alex McKay was selected as Offensive Lineman of the Year. Head Coach Greg Graceffo, in his 2nd year as Rifles bench boss was named Coach of the Year.

A foursome of Calgary Colts picked up individual honors. Prince Baffoh was named the Outstanding Defensive Lineman; Alex Saretsky won Outstanding Defensive Back honors. Stephen Dereniwski was tabbed as Outstanding Linebacker; while kicker Andrew Fabian won Special Teams Player of the Year honors.

Zach Evans of the Regina Thunder captured the PFC nomination for CJFL Defensive Player of the Year.

There were a total of 8 unanimous picks among the all-star teams. On the defensive side, lineman Prince Baffoh and defensive back Alex Saretsky of the Calgary Colts were selected along with defensive back Chad Okumura of Winnipeg and Zach Evans of Regina.

On the offensive side, Rifles pivot Ryan Marsch along with teammates Matt Lariviere & Alex Vitt & lineman Lane Bryksa of Saskatoon made the cut.

Overall, 8 Calgary Colts made the all-star grade, with 7 Winnipeg Rifles on the elite squad. The Saskatoon Hilltops placed 6, while 3 from the Regina Thunder & 2 Edmonton Wildcats rounded out the selections.

The Winnipeg Rifles fielded one of the youngest squads in the conference as 5 Rifles picked up all-star rookie awards. Punter Brad Mikoluff was one of a pair of unanimous picks, with Edmonton Wildcats quarterback Jordan Olson earning the other. Ryan Migadel was the other Wildcat winner as he was tabbed as Rookie Defensive Back of the Year. One member each from the Regina Thunder & Edmonton Huskies rounded off the rookie elite.

Calgary Colts tailback DJ Whetton was named as the winner of the PFC Community Service Award. Whetton spearheaded a “Pink October” campaign that raised awareness for breast cancer. The campaign was launched just prior to the season and to date has raised in excess of $4000.

The complete list of award winners and all-stars appears below.

PFC 2011 Outstanding Player Awards and All-stars
PFC COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD	#/Position	Name	Team	Notes
		D.J Whetton	Colts
OUTSTANDING PLAYER AWARDS	#/Position	Name	Team	Notes
CJFL Outstanding Offensive Player	12- QB	Ryan Marsch	Rifles	Unanimous
CJFL Outstanding Defensive Player	95 – DT	Zach Evans	Thunder
Most Valuable Player	12-QB	Ryan Marsch	Rifles	Unanimous
Rookie of the Year	88- Rec	Kurt Goodrich	Rifles
Coach of the Year		Greg Graceffo	Rifles
Outstanding Offensive Back	12- QB	Ryan Marsch	Rifles
Outstanding Offensive Lineman	62-OL	Alex McKay	Rifles
Outstanding Receiver	85 – Rec	Alex Vitt	Rifles
Outstanding Defensive Lineman	52 – DL	Prince Baffoh	Colts
Outstanding Defensive Back	24- DB	Alex Saretsky	Colts
Outstanding Linebacker	42 – LB	Stephen Dereniwski	Colts
Outstanding Special Teams Player	7 -K/P	Andrew Fabian	Colts
DEFENSIVE ALL-STAR TEAM	#/Position	Name	Team	Notes
Defensive Line	52	Prince Baffoh	Colts	Unanimous
Defensive Line	92	Steven Giang	Wildcats
Defensive Line	95	Zach Evans	Thunder	Unanimous
Defensive Line	76	Bret Pisio	Hilltops
Linebacker	42	Stephen Dereniwski	Colts
Linebacker	40	Jace Skelton	Colts
Linebacker	46	Richard Zacharias	Hilltops
Defensive Back	23	Alex Saretsky	Colts	Unanimous
Defensive Back	2	Miguel Barker	Wildcats
Defensive Back	3	Derek Pilon	Thunder
Defensive Back	26	Chad Okumura	Rifles	Unanimous
Defensive Back	4	Braxton Lawrence	Hilltops	Tie but more 1st place votes
Punter	7	Andrew Fabian	Colts
OFFENSIVE ALL-STAR TEAM	#/Position	Name	Team	Notes
Offensive line	56	Andrew Driusso	Colts
Offensive line	63	Lane Bryksa	Hilltops	Unanimous
Offensive line	68	Tristan Hoath	Hilltops
Offensive line	66	Nevin Gamblin	Rifles
Offensive line	62	Alex McKay	Rifles
Receiver	83	Clay Cooke	Thunder
Receiver	85	Alex Vitt	Rifles	Unanimous
Receiver	5	Derek Dean	Rifles	Tie but more 1st place votes
Receiver	81	Matt Lariviere	Rifles	Unanimous
Running Back	9	Cuong Thai Lieu	Colts
Running Back	27	Regan Schuler	Hilltops
Quarterback	12	Ryan Marsch	Rifles	Unanimous
Place Kicker	7	Andrew Fabian	Colts
ALL-STAR ROOKIE AWARDS	#/Position	Name	Team	Notes
Offensive Lineman	60	Craig Esquivel	Rifles
Receiver	88	Kurt Goodrich	Rifles
Running back	30	Skyler Sargeant	Huskies
Quarterback	11	Jordan Olson	Wildcats	Unanimous
Place Kicker	74	Brad Mikoluff	Rifles
Defensive Lineman	52	Brett Wade	Thunder
Linebacker	50	Donovan Gregoire	Rifles
Defensive Back	21	Ryan Migadel	Wildcats
Punter	74	Brad Mikoluff	Rifles	Unanimous