Pickett, Ridgeway and Szilagyi named Week 8 AUS Football Players of the Week

November 2, 2010 (HALIFAX, N.S.) – Running back Matt Pickett and kicker John Szilagyi of the Mount Allison Mounties, along with Saint Mary’s linebacker Brian Ridgeway have been selected as the Atlantic University Sport Football Players of the Week for the period ending October 31st, 2010.

Offensive Player of the Week
Matt Pickett
Running Back
Mount Allison University
5’8″, 185 lbs.
Hampton, ON
Running back Matt Pickett of the Mount Allison Mounties is the Atlantic University Sport Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending October 31st, 2010. Pickett, a fourth year student from Hampton, ON rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries to lead the Mounties to a 33-12 home victory over the StFX X-Men this past weekend in Sackville, NB. Pickett also caught two passes for 29 yards in the win, which clinched second place for Mount Allison and secured a home playoff game for the Mounties for the first time since 1998. Mount Allison (4-4) will host the Acadia Axemen (4-4) in Saturday’s AUS semifinal playoff game. Pickett finished second in AUS rushing this year, carrying the ball 98 times for 452 yards in eight regular season games. His performance in Saturday’s victory pushed him over the 1,000 yard mark for career rushing yardage, with 1,062 yards over his four years at Mount Allison.

Defensive Player of the Week
Brian Ridgeway
Linebacker
Saint Mary’s University
6’2″, 210 lbs.
Grande Prairie, AB
Saint Mary’s linebacker Brian Ridgeway is the Atlantic University Sport Defensive Player of the Week for the week ending October 31st, 2010. Ridgeway, a third year student-athlete from Grande Prairie, AB, registered 8.5 tackles, including four tackles for 12 yards in losses and a career-high three sacks in Saturday’s 21-0 road win over the Acadia Axemen. Brian, a transfer student from Simon Fraser University who led the Clan with 48.5 tackles in 2008, also broke up two passes and was credited with a QB hurry in the game as the CIS No. 9-ranked Huskies (5-3) clinched first place and a bye to the Subway Loney Bowl with the victory. Ridgeway finished the 2010 regular season campaign with 21.0 tackles, 4.0 sacks and six tackles for a loss.

Special Teams Player of the Week
John Szilagyi
Mount Allison University
6’1″, 185 lbs.
Winnipeg, MB
For the fourth time this season, Mount Allison’s John Szilagyi has been named the Atlantic University Sport Special Teams Player of the Week. Szilagyi, a first year player from Winnipeg, MB, connected on a 34-yard field goal to open the scoring in Saturday’s 33-12 win over the StFX X-Men, added three converts and averaged 54.8 yards per kickoff in the game. Szilagyi finished the 2010 regular season as the Atlantic conference leader in scoring with 62 points, punting average (35.0 yards per punt) and field goals made (15-of-21). His 15 field goals made this year tie him for the fifth highest total in AUS history and are one shy of the Mount Allison school record of 16 set in 2008 by Olivier Eddie.