Records chase update (#2): Western’s Varga looking to make history

OTTAWA (CIS) – In his first year of university football, Western Ontario running back Tyler Varga is on pace to set a CIS record for most rushing touchdowns in a campaign and could also threaten the single-season mark for most all-purpose majors.

At the halfway mark of his freshman season, Varga, a science student who turned 18 earlier this month, has already found the end zone 12 times – all rushing TDs – in only four games, including a four-major performance against McMaster in his second CIS outing on Sept. 10. The product of Kitchener, Ont., will look to add to this total on Saturday when the No. 2-ranked Mustangs (4-0) host York (1-3) at TD Waterhouse Stadium.
The single-season CIS record of 21 touchdowns on the ground was established by St. Francis Xavier’s Paul Brule back in 1967 and was tied in 2004 by McMaster’s Jesse Lumsden, who set the OUA mark in the process. Tim Tindale holds the Western record of 16 since 1991.
Brule also holds the single-season CIS standard for all-purpose scores with 25 in 1967. The OUA and Western marks are 21 (Lumsden, 2004) and 17 (Tindale, 1991), respectively.
In addition to his CIS-leading touchdown total, Varga tops the OUA with 462 rushing yards, good for third place in the country.
After their date with York this weekend, the Mustangs will have conference games remaining against Guelph (1-3), Toronto (2-2) and Queen’s (2-2).
Other individuals to keep an eye on this weekend, all in the CAREER category, include:
Coaching: Saskatchewan’s Brian Towriss will get a third crack at becoming the winningest coach in CIS football history Friday evening in Saskatoon when his No. 9 Huskies (2-2) host No. 9 UBC (3-1). Towriss, in his 28th campaign at the helm of the Huskies, goes into the game with a 169-95-1 career overall record (regular season & playoffs) and is currently tied with former Western Ontario head coach Larry Haylor, who tallied 169 victories (169-46-3) in 22 seasons with the Mustangs.
Receiving: With 10 catches last Sunday against McGill, Laval’s Julian Feoli-Gudino moved into second place on the CIS all-time list with 213 receptions. The fifth-year senior has five games left as he tries to catch record-holder Charles-Antoine Sinotte of McGill (251). Feoli-Gudino is also the active leader with 2,513 receiving yards, good for 17th all-time.
Punt returns: Wilfrid Laurier’s Dillon Heap ranks eighth all-time with 1,872 career yards, while Saint Mary’s Jahmeek Taylor is 12th with 1,521. Only two players in CIS history have reached the 2,000-yard mark.
Field goals: Sherbrooke’s William Dion is now in the CIS top 10 for most field goals in a career with 56, which is 15 shy of the all-time record. Montreal’s Pierre-Paul Gélinas (51) and Ottawa’s Matthew Falvo (50) are also members of the 50-field goal club since last weekend.
Scoring: Currently 14th on the CIS career list, Queen’s kicker Dan Village needs eight points to become the ninth player in history to reach the 300 plateau.
Rushing: Calgary’s Matt Walter ranks 13th all-time with 3,610 yards on the ground, 174 less than Dino record-holder Elio Geremia (1983-1987). Only eight players in CIS history have rushed for 4,000 yards or more in their career.
Interceptions: With four games left in the Canada West regular schedule, Saskatchewan’s Bryce McCall (17) and Alberta’s Jason Hetherington (16) still have a shot at the CIS mark of 21 career interceptions.
CIS LEADERS (regular season only)
AUS records: [URL]http://www.atlanticuniversitysport.com/mens/football/records
RSEQ records: [URL]http://www.sportetudiant-stats.com/universitaire/football/records.php
OUA records: [URL]http://oua.ca/sports/football/records
Canada West records: [URL]http://www.canadawest.org/custompages/Football/YIR/fb_History.pdf
SINGLE SEASON:
Rushing touchdowns
1. 21 Paul Brule, StFX 1967
1. 21 Jesse Lumsden, McMaster 2004
3. 20 Paul Brule, StFX 1966
3. 20 Kojo Aidoo, McMaster 2000
5. 19 Jesse Lumsden, McMaster 2003
6. 16 Jim Reid, Laurier 1977
6. 16 Tim Tindale, Western 1991
6. 16 Phil Côté, Ottawa 1999
25. 12 Tyler Varga, Western 2011
All-purpose touchdowns
1. 25 Paul Brule, StFX 1967
2. 21 Jesse Lumsden, McMaster 2004
3. 20 Paul Brule, StFX 1966
3. 20 Kojo Aidoo, McMaster 2000
3. 20 Jesse Lumsden, McMaster 2003
6. 17 Tim Tindale Western 1991
6. 17 Don Blair, Calgary 1995
43. 12 Tyler Varga, Western 2011
CAREER:
Receptions
1. 251 Charles-Antoine Sinotte, McGill 2006-10
2. 213 Julian Feoli-Gudino, Laval 2007-present
3. 206 Gary Ross, Mount Allison 2006-10
4. 194 Erik Galas, McGill 2004-08
5. 189 Andy Fantuz, Western 2002-05
Receiving yards
1. 4123 Andy Fantuz, Western 2002-05
2. 3184 Ryan Janzen, McMaster 1996-00
3. 3138 James MacLean, Queen’s 1998-01
4. 3126 Stefan Ptaszek, Laurier 1990-94
5. 3106 Gary Ross, Mount Allison 2006-10
6. 3031 Chris Evraire, Ottawa 1994-98
7. 2935 Charles-Antoine Sinotte, McGill 2006-10
8. 2917 Scott Valberg, Queen’s 2004-09 (1)
9. 2913 Arjei Franklin, Windsor 2001-05
10. 2869 Vaughan Swart, McMaster 2001-05
11. 2781 Brad Coutts, UBC 1996-00
12. 2682 Brad Smith, Queen’s 2002 / 2004-06
13. 2655 Brian Fryer, Alberta 1972-75
14. 2611 Don Blair, Calgary 1992-95
15. 2555 Ivan Birungi, Acadia – Ottawa 2003-06 / 2008
15. 2555 Erik Galas, McGill 2004-08
17. 2513 Julian Feoli-Gudino, Laval 2007-present
34. 2184 Simon Charbonneau-C., Sherbrooke 2008-present
Punt return yards
1. 2517 Chris Evraire, Ottawa 1994-98
2. 2279 Eric Duchene, Saskatchewan 1999-03
3. 1975 Gary Ross, Mount Allison 2006-10
4. 1964 Derek Townsend, UBC 2003-07
6. 1918 Chuck Wust, Acadia 1982-83 / 1985-87
7. 1886 Don Hollerhead, Windsor 1971-75
8. 1872 Dillon Heap, Laurier 2005 / 2008-present
9. 1766 Mike Plante, Manitoba 1997-00
10. 1736 Kendall Jeske, Alberta 2002-06
11. 1632 Arjei Franklin, Windsor 2001-05
12. 1521 Jahmeek Taylor, Saint Mary’s 2008-present
Field goals
1. 71 Aaron Ifield, Calgary 2006-10
2. 70 Frank Jagas, Western 1990-94
3. 69 Christopher Milo, Laval 2007-10
4. 68 Jamie Boreham, UBC-Sask.-Man. 1996 / 1999 / 2001-03
5. 65 Justin Palardy, Saint Mary’s 2006-09
6. 63 Shawn McIsaac, UBC 2004-08
7. 61 Anand Pillai, McGill 1999-2003
8. 59 Michael Ray, McMaster 2001-04
9. 57 Rob Maver, Guelph 2006-09
10. 56 William Dion, Sherbrooke 2008-present
T23. 51 Pierre-Paul Gélinas, Montréal 2007-present
T26. 50 Matthew Falvo, Ottawa 2008-present
T36. 46 Dan Village, Queen’s 2007-present
Scoring (points)
1. 410 Neil Lumsden, Ottawa 1972-75
2. 392 Frank Jagas, Western 1990-94
3. 385 Christopher Milo, Laval 2007-10
4. 357 Jamie Boreham, UBC-Sask.-Man. 1996 / 1999 / 2001-03
5. 346 Michael Ray, McMaster 2000-04
6. 337 Aaron Ifield, Calgary 2006-10
7. 320 Justin Palardy, Saint Mary’s 2006-09
8. 306 Paul Brule, StFX 1964-67
9. 297 Perri Scarcelli, Regina 2005-09
10. 296 Dominic Zagari, Manitoba 1991-95
11. 294 Kevin Reider, Windsor 2003-07
12. 293 Bob Stracina, Acadia 1975-79
12. 293 Anand Pillai, McGill 1999-2003
14. 292 Dan Village, Queen’s 2007-present
32. 249 Matthew Falvo, Ottawa 2008-present
33. 248 William Dion, Sherbrooke 2008-present
36. 246 Pierre-Paul Gélinas, Montréal 2007-present
Rushing yards
1. 5163 Daryl Stephenson, Windsor 2004-08
2. 4738 Dominic Zagari, Manitoba 1991-95
3. 4666 Éric Lapointe, Mt. Allison 1995-98
4. 4296 Jamall Lee, Bishop’s 2005-08
5. 4138 Jesse Lumsden, McMaster 2001-04
6. 4086 Doug Rozon, Saskatchewan 1995-99
7. 4036 Luis Perez, Saint Mary’s 1997-01
8. 4003 Grant Keaney, Mt. Allison 1988-92
9. 3784 Elio Geremia, Calgary 1983-87
10. 3779 Joseph Mroué, Montréal / Sherbrooke 2003-06 / 2008
11. 3773 Mike Bradley, Waterloo 1997-01
12. 3746 Dalton Smarsh, Alberta 1972-76
13. 3610 Matt Walter, Calgary 2007-present
Interceptions
1. 21 Bob Coffin, Saskatchewan 1970-74
1. 21 Peter McNabb, Toronto & Queen’s 1970-72 / 1973-74
1. 21 Matt Carapella, Western 2004-08
4. 20 Al Charuk, Acadia 1972-74
4. 20 Kevin Aver, StFX 1975-76 / 1978-80
4. 20 Stephane Chapados, Concordia 1986-90
4. 20 Maxime Gagnier, Montreal 2003-06
8. 19 Phil Guebert, Saskatchewan 1986-90
8. 19 Brian Walker, Saint Mary’s 1991-95
8. 19 Jeremy Steeves, StFX 2001-05
8. 19 Trevor Small, Guelph 2002-06
12. 18 Chuck Wust, Acadia 1983-87
12. 18 Pat Gallo, Western 1988-92
T14. 17 Bryce McCall, Saskatchewan 2008-present
T18. 16 Jason Hetherington, Alberta 2008-present
-CIS-
Photo credit Andrew Scott, Western