U Sports POW (playoffs)

RSEQ: Richard, Betts, Côté named players of the week

Montréal, November 13, 2017 – Laval quarterback Hugo Richard, Laval lineman Mathieu Betts and Laval kicker David Côté are the RSEQ University Football student-athletes of the week for the period ending November 12, 2017.

Offensive Student-Athlete

Hugo Richard
Quarterback
Team: Rouge et Or
University: Laval
Hometown: Longueuil, Québec
Age: 22
Height: 6’2’’
Weight: 220 lbs.
Former team: Cégep Vanier

Highlights:

The Rouge et Or quarterback led the way offensively for Laval in their Dunsmore Cup final victory by completing 21 of his 29 passes (72%) for 225 yards and two touchdown passes with no interceptions. Hugo Richard also picked 59 yards on the ground over his seven runs as the Rouge et Or claimed their second-straight Quebec conference crown with a 25-22 win over the Carabins.

Defensive Student-Athlete

Mathieu Betts
Defensive end
Team: Rouge et Or
University: Laval
Hometown: Montréal, Québec
Age: 22
Height: 6’3’’
Weight: 250 lbs.
Former team: Cégep du Vieux-Montréal

Highlights:

Defensive end Mathieu Bets earned game’s MVP honours in the Dunsmore Cup final after having been in the middle of the action for plays that made the difference in the Rouge et Or’s 25-22 win over the Carabins. Betts picked up a pair of sacks including a critical one on a second down play in the fourth quarter at midfield. He forced a fumble that was then recovered by the Rouge et Or in the opening quarter that allowed Glen Constantin’s squad to take back the lead for good at 10-8. Off the stats sheet, Betts put constant pressure on Carabins quarterback Samuel Caron who was then forced to prematurely release the ball on several of his throws.

Special Teams Student Athlete

David Côté
Kicker
Team: Rouge et Or
University: Laval
Hometown: Québec, Québec
Age: 20
Height: 6’4’’
Weight: 220 lbs.
Former team: Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy

Highlights:

The rookie kicker connected on three of his field goal attempts despite adverse weather conditions in the Dunsmore Cup final on Saturday at Stade TELUS-UL against the Montreal Carabins. David Côté split the uprights from 29, 37 and 34 yards while missing a 32-yard try. His most important kick came with 1:38 to play in the fourth quarter to put the Rouge et Or ahead 25-14. That field goal proved to be the difference maker for Laval which managed to snuff out a comeback attempt by the Carabins to claim their 14th Dunsmore Cup in school history thanks to their 25-22 victory.

Source: RSEQ

Football Players of the Week – Week 12 (Yates Cup)

Offence – Cedric Joseph, Western

In his second straight standout playoff performance to once again earn him OUA Offensive Player of the Week honours, Western’s Cedric Joseph continued his offensive onslaught in the 110^th Yates Cup against the Laurier Golden Hawks.

The Mustangs running back racked up 250 yards rushing on 21 carries, to go along with three touchdowns. His three majors on the day gave the Montreal, Que. native an astounding seven touchdowns over Western’s two playoff games after scoring four times in the team’s semifinal win over Guelph.

Joseph’s first score, a 12-yard run in the first quarter, put the Mustangs up 10-0 early on. His second major, an impressive 31-yard rush, came in the midst of an offensively charged second quarter, while his third and final score pushed Western’s lead to 34 in the third quarter.

Joseph, for his efforts, was named the winner of the Dalt White Trophy as Yates Cup MVP

Defence – Fraser Sopik, Western

While the offence grabbed most of the headlines in Western’s Yates Cup win, the defence also stood tall against an imposing Laurier attack, led by OUA Defensive Player of the Week Fraser Sopik.

A twice-named 2017 OUA All-Star on defence and special teams, Sopik was instrumental in the team’s win, collecting 7.5 total tackles on the day. Six of these tackles were of the solo variety, but if that wasn’t enough to showcase his ability to be all over the field, he managed a pass break-up as well.

Special Teams – Mike Sananes, Western

In what was an offensively charged first quarter of the 110^th Yates Cup, one of the biggest moments came from Mustangs returner Mike Sananes, helping him secure Special Teams Player of the Week honours in the OUA.

After Laurier had trimmed the Mustangs’ early 10 point lead down to just one, Sananes brought the momentum back on Western’s side immediately after the Golden Hawks found the endzone. Sananes took the ensuing Nathan Mesher kickoff for a touchdown, going 95 yards to the endzone to put his team back up by eight.

Sananes would finish the day with 109 yards on three kickoff returns, to go along with 39 yards on three punt returns.

Source: OUA

CWUAA POTW: DiFonte honoured for ‘The Kick’

Highlights:

• Calgary sweeps final Canada West football player of the week awards: WR Hunter Karl (offence), LB Boston Rowe (defence), and kicker Niko DiFonte (special teams)
• DiFonte’s U SPORTS record 59-yard field goal as time expired handed Calgary a 44-43 win over UBC in the 81^st Hardy Cup
• The Dinos now host the U SPORTS Mitchell Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. MST in a rematch of last year’s Vanier Cup against the Laval Rouge et Or.

EDMONTON – ‘The Kick’ has landed Calgary Dino Niko DiFonte the spotlight once again.

After the UBC Thunderbirds and Dinos teamed up for one of the greatest games in Canada West football history, DiFonte has been named the conference’s special teams player of the week after his last-second U SPORTS record 59-yard field goal handed Calgary a 44-43 win in the 81^st Hardy Cup on Saturday.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ‘THE KICK’

DiFonte’s boot, which went viral and even attracted attention south of the border on ESPN, was one for the ages and handed Calgary the program’s 17^th Hardy Cup. DiFonte’s heroics also pushed the Dinos into a Vanier Cup rematch with the Laval Rouge et Or, as the pair will square off in the Mitchell Bowl this Saturday at McMahon Stadium (2 p.m. MST).

Also being honoured for their performances this week were Calgary wide receiver Hunter Karl, who hauled in two touchdowns, as well as Dino Boston Rowe, who led his team defensively with eight tackles.

You can watch this weekend’s Mitchell Bowl by tuning into Sportsnet 360, or Sportsnet NOW.

OFFENCE

WR – Hunter Karl

Calgary Dinos

3rd-year

Okotoks, Alta.

Arts

On offence, receiver Hunter Karl had a big day for the Calgary Dinos in their incredible 44-43 win over UBC in the Hardy Cup.

The third-year receiver racked up 187 yards through the air and a pair of touchdowns from quarterback Adam Sinagra in Calgary’s second consecutive Hardy Cup victory.

Karl’s second TD of the day came with just 5:57 remaining in the fourth and put the Dinos up 38-35. The score was far from the final drama in what proved to be a crazy finish at McMahon Stadium.

The Okotoks, Alta. product was involved in the last-second heroics, as Karl was the man holding the ball on Niko DiFonte’s U SPORTS record 59-yard kick to win the game.

DEFENCE

LB – Boston Rowe

Calgary Dinos

4th-year

Calgary, Alta.

Business

Defensively, veteran linebacker Boston Rowe posted a strong performance for Calgary, with eight total tackles and a forced fumble.

Rowe recorded four of his six solo tackles on UBC’s final drive of the game, which despite resulting in a touchdown with just 16 seconds remaining, only set the stage for the greatest conclusion in Hardy Cup history.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K – Niko DiFonte

Calgary Dinos

2nd-year

Winnipeg, Man.

Arts

Both Karl and Rowe’s performances were big for the Dinos, but Saturday’s spotlight belongs solely to kicker Niko DiFonte, who is the special teams player of the week.

What a day it was for the second-year kicker, who went 6-for-8 on field goals, and 3-for-3 on extra points.

While the first five field goals played a role in Calgary’s win, it was DiFonte’s final kick that made all the difference in the world.

DiFonte’s U SPORTS record 59-yard boot as time expired not only gave Calgary the Hardy Cup, it also handed the Dinos a piece of viral video gold, making its way to every Canadian network, and even ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Simply put, it was 59 yards of Hardy Cup magic that won’t soon be forgotten.

Source: Evan Daum, Canada West Communications 

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