OTTAWA (CIS) – Manitoba slotback Nic Demski, Laval cornerback Alexander Hovington and Western kicker Lirim Hajrullahu are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending Nov. 2, 2013.
Demski, a third-year arts student from Winnipeg, was honoured on offence thanks to his three fourth-quarter touchdown catches in a come-from-behind 37-36 Canada West semifinal win over visiting Saskatchewan, last Friday. The 6-foot speedster, who finished the contest with 115 yards on seven receptions, caught a 39-yard TD pass from quarterback Jordan Yantz four early in the final frame to make it 29-24 Saskatchewan, scored from 13-yard out with five minutes left on the clock to once again bring Manitoba to within five, at 36-31, and then hauled in a 32-yard pass with 1:23 remaining for the game-winning major. The nationally ninth-ranked Bisons (6-3) visit No. 3 Calgary (9-0) Saturday at 2 p.m. MST in the Hardy Cup final (SHAW TV & www.canadawest.tv).
Running backs Jordan Botel of Mount Allison, Sean Thomas-Erlington of Montreal and Ryan Granberg of Queen’s were also up for the award.
Hovington, a first-year open studies student from St. Hubert, Que., took home the weekly honour on defence following a remarkable relief performance in the Rouge et Or’s 32-11 RSEQ semifinal victory over Sherbrooke, Saturday in Quebec City. Called into action in the second quarter following an injury to Laval’s starting corner, the 5-foot-11, 174-pound rookie intercepted three passes from all-star pivot Jérémi Roch, which he returned on 100 yards in total, and also contributed 4.5 tackles, one fumble recovery and a pass breakup. Second-ranked Laval (9-0) hosts No. 7 Montreal (6-3) Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Dunsmore Cup final (Radio-Canada TV & webcast).
Mount Allison defensive back Kwame Adjei, Queen’s linebacker Sam Sabourin and Calgary linebacker Tom Spoletini were also nominated.
Hajrullahu, a fifth-year kinesiology student from St. Catharines, Ont., earned the nod on special teams thanks to a record performance in Western’s 32-3 OUA semifinal win against visiting McMaster. The 6-foot, 190-pound senior, who set a new conference mark earlier this fall with 77 career field goals, was good on all six of his attempts on Saturday – including three of over 40 yards - to tie the CIS and OUA playoff record. The top-ranked Mustangs (9-0) host No. 4 Queen’s (8-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Yates Cup final (Sportsnet 360).
Kickers Kyle McLean of Mount Allison, Boris Bedé of Laval and Johnny Mark of Calgary were the other nominees.
Offensive nominees:
AUS: Jordan Botel, running back, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Sean Thomas-Erlington, running back, Montreal
OUA: Ryan Granberg, running back, Queen’s
CWUAA: Nic Demski, slotback, Manitoba
(recipient)
Defensive nominees:
AUS: Kwame Adjei, defensive back, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Alexander Hovington, cornerback, Laval
(recipient)
OUA: Sam Sabourin, linebacker, Queen’s
CWUAA: Thomas Spoletini, linebacker, Calgary
Special team nominees:
AUS: Kyle McLean, kicker, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Boris Bedé, kicker, Laval
OUA: Lirim Hajrullahu, kicker, Western
(recipient)
CWUAA: Johnny Mark, kicker, Calgary
WEEK 12 SCHEDULE: CONFERENCE FINALS (all times local)
November 9
13:00 RSEQ: No. 7 Montreal (6-3) at No. 2 Laval (9-0) (Radio-Canada TV & video webcast)
13:00 OUA: No. 4 Queen’s (8-1) at No. 1 Western (9-0) (Sportsnet 360)
14:00 AUS: Mount Allison (5-4) at Saint Mary’s (5-3) (Eastlink TV & video webcast)
14:00 Canada West: No. 9 Manitoba (6-3) at No. 3 Calgary (9-0) (SHAW TV & video webcast)
About Football Reporters of Canada
Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958, Football Reporters of Canada has been an organization of media members who have covered the Canadian Football League, serving to select the league’s outstanding players, coach-of-the-year and all-star teams through voting conducted by its members. In 2009, the FRC amalgamated with the University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC) to give the organization greater scope in its affiliation with amateur and college football. FRC also works with the CFL and CIS to establish guidelines and working conditions for the men and women who report on the game. Selected members of FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, 11,000 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 55 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca or follow us on:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CIS_SIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cissports
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/universitysport
-CIS-