UFRC - CIS football players of the week: Western’s Riva, Calgary duo honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Western Ontario running back Nathan Riva and Calgary teammates, cornerback Steve Truzak and kick returner Anthony Parker, are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Nov. 7, 2009.

The selection was made by a committee comprised of members of University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC).

Riva, a second-year arts student from LaSalle, Ont., received the nod on offence after he set a single-game OUA record with 42 carries, amassed a career-high 279 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns as the No. 5-ranked Mustangs (8-2) beat No. 7 Wilfrid Laurier (6-3) 26-16 on the road in OUA semi-final action. The 5-foot-11, 186-pound sophomore hopes to lead Western to a third consecutive Yates Cup title on Saturday against No. 4 Queen’s (8-1). Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Richardson Stadium in Kingston, live on The Score Television Network.

St. Francis Xavier receiver Akeem Foster, Laval running back Sébastien Lévesque and Saskatchewan receiver Cory Jones were also up for the award on offence.

Truzak, a fourth-year graduate studies student from Bedford, N.S., took home the weekly honour on defence after he set a school playoff record with three interceptions as the No. 2 Dinos (8-1) scored a 45-13 Canada West semifinal win over Alberta. The 5-foot-11, 168-pound senior picked off the Bears’ first pass of the game, had a second interception off starting quarterback Quade Armstrong late in the second quarter and rounded out his day of work in the third frame with a pick off backup Julian Marchand. Calgary visits No. 3 Saskatchewan (8-1) in the Hardy Cup final Saturday at 1 p.m., live on Shaw TV.

StFX defensive back Dylan Hollohan, Laval defensive back Samuel Lajoie and Queen’s defensive end Osie Ukwuoma were also nominated.

Parker, a third-year open studies student from Okotoks, Alta., was the choice on special teams after he returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns in the Dinos’ semifinal victory over Alberta. The 6-foot-2, 206-pound receiver set a school record 16 seconds into the game when he returned the opening kickoff on 108 yards. He found the end zone again in the final minute of the contest, this time from 58 yards out off on onside kick.

Kickers Anthony Alix of StFX, Pierre-Paul Gélinas of Montreal and Darryl Wheeler of Western were also up for the distinction.

Offensive nominees:
AUFC: Akeem Foster, receiver, St. Francis Xavier
QUFL: Sébastien Lévesque, running back, Laval
OUA: Nathan Riva, running back, Western Ontario (recipient)
Canada West: Cory Jones, receiver, Saskatchewan

Defensive nominees:
AUFC: Dylan Hollohan, defensive back, St. Francis Xavier
QUFL: Samuel Lajoie, defensive back, Laval
OUA: Osie Ukwuoma, defensive end, Queen’s
Canada West: Steve Truzak, cornerback, Calgary (recipient)

Special team nominees:
AUFC: Anthony Alix, kicker, St. Francis Xavier
QUFL: Pierre-Paul Gélinas, kicker, Montreal
OUA: Darryl Wheeler, kicker, Western Ontario
Canada West: Anthony Parker, kick returner, Calgary (recipient)

CIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

Saturday, Nov. 14 (conference finals)
12:30 QUFL Dunsmore Cup: No. 8 Montreal (6-3) at No. 1 Laval (8-1), Radio-Canada (TV & webcast)
13:00 AUS Loney Bowl: No. 10 StFX (7-2) at No. 6 Saint Mary’s (7-1), EastLink (TV & webcast)
13:00 OUA Yates Cup: No. 5 Western (8-2) at No. 4 Queen’s (8-1), The Score
13:00 CWUAA Hardy Cup: No. 2 Calgary (8-1) at No. 3 Saskatchewan (8-1), Shaw TV

Saturday, Nov. 21 (CIS national semi-finals)
13:00 (12:00 Eastern) Uteck Bowl: CWUAA at AUS, TSN (Radio-Canada tape delay)
TBA Mitchell Bowl: QUFL at OUA, TSN & Radio-Canada

Saturday, Nov. 28 (CIS final)
12:00 Vanier Cup, PEPS Stadium, Université Laval, Quebec City, TSN & Radio-Canada

About University Football Reporters of Canada

The University Football Reporters of Canada represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. The UFRC’s primary objective is to work with CIS, its institutions and football programs to build resources and exposure for Canadian University Football from coast to coast through the contribution of the media.


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