UFRC – CIS football players of the week

Brannagan, DesLauriers, Scarcelli honoured

Queen’s quarterback Dan Brannagan, Simon Fraser free safety Anthony DesLauriers and Regina kicker Perri Scarcelli are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Oct. 10, 2009.

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

Brannagan, a fifth-year accounting student from Burlington, Ont., received the nod on offence for the third time this season after he amassed 347 yards through the air in a 43-21 win over Waterloo to set an OUA career record of 9,989 passing yards, 15 more than the previous conference mark held since 2001 by former McMaster Hec Crighton trophy winner Ben Chapdelaine. Brannagan, who now ranks second on the all-time CIS list 466 yards behind former McGill pivot Matt Connell, completed 25 of 42 passes for two touchdowns and no interceptions against the Warriors last Saturday as the No. 4-Gaels improved to 6-0 in OUA play. Queen’s hosts No. 5-Western (5-1) Saturday at 1 p.m., live on The Score Television Network.

St. Francis Xavier quarterback Steve Snyder and Calgary slotback Anthony Parker were also up for the award on offence.

DesLauriers, a fourth-year arts student from White Tock, B.C., took home the weekly honour on defence after he tied a single-game Clan record with three interceptions in a 26-24 loss at Regina, last Friday. The 2009 draft pick of the Toronto Argonauts, who also had a team-leading six tackles in the contest, led a defensive unit that picked off Rams quarterback Marc Mueller five times and held him to a season-low 183 yards passing.

StFX defensive back Reilly Penner and Queen’s defensive back David Rooney were also nominated.

Scarcelli, a fifth-year student from Calgary, was the choice on special teams after he kicked three field goals including the game-winning 36-yarder with 44 seconds left in regulation as the Rams improved to 3-2 on the year with a 26-24 come-from-behind victory over Simon Fraser. The 6-foot, 190-pound senior, who also split the uprights from 25 and 16 yards out, has already booted a single-season school record 15 field goals with three games remaining on the schedule.

Mount Allison kick returner Gary Ross and Ottawa kicker Matt Falvo were also up for the distinction.

Offensive nominees:
AUFC: Steve Snyder, quarterback, StFX
QUFL: No games played
OUA: Dan Brannagan, quarterback, Queen’s (recipient)
Canada West: Anthony Parker, slotback, Calgary

Defensive nominees:
AUFC: Reilly Penner, defensive back, StFX
QUFL: No games played
OUA: David Rooney, defensive back, Queen’s
Canada West: Anthony DesLauriers, free safety, Simon Fraser (recipient)

Special team nominees:
AUFC: Gary Ross, kick returner, Mount Allison
QUFL: No games played
OUA: Matt Falvo, kicker, Ottawa
Canada West: Perri Scarcelli, kicker, Regina (recipient)

CIS FOOTBAL WEEK 8 SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

Saturday, Oct. 17
12:00 No. 7-Saskatchewan (4-1) at Manitoba (2-3)
13:00 No. 1-Montreal (4-1) at Sherbrooke (2-3), Radio-Canada (Eastern Townships)
13:00 Mount Allison (0-5) at No. 2-Laval (4-1)
13:00 No.8-Saint Mary’s (4-1) at McGill (3-2)
13:00 No. 9-Ottawa (4-2) at York (0-6), SSN Canada (webcast)
13:00 Laurier (4-2) at Guelph (3-3), Rogers TV (Grand River region)
13:00 Waterloo (1-5) at Toronto (1-5), SSN Canada (webcast)
13:00 No. 5-Western (5-1) at No. 4-Queen’s (6-0), The Score
13:00 Regina (3-2) at Alberta (2-3)
13:00 UBC (1-5) at Simon Fraser (2-4), Shaw TV
14:00 Concordia (1-4) at Acadia (1-4), EastLink
14:00 Bishop’s (1-4) at No. 6-StFX (5-0), SSN Canada (webcast)
17:00 No. 10-McMaster (4-2) at Windsor (2-4)

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.

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport

Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Fifty-two universities, 10,000 student-athletes and 550 coaches 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 http://www.universitysport.ca.