GUELPH (CIS) – University of Windsor running back Daryl Stephenson entered the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football record book on Saturday afternoon as he became the first player in history to rush for 1,000 yards or better in three consecutive seasons.
Stephenson, a third-year human kinetics student from London, Ont. rushed for 150 yards on 33 carries in a 23-13 Lancers win over the Guelph Gryphons giving him a CIS-leading 1,036 yards after seven games in 2006.
The six-foot-two junior started his university career with an 1,192-rushing yard campaign in 2004, setting a CIS single-season record for a rookie. He followed up in his sophomore year by claiming his first CIS rushing crown with a 1,306-yard tally.
Only one other player in CIS history, two-time Hec Crighton Trophy recipient Éric Lapointe, had three 1,000-yard seasons on the ground, although not in consecutive years. The former Mount Allison Mountie and current Montreal Alouette rushed for 1,062 yards in his rookie campaign 1995, for 1,619 yards in his sophomore season in 1996 and for 1,515 yards in his fourth and final year in 1998. Lapointe was limited to 470 rushing yards during an injury-plagued season in 1997.
Lapointe, the CIS football player of the year in 1996 and 1998, is the only running back to collect more yards than Stephenson in his first two CIS seasons. Lapointe totalled 2,681 yards in 1995 and 1996, while Stephenson had 2,498 over the last two years.
Stephenson’s 3,534 rushing yards with one game remaining in his junior season already rank him 10th on the CIS career list. Lapointe ended up second in CIS history with 4,666 career yards, trailing only Dominic Zagari of Manitoba who amassed 4,738 yards in five seasons with the Bisons from 1991-1995.
By way of comparison, Zagari had 1,494 rushing yards after his first two campaigns, and 2,297 yards after three years. The three-time first-team all-Canadian rounded out his university career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 1994 (1260) and 1995 (1181).
Stephenson, who also leads the nation this fall with 11 touchdowns, all scored on the ground, will try to secure his second CIS rushing title next Saturday, Oct. 21 when the 5-2 Lancers host the reigning Vanier Cup champion Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (6-1) in their regular-season finale.
Stephenson Making History: Year-By-Year Rushing Yards Breakdown
Dominic Zagari, Manitoba Bisons, 1991-95 (4738 yards, CIS record-holder)
– 1991: 871
– 1992: 623
– 1993: 803
– 1994: 1,260
– 1995: 1,181
Éric Lapointe, Mount Allison Mounties, 1995-98 (4666 yards, 2nd on CIS list)
– 1995: 1,062
– 1996: 1,619
– 1997: 470
– 1998: 1,515
Daryl Stephenson, Windsor Lancers, 2004-current (3534 yards, 10th on CIS list)
– 2004: 1,192
– 2005: 1,306
– 2006: 1,036 (One game left in regular season)
CIS Career Leaders: Rushing Yards
1. Dominic Zagari, Manitoba (1991-95), 4,738
2. Éric Lapointe, Mount Allison (1995-98), 4,666
3. Jesse Lumsden, McMaster (2001-04), 4,138
4. Doug Rozon, Saskatchewan (1995-99), 4,086
5. Luis Perez, Saint Mary’s (1997-01), 4,036
6. Grant Keaney, Mount Allison (1988-92), 4,003
7. Elio Geremia, Calgary (1983-87), 3,784
8. Mike Bradley, Waterloo (1997-01), 3,773
9. Dalton Smarsh, Alberta (1972-76), 3,746
10. Daryl Stephenson, Windsor (2004-current), 3,534
Courtesy of Canadian Interuniversity Sport
