CFL.ca Staff
OTTAWA — Wilfrid Laurier quarterback Luke Thompson, Manitoba defensive end Wyatt Jacobi and Guelph kick returner Jedd Gardner are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Oct. 11, 2008.
Thompson, a second-year communications major from London, Ont., accounted for five Laurier touchdowns and over 400 yards of offence as the No. 10-ranked Golden Hawks (5-2) clinched third place in the OUA with a 50-31 win over McMaster. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound sophomore racked up 355 yards and three majors through the air on 17-of-27 passing and added two touchdowns on the ground as he led all rushers in the game with 76 yards on nine carries. The highlight of the day came three minutes into the second quarter when Thompson and receiver Josh Bishop connected for a 101-yard scoring play.
StFX tight end Jeremy Marchand, Laval quarterback Benoit Groulx and Calgary running back Matt Walter were also up for the offensive award.
Jacobi, a first-year student from Saskatoon, earned the nod on defence after he amassed a game-high eight tackles, one quarterback sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in a 20-17 upset of the No. 6 Saskatchewan Huskies (4-2). The 6-foot, 240-pound end’s efforts might have help saved the Bisons’ season as the reigning Vanier Cup champions improved to 3-3 on the campaign, good for a tie for the fourth and final playoff spot in Canada West.
StFX defensive back Reilly Penner, Bishop’s linebacker James Yurichuk and Western Ontario linebacker Adrian Kaiser were also nominated.
Gardner, a second-year business student from Niagara Falls, Ont., received the special teams award after an electrifying performance that saw him return two kicks for touchdowns and rack up 326 all-purpose yards in a 48-2 Gryphons’ (4-3) win over York. The sophomore receiver returned a missed field goal on 128 yards for a score late in the third quarter and found the end zone again with five minutes left in the game on an 83-yard kickoff return. The sophomore added an eight-yard kickoff return, 85 yards on four receptions and a 22-yard run.
StFX kicker Kyle Chisholm, Montreal cover man Mark Deluca and UBC kicker Shawn McIsaac were also up for the distinction.
