CFL.ca Staff
OTTAWA — Regina quarterback Teale Orban, Saint Mary’s defensive back Jeff Zelinski and Calgary kicker Aaron Ifield are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Oct. 19, 2008.
Orban, a fifth-year business administration student from Regina, threw five touchdown passes to four different receivers on Saturday as the Rams (4-3) remained in the hunt for a playoff spot with a 38-31 road win over Alberta. The reigning two-time Canada West MVP completed 15 of 22 attempts for 247 yards on the day with no interceptions. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound pivot ranks third on the CIS career list with 76 TD passes and is fourth all-time with 9,239 passing yards – both Canada West records – going into the final conference game of his career Friday night against Manitoba (3-4).
StFX quarterback Steve Snyder, Concordia slotback Cory Watson and McMaster running back Joey Nemet were also up for the offensive award.
Zelinski, a fourth-year science student from Mission, B.C., earned the nod on defence for his two interceptions, including one he returned on 71 yards for a touchdown, one fumble recovery, two tackles and one pass break-up in a 31-16 Saint Mary’s victory over Mount Allison. The two-time all-Canadian, a fifth-round draft pick of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2008, leads the AUFC and is tied for second in the nation this fall with five interceptions. With the win, the No. 6-ranked Huskies (6-1) clinched first place in the Atlantic conference and will host the Loney Bowl on Nov. 8.
Linebackers Kyle Jones of Bishop’s, John Surla of Western Ontario and Peter Thiel of Saskatchewan were also nominated.
Ifield, a third-year humanities student from Saskatoon, received the special teams award after kicked three field goals and accounted for 11 points in a crucial 25-18 road win over reigning Vanier Cup champion Manitoba, Calgary’s first victory in Winnipeg in 10 years. The 24-year-old split the uprights from 40, 19 and 43 yards out and also averaged 41.5 yards on eight punts. The No. 4 Dinos (5-2) sit in a three-way tie for first place in Canada West and will wrap up conference play Saturday at Alberta (1-6).
Mount Allison returner Gary Ross, Laval returner Sébastien Lévesque and Queen’s kicker Dan Village were also up for the distinction.
