CFL.ca Staff
OTTAWA — Simon Fraser quarterback Bernd Dittrich, Concordia safety Nicholas Arsenault-Hum and Western Ontario kicker Darryl Wheeler are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Nov. 2, 2008.
Dittrich, a second-year science student from Vienna, Austria, rushed for a pair of touchdowns and passed for one major to lead the No. 8 Clan (6-3) to a 40-30 upset win over No. 4 Saskatchewan (6-3) in the Canada West semi-finals, which marked SFU’s first victory in Saskatoon since joining CIS in 2002. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound sophomore completed 14 of 26 passes for 247 yards as the Clan clinched a berth in Saturday’s Hardy Cup final against No. 6 Calgary (6-3).
Quarterbacks Steve Snyder of StFX, Liam Mahoney of Concordia and Michael Faulds of Western were also up for the award on offence.
Arsenault-Hum, a second-year engineering student from Ste-Catherine, Que., earned the nod on defence after he had a pair of interceptions, including one he returned on 58 yards for a touchdown, to help the No. 9 Stingers (6-3) defeat Sherbrooke (5-4) 41-20 in the semi-final round of the QUFL playoffs. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound sophomore returned his first pick on 24 yards to the Sherbrooke 25 with just over one minute remaining in the first half to set up a Tony Testa touchdown that increased Concordia’s lead to 24-1, and scored on the first drive of the second half to put the game away, at 31-4. The Stingers face No. 1 Laval (9-0) Sunday in the Dunsmore Cup final.
StFX linebacker Henoc Muamba, Western defensive back Josh Foster and Calgary halfback Matt Grohn were also nominated.
Wheeler, a first-year health sciences student, received the special teams award after he tied a CIS playoff record and set an OUA post-season mark with six field goals to guide the No. 3 Mustangs (8-1) to a 36-28 OUA semi-final win over No. 7 Wilfrid Laurier (6-3). The Hamilton native was perfect on six attempts on the day, including five kicks through the uprights in the first half that sent the Mustangs to the locker room ahead 15-7, to tie the national record set in 1992 by Calgary’s Bruce Parsons and tied a year ago by Manitoba’s Scott Dixon, and break the previous OUA mark held by four players, including former Mustang Derek Schiavone. Western hosts Ottawa (6-4) in Saturday’s Yates Cup final.
StFX receiver Pat Coristine, Laval linebacker Steve Landry and Simon Fraser kicker Jeff Biles were also up for the distinction.
