CFL.ca Staff
OTTAWA — Quarterback Dan Brannagan and defensive back Jimmy Allin, both of Queen’s, and Wilfrid Laurier kick returner Dillon Heap are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Oct. 17, 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 second straight week and the fourth time this season after he helped the No. 2-Gaels (7-0) clinch first place in the OUA standings and a bye in the first round of the playoffs with a dramatic 27-26 win over No. 6-Western (5-2). The senior pivot completed 35 of 53 passes – both personal bests – for 436 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning major with 13 seconds remaining in regulation. Brannagan has 10,425 career passing yards going into Saturday’s regular-season finale against Laurier, 30 shy of the all-time CIS record held by former McGill QB Matt Connell.
Mount Allison receiver Gary Ross, Sherbrooke quarterback Jean-Philippe Shoiry and Simon Fraser receiver Spencer Watt were also up for the award on offence.
Allin, a fifth-year life sciences student from Belleville, Ont., took home the weekly honour on defence after he had two key interceptions to go along with four solo tackles and one pass break-up in Queen’s victory over Western. Both his interceptions off star quarterback Michael Faulds came in Queen’s territory in the second quarter, the first one at his own 45-yard line midway through the stanza with the Gaels holding on to a 7-3 lead, and the second at the 32-yard line with 91 seconds left before the break with Queen’s ahead 14-3. Allin leads OUA with five picks on the season.
St. Francis Xavier defensive back Kwasi Nkansah, Concordia linebacker Cory Greenwood and Alberta linebacker Dan Bass were also nominated.
Heap, a business student from Waterloo, Ont., in his third campaign with the Golden Hawks, was the choice on special teams after he set a single-game school record with 202 yards on 10 punt returns in a 21-14 win over Guelph, setting a CIS single-season mark in the process with 827 punt return yards. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver, who leads the nation this fall with 1,901 all-purpose yards, broke the previous CIS record of 777 established in 2002 by StFX’s Richard Karikari.
Kickers Justin Palardy of Saint Mary’s, William Dion of Sherbrooke and Grant Shaw of Saskatchewan were also up for the distinction.
