CFL.ca Staff
OTTAWA — Bishop’s quarterback Jordan Heather, Toronto linebacker Wilkerson DeSouza and Manitoba defensive back Grayson Wells are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Sept. 18, 2011.
The selection was made by a committee comprised of members of Football Reporters of Canada (FRC).
Heather, a third-year history major from Oromocto, N.B., was honoured on offence after he threw for a career-high 459 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in a 36-23 victory at Mount Allison, last Saturday.
The 6’0″, 200 lbs. junior made the most of his first CIS game in his home province – and only his third career start – completing 26 of 41 passes and coming one yard short of the team’s 20-year-old single-game record for most passing yards. The Gaiters (1-2) go for a second win in a row on Saturday afternoon when they host No. 4-ranked Montreal (2-1) in their annual Homecoming Game.
Receivers Taylor Renaud of Acadia, Giovanni Aprile of Queen’s and Chris Dobko of Calgary were also up for the award.
DeSouza, a fourth-year humanities student from Mississauga, Ont., took home the weekly honour on defence thanks to his team-high 11 solo tackles and a key fumble recovery in a 21-12 home win over Guelph, which marked the Varsity Blues’ first success against the Gryphons since 1995.
With Toronto holding on a to a 14-7 lead early in the third quarter, the 5’11”, 227 lbs. senior forced a fumble deep in his own territory and recovered the ball himself at the one-yard line to prevent Guelph from tying the game. The Blues visit Ottawa on Saturday in a battle of 2-1 teams.
Linebackers Tom Labenski of Acadia, Max Caron of Concordia and Thomas Hall of Manitoba were also nominated.
Wells, a second-year education student from Lloydminster, Alta., was the choice on special teams thanks to his game-changing touchdown in a 26-16 upset of then-No. 4 Saskatchewan, in Winnipeg.
With the Bisons trailing 16-12, Manitoba’s Brendon Bowman opened the fourth quarter with a 64-yard punt that went off returner Jerit Lambert’s hands and dribbled into the Huskies’ end zone. Wells hustled downfield and jumped on the loose ball for the score and a 19-16 lead that his team wouldn’t relinquish. The No. 10 Bisons (2-1) visit No. 9 UBC (2-1) on Saturday.
Kick returners Damone Williams of St. Francis Xavier, Nathan Taylor of Concordia and Gionanni Aprile of Queen’s were also up for the distinction.
