Del Brocco, Cimankinda and Ward Named OUA Football Players of the Week
BURLINGTON, Ont. - The following athletes have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Football Players of the Week for the period ending August 29, 2017.
OFFENCE: Matteo Del Brocco (Kingsville, Ont) – 4th year - Queen's
Matteo Del Brocco had a career performance on Saturda, recording a career-high 139-receiving yards on nine receptions against the Carleton ravens.
He clinched Queen's first touchdown of the regular season with an 18-yard score during the third quarter. Quarterback Nate Hobbs would find Del Brocco once again for a 50-yard score, his second touchdown of the game.
During the 2016-17 campaign, he had 30 receptions for 379 yards and four touchdowns.
He also owns the longest touchdown reception in Queen's history and 4th longest in U Sports history, with a 108 yard touchdown back in 2015.
DEFENCE: Alain Cimankinda (Gatineau, QC) – 2nd yr – Guelph
In his first game in a Gryphon uniform, defensive end Alain Cimankinda put together an outstanding performance, racking up 3.5 sacks to go along with 9 tackles.
The Gatineau, Quebec native came up with several timely plays, including a sack late in the 4th quarter (1:30 remaining) which forced an Ottawa punt to get the ball back to the Gryphon offence.
Cimankinda, who played his CEGEP football at Champlain-Lennoxville in Quebec under current Gryphons offensive coordinator Jean-Francois Joncas, spent one season at the New Mexico Military Institute (NCAA - Junior College) before arriving at Guelph.
Cimankinda's rookie campaign is off to a flying start, with the dynamic defensive end providing a constant disturbance in the Gee-Gees backfield throughout the game
SPECIAL TEAMS: Lewis Ward (Kingston, Ont.) – 5th yr. – Ottawa
The fifth-year kicker was the focal point of the scoring for the Gee-Gees in a victory on the road in Guelph to begin the season.
The Kingston native was locked in all afternoon, going 6 of 8 for the game, including two in overtime that led Ottawa to a win. His longest field goal on the day was from 43 yards.
Ward was an OUA Second Team All-Star in 2016-17.