TWO HAWKS EARN NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOURS
Pyear, a fifth-year physical education student from Belleville, Ont. claims the offensive honor following a near-perfect performance in a 31-10 win over Acadia in the Uteck Bowl. The 23-year-old senior earned game-MVP honors after he completed 15 of 20 passes for 329 yards, four touchdowns and no interception to lead the Hawks to their first Vanier Cup appearance since 1991.
Senior Ryan Pyear of Belleville, Ont. earned game-MVP honors in his second Uteck Bowl appearance in as many years, completing 15 of 20 passes for 329 yards, four touchdowns and no interception as the No. 3-ranked and undefeated Golden Hawks (11-0) outscored the Acadia Axemen (6-4) 31-10 at Huskies Stadium in Halifax to earn their first Vanier Cup berth since 1991.
Pyear, 23, connected with Bryon Hickey for three majors, including a 70-yard pass-and-run play four minutes and 32 seconds into the game to send the Hawks ahead for good at 7-3. He also found Dante Luciani in the end zone from six yards out early in the third quarter. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound pivot, a second-team all-Canadian in 2004, has thrown 25 touchdown passes for only six interceptions in 11 outings this fall.
Cond, a third-year physical education student from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. receives the defensive award after tallying a game-high 11 solo tackles, one forced fumble and one interception as the Hawks held the high-scoring Axemen to 10 points on Saturday.
Junior Gavin Cond of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. led a spectacular defensive effort against Acadia in the Uteck Bowl as he tallied a game-high 11 solo tackles, one forced fumble and one interception in the 31-10 Laurier win.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound linebacker led the way as the Golden Hawks held Acadia to 81 yards rushing, sacked quarterback Chris Judd three times, and forced seven turnovers, including four interceptions.
Laurier, national champion in 1991 and the first OUA team to advance to the CIS championship game since 1995, will face the No. 2 Saskatchewan Huskies (11-0) in the 2005 Desjardins Vanier Cup on December 3rd at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton.