November 19, 2014

McMaster's Cupido honoured as CIS defensive football player of the week

OTTAWA (CIS) – Manitoba running back Kienan LaFrance, McMaster defensive back Joey Cupido and Montreal kicker Louis-Philippe Simoneau are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending on Nov. 15, 2014.

OTTAWA (CIS) – Manitoba running back Kienan LaFrance, McMaster defensive back Joey Cupido and Montreal kicker Louis-Philippe Simoneau are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending on Nov. 15, 2014.

LaFrance, a fourth-year science student from Winnipeg, was honoured on offence after he led the unranked Bisons (6-4) to a 27-15 road win over No. 4 Calgary in Saturday's Hardy Cup final, a result that put an end to the Dinos' six-year Canada West championship streak. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound senior rushed for 155 yards and one touchdown on 30 carries as Manitoba managed to keep the ball for almost 36 minutes. The Bisons, the last Canada West team to win the Vanier Cup in 2007, visit No. 2 Montreal (9-1) in the Uteck Bowl Saturday at 12:30 p.m. EST (Sportsnet 360, Radio-Canada & CIS-SIC.tv).

Montreal receiver Philip Enchill and McMaster running back Chris Pezzetta were also up for the award.

Cupido, a fifth-year science student from Hamilton, took home the weekly honour on defence after helped the third-ranked Marauders (9-1) shut down Guelph's offence in Saturday's 20-15 Yates Cup victory in Hamilton. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound standout had two interceptions in the win, including one in his own end zone, as well as 3.5 tackle and a key pass breakup on the Gryphons' final drive of the contest. Cupido, who now has a mind-boggling 14 interceptions in 14 career playoff games, will try to add to his total on Saturday when McMaster hosts No. 6 Mount Allison (9-0) in the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Mitchell Bowl at 4 p.m. EST (Sportsnet 360 & CIS-SIC.tv).

Montreal linebacker Byron Archambault and Manitoba safety Tyler Fong were also nominated.

Simoneau, a first-year industrial relations student from La Présentation, Que., was the choice on special teams thanks to his four field goals, including the game-winner in overtime, in the Carabins' 12-9 upset of 11-time defending Dunsmore Cup champion Laval, Saturday in Quebec City. The 6-foot-1, 240-pound freshman was good from 35, 22 and 19 yards out in regulation time and added the biggest kick in U of M history in extra time, a 22-yarder on his team's first drive of the shootout session. The second-ranked Carabins play in their first-ever national semifinal on Saturday, hoping to clinch a spot in the 50^th TELUS Vanier Cup in their own backyard, at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, on Nov. 29.

Kickers Tyler Crapigna of McMaster and Zach Regert of Manitoba were the other nominees.

Offensive nominees:

AUS: No game scheduled

RSEQ: Philip Enchill, receiver, Montreal

OUA: Chris Pezzetta, running back, McMaster

CWUAA: Kienan LaFrance, running back, Manitoba (recipient)

Defensive nominees:

AUS: No game scheduled

RSEQ: Byron Archambault, linebacker, Montreal

OUA: Joey Cupido, defensive back, McMaster (recipient)

CWUAA: Tyler Fong, safety, Manitoba

Special team nominees: