McMaster's Mackie named CIS defensive football player of the week

OTTAWA (CIS) – Montreal quarterback Gabriel Cousineau, McMaster defensive lineman Mark Mackie and Montreal punter Félix Ménard-Brière are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending on Nov. 22, 2014.

Cousineau, a fourth-year administration student from Montreal, was honoured on offence after he led the Carabins to the first Vanier Cup appearance in program history thanks to a thrilling 29-26 Uteck Bowl win over Manitoba, Saturday in Montreal. The 6-foot, 210-pound pivot was named game MVP after he completed 24 of 35 passes for a school record 421 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to scoring himself on a six-yard run. The Carabins (10-1) face McMaster (10-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. EST in the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal (Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360, Radio-Canada & CIS-SIC.tv).

McMaster running back Wayne Moore and Manitoba quarterback Jordan Yantz were also up for the award.

Mackie, a second-year kinesiology student from London, Ont., took home the weekly honour on defence after helped the Marauders advance to their third Vanier Cup final in four years thanks to a 24-12 Mitchell Bowl victory against the visiting Mount Allison Mounties, Saturday in Hamilton. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound sophomore was voted game MVP after he racked up five tackles, including three sacks, as McMaster held the AUS conference champions to only 10 first downs and 156 yards of net offence. The Marauders tackled quarterback Brandon Leyh nine times behind the line of scrimmage.

Montreal linebacker Byron Archambault and Manitoba lineman Lauren Kroeker were also nominated.

Ménard-Brière, a second-year mathematics student from Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Que., was the choice on special teams after he gave the Carabins great field position throughout their Uteck Bowl win. The 6-foot, 175-pound sophomore averaged 34.2 yards on eight punts and pinned the Bisons four times inside their 20, including on his last boot of the contest, a 60-yarder that landed at the Manitoba 14 with under two minutes remaining.

McMaster cover specialist John Ngeleka and Manitoba punter Zach Regert were the other nominees. 

Offensive nominees:
AUS: No nominee
RSEQ: Gabriel Cousineau, quarterback, Montreal (recipient)
OUA: Wayne Moore, running back, McMaster
CWUAA: Jordan Yantz, quarterback, Manitoba

Defensive nominees:
AUS: No nominee
RSEQ: Byron Archambault, linebacker, Montreal
OUA: Mark Mackie, lineman, McMaster (recipient)
CWUAA: Lauren Kroeker, lineman, Manitoba

Special team nominees:
AUS: No nominee
RSEQ: Félix Ménard-Brière, punter, Montreal (recipient)
OUA: John Ngeleka, cover, McMaster
CWUAA: Zach Regert, punter, Manitoba

CIS FOOTBALL WEEK 14 SCHEDULE

November 29 (50th TELUS Vanier Cup)
13:00   No. 2 Montreal (10-1) vs. No. 3 McMaster (10-1)
Molson Stadium, Montreal (Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360, Radio-Canada & CIS-SIC.tv)

Source: CIS