Gryphons' Nieuwesteeg named FRC - CIS football special teams players of the week

OTTAWA (CIS) – Montreal running back Sean Thomas Erlington, UBC defensive back Stavros Katsantonis and Guelph returner Ryan Nieuwesteeg are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending Oct. 17, 2015.

Thomas Erlington, a third-year physical education and health student from Montreal, was honoured on offence following a personal-best performance in a thrilling 22-16 home win over nationally fourth-ranked and RSEQ-leading Laval (5-1), on Saturday. The 5-foot-9, 210-pound junior carried the ball 16 times for a career-best 186 yards and one touchdown against one of the top-ranked run defences in the country, and also caught four passes for 28 yards to end the afternoon with a remarkable 216 all-purpose yards. The crowd favourite opened the scoring six minutes into the contest with an electrifying 42-yard TD run along the sideline and the reigning Vanier Cup champion Carabins (4-2) kept the lead for the entire game.

Acadia running back Kiel Ambursley, Western running back Yannick Harou and Calgary quarterback Andrew Buckley were also up for the award.

Katsantonis, a first-year arts student from Bakersfield, California, took home the award on defence thanks in large part to a trio of big plays in a dominating 54-10 win by the No. 9 Thunderbirds (4-2) over visiting Alberta, Saturday in Vancouver. The 5-foot-11 freshman wreaked havoc all over the field as he finished the contest with a 61-yard fumble return touchdown, two interceptions and 5.5 tackles. His first pick of the day led directly to a UBC score in the opening of the second quarter, while his spectacular fumble return TD increased the T-Birds' advantage to 17-0 five minutes later.

Acadia lineman Jesse St. James, Montreal defensive end Jonathan Boissonneault-Glaou and Queen's defensive back Matt Pendergast were also nominated.

Nieuwesteeg, a fourth-year sociology student from Niagara Falls, Ont., was the choice on special teams after he exploded for 286 return yards on Saturday to help the No. 7 Gryphons (6-1) defeat visiting Windsor 41-27. The 5-foot-8, 170-pound veteran returned 12 punts on 242 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown, and one kickoff on 44 yards. Thanks to his performance, the 2014 all-Canadian, who leads the nation this season with 721 punt return yards, moved to second place in OUA history and third place in CIS annals for most punt return yards in a single game.

Mount Allison returner Idahosa Yorke, Concordia returner James Tyrrell and Manitoba kicker Ryan Jones were the other nominees.

Offensive nominees:
AUS: Kiel Ambursley, running back, Acadia
RSEQ: Sean Thomas Erlington, running back, Montreal (recipient)
OUA: Yannick Harou, running back, Western
CWUAA: Andrew Buckley, quarterback, Calgary

Defensive nominees:
AUS: Jesse St. James, lineman, Acadia
RSEQ: Jonathan Boissonneault-Glaou, defensive end, Montreal
OUA: Matt Pendergast, defensive back, Queen's
CWUAA: Stavros Katsantonis, defensive back, UBC (recipient)

Special team nominees:
AUS: Idahosa Yorke, returner, Mount Allison
RSEQ: James Tyrrell, returner, Concordia
OUA: Ryan Nieuwesteeg, returner, Guelph (recipient)
CWUAA: Ryan Jones, kicker, Manitoba

WEEK 9 SCHEDULE (all times local)

October 23
19:00 Alberta (2-4) at No. 8 Manitoba (4-2) (CanadaWest.TV)
19:00 No. 9 UBC (4-2) at Saskatchewan (2-4) (Shaw TV, Access & CanadaWest.TV)

October 24
13:00 Laurier (3-4) at Queen's (5-2) (TVCogeco & OUA.TV)
13:00 Waterloo (0-7) at Windsor (1-6) (TVCogeco & OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 7 Guelph (6-1) at No. 10 Carleton (5-2) (OUA.TV)
13:00 Toronto (3-4) at Ottawa (2-5) (OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 2 Western (7-0) at No. 6 McMaster (6-1) (TVCogeco & OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 3 Montreal (4-2) at Bishop's (1-5) (Gaiters TV)
13:00 Regina (0-6) at No. 1 Calgary (6-0) (CanadaWest.TV)
14:00 Acadia (3-3) at StFX (3-3) (Bell Aliant FibreOP TV1 & AUStv.ca)
14:00 Saint Mary's (0-6) at Mount Allison (4-2) (Bell Aliant FibreOP TV1 & AUStv.ca)
14:00 Concordia (3-3) at McGill (3-3) (TVA Sports & StretchTV)

October 25
13:00 No. 5 Sherbrooke (4-2) at No. 4 Laval (5-1)

About Football Reporters of Canada

Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958, Football Reporters of Canada has been an organization of media members who have covered the Canadian Football League, serving to select the league's outstanding players, coach-of-the-year and all-star teams through voting conducted by its members. In 2009, the FRC amalgamated with the University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC) to give the organization greater scope in its affiliation with amateur and college football. FRC also works with the CFL and CIS to establish guidelines and working conditions for the men and women who report on the game. Selected members of FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Source: CIS