Laurier's Campbell named FRC-CIS football player of the week

OTTAWA (CIS) – Wilfrid Laurier running back Dillon Campbell, Saskatchewan defensive back Vince Greco and Calgary kicker Johnny Mark are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending Oct. 31, 2015.

Campbell, a fifth-year kinesiology / physical education student from Whitby, Ont., was honoured on offence thanks to his record performance in a stunning 29-15 OUA quarter-final win over defending conference champion and 2014 Vanier Cup finalist McMaster, Saturday in Hamilton. Playing in what could have been the final game of his brilliant university career, the 5-foot-8, 205-pound senior exploded for 285 rushing yards, a new school standard and the best tally in the country this season, on 39 carries, which tied the OUA single-game record. It was the first playoff win since 2010 for the Golden Hawks (5-4), who travel to London on Saturday to face undefeated Western (8-0) in semifinal action (1 p.m. on Rogers TV & OUA.TV).

St. Francis Xavier running back Ashton Dickson, Laval quarterback Hugo Richard and Calgary quarterback Andrew Buckley were also up for the award.

Greco, a first-year arts and science student from Calgary, took home the award on defence after he helped the Huskies (3-5) qualify for the postseason with a thrilling 38-37 road win over Regina, last Friday. With Saskatchewan trailing 34-18 late in the third quarter, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound freshman recovered a fumble and returned it to the Rams 21-yard line to set up a touchdown which sparked a furious comeback. Greco, who had 5.5 tackles in the contest, came up big again on the final play of the game, intercepting a Noah Picton pass as time expired. Saskatchewan travels to Calgary on Saturday for a Canada West semifinal against the nationally top-ranked and undefeated Dinos (1 p.m. MT on CanadaWest.TV).

StFX linebacker Adam Kuntz, Montreal defensive back Jean-Sébastien Bélisle and Laurier defensive back Austin Reusch were also nominated.

Mark, a fifth-year science student from Peterborough, Ont., was the choice on special teams for the second straight week and for the third time this season after he added to his record collection in a 64-28 win at Alberta, Saturday. Playing in the final conference game of his U of C career, the 6-foot, 185-pound senior was perfect on four field goal attempts – including a pair of 39-yarders - and scored 19 points to end league play with 26 field goals, tying the CIS single-season record, and 144 points, a new national standard for a kicker and the third best tally in CIS history. Mark, who set CIS career records for field goals (91) and points (535) over the course of the campaign, hopes to keep rolling on Saturday when the Dinos host Saskatchewan in their playoff opener (1 p.m. MT on CanadaWest.TV).

Mount Allison kicker Ryan Lambert, Laval returner Benoit Gagnon-Brousseau and Carleton kicker Michael Domagala were the other nominees.

Offensive nominees:
AUS: Ashton Dickson, running back, StFX
RSEQ: Hugo Richard, quarterback, Laval
OUA: Dillon Campbell, running back, Wilfrid Laurier (recipient)
CWUAA: Andrew Buckley, quarterback, Calgary

Defensive nominees:
AUS: Adam Kuntz, linebacker, StFX
RSEQ: Jean-Sébastien Bélisle, defensive back, Montreal
OUA: Austin Reusch, defensive back, Wilfrid Laurier
CWUAA: Vince Greco, defensive back, Saskatchewan (recipient)

Special team nominees:
AUS: Ryan Lambert, kicker, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Benoit Gagnon-Brousseau, returner, Laval
OUA: Michael Domagala, kicker, Carleton
CWUAA: Johnny Mark, kicker, Calgary (recipient)

WEEK 11 SCHEDULE (all times local)

November 7 (conference semifinals)
12:00 No. 8 Manitoba (5-3) at No. 6 UBC (6-2) (Global TV & CanadaWest.TV)
13:00 No. 9 Laurier (4-4 / 1-0) at No. 2 Western (8-0) (Rogers TV & OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 10 Carleton (5-3 / 1-0) at No. 5 Guelph (7-1) (CHCH TV & OUA.TV)
13:00 Saskatchewan (3-5) at No. 1 Calgary (8-0) (CanadaWest.TV)
14:00 Acadia (4-4) at StFX (5-3) (Bell Aliant FibreOP TV1 & AUStv.ca)
14:00 Concordia (4-4) at No. 3 Laval (7-1)
14:00 No. 7 Sherbrooke (5-3) at No. 4 Montreal (6-2) (TVA Sports)

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