Week 8 - Football Players of the Week
Football Players of the Week – October 17, 2017
Offence: Nathan Carter, Carleton Ravens
Carleton running back Nathan Carter continued his stellar 2017 form with a dynamic offensive performance in the Ravens' 43-0 victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues on October 14, earning him the Offensive Player of the Week honours for the OUA.
Carter, a 5-foot-8 tailback, rushed for 183 yards on only 14 carries for an average of 13.1 yards per play. The former St. Patrick's Fighting Irish standout tallied three rushing touchdowns, including an 81-yard scamper to pay dirt in the second quarter. However, the most impressive part of Carter's performance against the Varsity Blues was the fact that he registered these totals without taking a single carry in the second half of the Ravens' win.
Nathan, who hails from the nation's capital, brought his conference-leading rushing total to 1028 on the season, becoming the third Carleton back to cross the 1000-yard plateau in as many seasons.
Defence: Jackson Bennett, Ottawa Gee-Gees
For the second time this season, the all-around play from defensive end Jackson Bennett has earned him Defensive Player of the Week honours in the OUA.
Bennett was all over the field in the Gee-Gees 40-30 win over Waterloo. Bennett led the team in tackles with 8.5, picked up his first sack of the season, showed off his range deep in coverage to assist a pass breakup, returned three kickoffs for 69 yards, and even gained 15 yards on a carry early in the first quarter.
With the game tied 30-30, however, it was Bennett who turned the tide for Ottawa. He nabbed the second Gee-Gee interception of the day and returned it 36 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
Special Teams: Lewis Ward, Ottawa Gee-Gees
In what was a record-setting day for the Gee-Gees’ Lewis Ward, the 5th year kicker’s historic efforts have earned him Special Teams Player of the Week honours in the OUA.
Ward began the game for Ottawa – a 40-30 victory over the Waterloo Warriors – with three field goals in the opening eleven minutes of play from distances of 15, 37, and 32 yards, respectively. The first tally set Ward atop the OUA All-Time record books for most field goals in a career, and he finished the day four-for four with a career total of 88.
Ward now ranks second in U SPORTS history for field goals made in a career and sits three back of record-holder Johnny Mark from the Calgary Dinos, 2011-15. He also inched up the U SPORTS all-time rankings in points and now sits fourth (thanks to his 16 on the day; just two points behind Gee-Gees record holder Neil Lumsden.