Elgersma, Hubert, Forcier named OUA football players of the week

Graphic on predominantly blue background featuring action photos of Taylor Elgersma, Silas Hubert, and Brandon Forcier with their name and school logos placed beneath their respective photos, along with the Canadian Football Perspective logo and white text that reads 'Football Players of the Week' in the lower third
October 17, 2023

Burlington, Ont. – Taylor Elgersma, Silas Hubert, and Brandon Forcier have been named Canadian Football Perspective’s OUA Players of the Week for Week 8.

Offensive Player of the Week – Taylor Elgersma, Wilfrid Laurier

Action photo of Laurier football player Taylor Elgersma facing away from the camera with his arms raised above his head celebrating on the field with his team

For the third time this season, Wilfrid Laurier quarterback Taylor Elgersma has been named the conference’s offensive player of the wee thanks to his outstanding output in the Golden Hawks’ win over the No. 7 Windsor Lancers.

Despite the dreary fall weather, the kinesiology and physical education major from London, Ont. was one of many bright spots for the Hawks in their 40-7 win in Week 8. Thanks to Elgersma being extremely efficient with his passing, going 27-of-36 through the air for a clip of 75%, the purple and gold were able to stay perfect on the season and secure their first 7-0 start since 2005. The third-year pivot turned that proficiency through the air into 332 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns to receiver Jaxon Stebbings.

Aside from adding to his conference-leading total passing yardage and yards per game totals, Elgersma also rushed for his sixth touchdown of the season on a 21-yard scamper to go along with his now 16 through the air.

Defensive Player of the Week – Silas Hubert, Queen’s

Action photo of Queen's football player tackling a Guelph football player during a game

The Queen’s Gaels were able to push their record above .500 heading into the final week of play, and a big reason why was the presence of Silas Hubert on the defensive side of the ball.

In his team’s 24-17 win over Guelph in Week 8, Hubert was wreaking havoc in the Gryphons backfield time and time again to limit the team’s offensive efforts. Of his 7.5 total tackles on the day – six of which were solo – four came for a loss. He first forced a loss of three when he took down Mason Duvall in the first frame, before notching his first sack of the day early in the second half. On the very next Guelph drive, the third-year defensive end from Hastings, Ont. forced a fumble on yet another TFL, before helping to shut down Guelph’s penultimate drive of the day with his second takedown of quarterback Tristan Aboud.

Injuries have forced Hubert out of action for much of the Queen’s season, but the reigning OUA lineman of the year has shown he hasn’t missed a beat upon his late-season return.

Special Teams Player of the Week – Brandon Forcier, Carleton

Action photo of Carleton football player having just kicked the ball for a field goal attempt, as the ball takes off through the air and the kicker follows through on the kick

Things didn’t look promising for the Carleton Ravens through more than half of their Week 8 tilt with Waterloo, but Brandon Forcier was able to help spark a critical comeback for the thrilling 31-30 win.

Forcier got the Ravens on the board late in the second quarter, connecting from 17 yards out to trim the deficit to 16 at the time. After a pair of touchdowns helped to bring the score to within six in the second half, the Ravens turned to their third-year kicker from L’Ange Gardien, Que. to take it from there. With just over five minutes left in the game, Forcier was good on his second field goal of the day, this time from 22 yards out. With his team trailing now by just three, the commerce major stepped up from 47 yards away to tie the game with 43 seconds left. After getting the ball back once more and with time winding down, Forcier completed the comeback with a rouge to earn his side the slim one-point victory.

Forcier would finish the day with three field goals, three extra points, and a rouge for 13 pivotal points.