Graphic on predominantly blue background featuring action photos of Taylor Elgersma, Jackson Findlay, and Othman Brahm, along with Canadian Football Perspective logo and white text that reads 'Football Players of the Week'
September 19, 2023

Elgersma, Findlay, Brahm named OUA football players of the week

Burlington, Ont. – Taylor Elgersma, Jackson Findlay, and Othman Brahm have been named Canadian Football Perspective’s OUA Players of the Week for Week 4.

Offensive Player of the Week – Taylor Elgersma, Wilfrid Laurier

Action photo of Laurier quarterback Taylor Elgersma running with the ball

For the second straight week, Laurier quarterback Taylor Elgersma was firing on all cylinders under centre, propelling the Golden Hawks to the Week 4 victory in their cross-town rivalry against the Waterloo Warriors.  

The junior pivot powered the Laurier offence to another sparkling performance, accumulating 318 passing yards on the day, while connecting on 20 of his 27 attempts for a robust 74% completion rate. After passing for six touchdowns a week ago, meanwhile, he added another five this time around, spreading the ball around to five different receivers for those majors. The first came via a 62-yard connection with Jace Atkinson – his longest passing play of the day – halfway through the first quarter and he added another three before the break. The kinesiology/physical education major would cap off his Battle of Waterloo outing with his fifth and final touchdown, a 19-yard score to Jaxon Stebbings, with just under three minutes to go in the third.

Elgersma now leads the OUA in passing yards per game (313.3) and completion percentage (76.9%), while ranking second in touchdowns with 11.

Defensive Football Player of the Week – Jackson Findlay, Western

Action photo of Western football player Jackson Findlay looking toward the play during a game

In a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s Yates Cup, the Western Mustangs came away with the last-second victory over the Queen’s Gaels, and in a game filled with high-pressure plays, Jackson Findlay delivered on multiple occasions.

The third-year defensive back from North Vancouver, B.C. helped secure the tight win for the Mustangs in many different ways, but his biggest impact came just five minutes into the second half. With Queen’s driving deep into Western territory, Findlay was able to corral an Alex Vreeken pass in the red zone for the interception and proceeded to take it back 95 yards for the momentum-swinging major.

While the impactful pick-six was the highlight of Findlay’s Week 4 performance, he also collected four solo tackles and two assisted tackles on the day, including a massive stop at the goal line late in the game.

Special Teams Player of the Week – Othman Brahm, Carleton

Action photo of Carleton football Othman Brahm running with the ball

Othman Brahm's performance on the field for the Ravens this past Saturday was nothing short of electrifying, helping to spark his Carleton crew to their first win of the season.

Hailing from Laval, Que., the dynamic defensive back proved to be a potent presence in the return game on Saturday and the stats tell the story. The third-year arts major hauled in five returns for a total of 165 yards on the day, with the most impactful of the efforts coming just over four minutes into the second quarter. Brahm was unstoppable on what turned out to be an 80-yard touchdown return for the Ravens in what was a dominant first half for the team. For good measure, Brahm also broke loose for a 66-yard return in the third quarter before being angled out of bounds.

The third-year Raven has vaulted himself up the OUA leaderboard on special teams, currently taking the top spot in punt return average with 24.7 yards acorss nine attempts.