Men’s Football
Football Top 10: Top five remains unchanged heading into Thanksgiving weekend
Alberta running back Ed Ilnicki, Acadia defensive tackle Adam Melanson and Carleton receiver Quinton Soares are U SPORTS Football Players of the Week, for the period ending October 1, 2017.
Ilnicki, fifth-year running back, rumbled for 278 yards on 44 carries in Alberta's 36-25 win over the Manitoba Bisons Friday night. Ilnicki found the end zone once for the Bears, and also added 63 receiving yards to post 341 all-purpose yards in the Green and Gold's first victory of the season. After five weeks, Ilnicki leads U SPORTS in rushing with 829 yards on the season, averaging 165.8 per game, and is tied for second in the nation with six rushing touchdowns. He also doesn’t have a single fumble to his name.
GBF??
— UAlberta Athletics (@BearsandPandas) September 29, 2017
TOUCHDOWN: Ilnicki powers it in from 2 yards out! Bears cut the Bison lead to just three, down 25-22 in the fourth pic.twitter.com/KS9cg2yUZW
A fifth-year education student from Kentville, N.S., Melanson had 2.5 sacks in Acadia's 33-14 win over the Mount Allison Mounties. He finished the game with four tackles for loss and 19 total loss yards. His defensive stats also included 5.5 total tackles (three solo and five assisted). Following this past weekend's win, Melanson has now amassed 16.5 career sacks—the ninth most in AUS conference history and the fifth most in Acadia school history.
Soares, a third year receiver, was Carleton's special teams MVP in the team's biggest win of the season, providing the Ravens with excellent returns throughout the game. Soares' top moment in the game came on his 84-punt return for a touchdown to open the game's scoring in the first quarter. Soares set single-game career highs in kick return yardage (91) as well as punt return yardage (143).
?: TOUCHDOWN!!
— Carleton Ravens (@CURavens) September 30, 2017
Soares brings a punt back to the ?! 7-0 #Ravens early 1st. pic.twitter.com/wrfuYaQFyC
Offensive nominees:
- CW: Ed Ilnicki, running back, Alberta (winner)
- OUA: Johnny Augustine, running back, Guelph
- RSEQ: Hugo Richard, quarterback, Laval
- AUS: Kaleb Scott, quarterback, Saint Mary’s
Defensive nominees:
- CW: Brett Boechler, defensive back, Saskatchewan
- OUA: Jackson Bennett, defensive back, Ottawa
- RSEQ: Mathieu Betts, defensive lineman, Laval
- AUS: Adam Melanson, defensive tackle, Acadia (winner)
Special teams nominees:
- CW: Boston Rowe, linebacker, Calgary
- OUA: Quinton Soares, receiver, Carleton (winner)
- RSEQ: Pierre-Antoine D’Astous, kicker, Sherbrooke
- AUS: Jarett Saumure, kicker, Acadia
Sportsnet and TVA Sports are once again the official broadcasters of the U SPORTS football semifinals and final in 2017... The Mitchell Bowl (RSEQ at Canada West) and Uteck Bowl (OUA at AUS) are set for Saturday, Nov. 18, while the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vanier Cup follows on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. ET at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton... For all the information on the 53rd Vanier Cup (including tickets) visit vaniercup.com.