Men’s Football
Queen’s opens Football playoffs, maintains ranking following quarterfinal victory
TORONTO – Manitoba receiver AK Gassama, Ottawa linebacker Emmanuel Aboagye-Gyan and Queen’s kicker Tyler Mullan have been named the Canada Life U SPORTS Football Players of the Week for the period ending October 30, 2022.
Offensive Player of the Week: AK Gassama, Manitoba
- Position: Receiver
- Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
- Year of eligibility: 3rd
A.K. Gassama was unstoppable Saturday, making huge plays for the Bisons, who needed a victory to advance to the postseason. Gassama scored two touchdowns on Saturday: a 75-yard bomb in the first quarter and a 42-yard fourth-quarter major that broke a 30-30 tie. The third-year quarterback finished with five receptions for 210 yards, the fourth-highest total in program history, as the Bisons upset the then-ranked No. 7 Regina 44-30 to secure the fourth and final Canada West playoff spot.
Manitoba visits Saskatchewan on Saturday in the Canada West semifinal.
Defensive Player of the Week: Emmanuel Aboagye-Gyan, Ottawa
- Position: Linebacker
- Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.
- Year of eligibility: 4th
- Academic program: Criminology
Linebacker Emmanuel Aboagye-Gyan was the lead horse for the Gee-Gees in their 43-40 victory over Windsor in the OUA quarterfinal. With the Gee-Gees trailing 34-31, the Ottawa native made the game-changing play. In the fourth quarter, Aboagye-Gyan stripped the ball to create the fumble, scooped it up, and ran it back 60 yards for the touchdown to put Ottawa ahead 38-34 with 6:37 left, a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the game.
Along with his big play heroics, Aboagye-Gyan posted six tackles (five solo, two assisted), including one for a five-yard loss, and also broke up a pass.
Ottawa will take on Queen’s this week in an OUA semifinal.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Tyler Mullan, Queen’s
- Position: Kicker
- Hometown: North Bay, Ont.
- Year of eligibility: 4th
- Academic program: Criminology
Queen’s rookie kicker Tyler Mullan displayed another strong performance for Queen’s over the weekend. The North Bay, Ont. native did not miss a field goal in his 17 regular season attempts, and that streak continued into the Gaels’ OUA quarterfinal win over Toronto on Saturday. He hit field goals from 17, 14, 37 and 25 yards out and added four converts to finish with 16 points as Queen’s downed the Varsity Blues 41-13.
Queen’s hosts Ottawa in an OUA semifinal on Saturday.