CIS players of the week (Canada West): Regina’s Picton, Dwyer earn honours after big win

Source: Canada West Communications

After a thrilling 32-27 win over the No. 2 Calgary Dinos on Friday, the No. 9 Regina Rams’ Mitchell Picton and Joey Dwyer scored another victory Monday, as the pair were named Canada West football players of the week.

Picton and Dwyer were instrumental in Regina’s win over Calgary, which propelled the Rams into first place in the conference. Picton is the offensive player of the week, after racking up 215 receiving yards on 13 catches, and a trio of majors in the Rams’ upset win of the previously undefeated Dinos.

Dwyer earns defensive honours thanks to his six solo tackles, eight assisted tackles and forced fumble. Dwyer’s hit of Calgary QB Jimmy Underdahl in the final moments of Friday’s game sealed Regina’s biggest regular season win in recent memory.

This week marks the first time a pair of Rams have won player of the week honours together since week 3 of the 2013 season when Cyaman Shutter (QB) and Michael Stefanovic (LB) earned the awards.

On special teams, Manitoba’s Brad Mikoluff is this week’s player of the week after his excellent performance Saturday in the Bisons’ 38-17 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies.

Mikoluff went a perfect three-for-three on bioth field goals and extra points in the game, while also averaging 60 yards off kickoffs.

The win moved Manitoba to 2-2 on the season and into a three-way tie with Saskatchewan and UBC for third in the conference standings.

Week 5 of the Canada West season kicks off Friday, Sept. 30 in Vancouver when the Bisons take on the UBC T-Birds.

The week wraps up with two big games on Saturday, as the Huskies head to Regina to take on the Rams in front of 16,500 in the first game at new Mosaic Stadium, while a big crowd is expected in Calgary when the Dinos host the Alberta Golden Bears as the U of C celebrates its 50^th anniversary.

Saturday’s Saskatchewan-Regina game can be seen live on local Shaw TV, Shaw Direct 299, Shaw HD where available, as well as Access Communications.

Every Canada West football game can also be seen live and on demand on Canadawest.tv.

OFFENCE: Mitchell Picton

Regina Rams

Slotback

4^th-year

Regina, Sask.

Business Administration

Game log: Friday, Sept. 23 – 13 receptions, 215 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 32-27 W vs. No. Calgary.

Fourth-year slotback  Mitchell Picton had the best game of his CIS career on Friday, helping the University of Regina Rams to a 32-27 win over No. 2-ranked and previously unbeaten Calgary on Friday.

Picton finished the game with 13 receptions for a total of 215 yards and caught three second-half touchdowns to help the Rams overcome what had been a 14-point deficit at one point in the second quarter. His total of 13 catches is tied for second in the team’s single-game record book, while Picton’s 215 receiving yards stand fourth in school history.

Picton, who’s eligible to be selected in the 2017 CFL Draft, now has at least one touchdown catch in each of the team’s first four games of the Canada West schedule. He leads the entire CIS in both receiving yards per game (121.3) and touchdown receptions (7).

DEFENCE: Joey Dwyer

Regina Rams

Linebacker

5^th-year

Regina, Sask.

Busines Administration

Game log: Friday, Sept. 23 – six solo tackles, eight assisted tackles, forced fumble in 32-27 W vs. No. 2 Calgary.

Fifth-year linebacker Joey Dwyer’s punishing hit on Calgary quarterback Jimmy Underdahl forced a turnover in the final seconds of Friday’s game, sealing a 32-27 win for the Rams over the No. 2-ranked and previously undefeated Dinos.

It looked as though Underdahl was about to scramble for a 12-yard major that would have put the Dinos into the lead with about 10 seconds to go, but Dwyer rocked him with a hit at the one-yard line to jar the ball loose and safety Braedy Will jumped on it to secure the victory.

Besides his game-saving play at the end, Dwyer was also in on a game-high 14 tackles – six solo and eight assisted. For the season, Dwyer has racked up 15 solo tackles, 13 assisted tackles, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and an interception.

Dwyer and the first-place Rams (3-1) will now prepare to host the SaskTel Fall Classic on Oct. 1 against Saskatchewan (2-2) at the new Mosaic Stadium.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Brad Mikoluff

Manitoba Bisons

Kicker

1^st-year

Beausejour, Man.

Agriculture

Game log: Saturday, Sept. 24 – 3/3 field goals, 3/3 extra points, 60.0 yard kickoff average and 12 points scored in 38-17 W vs. No. 8 Saskatchewan

Bison kicker Brad Mikoluff made his CIS debut and it was a huge success during an impressive 38-17 home win over No. 8 Saskatchewan on Saturday, September 24.

Mikoluff, who is in his first year with Bison and third year of eligibility, was perfect on field goals and extra points. He went three-for-three on field goals, hitting from 36, 30 and 12 yards. He accounted for 12 total points in the home victory.

In addition, he boomed five kickoffs for a 60.0 average and pinned Saskatchewan deep in their own territory throughout the game.

In week five, Manitoba (2-2) go on the road to play the defending CIS champion UBC Thunderbirds (2-2) on Friday, September 30 at 6 p.m. PT.

Photo credit: Piper Sports Photography

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