CIS Players of the Week (13): Boutin, Cassama, Rioux honoured

OTTAWA  – Laval running back Maxime Boutin, Calgary linebacker Doctor Cassama, as well as punt returner Guillaume Rioux, also of Laval, are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending Nov. 16, 2013.

Boutin, a third-year criminology student from Quebec City, was honoured on offence thanks to his 268-yard tally in the Rouge et Or’s 48-21 Uteck Bowl win over Mount Allison, last Saturday in Sackville, N.B. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound junior, who was named MVP of both the Uteck Bowl and Vanier Cup a year ago, once again came up big when it counted as he racked up 163 yards on 18 carries and 105 more on three receptions, including a spectacular 80-yard catch-and-run touchdown early in the second half. Reigning national champion Laval (11-0) hosts Calgary (11-0) in the TELUS Vanier Cup this Saturday at 1 p.m. in Quebec City, live on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360 and Radio-Canada, as well as on the web at www.cis-sic.tv.

Mount Allison quarterback Brandon Leyh and Calgary running back Mercer Timmis were also up for the award.

Cassama, a third-year arts student from Kristianstad, Sweden, took home the weekly honour on defence after he helped the Dinos stun top-ranked Western 44-3 in the Centaur Mitchell Bowl, at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. The 6-foot-1, 201-pound athlete, who was voted Canada West defensive MVP this season, sealed the victory early in the fourth quarter when he returned an interception on 71 yards all the way to the end zone, and also contributed 4.5 tackles in the lopsided affair. Calgary hopes to capture its first Vanier Cup title since 1995 on Saturday.

Mount Allison defensive back Kwame Adjei and Laval defensive end Vincent Desloges were also nominated.

Rioux, a fifth-year nutrition student from Paris, France, earned the nod on special teams thanks to his game-MVP performance in the Uteck Bowl. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior amassed 172 yards on 10 punt returns, including a 57-yard touchdown which increased the Rouge et Or’s lead to 44-14 early in the fourth frame. Rioux added another 55 yards on five receptions and one carry to finish the contest with 227 all-purpose yards.

Returners Donovan Saunders of Mount Allison and Rashaun Simonise of Calgary were the other nominee.

Offensive nominees:

AUS: Brandon Leyh, quarterback, Mount Allison

RSEQ: Maxime Boutin, running back, Laval (recipient)

OUA: No nominee

CWUAA: Mercer Timmis, running back, Calgary

Defensive nominees:

AUS: Kwame Adjei, defensive back, Mount Allison

RSEQ: Vincent Desloges, defensive end, Laval

OUA: No nominee

CWUAA: Doctor Cassama, linebacker, Calgary (recipient)

Special team nominees:

AUS: Donovan Saunders, returner, Mount Allison

RSEQ: Guillaume Rioux, returner, Laval (recipient)

OUA: No nominee

CWUAA: Rashaun Simonise, returner, Calgary

WEEK 14 SCHEDULE: TELUS VANIER CUP

 

NOTE: Click HERE for the complete 2013 playoff schedule.

November 23

1 p.m. TELUS Vanier Cup: No. 3 Calgary (11-0) vs. No. 2 Laval (11-0), Quebec City

(TV: Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360 & Radio-Canada / web: www.cis-sic.tv)