EDMONTONĀ ā Canada West Players of the Week, Calgary Dinos quarterbackĀ Andrew BuckleyĀ and linebackerĀ Doctor Cassama, had solid performances in Saturday’s 49th Vanier Cup.
OFFENCE: #8 Andrew Buckley, Calgary
Home: Calgary, AB
Height: 6-0
Year: 3rd
Academic: Kinesiology
Calgary Dinos third-year pivot and first-year starterĀ Andrew BuckleyĀ faced a tough task at the 49th Vanier Cup in Quebec City, where the hometown Laval Rouge et Or have not lost on home field in almost 10 years.
Shutout in the first half, Buckley rallied the Dinos for two third quarter touchdowns, including a six-yard strike to fifth-year receiver Chris Dobko in his final CIS game, giving the visitors a 14-12 advantage with just over 15 minutes to play.
Laval took the lead late in the third and went on to a 25-14 victory.
On the day, Buckley was 19-29 for 247 yards with one TD pass and no interceptions. The Kinesiology major and Calgary native also ran for 82 yards on eight carries, often helping the Dinos out of trouble in a very defensive first half.
Buckley opened Vanier Cup week by winning the 2013 TSN Russ Jackson Award, given out by Canadian Interuniversity Sport to the top student-athlete on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
DEFENCE: #25 Doctor Cassama, Calgary
Home: Kristianstad, Sweden
Height: 6-1
Year: 3rd
Academic: Arts
Canada West Defensive Player of the Year and CIS President’s Award nomineeĀ Doctor Cassama, who hails from Kristianstad, Sweden, is conference Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight time.
Cassama, also a First Team All-Canadian, did all he could to rattle Laval quarterback Alex Skinner and the hometown favourites in Saturday’s 49th Vanier Cup.
Not only did the third-year LB have a game-high nine solo tackles to go with three assisted, but he recovered a second quarter fumble near midfield and sacked Skinner in the third.
Cassama and the Dinos took a 14-12 lead late in the third quarter and trailed by one at the end of three, but a strong final frame by the home side gave Laval a 25-14 victory, their record eighth CIS championship.
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