SHAW CFL top performers (20): Nichols, Spencer, Bowman named

TORONTO — Matt Nichols, Diontae Spencer and John Bowman were named the Shaw CFL Top Performers of the Week for Week 20 of the CFL’s 2018 season.

The three players were chosen by a panel of judges who independently send their selections to the CFL head office. The panel includes former Canadian Football League players Matt Dunigan and Duane Forde of TSN and Pierre Vercheval of RDS

358 yards through the air, a pair of TDs & help to punch a ticket to the #GCPlayoffs@MattNichols16 is your @Shaw_CFL Top Performer of the Week. #RoadtotheGreyCup pic.twitter.com/6myqCH6WCs

— CFL (@CFL) October 30, 2018

QB | MATT NICHOLS | WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Quarterback Matt Nichols kept a steady hand at the wheel to lead Winnipeg to a 29-21 win over the Calgary Stampeders on Friday night.

Nichols threw for 358 yards, going 24-for-33 and scoring two touchdowns.

After setting up Justin Medlock for two field goals, Nichols hit pay dirt in the third quarter with a quick five-play, 81-yard drive that culminated in a big 50-yard pass to Darvin Adams for a touchdown.

The six-year CFL veteran kept things rolling on Winnipeg’s next drive, going deep again – this time with a 60-yard pass to Drew Wolitarsky for another major. Nichols put Medlock in position for another field goal to cement the win that ensured Winnipeg’s place in the playoffs.

Nichols has 3,146 passing yards this season, fifth overall among quarterbacks despite playing just 14 games. He has 18 passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.

REC | DIONTAE SPENCER | OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Receiver Diontae Spencer helped the Ottawa REDBLACKS win the East Division with their 30-13 victory against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.

Spencer collected two touchdowns at Tim Hortons Field, tallying 116 receiving yards on just four receptions. He also gave the REDBLACKS 130 punt return yards on five returns, averaging 26 yards per return.

In the first quarter, Spencer caught a three-yard pass for a successful two-point conversion after teammate Greg Ellingson’s touchdown.

Midway through the second frame, Spencer snagged his own after a 24-yard pass from quarterback Trevor Harris.

Spencer capped off the game with a huge 79-yard catch in the third quarter, running it all the way into the end zone.

Spencer has 1,007 receiving yards, 81 receptions and seven touchdowns in 17 games this year.

DE | JOHN BOWMAN | MONTREAL ALOUETTES

In what was rumoured to be his final home game in Montreal, defensive end John Bowman contributed to a big win for the Alouettes.

Bowman collected two defensive tackles, including a quarterback sack. He also notched two fumble returns, including a fumble return touchdown in the 40-10 victory.

In the second quarter Bowman, who played his entire CFL career in Montreal, pounced on a blocked Toronto field goal, recovering it and gaining momentum for the Alouettes.

The former Wingate Bulldog sacked Toronto quarterback James Franklin in the fourth quarter for his 126^th career sack, tying Stewart Hill for seventh on the all-time sack list.

As the game wound down, Bowman’s teammate Ryan Brown forced a fumble deep in Toronto’s end – Bowman recovered the fumble in the end zone, scoring his first career touchdown.

Bowman registered 31 defensive tackles, five sacks, one touchdown and one forced fumble this year.

SHAW FANS’ CHOICE OF THE WEEK!

Zach Collaros won Week 19 of Shaw Fans’ Choice of the Week and collected 10 bonus points.

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Rank	Player	2018 Total Points
1	Mike Reilly	625
2	Jeremiah Masoli	435
3	Andrew Harris	345
T-4	Kamar Jorden	300
T-4	Duke Williams	300
6	Adam Bighill	270
T-7	Charleston Hughes	210
T-7	Bo Levi Mitchell	210
T-7	Lewis Ward	210
10	William Powell	200
T-11	Brad Sinopoli	150
T-11	Zach Collaros	150
T-11	Trevor Harris	150
14	Brandon Banks	135
15	McLeod Bethel-Thompson	110
T-16	C.J. Gable	100
T-16	Willie Jefferson	100
T-16	Matt Nichols	100
T-16	DeVier Posey	100
T-20	Chris Streveler	60
T-20	Kevin Fogg	60
T-22	Davon Coleman	50
T-22	Jonathon Jennings	50
T-22	Nick Marshall	50
T-22	Bryant Mitchell	50
T-22	Anthony Orange	50
T-22	Diontae Spencer	50
T-29	Jovon Santos-Knox	35
T-29	Reggie Begelton	35
T-29	Jordan Williams-Lambert	35
T-29	Micah Johnson	35
T-33	Boris Bede	25
T-33	Ja’Gared Davis	25
T-33	Derel Walker	25
T-33	Chris Rainey	25
T-33	S.J. Green	25
T-33	James Wilder Jr.	25
T-33	Luke Tasker	25
T-33	Don Unamba	25
T-33	Bryan Burnham	25

 

2018 SHAW CFL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK

Week	1st	2nd	3rd
1	Charleston Hughes (SSK)*	Mike Reilly (EDM)	Derel Walker (EDM)
2	Bo Levi Mitchell (CGY)	Chris Streveler (WPG)*	Jeremiah Masoli (HAM)
3	C.J. Gable (EDM)	Jeremiah Masoli (HAM)*	Boris Bede (MTL)
4	Adam Bighill (WPG)*	Brad Sinopoli (OTT)	James Wilder Jr. (TOR)
5	D’haquille Williams (EDM)	Travis Lulay (BC)	Micah Johnson (CGY)*
6	Andrew Harris (WPG)*	Brad Sinopoli (OTT)	Trevor Harris (OTT)
7	Mike Reilly (EDM)	Lewis Ward (OTT)	Jovan Santos-Knox (WPG)*
8	McLeod Bethel-Thompson (TOR)*	Kamar Jorden (CGY)	S.J. Green (TOR)
9	Trevor Harris (OTT)	Adam Bighill (WPG)*	Chris Rainey (BC)
10	Mike Reilly (EDM)	Nick Marshall (SSS)	Jordan Williams-Lambert (SSK)*
11	Bo Levi Mitchell (CGY)	Kamar Jorden (CGY)	Ja’Gared Davis (CGY)
12	Brandon Banks (HAM)	Jeremiah Masoli (HAM)	Luke Tasker (HAM)
13	Mike Reilly (EDM)	Duke Williams (EDM)	Brandon Banks (HAM)
14	William Powell (OTT)	Anthony Orange (BC)	Reggie Begelton (CGY)
15	Lewis Ward (OTT)	Jonathon Jennings (BC)	Bryan Burnham (BC)
16	Zach Collaros (SSK)	Kevin Fogg (WPG)	Don Unamba (HAM)
17	Willie Jefferson (SSK)	Davon Coleman (BC)	Andrew Harris (WPG)
18	Adam Bighill (WPG)	Bryant Mitchell (EDM)	Mike Reilly (EDM)
19	DeVier Posey (BC)	Zach Collaros (SSK)	Trevor Harris (OTT)
20	Matt Nichols (WPG)	Diontae Spencer (OTT)	John Bowman (MTL)

*Indicates Shaw Fans’ Choice of the Week winner

2018 SHAW CFL TOP PERFORMERS OF THE MONTH

Month	1st	2nd	3rd
June	Mike Reilly (EDM)	Jeremiah Masoli (HAM)	D’haquille Williams (EDM)
July	Andrew Harris (WPG)	D’haquille Williams (EDM)	Brad Sinopoli (OTT)
August	Kamar Jorden (CGY)	Charleston Hughes (SSK)	Mike Reilly (EDM)
September	Jeremiah Masoli (HAM)	William Powell (OTT)	Lewis Ward (OTT)

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Shaw CFL Top Performers Explained

What is the program?

The Shaw CFL Top Performers recognizes weekly and monthly player achievement in the CFL and is separate from our year end awards.

How does it work?

Each week and month during the CFL Regular Season a panel of CFL experts vote on the three top CFL Performers across the league in order. Those players are awarded points for each time they win.

Then we throw it out to you, the fans, to Retweet our Twitter posts announcing the winners. The player with the most Retweets will receive extra points and be crowned the Shaw Fan’s Choice of the Week. Remember, once the next Week begins voting ends; so get your RTs in fast!

What is the scoring system?

Here are the points for each award winner.

Shaw Top Performers of the Week	Shaw Top Performers of the Month
#1 = 100 points	#1 = 200 points
#2 = 50 points	#2 = 100 points
#3 = 25 points	#3 = 50 points
10 bonus points to the player with the most RTs