FRC - CIS football players of the week (#9): Wendel, Betts, Mark honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Ottawa quarterback Derek Wendel, Laval defensive lineman Mathieu Betts and Calgary kicker Johnny Mark are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending Oct. 25, 2015.

Wendel, a fourth-year human kinetics major from Belleville, Ont., was honoured on offence after he set no less than three CIS records in the Gee-Gees' season finale, a 45-9 home win over Toronto last Saturday. The 6-foot-1 senior completed 34 of 46 passes for an astounding 564 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 53 yards and a score, to finish conference play with 216 completions, 346 attempts and 3,136 yards through the air in eight contests, all new CIS single-season marks. Wendel's 564 passing yards are also a new OUA single-game standard, while his 24 TD passes this season are a team record.

StFX receiver Randy Roseway, Concordia receiver Yanic Lessard and Saskatchewan quarterback Kyle Siemens were also up for the award.

Betts, a first-year physical education and health student from Montreal, took home the award on defence following the most dominating performance of his young university career, a team-record four quarterback sacks in a crucial 36-7 home victory against nationally seventh-ranked Sherbrooke on Sunday. Facing a team that had allowed only six sacks in its first six games this season, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound freshman finished the contest with a team-high six tackles, including 5.5 tackles for losses, as well as a forced fumble. With one league game remaining, Saturday at McGill, the super rookie is currently tied for the CIS lead with 11 sacks, 1,5 shy of the single-season national record.

Acadia lineman Jesse St. James, Western defensive back Malcolm Brown and Manitoba lineman David Onyemata were also nominated.

Mark, a fifth-year science student from Peterborough, Ont., was the choice on special teams thanks to another record performance in a 57-7 win over visiting Regina on Saturday. The 6-foot, 185-pound senior kicked a trio of field goals to set a new CIS career standard with 87, including the record-breaking kick from 16 yards out 4:33 into the second quarter. With 19 points against the Rams, the 2014 CFL draft pick also set a single-season Canada West mark with 125 points and added to his own CIS career record, which now stands at 516 going into the Dinos' conference finale, Saturday at Alberta.

Mount Allison returner Idahosa Yorke, Laval returner Antony Dufour and Queen's kicker Dillon Wamsley were the other nominees.

Offensive nominees:
AUS: Randy Roseway, receiver, StFX
RSEQ: Yanic Lessard, receiver, Concordia
OUA: Derek Wendel, quarterback, Ottawa (recipient)
CWUAA: Kyle Siemens, quarterback, Saskatchewan

Defensive nominees:
AUS: Jesse St. James, lineman, Acadia
RSEQ: Mathieu Betts, lineman, Laval (recipient)
OUA: Malcolm Brown, defensive back, Western
CWUAA: David Onyemata, lineman, Manitoba

Special team nominees:
AUS: Idahosa Yorke, returner, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Antony Dufour, returner, Laval
OUA: Dillon Wamsley, kicker, Queen's
CWUAA: Johnny Mark, kicker, Calgary (recipient)

WEEK 10 SCHEDULE (all times local)

October 30 (regular season)
19:00 Saskatchewan (2-5) at Regina (0-7) (Shaw TV, Access & CanadaWest.TV)

October 31 (OUA quarter-finals)
13:00 Laurier (4-4) at No. 6 McMaster (6-2) (TVCogeco & OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 10 Carleton (5-3) at Queen's (5-3) (TVCogeco & OUA.TV)

October 31 (regular season)
13:00 No. 3 Laval (6-1) at McGill (3-4) (StretchTV)
13:00 Bishop's (1-6) at No. 7 Sherbrooke (4-3)
13:00 No. 1 Calgary (7-0) at Alberta (2-5) (CanadaWest.TV)
13:00 No. 8 Manitoba (5-2) at No. 9 UBC (5-2) (Shaw TV, Access & CanadaWest.TV)
14:00 StFX (4-3) at Mount Allison (5-2) (Bell Aliant FibreOP TV1 & AUStv.ca)
14:00 Saint Mary's (0-7) at Acadia (3-4) (Bell Aliant FibreOP TV1 & AUStv.ca)
14:00 Concordia (4-3) at No. 4 Montreal (5-2) (TVA Sports)

About Football Reporters of Canada

Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958, Football Reporters of Canada has been an organization of media members who have covered the Canadian Football League, serving to select the league's outstanding players, coach-of-the-year and all-star teams through voting conducted by its members. In 2009, the FRC amalgamated with the University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC) to give the organization greater scope in its affiliation with amateur and college football. FRC also works with the CFL and CIS to establish guidelines and working conditions for the men and women who report on the game. Selected members of FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
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