September 19, 2005
FOUR-TOUCHDOWN PERFORMANCE PUT FANTUZ ON TOP OF RECEIVERS LIST
HAMILTON – With four touchdown catches in Western’s 55-31 come-from-behind win over the McMaster Marauders Saturday, Mustangs' receiver Andy Fantuz equaled the mark for most touchdowns by a receiver in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) history.
Fantuz came into the game with 30 career touchdowns and scored four straight times in a span of eight minutes 31 seconds, giving him 34 as a Mustang, tying him with Brian Fryer, a former Hec Crighton Trophy winning receiver with the University of Alberta Golden Bears, who played from 1972 to 1975. Fryer’s touchdown totals also include rushing and return scores. All of Fantuz’s touchdowns have been receptions.
“It’s great,” Fantuz modestly said of equaling Fryer’s total. “I can’t complain.”
McMaster had built a 28-3 lead but Fantuz caught fire late in the first half as quarterback Michael Faulds (26-for-35 with 364 yards, six touchdown passes and one interception) continually looked to the All-Canadian after he was shut down early in the game. The fourth-year wide receiver scored three times in the final 4:03 of the second quarter and added his fourth of the day at 10:34 of the third quarter. The second score enabled him to surpass Stefan Ptaszek (Laurier Golden Hawks from 1990 to 1994) as the touchdown leader among wide receivers in Ontario University Athletics (OUA). Of Ptaszek’s 31 career touchdowns, three came on returns. But for Fantuz, defeating McMaster for the first time after six straight losses was more important than his individual accomplishments.
“I’ve never beaten them and neither has pretty much anyone on the team,” he said. “It ‘s exciting, especially with the comeback.”
Fantuz entered the 2005 season with the most receiving yardage by any player in CIS history, needing just three years to rack up an impressive total of 3,298 yards. He had 242 yards in the opening two games and tacked on another 61 against the Marauders Saturday.
The Chatham, ON native has amazed fans and coaches alike in his three-plus years of Western football, showcasing great hands and superior athletic ability. He burst onto the OUA scene in 2002 and caught 12 touchdown passes as a rookie. Fantuz added eight more in his sophomore season and another nine in 2004. After hauling in 20 catches in the Mustangs first three games of 2005, Fantuz needs just 23 more receptions to pass Ptaszek (186) and become the career CIS leader in that department.
“The great thing about Andy is that every time the ball’s in the air, he thinks it’s his,” Mustangs head coach Larry Haylor said after Fantuz caught five balls in the season opener against the University of Toronto, a 70-1 Western win. “He’s made more great catches with people around him than probably anyone in this game.”
- O U A -
Enquiries can be addressed to:
David DiCenzo
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Phone: 905-540-5156
Fax: 905-540-5149
Email: david.dicenzo@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
Fantuz came into the game with 30 career touchdowns and scored four straight times in a span of eight minutes 31 seconds, giving him 34 as a Mustang, tying him with Brian Fryer, a former Hec Crighton Trophy winning receiver with the University of Alberta Golden Bears, who played from 1972 to 1975. Fryer’s touchdown totals also include rushing and return scores. All of Fantuz’s touchdowns have been receptions.
“It’s great,” Fantuz modestly said of equaling Fryer’s total. “I can’t complain.”
McMaster had built a 28-3 lead but Fantuz caught fire late in the first half as quarterback Michael Faulds (26-for-35 with 364 yards, six touchdown passes and one interception) continually looked to the All-Canadian after he was shut down early in the game. The fourth-year wide receiver scored three times in the final 4:03 of the second quarter and added his fourth of the day at 10:34 of the third quarter. The second score enabled him to surpass Stefan Ptaszek (Laurier Golden Hawks from 1990 to 1994) as the touchdown leader among wide receivers in Ontario University Athletics (OUA). Of Ptaszek’s 31 career touchdowns, three came on returns. But for Fantuz, defeating McMaster for the first time after six straight losses was more important than his individual accomplishments.
“I’ve never beaten them and neither has pretty much anyone on the team,” he said. “It ‘s exciting, especially with the comeback.”
Fantuz entered the 2005 season with the most receiving yardage by any player in CIS history, needing just three years to rack up an impressive total of 3,298 yards. He had 242 yards in the opening two games and tacked on another 61 against the Marauders Saturday.
The Chatham, ON native has amazed fans and coaches alike in his three-plus years of Western football, showcasing great hands and superior athletic ability. He burst onto the OUA scene in 2002 and caught 12 touchdown passes as a rookie. Fantuz added eight more in his sophomore season and another nine in 2004. After hauling in 20 catches in the Mustangs first three games of 2005, Fantuz needs just 23 more receptions to pass Ptaszek (186) and become the career CIS leader in that department.
“The great thing about Andy is that every time the ball’s in the air, he thinks it’s his,” Mustangs head coach Larry Haylor said after Fantuz caught five balls in the season opener against the University of Toronto, a 70-1 Western win. “He’s made more great catches with people around him than probably anyone in this game.”
- O U A -
Enquiries can be addressed to:
David DiCenzo
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Phone: 905-540-5156
Fax: 905-540-5149
Email: david.dicenzo@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
