November 24, 2006
WINDSOR'S STEPHENSON CAPTURES HEC CRIGHTON TROPHY
SASKATOON - Third-year University of Windsor running back Daryl Stephenson is the outstanding player in Canadian Interuniversity Sport football for the 2006 season.
The London, Ont. native became the first Lancer in 27 years and the third in history to claim the Hec Crighton Trophy. Quarterback Scott Mallender received the honour in 1979, while fellow Windsor play-caller Andrew Parici was named MVP back in 1972.
Stephenson, a 21-year-old human kinetics major, extended the Ontario conference's stranglehold on the Hec Crighton Trophy to seven years following the selections of Western receiver Andy Fantuz (2005), McMaster running back Jesse Lumsden (2004), Queen's quarterback Tommy Denison (2003, 2002), McMaster quarterback Ben Chapdelaine (2001) and McMaster running back Kojo Aidoo (2000).
The six-foot-two, 220-pound junior claimed his second consecutive CIS rushing title this season with 1140 yards and became the first player in CIS history to run for over 1000 yards in three straight campaigns. He tied for the OUA lead and for second place in the nation with 12 touchdowns, including 11 on the ground, led the CIS with 175 carries and was second in the country for yards per carry (6.51) among running backs with at least 100 attempts. He added another 156 yards on 10 receptions.
The two-time first-team all-Canadian was named OUA rookie of the year in 2004 after setting a CIS rookie record with 1192 yards rushing and followed up in 2005 with 1306 yards on the ground, good for his first national rushing crown. No running back in history has racked up more yards than Stephenson in his first three seasons, his total of 3638 yards already ranking him third on the OUA record list and 10th all-time in the CIS.
Stephenson's exploits helped Windsor finish fourth in the OUA regular season standings with a 6-2 mark and secure a first home playoff date since 1976.
\"Daryl is one of the best players, if not the best I have had the opportunity to coach,\" said Windsor head coach Mike Morencie. \"His abilities are unparalleled and he is without a doubt one of the major reasons our program has resurfaced among the major players in the OUA.\"
- CIS -
The London, Ont. native became the first Lancer in 27 years and the third in history to claim the Hec Crighton Trophy. Quarterback Scott Mallender received the honour in 1979, while fellow Windsor play-caller Andrew Parici was named MVP back in 1972.
Stephenson, a 21-year-old human kinetics major, extended the Ontario conference's stranglehold on the Hec Crighton Trophy to seven years following the selections of Western receiver Andy Fantuz (2005), McMaster running back Jesse Lumsden (2004), Queen's quarterback Tommy Denison (2003, 2002), McMaster quarterback Ben Chapdelaine (2001) and McMaster running back Kojo Aidoo (2000).
The six-foot-two, 220-pound junior claimed his second consecutive CIS rushing title this season with 1140 yards and became the first player in CIS history to run for over 1000 yards in three straight campaigns. He tied for the OUA lead and for second place in the nation with 12 touchdowns, including 11 on the ground, led the CIS with 175 carries and was second in the country for yards per carry (6.51) among running backs with at least 100 attempts. He added another 156 yards on 10 receptions.
The two-time first-team all-Canadian was named OUA rookie of the year in 2004 after setting a CIS rookie record with 1192 yards rushing and followed up in 2005 with 1306 yards on the ground, good for his first national rushing crown. No running back in history has racked up more yards than Stephenson in his first three seasons, his total of 3638 yards already ranking him third on the OUA record list and 10th all-time in the CIS.
Stephenson's exploits helped Windsor finish fourth in the OUA regular season standings with a 6-2 mark and secure a first home playoff date since 1976.
\"Daryl is one of the best players, if not the best I have had the opportunity to coach,\" said Windsor head coach Mike Morencie. \"His abilities are unparalleled and he is without a doubt one of the major reasons our program has resurfaced among the major players in the OUA.\"
- CIS -
