March 29, 2010
BRANNAGAN NAMED MVP AS QUEEN'S FOOTBALL HANDS OUT ANNUAL AWARDS
KINGSTON, Ont. - Danny Brannagan of Burlington, Ont., collected the Queen's football club's most valuable player award for the 2009-10 season at the team's annual award banquet held Saturday evening in Kingston, Ont.
Brannagan had an outstanding final season in a Queen's uniform, leading the Gaels to their first Vanier Cup championship since 1992 earning Vanier Cup MVP and Yates Cup MVP honours along the way. He was arguably the best quarterback in the country completing 62.1 percent of his passes throwing for 2,580 yards and 15 touchdowns, He became the first person in OUA history to break the 10,000-yard passing barrier finishing second all-time on the CIS career passing list. Following his tremendous season, the fifth-year Gael continued to make headlines being nominated for the Lou Marsh Award as Canada's top male athlete of the year and recently signed a professional contract with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts.
Queen's football also awarded Brannagan the Hal McCarney Trophy as the team's most dedicated player.
Jimmy Allin of Belleville, Ont. picked up two awards including the defensive player of the year (Lou Bruce Trophy) and the special teams player of the year (Bob Howes Trophy). Allin was remarkable for the Gaels all-season long, ranking fifth in the nation with five interceptions and five break-ups. As the Gaels special teams spark plug, he tallied 1,094 all-purpose yards on the punt and kick returns recording four special teams touchdowns in the regular season. In the Mitchell Bowl, Allin returned a 120-yard missed field goal attempt which helped Queen's topple the No. 1 ranked Laval Rouge et Or 33-30. He was honoured by the CIS as a two time all-Canadian for his efforts at defence and special teams.
Offensive player of the year honours went to all-Canadian wide receiver Scott Valberg of Kingston, Ont. Valberg was the CIS's top receiver finishing with 55 receptions, 913 yards and four touchdowns. To cap his season he recorded two touchdown catches in the national championship game.
The Orrin Carson Memorial Trophy which is awarded to both the offensive and defensive lineman of the year went to Matt O'Donnell of Kingston, Ont. on the offensive line while Shomari Williams of Brampton, Ont., claimed the defensive line award. Williams had 32.0 tackles in 2009 to go along with four sacks. He finished the year ranked as the No. 4 ranked prospect by the CFL's scouting bureau.
John Miniaci of Toronto was named the team's rookie of the year. In just his first season with the Gaels the first-year player earned a starting position on the defensive line playing in seven games and all four playoff contests. He recorded 19.5 tackles and one pass-break-up in the regular season.
The Gaels most improved player (Justin Schweig Trophy) was given to linebacker Frank Pankewich of Thunder Bay, Ont. In the regular season, Pankewich tallied 16 tackles, three sacks and one fumble recovery. He also played a significant role in the Gaels playoff run forcing a fumble in the Yates Cup against Western and intercepting a pass in the Mitchell Bowl against Laval.
Defensive end Osie Ukwuoma of Mississauga, Ont. claimed the Bill Miklas Trophy for academics, athletics and citizenship
Former Queen's quarterback Tim Pendergast was awarded the Ber Bream Memorial Award. The award recognizes the Kingston area's top high school football coach as determined by the Queen's Football Club. Pendergast, a member of the 1992 Vanier Cup champion Gaels, led the Holy Cross Crusaders to their first Kingston Area Secondary School Athletic Association (KASSAA) championship in the school's 23-year history.
The annual banquet marks the official close to the Gaels 2009 Vanier Cup championship season and preparation for the 2010-11 season is already underway. This year's season kicks off on Labour Day Monday, Sept. 6 with Gaels traveling to Waterloo, Ont. to take on the Waterloo Warriors. Five days later on Sept. 11 Queen's will kick off its home schedule against the Windsor Lancers.
Season tickets for Queen's Football are available for purchase by calling 613.533.2500.
QUEEN'S FOOTBALL 2009 AWARD WINNERS
Most Valuable Player (Johnny Evans Trophy): Danny Brannagan
Offensive Lineman of the Year (Orrin Carson): Matt O'Donnell
Defensive Lineman of the Year (Orrin Carson): Shomari Williams
Special Teams Player of the Year (Bob Howes Trophy): Jimmy Allin
Offensive Player of the Year (Doug Hargreaves Trophy): Scott Valberg
Defensive Player of the Year (Lou Bruce Trophy): Jimmy Allin
Rookie of the Year (Royal Todd): John Miniachi
Academic & Athletics (Bill Miklas Trophy): Osie Ukwuoma
Most Dedicated (Hal McCarney Trophy): Danny Brannagan
Most Improved (Justin Schwieg Trophy): Frank Pankawich
HS Coach of the Year (Berk Brean Trophy): Tim Pendergast - Holy Cross ('92 Vanier Cup Quarterback for Gaels)
Source: Queen's Gaels
Brannagan had an outstanding final season in a Queen's uniform, leading the Gaels to their first Vanier Cup championship since 1992 earning Vanier Cup MVP and Yates Cup MVP honours along the way. He was arguably the best quarterback in the country completing 62.1 percent of his passes throwing for 2,580 yards and 15 touchdowns, He became the first person in OUA history to break the 10,000-yard passing barrier finishing second all-time on the CIS career passing list. Following his tremendous season, the fifth-year Gael continued to make headlines being nominated for the Lou Marsh Award as Canada's top male athlete of the year and recently signed a professional contract with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts.
Queen's football also awarded Brannagan the Hal McCarney Trophy as the team's most dedicated player.
Jimmy Allin of Belleville, Ont. picked up two awards including the defensive player of the year (Lou Bruce Trophy) and the special teams player of the year (Bob Howes Trophy). Allin was remarkable for the Gaels all-season long, ranking fifth in the nation with five interceptions and five break-ups. As the Gaels special teams spark plug, he tallied 1,094 all-purpose yards on the punt and kick returns recording four special teams touchdowns in the regular season. In the Mitchell Bowl, Allin returned a 120-yard missed field goal attempt which helped Queen's topple the No. 1 ranked Laval Rouge et Or 33-30. He was honoured by the CIS as a two time all-Canadian for his efforts at defence and special teams.
Offensive player of the year honours went to all-Canadian wide receiver Scott Valberg of Kingston, Ont. Valberg was the CIS's top receiver finishing with 55 receptions, 913 yards and four touchdowns. To cap his season he recorded two touchdown catches in the national championship game.
The Orrin Carson Memorial Trophy which is awarded to both the offensive and defensive lineman of the year went to Matt O'Donnell of Kingston, Ont. on the offensive line while Shomari Williams of Brampton, Ont., claimed the defensive line award. Williams had 32.0 tackles in 2009 to go along with four sacks. He finished the year ranked as the No. 4 ranked prospect by the CFL's scouting bureau.
John Miniaci of Toronto was named the team's rookie of the year. In just his first season with the Gaels the first-year player earned a starting position on the defensive line playing in seven games and all four playoff contests. He recorded 19.5 tackles and one pass-break-up in the regular season.
The Gaels most improved player (Justin Schweig Trophy) was given to linebacker Frank Pankewich of Thunder Bay, Ont. In the regular season, Pankewich tallied 16 tackles, three sacks and one fumble recovery. He also played a significant role in the Gaels playoff run forcing a fumble in the Yates Cup against Western and intercepting a pass in the Mitchell Bowl against Laval.
Defensive end Osie Ukwuoma of Mississauga, Ont. claimed the Bill Miklas Trophy for academics, athletics and citizenship
Former Queen's quarterback Tim Pendergast was awarded the Ber Bream Memorial Award. The award recognizes the Kingston area's top high school football coach as determined by the Queen's Football Club. Pendergast, a member of the 1992 Vanier Cup champion Gaels, led the Holy Cross Crusaders to their first Kingston Area Secondary School Athletic Association (KASSAA) championship in the school's 23-year history.
The annual banquet marks the official close to the Gaels 2009 Vanier Cup championship season and preparation for the 2010-11 season is already underway. This year's season kicks off on Labour Day Monday, Sept. 6 with Gaels traveling to Waterloo, Ont. to take on the Waterloo Warriors. Five days later on Sept. 11 Queen's will kick off its home schedule against the Windsor Lancers.
Season tickets for Queen's Football are available for purchase by calling 613.533.2500.
QUEEN'S FOOTBALL 2009 AWARD WINNERS
Most Valuable Player (Johnny Evans Trophy): Danny Brannagan
Offensive Lineman of the Year (Orrin Carson): Matt O'Donnell
Defensive Lineman of the Year (Orrin Carson): Shomari Williams
Special Teams Player of the Year (Bob Howes Trophy): Jimmy Allin
Offensive Player of the Year (Doug Hargreaves Trophy): Scott Valberg
Defensive Player of the Year (Lou Bruce Trophy): Jimmy Allin
Rookie of the Year (Royal Todd): John Miniachi
Academic & Athletics (Bill Miklas Trophy): Osie Ukwuoma
Most Dedicated (Hal McCarney Trophy): Danny Brannagan
Most Improved (Justin Schwieg Trophy): Frank Pankawich
HS Coach of the Year (Berk Brean Trophy): Tim Pendergast - Holy Cross ('92 Vanier Cup Quarterback for Gaels)
Source: Queen's Gaels
