September 21, 2021
Edwards, Federico, Hutchinson named OUA football players of the week
Burlington, Ont. - Keon Edwards, Anthony Federico, and Shomari Hutchinson have been named Canadian Football Perspective's OUA Players of the Week for Week 1.
Offensive Player of the Week - Keon Edwards, Western Mustangs
Keon Edwards has been waiting for his opportunity to take a leading role in the Mustangs backfield, and on Saturday, the second-year running back showed exactly what he could do with the ball in his hands.
Edwards came into the 2021 opener hungry to make an immediate impact for Western, as evidenced by his 30-yard rush - his longest on the day - to start the game. The Toronto, Ont. native kept rolling from there, en route 174 yards on 26 carries, good enough for an average of 6.7 yards per carry.
It wasn't just quantity for Edwards; however, as he also used his carries to make an impact on the scoreboard. Edwards punched in his first touchdown of the game to cap off an 11-play, 87-yard drive in the first quarter. He doubled the Mustangs' lead the following frame with a three-yard major. The media, information, and technoculture major converted his third and final touchdown of the game - a seven-yard scamper to the end zone - to reclaim Western's double-digit cushion, a lead they wouldn't relent the rest of the way.
Defensive Player of the Week - Anthony Federico, Queen's Gaels
It was business as usual for Anthony Federico (Niagara Falls, Ont.) to kick off the 2021 campaign, picking up right where he left off in the 2019 season. And in a win that was highlighted by a stout defensive effort from the Gaels, the talented defensive end stood out with a trio of sacks for Queen's.
The 2019 OUA all-star was already known to be a menace for opposing quarterbacks, a reputation he further cemented after the lengthy hiatus. Federico first got to Carleton's Tanner Dejong on the Ravens' third drive of the game, good for a loss of six yards. He would follow suit with his second sack of the game early in the second quarter, before rounding out the trifecta with a late-game takedown.
The arts and science major would finish the active defensive outing with 5.5 tackles (five solo) and 3.5 tackles for loss (three sacks).
Special Teams Player of the Week - Shomari Hutchinson, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
The Golden Hawks came soaring out of the gates against the York Lions on Saturday, with momentum-altering plays coming in all facets of the game. Leading the charge on the special teams front was Shomari Hutchinson (Toronto, Ont.), who made not one, but two key plays for the purple and gold.
Hutchinson was able to get his hands on a couple of York kicks in their season opener, wreaking havoc on both a punt and field goal attempt from the Lions. Not only did the arts major's efforts prevent York from putting points on the board, but he helped Laurier turn the table to achieve scores of their own and put the game well out of reach.
Hutchinson capped off his well-rounded game with an interception and nine tackles on the defensive side as well.
Offensive Player of the Week - Keon Edwards, Western Mustangs
TOUCHDOWN MUSTANGS!!!!
- Western Mustangs (@WesternMustangs) September 18, 2021
The first points of the year for @westernuFB are on the board courtesy of Keon Edwards.
7-0 WES with 5:23 left in 1st QTR#RunWithUs #WesternMustangs pic.twitter.com/qXfPjWXCfG
Keon Edwards has been waiting for his opportunity to take a leading role in the Mustangs backfield, and on Saturday, the second-year running back showed exactly what he could do with the ball in his hands.
Edwards came into the 2021 opener hungry to make an immediate impact for Western, as evidenced by his 30-yard rush - his longest on the day - to start the game. The Toronto, Ont. native kept rolling from there, en route 174 yards on 26 carries, good enough for an average of 6.7 yards per carry.
It wasn't just quantity for Edwards; however, as he also used his carries to make an impact on the scoreboard. Edwards punched in his first touchdown of the game to cap off an 11-play, 87-yard drive in the first quarter. He doubled the Mustangs' lead the following frame with a three-yard major. The media, information, and technoculture major converted his third and final touchdown of the game - a seven-yard scamper to the end zone - to reclaim Western's double-digit cushion, a lead they wouldn't relent the rest of the way.
Defensive Player of the Week - Anthony Federico, Queen's Gaels
?? SACK: Anthony Federico doing what he does best.
- Queen's Gaels (@queensgaels) September 18, 2021
Q1: QUE 0 - 0 CAR#GoGaelsGo | #QUEvsCAR pic.twitter.com/f84YVidN8C
It was business as usual for Anthony Federico (Niagara Falls, Ont.) to kick off the 2021 campaign, picking up right where he left off in the 2019 season. And in a win that was highlighted by a stout defensive effort from the Gaels, the talented defensive end stood out with a trio of sacks for Queen's.
The 2019 OUA all-star was already known to be a menace for opposing quarterbacks, a reputation he further cemented after the lengthy hiatus. Federico first got to Carleton's Tanner Dejong on the Ravens' third drive of the game, good for a loss of six yards. He would follow suit with his second sack of the game early in the second quarter, before rounding out the trifecta with a late-game takedown.
The arts and science major would finish the active defensive outing with 5.5 tackles (five solo) and 3.5 tackles for loss (three sacks).
Special Teams Player of the Week - Shomari Hutchinson, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
M?? - HUGE BLOCK PUNT from Shomari Hutchinson late in the second quarter ???? #WLUvsYRK #SoarAbove @LaurierFootball pic.twitter.com/C7kOxdqvDR
- Laurier Golden Hawks (@WLUAthletics) September 18, 2021
The Golden Hawks came soaring out of the gates against the York Lions on Saturday, with momentum-altering plays coming in all facets of the game. Leading the charge on the special teams front was Shomari Hutchinson (Toronto, Ont.), who made not one, but two key plays for the purple and gold.
Hutchinson was able to get his hands on a couple of York kicks in their season opener, wreaking havoc on both a punt and field goal attempt from the Lions. Not only did the arts major's efforts prevent York from putting points on the board, but he helped Laurier turn the table to achieve scores of their own and put the game well out of reach.
Hutchinson capped off his well-rounded game with an interception and nine tackles on the defensive side as well.
