Helfrich, Findlay, Ferdinand named OUA football players of the week

Burlington, Ont. – Jake Helfrich, Jackson Findlay, and Denny Ferdinand have been named Canadian Football Perspective's OUA Players of the Week for Week 3.

Offensive Player of the Week – Jake Helfrich, Guelph



Making just the second start of his OUA career, Guelph rookie quarterback Jake Helfrich put on a show on Saturday at Warriors Field to lead his Gryphons to a much-needed victory in a high-octane affair.

Helfrich accounted for four touchdowns on the day, throwing for three and adding a two-yard run of his own. The 20-year-old freshman, who just recently transferred to the Gryphons from the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, notched his first touchdown pass of the day (and his OUA career) when he fired a deep ball down the field for Vyshonne Janusas, who would finish off the 84-yard catch and run with the major. In the second quarter, the Charlotte, NC native would find Janusas for his second major of the day, before connecting with Jakob Tomas for a nine-yard score in the third.

On the day, the arts student would finish 19-for-32, racking up 370 yards and no turnovers, all of which helped his side secure their first win of the season via the 41-35 decision over Waterloo.

Defensive Player of the Week – Jackson Findlay, Western



After starting their season with two big wins, the Western Mustangs turned to a solid defensive performance in Week 3, anchored by Jackson Findlay, to come away with a third-straight victory in their Yates Cup rematch against Queen's.

Findlay made his presence felt all over the field under the Saturday night lights in London, Ont., as the second-year defensive back from North Vancouver, B.C. added six tackles to nearly double his early season totals. Five of the takedowns were of the solo variety and two came in the form of sacks. The sciences student first got to Queen's quarterback James Keenan with under five minutes to go in the third quarter, as Findlay took him down for a loss of four. He would all but seal the deal with his second sack of the night, stuffing the Gaels' 3rd-and-7 efforts with a loss of eight yards, forcing the turnover on downs and setting up the Mustangs with their final points of the game.

Findlay, who has proven to be one of the many members of the young Western defence to take on a leading role this season, would add a pass breakup in the final two minutes of play to put a bow on his emphatic defensive efforts and his team's 35-11 victory.

Special Teams Player of the Week – Denny Ferdinand, Carleton



The special teams side of the game played a big part in Carleton's win on Saturday, and at the heart of their success therein was Denny Ferdinand, who reaped several rewards in the return game.

Ferdinand tallied 10 opportunities to return the ball against York, including eight off Lions' punts, and he was a force to be reckoned with right from the opening kickoff. The political science major began the day with a 26-yard return, his first of four 20+ yard plays off of punts. He would save his best effort, however, for later that frame. With York's Derek Giacobbi punting from his own 22-yard line, Ferdinand was quick to corral the kick and turn it into points, scrambling 57 yards to the endzone for the major.

The second-year defensive back from Kanata, Ont. would wrap up the day with 164 all-purpose yards to lead the team, including 115 from punt returns and 49 from kickoffs.