Wanadi, Hutchinson, Lidster named OUA football players of the week

Burlington, Ont. – Edouard Wanadi, Shomari Hutchinson, and Brady Lidster have been named Canadian Football Perspective's OUA Players of the Week for Week 7.

Offensive Player of the Week – Edouard Wanadi, Western



The Western Mustangs running game has been tough to corral all season long, with Week 7 being no exception to this narrative thanks in large part to Edouard Wanadi.

The term early and often was an apt description for Wanadi's efforts on Friday, as the second-year running back was a force to be reckoned with all game long. He kicked off the game's scoring with the lone points of the opening quarter, punching in a one-yard touchdown to cap off the run-heavy Mustangs drive in which he ran five times for nearly 40 yards. He would double down on that with the game's second score, this time coming from two yards out.

His third touchdown of the game, which came in the opening minutes of the second half, was much different, as the Kings College student had a much longer run to the end zone this time around. He put up six points regardless; however, taking it to the house from 64 yards out (his longest rush of the game). To cap off what was a career-day for the Saint Jerome, Que. native, Wanadi would collect his fourth major of the day on a 40-yard scamper, and helping bring his total to 213 yards on the ground on 13 carries (16.4 YPC).

Wanadi holds steady along with his fellow Mustang Keon Edwards in the conference's top five rushers with 113.7 yards per game following his Week 7 dominance.

Defensive Player of the Week – Shomari Hutchison, Wilfrid Laurier



In a game that is circled on the calendar every year for the two participating squads, Wilfrid Laurier's Shomari Hutchinson showed up in a big way to earn the big Battle of Waterloo win for his Hawks.

While Hutchinson, a fifth-year defensive back from Toronto, Ont. recorded a total of 4.5 tackles against Laurier's rivals from down the street, it wasn't his takedowns that made the biggest impact in the team's 43-22 win. After the Golden Hawks built up a comfortable 25-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, Waterloo began chipping away with back-to-back majors to trim the deficit to 33-22. Needing to get the momentum back on their side down the stretch, Hutchinson stepped up with not one, but two interceptions for the purple and gold.

The first came with just over two minutes to play with Waterloo approaching midfield to halt them late in the final frame. If that wasn't enough, the arts major would accomplish the same feat on the Warriors' very next drive, this time hauling in the Nolan Kaban pass at his own goal line before running it 36 yards out of harm's way and sealing the deal in Laurier's fourth win of the year.

Special Teams Player of the Week – Brady Lidster, Windsor



Tasked with taking down the York Lions in their Week 7 tilt, Windsor turned to Brady Lidster to make his mark on multiple occasions en route to a career-day for the Lancers kicker.

With the Lancers unable to find the end zone in the opening half, Lidster was key to keeping his team in the game early on. Despite York taking a one-point lead into the break, the first-year native of St. Thomas, Ont. made sure it was no more than that. He connected on a trio of field goals in the first half, with makes from 20, 16, and a game-long 39 yards out to account for all of Windsor's scoring during that span. He would seal the deal with his fourth and final make of the day, this time from 14 yards away.

Lidster would add three extra points to bring his total to 15 on the day and ensuring he was perfect on the day, but his contributions didn't stop there. With his side still trailing in the third quarter, the human kinetics major successfully converted on a fake punt that he ran 41 yards deep into York territory, an integral play in what turned out to be the Lancers' go-ahead touchdown.