Edwards, Hinds, Burton named OUA football players of the week

Burlington, Ont. – Keon Edwards, Malcolm Hinds, and Richard Burton have been named Canadian Football Perspective's OUA Players of the Week for the semifinals.

Offensive Player of the Week – Keon Edwards, Western



Much like he has done throughout the regular season for Western, Keon Edwards played a starring role in the team's postseason opener and helped them run their way to another Yates Cup appearance.

The King's College student went over 100 yards rushing in all eight regular season outings and he continued that streak into the semifinal with 136 yards on the day. He was the workhorse in the Western backfield, carrying the ball 24 times for an average of 5.7 yards per carry. Despite the workload, it wasn't until the second half that he found the end zone for a pair of important touchdowns.

Western took just a five-point lead into the latter half of the game, and after they extended that with another touchdown, it was Edwards' two majors that really turned the tides in the Mustangs' favour. He scampered in from nine yards out for his first touchdown with seven minutes left in the third quarter, before punching in a one-yard major in the final six minutes of the game.

The reigning Yates Cup MVP will now lead his team into the 114th edition of the OUA football championship on home turf on Saturday, November 12 at 1:00pm.

Defensive Player of the Week – Malcolm Hinds, Western



Malcolm Hinds was giving Laurier nightmares in their semifinal tilt, as the dynamic defensive lineman made his presence felt throughout the convincing Mustangs 45-9 win.

The fourth-year player from Brampton, Ont. was a part of eight tackles on the day – two of the solo variety and six assisted – for a total of five key takedowns. His most impactful of those tackles came halfway through the third quarter when he broke through the Golden Hawks offensive line and got to quarterback Taylor Elgersma. The impressive takedown forced the fumble and allowed his Mustangs to pounce on the turnover.

That defensive effort helped the momentum stay with Western down the stretch, but he was also part of a key previous play that helped secure another Western turnover. With Western up by only five and Laurier with the ball to start the second half, the King's College student was able to recover a fumble and give his team the ball back, setting up a Mustangs touchdown on the ensuing drive.

Special Teams Player of the Week – Richard Burton, Queen's



Queen's punched their ticket to their second consecutive Yates Cup this past Saturday and putting the feather in the cap of their win was a standout special teams play by Richard Burton.

In addition to being a focal point in the team's passing game, leading the Gaels with 108 yards on five receptions, Burton played a starring role on special teams as well. Even with just one return in the game for the Ottawa, Ont. product, he made the most of it by taking advantage of a misplay therein and running it all the way back to the end zone.

Burton stepped up for a late-game return off of a Campbell Fair punt, after a bobbled snap led to a short kick from the Ottawa kicker. The fifth-year receiver studying politics-economics was quick to scoop up the bouncing ball on the 45-yard line and was off to the races. Burton's touchdown marked the final points of the game and put the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter.

This marks the second straight week that the Gaels have claimed the top special teams player award.