Pezzetta, Mann, Bembenek named OUA Football Players of the Week
BURLINGTON, Ont. - The following athletes have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Football Players of the Week for the period ending October 17, 2016.
BURLINGTON, Ont. - The following athletes have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Football Players of the Week for the period ending October 17, 2016.
OFFENCE: Chris Pezzetta (Burlington, Ont.) – 4th yr. – McMaster
McMaster Marauders running back Chris Pezzetta (Burlington, Ont.) ran wild Saturday on his way to establishing a new career high and OUA Offensive Player of the Week honours.
The fourth-year economics and geography major had a career high 14 carries for 162 yards and two touchdowns in McMaster’s 64-2 win over the York Lions.
It seemed like every time the Burlington, Ont. native touched the ball he rumbled for a first down, as he averaged 11.6 yards per carry on the afternoon.
The Burlington, Ont. native now ranks in the top five in carries (103), yards (646), yards per game (92.3) and yards per rush (6.3).
Pezzetta and the Marauders will now head out on the road as they’ll travel to London, Ont. for a showdown with the No. 3 ranked Mustangs to close out the regular season on Saturday.
DEFENCE: Wesley Mann (Almonte, Ont.) – 3rd yr. – Queen's
Queen’s safety Wesley Mann (Almonte, Ont.) has been named OUA Defensive Player of the Week as he helped the Gaels take another step towards the playoffs with a 55-5 win against the visiting Windsor Lancers.
Playing in front of a sold out Homecoming crowd at the revitalized Richardson Stadium, Mann, a third-year economics student-athlete had a pair of interceptions which he returned for 94 yards and a touchdown.
In the first quarter, the Almonte, Ont. native picked off Windsor quarterback Casey Wright on a tipped pass, returning the interception deep into the red zone. The interception set up a first and goal for the Gaels and would eventually result in the second touchdown of the game.
With 6:05 to play in the third quarter, 5’11” 189 lbs safety picked up his second interception of the afternoon and returned it 60 yards for the score as the Gaels extended their lead to 49-3.
Thanks to a big afternoon, Mann, who now has five interceptions in seven games, finds himself in a three way tie for the league lead.
Mann and the Gaels will look to punch their ticket to the postseason on Saturday as they host the visiting uOttawa Gee-Gees at Richardson Stadium.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Niclas Bembenek (Winnipeg, Man.) – 4th yr. – Queen's
Queen’s receiver Niclas Bembenek (Winnipeg, Man.) has been selected as the OUA Special Teams Player of the Week after he filled in admirably for Gaels injured kicker Nick Liberatore.
On Saturday against the Lancers, Bembenek, who is completing his Masters of Kinesiology, converted 6-of-6 extra point attempts and finished the afternoon with 531 kickoff yards and a rouge.
The Winnipeg, Man. native missed his only field goal attempt of the day, a 32 yard field goal attempt early in the first quarter. However, he got enough on it to send it through the end zone and extend the Gaels lead to 3-0.
If Liberatore is forced to miss another week, the 6’1” 209 lbs receiver turned kicker could be asked to handle the kicking duties again on Saturday against the Gee-Gees.
