FRC - CIS football players of the week (#11): Augustine, Barnett, van Gylswyk honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Guelph running back Johnny Augustine, UBC linebacker Mitch Barnett and kicker Quinn van Gylswyk, also of UBC, are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending Nov. 7, 2015.

Augustine, a third-year arts student from Welland, Ont., was honoured on offence thanks to his clutch performance in a 33-21 OUA semifinal win over visiting Carleton, last Saturday. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound junior was not only a workhorse for the nationally fifth-ranked Gryphons with 245 rushing yards on 35 carries, both of his touchdowns came in the fourth quarter after the Ravens had cut the deficit to 19-14 with 12 minutes left in the contest. Guelph (8-1) travels to London on Saturday to face No. 2 Western (9-0) in the Yates Cup final (1 p.m. on CHCH TV & OUA.TV).

St. Francis Xavier running back Ashton Dickson, Laval quarterback Hugo Richard and Calgary running back Mercer Timmis were also up for the award.

Barnett, a fourth-year visiting student from North Vancouver, B.C., took home the award on defence after he helped shut down the high-scoring Manitoba offence in a 52-10 Canada West semifinal victory, Saturday in Vancouver. The 6-foot-1 senior had three tackles - including one for a loss - and a pair of interceptions in the win, his first pick coming on the Bisons' second drive and leading directly to the Thunderbirds' first touchdown of the afternoon. Sixth-ranked UBC (7-2) visits No. 1 Calgary (9-0) on Saturday in the Hardy Cup final (noon MT on Global TV & CanadaWest.TV).

StFX lineman Jimmie Cunningham, Montreal linebacker Frédéric Chagnon and Wilfrid Laurier defensive back Malcolm Thompson were also nominated.

Van Gylswyk, a third-year arts student from Victoria, was the choice on special teams following a five field goal performance in rainy conditions against visiting Manitoba. The 6-foot-4 veteran, who also averaged a superb 49.2 yards per punt in the game, split the uprights from 37 yards out or more four times, including a 42-yarder in the fourth quarter. It was the second five-FG effort of the season for van Gylswyk, who was a solid 20-of-24 in conference play.

Returners Randy Roseway of StFX, Frédérick Caron of Sherbrooke and Ryan Nieuwesteeg of Guelph were the other nominees.

Offensive nominees:
AUS: Ashton Dickson, running back, StFX
RSEQ: Hugo Richard, quarterback, Laval
OUA: Johnny Augustine, running back, Guelph (recipient)
CWUAA: Mercer Timmis, running back, Calgary

Defensive nominees:
AUS: Jimmie Cunningham, lineman, StFX
RSEQ: Frédéric Chagnon, linebacker, Montreal
OUA: Malcolm Thompson, defensive back, Wilfrid Laurier
CWUAA: Mitch Barnett, linebacker, UBC (recipient)

Special team nominees:
AUS: Randy Roseway, returner, StFX
RSEQ: Frédérick Caron, returner, Sherbrooke
OUA: Ryan Nieuwesteeg, returner, Guelph
CWUAA: Quinn van Gylswyk, kicker, UBC (recipient)

WEEK 10 SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

November 14 (conference finals)
12:00 Hardy Cup: No. 6 UBC (7-2) at No. 1 Calgary (9-0) (Global TV & CanadaWest.TV)
13:00 Yates Cup: No. 5 Guelph (8-1) at No. 2 Western (9-0) (CHCH TV & OUA.TV)
14:00 Dunsmore Cup: No. 4 Montreal (7-2) at No. 3 Laval (8-1) (TVA Sports)
14:00 Loney Bowl: StFX (6-3) at Mount Allison (5-3) (Bell Aliant FibreOP TV1 & AUStv.ca)

About Football Reporters of Canada

Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958, Football Reporters of Canada has been an organization of media members who have covered the Canadian Football League, serving to select the league's outstanding players, coach-of-the-year and all-star teams through voting conducted by its members. In 2009, the FRC amalgamated with the University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC) to give the organization greater scope in its affiliation with amateur and college football. FRC also works with the CFL and CIS to establish guidelines and working conditions for the men and women who report on the game. Selected members of FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.