FRC - CIS football players of the week (#7): Morelli, Plante, Hamlin honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Wilfrid Laurier quarterback Eric Morelli, Mount Allison defensive lineman Christian Plante and Carleton kick returner Nate Hamlin are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending Oct. 10, 2015.

Morelli, a second-year business student from Burlington, Ont., was honoured on offence following a record performance in a crucial 65-30 win against visiting Ottawa, last Friday. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound sophomore threw six touchdown passes to tie the single-game school mark set by Vanier Cup champion Bill Kubas, who had a pair of six-TD performances back in 1992 and 1994. Morelli completed 20 of 24 passes for 298 yards without committing an interception to lead the Golden Hawks (3-3) to their best offensive output in four years.

Acadia quarterback Nick Bynkoski was also up for the award.

Plante, a fifth-year commerce student from Dartmouth, N.S., took home the award on defence thanks in large part to his 3.5 tackles for a loss in 27-17 road win over StFX, on Saturday. The 6-foot-2, 295-pound senior was a force all afternoon with a team-high 6.5 tackles, including 1.5 sacks for 11 yards in losses, as well as a fumble recovery in the end zone that gave the reigning AUS champion Mounties a 7-3 lead in the second quarter. Plante and his teammates had six total sacks in the contest and held the locals to 87 rushing yards.

Western defensive end John Biewald was also nominated.

Hamlin, a third-year communications student from Ottawa, was the choice on special teams after he tied a CIS record with a spectacular 129-yard touchdown on a missed field goal return in a 52-0 road victory against York, last Friday. With six minutes left in the contest, the 6-foot-1 defensive back, who had also returned a kickoff on 14 yards earlier in the game, received the ball deep in his end zone and took it back the length of the field to round out the scoring. With the victory, the Ravens (5-2), who returned to CIS football in 2013, clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 1996.

Acadia cover man Suleiman Semalulu was the other nominee.

Offensive nominees:
AUS: Nick Bynkoski, quarterback, Acadia
RSEQ: No games scheduled
OUA: Eric Morelli, quarterback, Wilfrid Laurier (recipient)
CWUAA: No games scheduled

Defensive nominees:
AUS: Christian Plante, lineman, Mount Allison (recipient)
RSEQ: No games scheduled
OUA: John Biewald, defensive end, Western
CWUAA: No games scheduled

Special team nominees:
AUS: Suleiman Semalulu, cover team, Acadia
RSEQ: No games scheduled
OUA: Nate Hamlin, returner, Carleton (recipient)
CWUAA: No games scheduled

WEEK 8 SCHEDULE (all times local)

October 16
19:00 No. 1 Calgary (5-0) at Saskatchewan (2-3) (Shaw TV, Access & CanadaWest.TV)

October 17
13:00 Toronto (2-4) at Waterloo (0-6) (OUA.TV)
13:00 Ottawa (2-4) at No. 3 Western (6-0) (OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 6 McMaster (5-1) at Laurier (3-3) (OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 10 Queen's (4-2) at York (1-6) (OUA.TV)
13:00 Windsor (1-5) at No. 7 Guelph (5-1) (OUA.TV)
14:00 StFX (2-3) at Saint Mary's (0-5) (Bell Aliant FibreOP TV1 & AUStv.ca)
14:00 Mount Allison (3-2) at Acadia (3-2) (Bell Aliant FibreOP TV1 & AUStv.ca)
14:00 No. 2 Laval (5-0) at No. 4 Montreal (3-2) (TVA Sports)
14:00 Bishop's (1-4) at Concordia (3-2) (StretchTV)
14:00 McGill (3-2) at No. 5 Sherbrooke (3-2)
14:00 No. 8 Manitoba (3-2) at Regina (0-5) (Shaw TV, Access & CanadaWest.TV)
16:00 Alberta (2-3) at No. 9 UBC (3-2) (CanadaWest.TV)

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.