CFL.ca Staff

OTTAWA -- Manitoba quarterback Cam Clark, Regina defensive end Ryan Wellman, and kick returner Nic Demski, also of Manitoba, are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Sept. 22, 2012.

The selection was made by a committee comprised of members of Football Reporters of Canada (FRC).

A fifth-year arts student from Whalley, B.C., Clark was honoured on offence following a personal-best performance in a wild 51-38 home win against Alberta, Saturday in Winnipeg. The 6-foot-3 senior, in his first season as the Bisons’ starting pivot, completed a remarkable 85 percent of his passes (23 of 27) for a career-high 442 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions as eighth-ranked Manitoba (3-1) overcame a 24-17 halftime deficit to beat the Golden Bears.

Clark hooked up with receiver Danny Turek for an 80-yard major on the second play of the game from scrimmage and, during a stretch from the end of the second quarter to midway through the fourth, completed 14 consecutive passes. Mount Allison running back Jordan Botel, Bishop’s running back Matthew Burke and McMaster quarterback Kyle Quinlan were also up for the award.

Wellman, a third-year kinesiology and health studies student from Regina, took home the weekly honour on defence after he helped the No. 7-ranked Rams (3-1) score a 35-26 road victory over No. 10 Saskatchewan (2-2), Friday night. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound junior finished the contest with five solo and four assisted tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble and a pass breakup.

His sack of quarterback Chase Bradshaw on a late third-down gamble essentially sealed the win for the Rams as he forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate Logan Brooks with 1:02 remaining in the game. Mount Allison defensive lineman Ryan Downe, Laval defensive lineman Vincent Desloges and Western defensive back Harold Mutabola were also nominated.

Demski, a second-year University 1 student from Winnipeg, was the choice on special teams thanks to his 170 yards on only five returns, including a game-changing 98-yard missed field goal return, in the Bisons’ 51-38 defeat of Alberta.

With Manitoba trailing 24-17 early in the third quarter, the 6-foot sophomore returned a missed field goal all the way to the Alberta 30-yard line, setting up a game-tying touchdown on the next play and 21 unanswered points by the Bisons in a span of three minutes. Demski, a 2011 all-Canadian on special teams, ended the contest with 238 all-purpose yards and a pair of majors, one on a 37-yard reception and another on a 20-yard run.

Mount Allison punter Kyle McLean, Montreal returner Mikhaïl Davidson and McMaster kicker Tyler Crapigna were also up for the distinction.

Offensive nominees:
AUS: Jordan Botel, running back, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Matthew Burke, running back, Bishop’s
OUA: Kyle Quinlan, quarterback, McMaster
CWUAA: Cam Clark, quarterback, Manitoba (recipient)

Defensive nominees:
AUS: Ryan Downe, defensive lineman, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Vincent Desloges defensive lineman, Laval
OUA: Harold Mutabola, defensive back, Western
CWUAA: Ryan Wellman, defensive end, Regina (recipient)

Special team nominees:
AUS: Kyle McLean, punter, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Mikhaïl Davidson, returner, Montreal
OUA: Tyler Crapigna, kicker, McMaster
CWUAA: Nic Demski, returner, Manitoba (recipient)

- With files from CIS