University of Waterloo Athletics
CFL.ca Staff
OTTAWA — Receiver Paul Cecile and defensive back Christian Mahler, both from the University of Waterloo, as well as returner Félix Bouthillier from the Sherbrooke Vert & Or are the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football players of the week for the period ending Oct. 21, 2012.
The selection was made by a committee comprised of members of Football Reporters of Canada (FRC).
Cecile, a second-year recreation and leisure student from Azilda, Ont., was honoured on offence after he had the best game of his young university career in the Warriors’ regular season finale, a 48-29 home win over Windsor, last Saturday. 
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound sophomore, who entered the game with 10 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown on the season, exploded for eight catches, 246 yards and three majors against the Lancers, including four grabs of over 30 yards. Cecile hauled in a 17-yard TD pass from Jamie Cook in the second quarter and combined his efforts with Ben Hall for 60 and 13-yard scoring plays in the third frame.
Acadia receiver James Fioroni, Montreal quarterback Alexandre Nadeau-Piuze and UBC pivot Billy Greene were also up for the award.
Mahler, a second-year recreation and business student from Sault St. Marie, Ont., took home the weekly honour on defence after he closed out his 2012 campaign with three interceptions in the win over Windsor, upping his season total to a CIS-best seven.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound sophomore saved a potential Windsor score in the first quarter when he stepped in front of an Austin Kennedy pass at the Warriors’ 10-yard line, and then added picks in the second and third stanzas, both of which led directly to Waterloo touchdowns. Mahler returned his three interceptions on a total of 98 yards and also contributed a pair of solo tackles in the victory.
Mount Allison linebacker Justin Richard, Montreal linebacker Byron Archambault and Regina defensive back Joey Dwyer were also nominated.
Bouthillier, a first-year multidisciplinary student from Granby, Que., was the choice on special teams thanks to a spectacular performance that saw him score touchdowns on two long returns in a 48-21 home win over Concordia, on Saturday.
Back in the Vert & Or lineup after missing four games due to an injury, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound freshman made an immediate impact as he returned the opening kickoff on 110 yards after only 18 seconds of action to register the longest scoring play in the country this season, and the second longest kickoff return in RSEQ history. The speedster added a 64-yard major off a punt return in the second quarter and finished the contest with a whopping 291 return yards on only seven touches.
Mount Allison returner Donovan Saunders, Ottawa kicker Matthew Falvo and Regina return man Jamir Walker were also up for the distinction.
Offensive nominees:
AUS: James Fioroni, receiver, Acadia
RSEQ: Alexandre Nadeau-Piuze, quarterback, Montreal
OUA: Paul Cecile, receiver, Waterloo (recipient)
CWUAA: Billy Greene, quarterback, UBC
Defensive nominees:
AUS: Justin Richard, linebacker, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Byron Archambault, linebacker, Montreal
OUA: Christian Mahler, defensive back, Waterloo (recipient)
CWUAA: Joey Dwyer, defensive back, Regina
Special team nominees:
AUS: Donovan Saunders, returner, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Félix Bouthillier, returner, Sherbrooke (recipient)
OUA: Matthew Falvo, kicker, Ottawa
CWUAA: Jamir Walker, returner, Regina
– With files from CIS
