CIS-SIC.ca
CIS-SIC.ca Staff
MONTREAL (CIS) — Andrew Buckley, a fourth-year quarterback from the University of Calgary, received the prestigious Hec Crighton Trophy as the outstanding player in CIS football, on Thursday evening.
The kinesiology student from Calgary had a dream night at the awards gala held at Sheraton Montreal Centre as he also claimed for the second straight season the Russ Jackson Award honouring excellence in football, academics and citizenship. He is the first player in CIS history to merit both awards in his career.
Other CIS award winners announced during the Sun Life Financial All-Canadian Banquet were Saint Mary’s linebacker Jonathan Langa, who captured the Presidents’ Trophy as defensive player of the year; Ottawa defensive tackle Ettore Lattanzio, who merited the J.P. Metras Trophy as most outstanding down lineman; Laval quarterback Hugo Richard, who received the Peter Gorman Trophy as top rookie; and Mount Allison head coach Kelly Jeffrey, who claimed the Frank Tindall Trophy.
The gala was held as part of the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup celebrations. The McMaster University Marauders face the University of Montreal Carabins in the milestone championship game Saturday at 1 p.m. EST at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, live on Sportsnet, Sportsnet 360, Radio-Canada and CIS-SIC.tv.
“Sun Life Financial is thrilled and proud to partner with Canadian Interuniversity Sport for the presentation of the 50th Vanier Cup banquet,” said Robert Dumas, President, Sun Life Financial, Quebec. “I salute the determination, passion and commitment of the players who excel not only on the field but also in the classroom. Among those exceptional models are without a doubt the leaders of tomorrow and maybe our future colleagues.”
“As mayor of Montreal, a graduate from the University of Montreal and an avid sports fan, I am pleased but also very honoured to be honorary chairman of this 2014 Vanier Cup banquet,” said Mr. Denis Coderre. “Finally, the Vanier Cup in Montreal for the first time in 50 years! The Carabins and Marauders will offer a memorable sporting moment for football fans, like me. This is a great sporting event for Montreal, the kind of grand and unifying event which helps define a city like ours.”
HEC CRIGHTON TROPHY & RUSS JACKSON AWARD
ANDREW BUCKLEY (Calgary)
Buckley becomes the fourth Dino to capture the Hec Crighton, following quarterback Greg Vavra (1983), receiver Don Blair (1995) and pivot Erik Glavic (2009). The Russ Jackson honour, meanwhile, is the second straight for Buckley and also the fourth for the University of Calgary after wins by Elio Geremia in 1987 and Lincoln Blumell in 2002.
The 6-foot, 201-pound Buckley was at the controls of the nation’s most potent offence in 2014, leading the Dinos to school records in points, touchdowns, and total offence – and they led the nation in all three categories. They became the first team in Canada West history to break the 5,000-yard mark in total offence, adding 51 touchdowns and 419 points to their gaudy statistics totals.
Buckley was in the centre of it all. His surgical passing led to a 64.3 completion percentage, 2,175 passing yards, and 18 touchdowns through the air, and he threw fewer interceptions than any other starting quarterback in Canada West, boasting an incredible 4.5 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
And just as he did it through the air, Buckley did it with his legs as well. He finished fifth in Canada West in rushing with 510 yards, averaging nearly 64 per game. His yards-per-carry average was the best in Canada at 10.6, and he ran for more yards than any other quarterback in the country this season. He also scored 10 rushing touchdowns – the second-highest total among all players in CIS. And he did it all despite having to fight for his position in training camp, where he beat out the 2012 Canada West MVP, Eric Dzwilewski, for the starting job.
Perhaps most impressively, Buckley did all that while playing the equivalent of just 6.25 games on the season after the Dinos built up early leads in many of their contests en route to a 6-2 record and the No. 2 national ranking for all but the final two Top 10 polls of the season.
Away from the field, the graduate of Calgary’s Rundle College is an honours student in the Faculty of Kinesiology and hopes to follow his father’s footsteps into a career in orthopedic surgery following graduation. A three-time Academic All-Canadian in the classroom, he has been involved in several research studies, including one looking at a new method to reduce stiffness of the elbow joint by testing difference trial doses of a promising drug. The findings of this study were presented in 2014 at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (Tampa, Fla.) and the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (Montreal).
Buckley has always made it a priority to give back to his school, his community, and other great causes. He volunteers with Alberta Health Services, where he is paired with two elderly Alzheimer’s patients, providing companionship for three hours per week as well as relief for full-time caregivers. He embarked on a 10-day humanitarian trip to Guatemala to build efficient wood-burning stoves to replace dangerous open fires within homes.
“Very few quarterbacks have been able to pass and run as effectively as Andrew Buckley,” said Dinos head coach Blake Nill. “His statistics are very impressive, but what is more impressive is that he only played the equivalent of 6.25 games – and there is no question his stats would have been even greater had he played more. He is an outstanding leader and competitor, he reads exceptionally well, and he is extremely humble and unselfish.”
Other nominees (Hec Crighton Trophy):
AUS: Brian Jones, inside receiver, Acadia (Enfield, N.S.)
RSEQ: Hugo Richard, quarterback, Laval (St. Bruno, Que.)
OUA: Dillon Campbell, running back, Wilfrid Laurier (Whitby, Ont.)
Other nominees (Russ Jackson Award):
AUS: Sean Stoqua, defensive back, Acadia (Ottawa, Ont. / kinesiology)
RSEQ: Alexandre Laganière, offensive tackle, Montreal (Quebec City, Que. / administration)
OUA: Adam Dickson, nose tackle, McMaster (Niagara Falls, Ont. / engineering physics & man.)
PRESIDENTS’ TROPHY
JONATHAN LANGA (Saint Mary’s)
Langa is the second Saint Mary’s standout to receive the Presidents’ Trophy, following Alex Eliopoulos in 1992.
The fourth-year criminology student in his third year of CIS eligibility led the country in total tackles this season with 80 in eight games (62 solo and 36 assisted), a new AUS record. The previous mark was held by former Mount Allison star Callan Exeter, who posted 77.5 tackles in 2008. In an Oct. 18 game versus StFX, Langa posted 13.0 tackles, putting him in a four-way tie for fifth place in the AUS record books for most tackles in a single game.
Following his third season with the Huskies, he currently sits in 11th place in the Atlantic conference all-time records for career tackles with 155.5. Named to the first all-Canadian team, Langa was also voted a league all-star for the third consecutive year.
“Jay is not only a tremendous football player, he is an incredible young man,” said Huskies head coach Perry Marchese. “He is a team leader on and off the field. He is an extremely hard worker and gives 100 per cent effort every play, all the time. He is the heart and soul of the team and has an amazing future in whatever he decides to do.”
Other nominees
RSEQ: Byron Archambault, linebacker, Montreal (Montreal, Que.)
OUA: Nick Shortill, linebacker, McMaster (Nobleton, Ont.)
CWUAA: Mark Ingram, defensive back, Saskatchewan (Imperial, Sask.)
J.P. METRAS TROPHY
ETTORE LATTANZIO (Ottawa)
Lattanzio is the third Gee-Gee to be recognized with the J.P. Metras Trophy, following Chris Gioskos in 1989 and Boyd Young in 1984.
The fourth-year defensive tackle led the OUA with eight sacks this fall and tied for the national lead with 14 tackles for a loss. Named the OUA’s top lineman for the second straight season, he also merits a spot on the first all-Canadian team for the second year in a row.
A year ago, Lattanzio made the switch from defensive end to defensive tackle and still led the OUA with 10 sacks, which co-led the CIS. He picked up eight sacks in 2012 and five in 2011, for a career total of 31.
Known simply as “ET”, the 6-foot, 260-pound Ottawa native attended Mother Theresa High School where he was also a competitive wrestler. The Classical Studies major came to uOttawa from the Myers Riders club system where he picked up his signature crouch, waiting for the opposing linemen to come to him before lining up to propel his way through them.
“Opponents always have to account for Ettore,” said Gee-Gees head coach Jamie Barresi. “He draws double teams all season long and still does what he does. His speed, strength, and determination set him apart and he is an incredibly important part of our team.”
Other nominees:
AUS: Jacob LeBlanc, defensive tackle, Mount Allison (Halifax, N.S.)
RSEQ: Vincent Desloges, defensive end, Laval (St. Augustin de Desmaures, Que.)
CWUAA: Donovan Dale, defensive tackle, UBC (Saskatoon, Sask.)
PETER GORMAN TROPHY
HUGO RICHARD (Laval)
Richard joins receiver Jean-Frédéric Tremblay (2000) as the only Laval freshmen to capture the Gorman Trophy. He was also named MVP of the Quebec conference in his university debut, becoming only the second rookie to be nominated for the Hec Crighton Trophy.
It was an amazing first season for Richard. Thrown into the action right at the beginning of the year against archrival Montreal, the St. Bruno, Que. native performed right away with a 371-yard, three-touchdown outing and ended up rewriting the team, RSEQ and CIS record books.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound mechanical engineering student led the country in passing yards (2,576), touchdown passes (22) and TD-to-interception ratio (22-4). He also placed third in the nation in completion percentage (65.4), led all players in Quebec with six rushing majors and ranked first among RSEQ signal callers with 224 yards on the ground.
While leading the Rouge et Or to first place in the league standings with a 7-1 mark, the Vanier College product set RSEQ records for most TD passes in a game (7) and in a season, shattered the previous CIS rookie standards for TD passes and passing yards in a campaign and, for good measure, set a new team mark for most yards in a single contest (506).
“Hugo arrived here with an exemplary work ethic. His athletic abilities are exceptional, but what impresses me most is his desire to learn and always wanting to be better. He is never satisfied, and that is the mark of a great player,” said Laval head coach Glen Constantin.
Other nominees:
AUS: Chris Reid, running back, Mount Allison (Brampton, Ont.)
OUA: Daniel Petermann, wide receiver, McMaster (Stoney Creek, Ont.)
CWUAA: Marcus Davis, inside receiver & returner, UBC (Victoria, B.C.)
FRANK TINDALL TROPHY
KELLY JEFFREY (Mount Allison)
Jeffrey becomes the first Mount Allison bench boss to win the Tindall Trophy. He has been honoured three times by AUS in his seven years at the helm, including each of the past two campaigns.
This season, Jeffrey led the Mounties to an 8-0 regular season record – the program’s first-ever undefeated campaign. Finishing atop the AUS standings, the Mounties earned the right to host the Loney Bowl, marking the first time since 1998 that they hosted the AUS championship game.
The 2014 Mount Allison squad led the conference in scoring with 234 points, in rushing touchdowns with 14 and in total touchdowns with 25. On defence, the Mounties allowed the fewest point against per game in the country, giving up an average of just 8.0. They also led the AUS in an array of other statistical categories including total offense (2,702), yards per game (359.8), rushing yards (1,339), rushing attempts (286), yards per rush (4.7), punt returns (66-for-698), punt return average (10.6) and sacks (27).
Prior to his career with Mount Allison, Jeffrey served as head coach and offensive coordinator at Mayville State University in North Dakota for four years (2002-2005) and as a quarterback coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2001) and at the University of San Diego (1998-2000).
He also served as a running backs coach at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota from 1996 to 1997 and as a wide receivers coach at North Dakota’s Dickinson State University from 1994-1995.
“We are absolutely thrilled to see Coach Jeffrey recognized for his commitment to and belief in our Mounties football program, not only for this year but from the moment he arrived in 2006,” said Mount Allison director of athletics Pierre Arsenault. “Coach Jeffrey has had a plan and a vision for a nationally competitive Mounties football program and he has demonstrated the leadership savvy to get us there. As we continue to build on the success of back-to-back AUS champions and two straight national bowl game appearances, we feel very fortunate to have Kelly leading the way. He is in every way the recipient the CIS would aspire to for its Coach of the Year.”
Other nominees:
RSEQ: Mickey Donovan, Concordia
OUA: Stefan Ptaszek, McMaster
CWUAA: Brian Towriss, Saskatchewan
