Saskatchewan Huskies quarterback Mason Nyhus has been named the U Sports offensive player of the week after leading his team to a Uteck Bowl victory over St. FX with a strong fourth-quarter performance.
The fifth-year pivot from Regina completed 30-of-38 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns against the upstart X-Men, pushing the Huskies over the top with both scores coming in the final frame.
The six-foot-two, 215-pound passer led the nation with 2,759 yards through the air during the eight-game regular season, adding 18 touchdowns and tossing just three interceptions. He is the Canada West nominee for the Hec Crighton Trophy, which will be awarded this week to the country’s top university player.
Laval Rouge et Or linebacker Alec Poirier was named the U Sports defensive player of the week after making 12 tackles, including seven solo, in a Mitchell Bowl victory over the undefeated Western Mustangs. In seven regular-season games, the fourth-year from Blainville, Quebec made 22 tackles, two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
Also honoured as the U Sports special teams player of the week was Laval kicker Vincent Blanchard, who made four of his five field goal attempts and added two converts and a single to score 15 of the Rouge et Or’s 24 points on the afternoon. The third-year specialist also added a critical passing completion on a fake field goal early in the third quarter. Hailing from Quebec City, Blanchard has connected on 15-of-19 field goal attempts and all 28 extra points on his way to amassing 76 points in 2022, while also averaging 40.9 yards per kick as the school’s primary punter.
The U Sports season wraps up this weekend with Saskatchewan playing Laval for the Vanier Cup on Saturday, November 26. The game will kick off at 1:00 p.m. EST at Western Alumni Stadium in London, Ontario
