Canadian Interuniversity Sport – TORONTO (CIS) – UBC receiver Trivel Pinto, Regina linebacker Danny Nesbitt and Carleton kick returner Tunde Adeleke are the CIS football players of the week for the period ending Oct. 2, 2016.

Pinto, a second-year arts student from Brampton, Ont., was honoured on offence after he tied the single-game school record with three touchdown catches, including a pair in extra time, to help the reigning Vanier Cup champion Thunderbirds edge visiting Manitoba 53-50, last Friday in Vancouver. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound sophomore finished the contest with a whopping 245 yards on 10 receptions, including a 21-yard score late in the first half, a 32-yard major on UBC’s first possession of the shootout overtime session, and the winning TD on a 35-yard play on the T-Birds fourth OT series. Along with his stellar play on offence, Pinto also played defensive back against the Bisons and recorded a second-quarter interception, which he returned on 19 yards.

St. Francis Xavier quarterback Tivon Cook, Concordia slotback Justin Julien and Carleton receiver Nate Behar were also up for the award.

Nesbitt, a third-year business administration student from Regina, took home the award on defence thanks to a pair of key interceptions in a 37-29 home win over provincial rival Saskatchewan last Saturday, in front of a Canada West-record crowd of 16,500 at the new Mosaic Stadium. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior, who was also credited with a pass breakup and 2.5 tackles in the victory, picked off a Kyle Siemens pass at the Regina 34-yard line on the Huskies’ second drive of the game and returned it on 31 yards, setting up a touchdown on the Rams’ ensuing possession. His second interception, at the Saskatchewan 28, came with under two minutes remaining in regulation and Regina holding on to an eight-point lead.

Acadia lineman Brady Switzer, Montreal lineman Jonathan Boissonneault-Glaou and Waterloo linebacker Kurtis Gray were also nominated.

Adeleke, a fourth-year communications major from Ottawa, was the choice on special teams following his spectacular performance last Saturday in the annual Panda Game, a 43-23 Carleton win over the cross-town rival Gee-Gees in front of 23,329 raucous fans at TD Place Stadium. The 5-foot-10, 178-pound senior racked up 203 yards on six returns on the afternoon, including the longest return in CIS this season early in the fourth quarter to put the affair out of reach. With the Ravens up 33-16, Adeleke returned a missed field goal attempt on 120 yards for his CIS-leading fourth return major of the campaign, nearly equaling his 129-yard score on a missed field goal in the 2013 Panda Game.  

Mount Allison kicker Ryan Lambert, Laval returner Antony Dufour and Calgary punter Brennan Van Nistelrooy were the other nominees. 

Offensive nominees:
AUS: Tivon Cook, quarterback, StFX
RSEQ: Justin Julien, slotback, Concordia
OUA: Nate Behar, receiver, Carleton
CWUAA: Trivel Pinto, receiver, UBC (recipient)

Defensive nominees:
AUS: Brady Switzer, lineman, Acadia
RSEQ: Jonathan Boissonneault-Glaou, lineman, Montreal
OUA: Kurtis Gray, linebacker, Waterloo
CWUAA: Danny Nesbitt, linebacker, Regina (recipient)

Special team nominees:
AUS: Ryan Lambert, kicker, Mount Allison
RSEQ: Antony Dufour, returner, Laval
OUA: Tunde Adeleke, returner, Carleton (recipient)
CWUAA: Brennan Van Nistelrooy, punter, Calgary

WEEK 7 SCHEDULE (all times local)

NOTE: Click HERE for the complete 2016 regular season schedule & results.

October 6
19:00   No. 7 Laurier (4-1) at Toronto (1-5) (OUA.TV)

October 7
13:00   Windsor (2-3) at No. 6 Carleton (4-2) (OUA.TV)
19:00   Mount Allison (1-3) at Saint Mary’s (1-3) (Bell Aliant Fibe TV1 & AUStv.ca)
19:00   Acadia (1-3) at StFX (3-1) (Bell Aliant Fibe TV1 & AUStv.ca)
19:00   Queen’s (2-3) at No. 8 McMaster (4-1) (Cogeco Cable 14 & OUA.TV)
19:00   York (2-3) at No. 9 Ottawa (4-1) (OUA.TV)

About Football Reporters of Canada

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For further information, please contact:

Alan Hudes       
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