FRC – U SPORTS Football Players of the Week (#14): Vanier Cup champions Merchant, Sopik, Liegghio honoured

U SPORTS TORONTO – Quarterback Chris Merchant, linebacker Fraser Sopik and kicker Marc Liegghio of the Vanier Cup champion Western Mustangs are the final U SPORTS Football Players of the Week for the 2017 season. 

 

Merchant, a kinesiology student from Calgary, led Western to its seventh Vanier Cup title in program history with a 39-17 win over the Laval Rouge et Or on Saturday afternoon in Hamilton. Merchant was presented with the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy as the game’s MVP after throwing for 276 yards with one touchdown, while adding another two touchdowns and 89 yards on the ground.

 

Western’s Fraser Sopik has been a leader on the defensive side of the ball all season, but the linebacker may very well have saved his best for last. To go along with a sack and a pass breakup, the Vanier Cup’s Bruce Coulter Award winner as defensive player of the game also tallied 10.5 tackles on the day, including 10 of the solo variety to lead all players.

 

Marc Liegghio may not have split the uprights in the Vanier Cup, but his presence was certainly felt in the kicking game. To go along with his 5-for-5 efforts in extra point attempts and a rouge, Liegghio was masterful in the punt game. Liegghio tallied 334 yards on eight punts for an average of 41.8 yards, including a long of 65 yards. His efforts were highlighted by twice pinning the Rouge et Or inside the 20.

 

Offensive nominees:

OUA: Chris Merchant, quarterback, Western (winner)

RSEQ: Hugo Richard, quarterback, Laval

 

Defensive nominees:

OUA: Fraser Sopik, linebacker, Western (winner)

RSEQ: Edward Godin, defensive lineman, Laval

 

Special teams nominees:

OUA: Marc Liegghio, kicker, Western (winner)

RSEQ: David Côté, kicker Laval

 

– Player bios provided by U SPORTS member conferences

 

 

Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering U SPORTS Football. Since 1958, Football Reporters of Canada has been an organization of media members who have covered the Canadian Football League, serving to select the league’s outstanding players, coach-of-the-year and all-star teams through voting conducted by its members. In 2009, the FRC amalgamated with the University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC) to give the organization greater scope in its affiliation with amateur and university football. FRC also works with the CFL and U SPORTS to establish guidelines and working conditions for the men and women who report on the game. Selected members of FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

 

About U SPORTS

U SPORTS is the national brand for university sports in Canada. Every year, over 12,000 student-athletes and 500 coaches from 56 universities vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. U SPORTS also provides higher performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit USPORTS.ca.

 

For further information, please contact:

Senior Manager, Communications

U SPORTS

Cell: 647-871-7595

 

Coordinator, Communications

U SPORTS

Off: 905-508-3000 ext. 242

Cell: 647-991-5343