Football players of the week: Dinos sweep semifinal honours
Canada West Communications
NEW WESTMINSTER – A convincing win over the Saskatchewan Huskies in the Hardy Cup semis has landed a trio of Calgary Dinos Canada West football player of the week honours.
Receiver Austen Hartley, defensive lineman Connor McGough and kick returner Denzel Radford are the conference players of the week after their big individual performances, as all three recorded majors for the Dinos in their Hardy Cup playoff win.
Hartley led the way offensively for Calgary, as the veteran receiver hauled in seven catches for 145 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown late in the second quarter of the Dinos' 47-17 win at home on Saturday.
McGough was a threat on both sides of the ball at McMahon Stadium, as the 6'2 lineman not only recorded four solo tackles and a pair of sacks, but also caught a two-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Adam Sinagra early in the third quarter on what proved to be the winning score.
On special teams, Radford iced the game for Calgary midway through the third quarter, as he ran back a Saskatchewan kickoff 94 yards for the major.
With the victory, Calgary advanced to their Canada West record ninth consecutive Hardy Cup where they'll meet the defending Hardy Cup champion UBC Thunderbirds in a rematch of last year's game, after the T-Birds downed the Regina Rams 40-34 in the other semifinal.
The 80th Hardy Cup is slated for Saturday, November 12th at 1 p.m. MT. For tickets, please click here.
The big game can be seen live on local Shaw TV, Shaw Direct 299, Shaw HD where available, Access Communications' channel 7/70 and CanadaWest.tv.
OFFENCE: Austen Hartley
Calgary Dinos
Receiver
4th-year
Calgary, Alta.
Schulich School of Engineering
Game log: Saturday, November 5 - 7 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown in 47-17W vs. Saskatchewan.
Austen Hartley accounted for more than half of the Dinos' receiving yards Saturday as Calgary ended Saskatchewan's season with a 47-17 Hardy Cup semifinal win at McMahon Stadium.
The fourth-year receiver, the go-to man for Dinos QBs all season, caught seven passes for 145 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter that put the Dinos on top for good.
DEFENCE: Connor McGough
Calgary Dinos
Defensive lineman
4th-year
Medicine Hat, Alta.
Science
Game log: Saturday, November 5 – four solo tackles, two sacks and a receiving touchdown in 47-17W vs. Saskatchewan.
Defensive lineman Connor McGough had a day Saturday against the Saskatchewan Huskies, helping lead his University of Calgary Dinos to their ninth consecutive Hardy Cup championship game.
McGough picked up four solo tackles during the game, including two of the Dinos' three sacks of Huskies QBs as the defence kept the Huskies at bay for most of the afternoon. And early in the third quarter, he came on the field on offence, scoring what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown on a two-yard pass from Adam Sinagra.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Denzel Radford
Calgary Dinos
Kick returner
3rd-year
Calgary, Alta.
Arts
Game log: Saturday, November 5 – 94-yard kickoff return touchdown in 47-17W vs. Saskatchewan.
Denzel Radford provided the nail that sealed the Saskatchewan Huskies' coffin Saturday with his play that highlighted a sequence where the Dinos scored 10 points in 14 seconds midway through the third quarter.
After the Huskies conceded a safety, Radford took the ensuing kickoff 94 yards to the house – his second long kickoff return of the season. After a kickoff single by Niko DiFonte following that TD, a 15-point Calgary lead had stretched to a 25-point lead in the blink of an eye, and the Dinos cruised to victory from there.
Radford and the Dinos, appearing in their ninth straight Hardy Cup this weekend, will look to reclaim the Canada West banner as they host the UBC Thunderbirds Saturday afternoon.