FB: Aravinthan's ball hawking lands weekly award

October 4, 2021

VANCOUVER - Regina's Gowrichan Aravinthan, Manitoba's Gavin Cobb, and Saskatchewan's Mason Nhyus were all honoured for their Week 2 performances, as the conference announced its Players of the Week.

A pair of Aravinthan interceptions helped the Regina Rams to an upset of the top ranked Calgary Dinos on Saturday. The Canada West Defensive Player of the Week and the Rams notched their first victory of the year, with the 34-21 win.

The second-year defensive back sealed the victory with a late game interception in the end zone, ripping the ball away from the Dinos receiver. On his first interception, the Regina, Sask. native found himself in the perfect position to pick off the Dinos quarterback and return it 58 yards to set up Regina's first touchdown of the game.

Gavin Cobb was all over the stats sheet on Friday night and earned Special Teams Player of the Week honours after his 91-yard punt return touchdown gave the Manitoba Bisons a commanding 21-2 second quarter lead. The punt return major was already Cobb's third touchdown of the evening as the fourth-year receiver also caught two first quarter touchdown passes in the Bisons' 31-17 win.

Saskatchewan quarterback Mason Nyhus was named the Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Huskies to a 43-15 win over the UBC Thunderbirds Friday night in Vancouver. Nyhus efficiently directed a Saskatchewan offense that put up 626 total yards on the night, as the fourth-year pivot finished the game 18-of-27 for 351 yards. The Regina, Sask. product threw three touchdown passes in the game.

All six teams will have the weekend off as Week 3 serves as a conference-wide bye week.

Canada West action returns to the gridiron October 16 with a jam packed Saturday afternoon. The Calgary Dinos (1-1) will head to Manitoba (2-0) to take on the conference leading Bisons at 1 p.m. CDT. A pair of games kick off in Saskatchewan at 2 p.m. CST with the Regina Rams (1-1) hosting the UBC Thunderbirds (0-2) and the Saskatchewan Huskies (1-1) welcoming in the Alberta Golden Bears (1-1).

OFFENCE: QB - Mason Nyhus

  • Saskatchewan Huskies
  • 4th-year
  • Regina, Sask.
  • Education
  • STATS: 18-for-21 passing / 351 passing yards / 3 touchdowns

DEFENCE: DB - Gowrishan Aravinthan

  • Regina Rams
  • 2nd-year
  • Regina, Sask.
  • Science
  • STATS: 4 tackles / 2 interceptions / 58 interception return yards

SPECIAL TEAMS: RET - Gavin Cobb

  • Manitoba Bisons
  • 4th-year
  • Victoria, B.C.
  • Arts
  • STATS: 108 punt return yards / 1 punt return touchdown