FB: Manitoba duo, UBC RB brilliant in weekend wins
CALGARY - A UBC running back stole the spotlight Saturday, showing himself to be an unstoppable offensive threat to lead the Thunderbirds in handing Saskatchewan its first loss of the season. Isaiah Knight has been named the CW Offensive Player of the Week, while Manitoba's Marcel Arruda-Welch and Niko DiFonte have earned the Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week honours respectively.
Knight absolutely exploded Saturday, showing off his running and receiving game, to post the T-Birds' first three touchdowns of the afternoon. He ran in 45, 33 and 54-yard major scores off passes and a hand-off from his quarterbacks, slipping through defenders and outpacing them to the end zone.
Knight was Mr. Reliable, going for 17 rushing attempts and 151 yards on the ground, pushing the Thunderbirds forward at every juncture. He also hauled in three receptions for 80 yards, single-handedly keeping pace with the Huskies, who came into the game undefeated.
Knight's speed and grit helped the T-Birds to their fourth win of the season, doing it in dramatic style over the league-leading Huskies.
He and the Thunderbirds are slated to be back in action Saturday, when they travel to Edmonton to take on the Golden Bears at 1:00 p.m local time. You can catch the action exclusively on Canada West TV.
Meanwhile, Marcel Arruda-Welch was getting involved all over the defensive side of the field for the Manitoba Bisons, helping them stomp out the Golden Bears in an important match-up.
The defensive back disrupted the Alberta offence in every way he could, posting three tackles, a half-tackle for loss, an interception for 20 yards, and two defensive pass break-ups.
Saturday's mark moves him up into third all-time for career pass break-ups in Canada West. At 21, he sets the Bisons record for the feat.
His fourth-quarter interception helped seal the all-important win for Manitoba.
Arruda-Welch and the Bisons will be back in action Saturday at 2:00 p.m. when they travel to take on the Regina Rams in their final regular season match. You can catch all the action on SaskTel maxTV and maxTV stream, TELUS Optik TV or Canada West TV.
Niko DiFonte earns the Special Teams Player of the Week after using his leg to push Alberta back as much as possible, while notching several scores of his own.
DiFonte moved the Bears back into their own 20 with three of his six punts on the game, flying one 50 yards.
He helped the Bisons extend, then regain their lead with two field goals. The first was good from 39 yards out, while the second counted from 32 yards away.
DiFonte also recorded six kick offs for 368 yards.
He and the Bisons will be back in action Saturday at 2:00 p.m. when they travel to take on the Regina Rams in their final regular season match. You can catch all the action on SaskTel maxTV and maxTV stream, TELUS Optik TV or Canada West TV.
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