Photos courtesy of Wanda Harron Photography and @in_motion_sports_photography

The Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) is proud to announce their Outstanding Player Award winners for the 2024 season.  The awards were handed out Friday night at the Celebration of Excellence in Windsor, ON. 

The award winners are:

Gordon Currie Coach of the Year
Tom Sargeant– Saskatoon Hilltops - he led the Hilltops to an undefeated regular season and now home field advantage throughout the Prairie Conference playoffs.  This is the third time Coach Sargeant was won this award. 

Offensive Rookie of the Year
Quarterback Marek Filipek – Okanagan Sun – a 17-year-old rookie who won the job out of camp in the spring finished with 1316 passing yards, completing 61% of his passes and threw nine touchdowns

Defensive Rookie of the Year
Defensive back CJ Augustine – Langley Rams – an absolute ballhawk in his rookie campaign making seven interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns and added 17 solo tackles, knocked down two passes, forced a fumble and assisted on two other tackles.

Special Teams Player of the Year
Kick returner Kaleb Senz – Kamloops Broncos – he was a dangerous return man for the Broncos this season returning a BC Conference high 59 kicks, gathering 1081 yards, averaging 18.9 yards a return and did run one back for a touchdown

Larry Wruck Outstanding Defensive Player
Linebacker Stephen Smith – Regina Thunder (second consecutive season) - he led the Thunder with 34 solo tackles, had 20 assists, 2.5 sacks, 2 knockdowns and intercepted a pass returning it 23 yards

Peter Dalla Riva Outstanding Offensive Player
Running back Elelyon Noa – Okanagan Sun – he won the CJFL rushing title and set a new BC Conference single season record with 1612 yards and 23 touchdowns on 216 carries.  He averaged 7.5 yards a carry

CJFL Past Commissioners Award
Demarco Espinoza Mattoon – Edmonton Wildcats 

CJFL Stewart MacDonald Executive of the Year
Jen and Rob Annen – London Beefeaters 

CJFL Life Member
Mike Morencie – St. Clair Saints

Rick Smoke Community Involvement Award
Hamilton Hurricanes (second consecutive season)

The 116th Canadian Bowl will kick-off Saturday November 9, at 7:00pm at Acumen Stadium in Windsor, Ontario.

BROADCAST INFO
Watch the pay per view Canadian Bowl broadcast HERE
 

The CJFL is pleased to announce the Players of the Week following a playoff weekend that saw the BC and Prairie Conference champions crowd and a pair of Ontario Conference semi-finals.

Offensive Players of the Week

Prairie Conference
OL Caleb Barajas – Regina Thunder
In a game seemingly won in the trenches the Regina Thunder offensive line were tremendous against a very fast Hilltop line not allowing a sack nor a blocked kick.  Left guard Caleb Barajas was particularly good helping the Thunder running attack gain 321 yards en route to the Prairie Conference title.

BC Conference 
RB Elelyon Noa – Okanagan Sun
Whether he was lined up as a running back or in the quarterback position running the wildcat offence, Elelyon Noa of the Okanagan Sun was outstanding chewing up much needed yards in the Cullen Cup game.  He rushed 18 times for 72 yards and scored a touchdown and also leaked out of the backfield for three receptions for 32 yards.  In all he collected 104 yards of total offence. 

Ontario Conference 
RB LJ Dyer – London Beefeaters
For the third time in four weeks LJ Dyer has made his claim as to why he is the best running back in the conference. Leading an unstoppable rushing attack that piled up 312 yards on the ground, Dyer scored three touchdowns on 14 carries and gained 103 yards.  He also hauled in a reception for 33 yards as the all-star running back and his Beefeater teammates punched their ticket to the OFC final.

Defensive Players of the Week

Prairie Conference 
DB Tristan Berquist – Regina Thunder
Tristan Berquist was excellent in the Thunder secondary on Sunday afternoon especially down the stretch as the Hilltops were moving the football with time winding down.  Berquist had the coverage on the final play of the game with a desperation pass into the endzone and he didn’t allow his receiver an easy attempt at the ball.   In all, he made seven solo tackles and recorded three knockdowns.

BC Conference 
DB David Lewis – Okanagan Sun
What a game for defensive back David Lewis.  When the Sun needed a turnover in the Cullen Cup game, Lewis delivered.  He made three interceptions on the afternoon, all in big moments and took momentum away from the driving Rebels.  He also collected two knockdowns and made two solo tackles. 

Ontario Conference 
DL Kendy Montoban – St. Clair Saints
In what can only be described as a suffocating defensive performance, Kenny Montoban was a menace in the trenches for the defence as the Saints completely shut down the Sooners potent rushing attack limiting them to 27 net yards for the entire game.  Montoban had seven tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss and when the Sooners attempted to pass the ball he racked up two sacks for an incredible 17 defensive points.

Special Teams Players of the Week

Prairie Conference 
DL Ryan Adamko – Saskatoon Hilltops 
He was great for the Hilltops coverage team, getting down the field and limiting the Thunder return game.  He had two special teams tackles and forced a fumble on a punt return.

BC Conference 
PK Liam Attwood – Okanagan Sun
Without his right leg, the Sun would not be on their way to the CJFL National Semi-Final game.  He booted three field goals during the Cullen Cup scoring 11 of the Sun 23 points including two giant field goals in the fourth quarter.  He was good from 31 and 26 yards breaking a tie and propelling the Sun to the victory.

Ontario Conference
KR Nick Szigeti – London Beefeaters
Showing why he is the two-time OFC return specialist conference all-star, Nick Szigeti had his Beefeater offense in great field position all game long.  The Skyhawks coverage units had no answer for Szigeti as he returned four punts for 140 yards with his longest return going for 62.  And when the Skyhawks tried to kick away from him, Szigeti didn’t let that stop him as he smartly picked up a fumbled kick return and returned it 41 yards for a total of 181 return yards (45.25 ave/rtn).