By Murray McCormick,
Regina Leader-Post
Six members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders reaped their individual rewards Wednesday.
The six have been selected as the team’s nominees for CFL Player awards by representatives from the local chapter of the Football Reporters of Canada. The East and West division nominees are to be announced next Wednesday.
The Roughriders’ nominees are: Quarterback Kerry Joseph (outstanding player); Slotback Andy Fantuz (Canadian); Defensive end Fred Perry (defensive); Centre Jeremy O’Day (offensive lineman); Defensive end John Chick (rookie); and, placekicker Luca Congi (special teams).
“It’s always an honour to be picked as an individual,” O’Day said Wednesday after receiving his second consecutive nomination as the Roughriders’ outstanding offensive lineman. “(Centre) is a position that is important to the rest of the offensive linemen. It’s more of a group award than individual. It should be an offensive-line award more than an offensive lineman award.”
Teammate Gene Makowsky won the league award in 2004 and 2005. O’Day, who has started all 16 games this season, earned some individual praise from Joseph.
“He’s consistent and solid week in and week out,” Joseph said. “He makes all of the calls, he works hard and he has a lot of responsibility up there. He deserves the nomination.”
Joseph has also earned his nomination. He has completed 24 touchdown passes, tossed only eight interceptions and leads all quarterbacks with 687 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
“I’m thankful to have the guys I play with because they make my job a lot easier,” said Joseph, who earned his first nomination for the Riders’ outstanding player in his second season with the team. “I’ve worked hard during the offseason and the season. I just want to help my team win.”
Joseph is in competition for the outstanding player award in the West with B.C. Lions running back Joe Smith, Calgary Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris and Edmonton Eskimos pivot Ricky Ray. The last Roughrider to win the outstanding player award was quarterback Ron Lancaster in 1976.
“What happens is out of your hands,” Joseph said. “You have to finish strong and continue doing what you have to do. You can’t look at it as competing against those guys because you lose focus on the main goal, which is winning football games.”
Fantuz was nominated for his first outstanding Canadian award. He has dressed for 16 games this season and has 54 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. He was named the Canadian player-of-the-week three times and was the Canadian-of-the-month in September. Slotback Ray Elgaard, who won the outstanding Canadian in 1992, was the last Roughrider to win the award.
Fantuz, a second-year slotback, emerged as one of the team’s top receivers after losing his starting job earlier in the year.
“I never lost confidence in myself and I don’t think my teammates did either,” Fantuz said. “It pays to just keep working hard.”
Fantuz faces competition in the West from Lions slotback Jason Clermont, Eskimos Stampeders slotback Brett Ralph and Stampeders receiver Kamau Peterson.
Perry, who leads the Roughriders with eight sacks and 67 defensive tackles, is primarily competing against Lions rookie defensive end Cameron Wake for the defensive player award. Wake leads the CFL with 15 sacks. Perry was also nominated for the defensive player in 2006. Jearld Baylis (1993) was the last Roughrider to win the award.
“I get double-teamed a lot more this year,” said Perry. “It’s rewarding to me because it frees up a lot of my players on defence. If they have an extra guy on me, it’s easier on my teammates.”
Chick earned the nod as rookie after starting the season on the practice roster, He made the most of his playing time in 11 games, recording five sacks and 20 tackles. Vince Goldsmith (1981) was the Roughriders’ last outstanding rookie winner.
Congi has been nominated for top special teams player for the second consecutive year. He has converted on 30 of 43 field goals and is third in scoring in the CFL with 146 points.
“I know that I couldn’t have done it without (holder) Fantuz and (long-snapper) Jocelyn Frenette helping me out,” Congi said. “They stay late with me to work in practice. The blocking and coverage is also important.”
Corey Holmes won the league’s special teams award on behalf of the Roughriders in 2002 and 2005.
The Roughriders travel to Edmonton today for Friday’s game against the Eskimos. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
