CANADIAN JEROME MESSAM RUNS AWAY WITH TOP HONOURS
Two Canadians in the top three for total rushing yards in 2016
The Calgary Stampeders’ nominee for Most Outstanding Canadian Jerome Messam topped all running backs in two key rushing categories in 2016. The eight-year CFL veteran rushed for 1,198 yards and scored 11 rushing touchdowns this season – the best in both categories in 2016. This marks the third time Messam has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark, one short of Norm Kwong’s four seasons.
Toronto Argonaut Brandon Whitaker finished second in total rushing yards this season with 1,007; he also scored three touchdowns. The Baylor alum and eight-year veteran had his second-best CFL season since joining the league in 2009 and is the Argonauts’ nominee for Most Outstanding Player in 2016.
Winnipeg’s hometown hero and seven-year CFL veteran Andrew Harris finished third overall with 974 total rushing yards this season and ran in for four touchdowns. Harris just missed the 1,000 yard mark this year which would have been the third time surpassing that mark in his career. Harris is the Blue Bombers’ nominee for Most Outstanding Canadian this season.
Shaw CFL Award nominees will be announced this Thursday November 13th and league winners will be awarded their hardware at the Shaw CFL Awards on November 24th at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
The 104th Grey Cup Playoffs begin this Sunday November 10th, with the Edmonton Eskimos crossing over to the East to take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Eastern Semi-Final. This is the eight time a Western team has crossed over to the East for a playoff match. None have made it to the Grey Cup.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will travel to Vancouver to clash with the BC Lions in the Western Semi-Final. This will be the first time in 30 years the Lions will host a home semi-final game, and the first time since 2002 that the Blue Bombers and the Lions will meet in the Grey Cup playoffs.
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