RACES FOR CFL’S BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYERS HEATS UP IN FINAL WEEK OF REGULAR SEASON

RACES FOR CFL’S BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYERS HEATS UP IN FINAL WEEK OF REGULAR SEASON

Lions, Stampeders, Eskimos, Blue Bombers and Argonauts all leading in key defensive categories

The Canadian Football League (CFL) released today the updated individual league-wide leaders in several key defensive stats categories as the 2016 CFL regular season comes to a close.

Two of the league’s best on defense go into Week 20 battling for bragging rights on the defensive side of the ball. BC Lions nominee for the CFL’s Best Defensive Player this season Solomon Elimimian (128) leads Montreal’s nominee Bear Woods (123) for most defensive tackles so far this season. A strong defensive performance by either player this weekend could go a long way in anchoring some Shaw CFL Player Awards hardware later this month.

Calgary’s Charleston Hughes leads all players with 16 sacks in 2016. Hamilton’s John Chick and Toronto’s Shawn Lemon are both tied for second with 14 QB sacks this campaign. All three players are their respective teams’ nominee for Best Defensive Player this season.

Two Blue Bombers are currently tied for the most interceptions in 2016. Maurice Leggett and T.J. Heath both have seven, while Hamilton’s Emanuel Davis trails with five.

A total of six players from six different teams are in the running for most forced fumbles this campaign, and all six are in action in the final week of the season.

Here are the CFL’s league leaders in four key defensive categories:

Tackles (defensive):

  1. Solomon Elimimian, BC 128
  2. Bear Woods, MTL 123
  3. Adam Bighill, BC 105

Sacks:

  1. Charleston Hughes, CGY 16
  2. John Chick, HAM 14
  3. Shawn Lemon, TOR 14

Interceptions:

  1. Maurice Leggett, WPG 7
  2. T.J. Heath, WPG 7
  3. Emanuel Davis, HAM 5

Forced Fumbles:

  1. J.C. Sherritt, EDM 6
  2. Shawn Lemon, TOR 5
  3. Chip Cox, MTL 4
  4. John Chick, HAM 4
  5. Khalil Bass WPG 4
  6. Loucheiz Purifoy BC 4

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers clash with the Ottawa REDBLACKS in front of another sold-out crowd in the nation’s capital on Friday Night Football, and a rare CFL triple-header on Saturday caps off Week 20. Montreal visits Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton in front of what will likely be a capacity crowd, Toronto will make a trip west to Edmonton, and Saskatchewan and BC will close the 2016 CFL regular season campaign in front of one of the largest crowds this season at BC Place. 

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Paulo Senra Director, Communications, Canadian Football League
Paulo Senra Director, Communications, Canadian Football League
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