Shaw CFL Top Performer of Week 10

TORONTO – James Franklin, Kendial Lawrence and Derel Walker were named the Shaw CFL Top Performers of the Week for Week 10 of the CFL’s 2015 season.

This marks the third time this season a team has swept Shaw Top Performers of the Week; the first was in Week 5 when a trio of Ottawa REDBLACKS players were named Top Performers and in Week 9 when Hamilton Tiger-Cats accomplished the feat.

The three players were chosen by a panel of judges who independently send their selections to the CFL head office. The panel includes former Canadian Football League players Matt Dunigan and Duane Forde of TSN and Pierre Vercheval of RDS

QB | James Franklin| Edmonton Eskimos

Edmonton Eskimos quarterback James Franklin completed 76 percent of his passes to help lead the Edmonton Eskimos past the Toronto Argonauts 38-15 in his first career CFL start.

While completing 29 of his 38 passes, Franklin threw for 335 yards including his first touchdown pass in his young CFL career to Derel Walker from eight out to give the Eskimos a 26-15 lead in the fourth quarter.

Franklin completed his first seven passes to advance Edmonton into the red zone and capped off the drive by rushing 18 yards for the major. In total, the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native rushed the ball on four occasions for 51 yards.

Franklin, a former University of Missouri Tiger became the 70^th quarterback to debut in the CFL as a starter since 2002 and becomes one of only 28 to lead his team to a win in his debut start. In that same span he also was the eleventh pivot to debut and throw for over 300 yards.

SB | Kendial Lawrence | Edmonton Eskimos

Edmonton Eskimos running back Kendial Lawrence recorded 263 total yards and scored a touchdown to secure a 38-15 win over the Toronto Argonauts at Commonwealth Stadium on August 28^th.

The former Mizzou Tiger returned a 64-yard punt for a touchdown halfway through the fourth quarter to regain a nine-point lead for Edmonton. Lawrence’s speedy shot down the sidelines changed the momentum of the game for the home team, who put up 21 points in the final quarter.

The Rockwall, Texas native had three separate kickoff returns for a cumulative 68 yards. Lawrence also fielded six punts for 124 yards.

Lawrence played with James Franklin for three seasons at Missouri. Their chemistry was on display all game: all seven of Franklin’s throws to Lawrence were completed, including a 16-yard pass to open the second quarter.

Lawrence currently leads the CFL combined yards with 1,446 and sits third in combined return yards with 1,045.

WR | Derel Walker | Edmonton Eskimos

Edmonton Eskimos wide receiver Derel Walker recorded his third consecutive game with over 120 recorded receiving yards and helped guide the Eskimos in a home victory over the visiting Toronto Argonauts.

Walker established himself as a favourite target for quarterback James Franklin early in the game.  Walker completed the game with seven receptions and 164 yards including his first-career CFL touchdown in the fourth quarter from eight yards out.

In only his third CFL game in his first season, the Hillsboro, Texas native has recorded 472 receiving  yards on 31 receptions; good enough to place him eleventh in the league in receiving yards.

The 6’2” receiver, a product of Texas A&M, caught four passes for 10 or more yards and two that were over 50 yards in the game.

Shaw Fans’ Choice of the Week!

Zach Collaros won Week 9 of Shaw Fans’ Choice of the Week and collected 10 bonus points.

2015 Shaw CFL Player of the Week Points Leaderboard

2015 Shaw CFL Top Performers of the Week

*Indicates Shaw Fan’s Choice of the Week

2015 Shaw CFL Top Performers of the Month