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Canadians in the NCAA: Championships

Canadians in the NCAA: Championships

By Michael Preston

Sophomore defensive back Eric Fraser (Burnaby, BC) claimed his second career interception in helping Central Michigan win the Mid-American Conference championship game in a 35-10 victory over Miami. Fraser was among a scattering of Canadians in NCAA college football action as the regular season and playoffs wound down, and also jointly led the team with a career-best 10 tackles. His performance earned him the CMU Scholar-Athlete of the Week award. The former Burnaby Central star ranks fifth on the team with 75 tackles and also maintains a 3.49 grade-point average as a health fitness major. CMU is the first program to repeat as Mid-American Conference champion since Marshall won four straight titles from 1997-2000 and will play in a bowl game in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Kito Poblah (Montreal, QC) caught the game’s first six points on the three-yard reception, marking his third straight game with a touchdown. Poblah, Fraser and offensive lineman Greg Wojt (Mississauga, ON) will return to Ford Field in Detroit when the Chippewas take on Purdue in the Motor City Bowl on December 26. Also heading to a bowl game, but not the Orange Bowl as hoped, is Boston College, whose wide receiver Kevin Challenger (Montreal, QC) caught 4 passes for 45 yards in a 30-16 loss to Virginia Tech. The Eagles will instead take on Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl on December 28 in Orlando, FL. In front of a 53,212 crowd in Jacksonville, Challenger was denied a touchdown by a score-saving tackle on third down as Boston College trailed 23-16 and quarterback Matt Ryan’s next pass was intercepted near the goal line. The upset of the weekend was again caused by Stanford, whose third win of the season saw Cal defeated 20-13 as sophomore Brian Bulcke (Windsor, ON) lined up at defensive tackle for the Cardinals. “Tonight I feel that they put it all together; offense, defense, and special teams,” said coach Jim Harbaugh, whose team also surprised USC earlier in the year. “I am just so proud of them; they all have so much heart.” Also on the winning side of the ball at defensive right tackle was senior Keith Shologan (Edmonton, AB) whose college career will end in a bowl game when UCF squares off against Mississippi State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis on December 29. Shologan recorded a tackle and a quarterback hurry in a 44-25 Knights win over Tulsa. Senior Rutgers defensive end Jamaal Westerman (Brampton, ON) posted 2 tackles and another stop for a loss and half a sack that forced Louisville to settle for a field goal in the first quarter. But Westerman’s efforts were in vain as the Scarlet Knights blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter to eventually lose 41-38. Ontario native Westerman will return home to close out his college career when Rutgers plays in the International Bowl against Ball State in Toronto on January 5. Ending his college career on a winning note, senior tight end Steve Schmidt (North Vancouver, BC) caught 4 passes for 31 yards in a 48-27 San Diego State win over BYU.