By: Barre Campbell
Photo: Scott Grant
OTTAWA — For the second time this season, REDBLACKS defensive lineman Justin Capicciotti has captured the Canadian Football League’s top Canadian of the week award.
The 24-year-old Toronto native sacked Hamilton quarterback Zach Collaros twice and had four defensive tackles during Friday’s game against the Tiger-Cats at TD Place.
Capicciotii leads the REDBLACKS with 10 sacks this season, tied for fifth in the CFL.
Capicciotti, who played collegiate football at Simon Fraser, also took Canadian of the week honour on Oct. 7 following a two-sack, three-tackle performance in a victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at TD Place on Oct. 3.
Three other REDBLACKS have captured CFL honours this season: kicker and punter Brett Maher received the special teams player of the week award after Ottawa’s win against Toronto in the team’s home opener on July 18.
Running back Jonathan Williams took offensive player of the week for amassing 229 yards from scrimmage in the game against Winnipeg.
Last month, linebacker Antoine Pruneau, a leading candidate for CFL rookie-of-the-year, was named the league’s top Canadian for October.
The Montreal native and graduate of the Université de Montréal has started at strongside linebacker for the last 12 games, a position traditionally held by international players in the CFL. During those 12 games, Pruneau leads the team with 63 tackles. After 11 starts at the position, Pruneau’s 59 tackles ranked second among all defensive players in the league, trailing only BC’s Solomon Elimimian.
The REDBLACKS complete the inaugural 2014 season at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Friday.
