FB: ALB DB picks up two weekly awards, MAN receiver honoured

CALGARY – An Alberta defensive back who is also the team's kicker has earned both the Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week honours after leading his team on two sides of the field. Johnathan Guistini shined in the final game of the Golden Bears' season, while AK Gassama of the Manitoba Bisons stole the show in Regina.

Gassama was unstoppable Saturday, making huge plays for his Bisons, a team that needed a win to advance to the Hardy Cup Playoffs. Gassama set the tone early, hauling in a 32-yard throw at the sidelines to put the Bisons in position for the game's opening score.

He then added his own touchdown later in the quarter, taking a bomb over his shoulder, broke free of the attempted tackle from the defender on his heels, and running in the 75-yard score.

Then in the fourth, with the all-important game tied at 30, Gassama raced to get underneath an overthrown ball, managed to pull it in and ran it across the line for his second touchdown of the game. Gassama's efforts lifted the Bisons to the victory and playoff berth as he finished with five receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns as well as a rush for six yards. ​

His total yards were fourth most in program single game history, while his 746 yards this year is the fifth most in program history. 

He and the Bisons will now travel to Saskatoon to take on the Huskies in a single-elimination semifinal game. The action gets underway at 1 p.m. local time and will be available on SaskTel (49/349), TELUS and Canada West TV.

Meanwhile, Johnathan Guistini led a defensive show in Edmonton, as his Golden Bears also found themselves in a must-win game, with their playoff hopes hinging on an Alberta win and Manitoba loss.

Guistini was all over the defensive side of the field, notching 12 tackles on the day as his Bears held the offensively gifted UBC Thunderbirds to just 12 points. In a tight game where every yard counts, Guistini was able to hold up UBC receivers at several junctures.

The defensive back also had a pass break-up to frustrate a team fresh off a victory over the conference-leading Saskatchewan Huskies. His defensive intensity proved key as the Bears closed out the regular season with a win.

Despite the victory, the Golden Bears will not advance to the playoffs due to Manitoba's win over Regina Saturday.

A rare situation, Guistini has also earned the Special Teams Player of the Week honours as the defensive back also serves as the Golden Bears' kicker.

Guistini's fourth-quarter field goal with the clock at 21 seconds gave his team the win they needed to keep their postseason hopes alive. A frantic UBC defence pulled out all the stops in an effort to block the 28-yard attempt, but Guistini showed his nerves of steel to knock down the kick without issue.

In a back-and-forth game where each team had to fight for every yard, Guistini regularly pushed the Thunderbirds back with big punts. He posted 12 punts for 466 yards, out-averaging the opposing kicker.

The defensive back/kicker proved his ability to shine above the best on both defensive and special teams Saturday, falling just short of the postseason despite the Golden Bears' win.

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