Labour Day weekend was filled with great players making great plays, just as it should be. We’re all still taking in the sights and sounds of having Canadian football back this year, and Labour Day was just another step in the way. Last year, it was a grim reminder that the CFL wasn’t playing, but this year, it was a time for celebration and fun. It didn’t disappoint us, nor did the voting for 13th Man Spots’ Player of the Week.
Related: CFL Power Rankings – Week 5
Below, all of the players who were considering for Player of the Week honours are listed. We turned to Twitter and Reddit to allow all of our followers a chance at having their voice heard in naming the fifth player of the week. Here is who was eligible!
POTW Candidate: Vernon Adams Jr.
QB, Montreal Alouettes
18/23 passing, 288 yards, 35 rushing yards, 4 touchdown passes
POTW Candidate: Brandon Alexander
DB, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
4 tackles, 1 special teams tackle, 2 interceptions
POTW Candidate: Dane Evans
QB, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
21/29 passing, 248 yards, 2 touchdowns
POTW Candidate: Trevor Harris
QB, Edmonton Elks
31/41 passing, 398 yards, 4 touchdowns
Four players with great games were up to be voted for, and it couldn’t have been decided by any smaller of a margin. The vote was very close and only 23 votes separated the winner from the last place candidate. Between first and second, however, only one vote made the difference. Below you can see the final vote count.
To have your voice heard and to cast your vote to help decide the 13th Man Sports Player of the Week, follow us on Twitter and watch for our weekly polls. Players who win the player of the game award for their respective game will be eligible to be voted for.
| Player | Number of Votes |
|---|---|
| Vernon Adams Jr. (MTL, QB) | 72 |
| Brandon Alexander (WPG, DB) | 66 |
| Dane Evans (HAM, QB) | 50 |
| Trevor Harris (EDM, QB) | 73 |
Trevor Harris had his best game of the season thus far and looked like a man on a mission in week five. He was 31/41 passing for nearly 400 yards, but crucially for him, he threw for four touchdowns and didn’t throw an interception. That has been a slight issue for Harris this season. Although the yards have come in the boatloads, he has had issues scoring touchdowns and protecting the football. When those two trends reverse, it obviously makes him nearly unstoppable. It was a beyond impressive day for Harris in Calgary, and the Elks will be hoping that he can repeat that going forward.
| Week 1 | Abdul Kanneh – Ottawa Redblacks | 6 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown |
| Week 2 | Jonathan Woodard – Saskatchewan Roughriders | 2 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble |
| Week 3 | Greg Ellingson – Edmonton Elks | 9 receptions, 148 yards |
| Week 4 | Marc Liegghio – Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 4/4 field goals, long of 50 |
| Week 5 | Trevor Harris – Edmonton Elks | 31/41 passing, 398 yards, 4 touchdowns |