WARD KICKING UP HIS HEELS
Redblacks’ rookie in running for three major awards
Doing one thing better than any other kicker in the history of professional football has made Lewis Ward something of a triple threat for the Ottawa Redblacks.
By booting 45 consecutive field goals without a miss, Ward slipped past NFL legend Adam Vinatieri’s mark of 44. And that rather amazing accomplishment makes Ward either the leading candidate or one of the main contenders for three Canadian Football League awards: most outstanding rookie, special teams player and top Canadian.
Nobody in the history of the CFL has won three end-of-year honours in the same season. Only seven CFLers have doubled up.
“He’s definitely going to win special teams player of the year,” said Calgary kicker Rene Paredes, who won it in 2013.
If Ward is the Eastern nominee on special teams, he should be challenged in the West by Calgary’s Terry Williams, who has three return TDs, B.C. kicker/ punter Ty Long, Lions return man Chris Rainey, or Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther.
But what about the rookie race?
“It would be nice for a kicker to win it,” said Paredes.
The rookie nod has gone to 15 receivers, 11 running backs, seven linebackers, five defensive linemen, four quarterbacks, three defensive backs and an offensive lineman, but never to a kicker.
In the rookie race, Ward has competition in the East from Montreal running back William Stanback, who was given a chance to shine after Tyrell Sutton was dealt to the Lions. In just eight games, Stanback has become the league’s 12th-leading rusher, putting up 448 yards and averaging 6.8 per carry.
The West Division is chock full of rookie candidates, but none of them has set a professional football record for excellence under fire.
As for the most outstanding Canadian award, Ward might have to yield the Ottawa nomination to his teammate, receiver Brad Sinopoli, but that’s a heck of a horse race. If Ward does emerge from the team vote, he’d probably go up against Montreal linebacker Henoc Muamba for the right to represent the East during Grey Cup week.
Winnipeg running back Andrew Harris and Calgary linebacker Alex Singleton are likely neck and neck for the West nomination. So far, Ward hasn’t spent a great deal of time contemplating his chances of a hat trick.
“That would be very special, something incredible,” he said in late September. “I haven’t thought about that to be honest. I’m not someone who is award motivated. I’m here to do my part and help us win football games. If those awards come along with it, that would be fantastic, a great feeling.”
Even if he falls short in the voting for most outstanding Canadian, Ward would join a very select group if he wins a pair of year-end awards. The only other rookie winners to double up were Winnipeg ’s Albert Johnson III, who added the special teams award in 2000, and B.C.’s Cameron Wake, who also collected most outstanding defensive player honours in 2007.
The only other two-time winners were legendary Ottawa QB Russ Jackson, who paired most outstanding player and Canadian on three occasions (1963, ’66 and ’69), Ottawa’s Tony Gabriel in 1978 (MOP and Canadian), B.C.’s Brent Johnson in 2006 (Canadian and defensive player), Calgary’s Jon Cornish in 2013 (MOP and Canadian) and B.C.’s Solomon Elimimian in 2014 (MOP and defensive player).
Ward just keeps building his case for inclusion in that illustrious group. Last Friday, in a home win over Hamilton, he tied Vinatieri’s pro football mark of 44 straight with a 23-yard chip shot, then broke the record with a career-high 52-yarder.
I’m not someone who is award motivated. I’m here to do my part and help us win football games.