CFL Calgary Stampeders

Jon Cornish, Rene Paredes and Brett Jones Take Home Major CFL Awards

Published on November 21, 2013 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Calgary Stampeders News Release


Three members of the Calgary Stampeders captured a total of four trophies at the CFL Player Awards ceremonies on Thursday night in Regina.

Jon Cornish was named both the CFL's Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian, Rene Paredes was voted as Most Outstanding Special Teams Player and Brett Jones received the nod as Most Outstanding Rookie.

Jon Cornish (Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Canadian)

Cornish is the first Canadian to win the MOP award since Tony Gabriel in 1978. Russ Jackson, who earned the honour in 1963, 1966 and 1969, is the only other Canadian to be named the league's top player. He is the first player in Stampeders history to win the Most Outstanding Canadian award in consecutive years and he's the first repeat winner of the honour since BC Lions defensive lineman Brent Johnson did so in 2005 and 2006.

Cornish won his second consecutive rushing title this past season as he ran for 1,813 yards, the fourth-highest total in CFL history. He also led the league and set a new franchise record with 2,157 yards from scrimmage. Cornish led all running backs with an average of 7.0 yards per carry and was tops in the CFL this season with 14 touchdowns.

His spectacular season featured nine 100-yard games - including five in a row to tie a franchise record - and a career-best 208-yard effort on Oct. 5 against Winnipeg. He won nine weekly CFL awards in 2013 as well as four monthly honours.

Six others Stampeders have won the Most Outstanding Player award - Henry Burris in 2010, Dave Dickenson in 2000, Doug Flutie in 1992, 1993 and 1994, Willie Burden in 1975, Peter Liske in 1967 and Lovell Coleman in 1964.

Besides Cornish in 2012, previous Calgary winners of the Most Outstanding Canadian award were David Sapunjis in 1993 and 1995, Terry Evanshen in 1967, Harvey Wylie in 1962 and Tony Pajaczkowski in 1961.

Rene Paredes (Most Outstanding Special Teams Player)

The third-year player from Pierrefonds, Que., established a pair of major CFL records in 2013, successfully converting on 39 straight field-goal attempts (smashing the previous record of 30) and posting an all-time best single-season success rate of 94.7 per cent.

Paredes converted 54 of his 57 field-goal tries in 2013 - including 15 of 16 from 40 or more yards - and led the league with 213 points. He is just the third player in Stampeders history to crack the 200-point milestone in a season.

Paredes is just the second Stampeders player to win the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player award since it was created in 2002. Sandro DeAngelis (2006) had previously been the only winner for Calgary.

Brett Jones (Most Outstanding Rookie)

Jones is the first offensive lineman to ever win the CFL's top-rookie award, which was instituted in 1972.

Just 21 at the start of the season, the University of Regina product made a profound impact during his first professional season. Jones was the only offensive lineman to play every game this season, with 17 of his 18 starts coming at the all-important centre position.

Jones was the man in the middle of an offensive line that has paved the way for Jon Cornish's league-leading total of 1,813 rushing yards and allowed the Stampeders to lead the CFL in rushing yards and fewest sacks allowed.

Jones is the fourth Stampeders player to win the Most Outstanding Rookie award and the first since Nik Lewis in 2004. The other Calgary players to win the award were Kelvin Anderson in 1996 and Harold Hallman in 1986.

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Canadian Football League Stories from November 21, 2013


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