CFL Calgary Stampeders

Pair of Stamps named Western Division finalists

Published on November 2, 2004 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Calgary Stampeders News Release


(Calgary) – The Stampeder Football Club is pleased to announce that John Grace (Western Division - ADT Outstanding Defensive Player) and Nik Lewis (Western Division – Outstanding Rookie of the Year) will represent the western division on November 18th, 2004 at the Rogers CFL Player Awards Ceremony in Ottawa, Ontario.

These finalists were selected by 45 voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) plus 10 broadcast media. For this ballot voters were asked to select players from their local Division whom they believed to be most deserving of each award.

Western Division ADT Outstanding Defensive Player - John Grace

Grace who was acquired this off-season in a trade with the Ottawa Renegades has shown his playmaking throughout the 2004 season on a week to week basis. In 2004 Grace has recorded 53 defensive tackles (5th on the team), 7 sacks (1st on team), 7 pass knockdowns (tied for 2nd on team), 5 tackles for a loss (tied for 3rd on the team), 4 special team tackles, 3 interceptions (tied for 1st on team), 2 fumble recoveries (tied for 2nd on team), and 1 blocked kick (tied for 1st on team). John was also named Most Outstanding Player for the Stampeders which was the second time receiving the award, he was also recognized with the Renegades in 2002.

In 2004 Grace has already made individual single season career high's in the following: sacks (7), interceptions (tied with 2002 total at 3), interception return yardage (117 yards which included 2 TD's), and pass knockdowns (7). Grace may have had his most impressive game against his former club the Ottawa Renegades back on July 29. In the first quarter alone Grace recorded 3 quarterback sacks for a total loss of 43 yards along with a tackle for a loss of 2 yards, moving the Renegades back 45 yards. Grace would finish the game making a statement as he recorded 3 defensive tackles, 3 quarterback sacks, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 special team tackle. He also holds the CFL season's best return for yards on interceptions with 95 and is tied with several players for most interceptions in a game with 2 on August 7th vs the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

In 2004 Grace has been named Defensive Player of the Week four times (Week 2, 7, 8, 12) and Defensive Player of the Month twice (August and September). During the month of August Grace recorded 13 tackles and one (1) special teams tackle, four (4) quarterback sacks, two (2) interceptions for 95 yards, returning one for a touchdown. While in September, Grace recorded 18 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, two quarterback sacks, five pass knockdowns, and one fumble recovery. He was also named CFL Defensive Player of the Week first runner up during week 15.

Western Division Outstanding Rookie – Nik Lewis

Lewis entered his first season with the Stampeders as the youngest player on the team, born on June 3rd, 1982. In 2004 Lewis has turned many heads on his determination to pick up yards after the catch. He lead the Stampeders in receptions (72), receiving yards (1045), touchdowns (8), yards from scrimmage (1045), punt return yards (385) and is second in all purpose yards (1496).

Nik has also played a big part on special teams returning the ball 31 times for 385 yards. Nik is currently 4th in the league on punt return average (12.4) with a minimum of 20 returns or more. Nik's biggest game statistically came back on July 15 vs one of the toughest defences in the Montreal Alouettes. During that game he recorded 7 catches (season high) for 100 yards receiving (season high). Another big game came a couple weeks' later on August 7 vs Winnipeg. In that game Nik recorded 5 catches for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns (season high).

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