Six Winnipeg Blue Bombers Named West Division All-Stars
Published on November 9, 2016 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers News Release
WINNIPEG, MB. - The Canadian Football League today announced its East and West Division All-Star teams and six Winnipeg Blue Bombers were named to the West team.
The voting was conducted by The Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.
At running back, Winnipegger Andrew Harris rushed for 974 yards on 195 carries, scoring four touchdowns, in 15 games. Harris was also a major threat out of the backfield, catching 67 receptions for 631 yards and one touchdown, the most by any running back this season and the most by a Bomber since Robert Mimbs finished with 71 in 1990. This is Harris's third time being named a Division All-Star (B.C. in 2012 and 2015).
First-year offensive lineman Travis Bond stepped into the lineup in Week 6 against Edmonton and didn't look back. The 6-7, 355-pound offensive guard needed only 13 games to be named the club's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, and now a West Division All-Star. Bond has worked with a unit that has allowed just 35 sacks this season and has found a balance both rushing and passing the ball.
Linebacker Maurice Leggett was named the club's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in a unanimous vote, and gets his first Division All-Star nod in 2016. Leggett was dominant defensively, and finished tied for the league lead in interceptions with seven, while also returning three of those interceptions for touchdowns. The third-year Bomber started 17 games this season, recording 51 defensive tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.
Rookie Taylor Loffler took over starting duties in Week 6 in Edmonton and morphed into the club's Most Outstanding Rookie. He has now been named a West Division All-Star in just his first CFL season. Selected 19th overall in the 2016 CFL Draft, Loffler has recorded 58 defensive tackles, four interceptions, four forced fumbles, one quarterback sack and eight special teams tackles. Two of his picks came against B.C. on October 14, a game where he continued to deliver crushing hits, and also recorded a forced fumble.
Acquired in a trade that also brought over the first overall selection in the 2017 CFL Draft, defensive back T.J. Heath finished his first CFL season playing in 16 games, and tying the league lead (with Leggett) in interceptions with seven. Heath's first Division All-Star honour also saw him rack up 51 defensive tackles and five special teams tackles.
The league's most accurate kicker of all-time had a record breaking season, and Justin Medlock was named a Division All-Star for the third time in his career (Hamilton in 2011 and 2015). Medlock connected on 60 of 68 attempts (88.2%), breaking a CFL record for field goals in a season set in 1990. He set a new club record for points in a season with 227, tied the team record for the longest field goal (58 yards), and twice tied the mark of seven field goals in a single game. Medlock went seven for eight in the Bombers' win over Saskatchewan on Labour Day, including the game winner with no time remaining, and followed that up by going seven for seven in the win over B.C. in Vancouver on Oct. 14. He went 40 for 40 in convert attempts this season, hit 16 field goals from 40-49 yards out, and nailed five from over 50 yards.
Canadian Football League Stories from November 9, 2016
- BC LIONS INSIDER: Lions Take on Blue Bombers for Western Semi-Final - CFL
- Six Winnipeg Blue Bombers Named West Division All-Stars - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Five Argos Named East Division All-Stars - Toronto Argonauts
- 11 RedBlacks Named East Division All-Stars - Ottawa RedBlacks
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