Week 2 AUS Football Players of the Week: Bussey, Royer and Harrington

(HALIFAX, N.S.) In week 2 of AUS football action, STFX's Malcolm Bussey and Ben Harrington, along with Bishop's Gabriel Royer, have been recognized for their outstanding play as the AUS football players of the week. 

Offensive Player of the Week
Name: Malcolm Bussey
University: St. Francis Xavier University
Position: Running back
Hometown: Hammonds Plains, N.S.
Year of eligibility: Third
Academic program: BA Human Kinetics
Height and weight: 5'11", 197lbs

STFX X-Men running back Malcolm Bussey is the Atlantic University Sport football offensive player of the week for the week ending Sept. 3, 2023.

A third-year human kinetics student from Hammonds Plains, N.S., and the reigning conference MVP, Bussey led all rushers in Saturday's game as the X-Men beat Acadia 23-6 on the road.

He had 19 carries for 148 yards, averaging 7.8 yards/rush. The 2022 all-Canadian currently leads the conference in rushing, averaging 131.5 yards/game.

Defensive Player of the Week
Name: Gabriel Royer
University: Bishop's University
Position: Linebacker
Hometown: Saint-Charles-Borromée, Que.
Year of eligibility: Third
Academic program: Sports Studies
Height and weight: 5'11", 222lbs 

Bishop's Gaiters linebacker Gabriel Royer has been named the AUS football defensive player of the week.

The reigning AUS defensive player of the year led the Gaiters with 7.5 tackles (five solo, five assisted) on Saturday in a convincing 38-10 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies.

He also had a sack in the Gaiters victory.

Special Teams Player of the Week
Name: Ben Harrington
University: St. Francis Xavier University
Position: Returner/Receiver
Hometown: Dartmouth, N.S.
Year of eligibility: Third
Academic program: BBA
Height and weight: 6'2", 181lbs

STFX X-Men receiver/returner Ben Harrington is the AUS football special teams player of the week for the week ending Sept. 3, 2023.

A business student in his third year of eligibility from Dartmouth, N.S., Harrington scored an 83-yard touchdown on a punt return late in the fourth quarter in STFX's 23-6 win over the Acadia Axemen Saturday in Wolfville, N.S.

He had four total punt returns for 106 yards in the STFX victory, along with one kickoff return for 19 yards. His stats also included 47 yards on offence with one rush and two receptions.