Ray caps CFL opener with weekly honour
Eskimos quarterback named top offensive player after shredding Winnipeg defence
Ricky Ray, the Canadian Football League's top passer last season, isn't about to give up that title without a fight ifWeek 1of the 2007 campaign is any indication.
The Edmonton Eskimos quarterback was named on Wednesday as the CFL's offensive player of the week after he completed 33 of 42 passes for 394 yards, five touchdowns and one interception in a 39-39 tie with Winnipeg.
Ray, who also rushed for 34 yards on four carries, beat out Blue Bombers slotback Milt Stegall for the award.
Ray threw for 5,000 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2006, connecting on 65.7 per cent of his pass attempts.
B.C. Lions defensive end Cameron Wake captured defensive honours, Toronto Argonauts kick returner Bashir Levingston took the special teams nod and Calgary Stampeders fullback Rob Cote was named top Canadian.
Wake had three sacks and seven tackles in his CFL debut, helping the Lions to a 24-22 victory over Toronto. Levingston returned a missed field goal 129 yards for a touchdown and finished with 165 return yards.
Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Eddie Davis was also nominated, while Lions safety Barron Miles was considered for the special teams award.
Cote had an eight-yard touchdown reception in Calgary's 37-9 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He finished with three catches for 20 yards in his CFL debut, and had three rushing yards on one carry.
Lions defensive end Brent Johnson and Argonauts defensive end Riall Johnson were also considered.
With files from the Canadian Press