[November 3, 2006]

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Canadian Football League (CFL) has announced that former Southern Arkansas University Muleriders Nik Lewis and Fred Perry have both been named 2006 West Division All-Stars. Lewis, an All-American wide receiver and punt return specialist at SAU from 2001-03, was selected as a wide receiver, while Perry, an All-American linebacker and punt return specialist for Southern Arkansas from 1996-97, was named as a defensive end.

Lewis once again led the Calgary Stampeders this season, and was eighth in the CFL, in receiving, catching 77 passes for 1,114 yards. He had five touchdown receptions on the year and averaged 14.5 yards per catch. Lewis’ five touchdowns tied him at 14th in the league.

Perry has been a defensive force for the Saskatchewan Roughriders this year, piling up 47 tackles (36th in the CFL), including 14 sacks, which is second in the CFL, and finished tied for third in the CFL in forced fumbles with three. He also added two fumble recoveries and one interception on the season.

The East and West Division All-Stars were selected by 48 voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC). The 2006 CFL All-Stars will be announced on Tuesday, November 7 following the final round of voting.

Ironically, Lewis’ Stampeders and Perry’s Roughriders will meet Sunday in the first round of the CFL playoffs in the Scotiabank West Semi-Final at 3 p.m. central in Calgary. The Stampeders (10-8) finished second during the regular season in the West Division behind the British Columbia Lions (13-5), while the Roughriders (9-9) were third.

Sunday’s game will be the fourth meeting of the season between the two teams. Calgary won the season series, 2-1, to secure home field advantage in this game. The Stampeders defeated the Roughriders, 23-7, at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium, while splitting two games at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium. One of those games was a 53-36 rout by Calgary, with Lewis picking up four catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. Saskatchewan responded with a 19-9 win three weeks later, with Perry claiming three tackles, all three being sacks.

The Stampeders are tied with the best home record in the CFL, losing only one game in Calgary, but lost three of their last four regular season games. The Roughriders won two of their final three games of the regular season.

The BC Lions will face the winner of the former Muleriders’ tangle in the West Championship on Sunday, November 12 at British Columbia at 3 p.m. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts square off in the East Semi-Final on Sunday, with the winner taking on the Montreal Alouettes in the East Championship in Montreal. The CFL’s Grey Cup Championship will be played on Sunday, November 19 in Winnipeg.

#SAU#