In a game full of long plays, interceptions, and momentum swings, Bisons second-year defensive back
Marcel Arruda-Welch may have had the play of them all — returning a kickoff 93 yards to the four-yard line early in the second quarter to set up Manitoba's second touchdown of the night.
For his total of 132 kickoff return yards on Friday, Arruda-Welch has been named the Canada West Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 2.
It was an unfortunate outcome for Manitoba in Week 2, as they lost their home opener to the #10-ranked Huskies, 48-46, to fall to 0-2 on the year. Still, Arruda-Welch is impressing early in his second campaign for the Herd. After having just two kickoff returns for 76 yards in his first season (2017), Arruda-Welch has 176 yards on six returns through two games this year. He's also recorded 6.5 tackles, 3.5 of those coming on Friday against rival Saskatchewan.
Arruda-Welch also earned the special teams honour from Canada West in Week 8 of the 2017 season, one of three Bisons players to be named to Canada West's Football Players of the Week (
Jamel Lyles, Special Teams - Week 1;
Jayden McKoy, Defence - Week 4).
Manitoba will look for its first win of the season at home on Saturday, September 15 against the Alberta Golden Bears (0-2) at Investors Group Field. Kickoff is 2 p.m. and tickets can be purchased on Ticketmaster. University of Manitoba students, high school students, and fans 12-and-under get in free.
