BURLINGTON, Ont. - For the third time this season, a Guelph Gryphons football player has earned conference-wide honours.
Clark Barnes, an arts major and standout receiver and kick returner with the Gryphon football team, has been named
OUA Special Teams Player of the Week after his standout performance on Saturday (Oct. 16) in Guelph's 27-10 win over the No. 10-ranked Waterloo Warriors.
OUA Football Players of the Week (Week 5 --- Oct. 16, 2021)
Offensive – Keon Edwards (RB) Western Mustangs
Defensive – James Greig (LB) Toronto Varsity Blues
Special Teams – Clark Barnes (RET) Guelph Gryphons
Back in 2019, Clark Barnes burst onto the OUA football scene by setting a school record with three kickoff returns for touchdowns in the first three games of his collegiate career. His 2019 rookie season was capped with national honours, as Barnes was named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian returner. 
In 2021, his second season of OUA action following the cancelled 2020 campaign, Barnes is up to his old tricks. On Saturday night at Alumni Stadium, Barnes electrified the home crowd midway through the 3rd quarter, fielding a kickoff at his own 2-yard line before exploding 108-yards the other way for the fourth kickoff return for a touchdown in his career. The long strides and breakaway speed for the 6-2, 200 lbs Barnes has become a familiar sight for Gryphon fans as well as opposing teams, with Barnes going untouched the length of the field at a critical time of the game to restore a two-touchdown lead for the Gryphons over the Warriors. The Brampton native's 108-yard kick return was the longest return of the 2021 U SPORTS season by any player, with the touchdown marking the lone kick return for a touchdown in U SPORTS football so far this season.
The Gryphon football team will now prepare for the final home game of their regular season schedule as they host the Toronto Varsity Blues (2-2) on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 23). For more information on the latest edition of "OUA Football Players of the Week" head to oua.ca.
Gryphon Football Players Named OUA Players of the Week in 2021
