Hamilton, Burlington footballers earn U SPORTS all-Canadian recognition

Hamilton native Savaughn Magnaye-Jones and A.J. Allen, of Burlington, were named first-team university football all-Canadians on Thursday.

Magnaye-Jones has shone this as a big-play receiver and returner for the Western Mustangs, who will face the Saskatchewan Huskies in the Vanier Cup on Saturday (Dec. 3, 1 p.m., CBC/CBC Gem/cbcsports.ca). A graduate of St. Thomas More in Hamilton, Magnaye-Jones led Ontario University Athletics in yards per reception during the conference schedule, making 32 catches for 656 yards for a 20.5 average, with four touchdowns. Magnaye-Jones also added a punt return touchdown.

As a fifth-year senior linebacker, Allen was a vital part of a Guelph Gryphons defence that finished second in the nation in quarterback sacks, and also dealt Western its lone loss so far this season. Allen was second in OUA in solo tackles, and was named Guelph’s defensive player of the week three times in eight games this fall.

Western, whose rookie quarterback Evan Hillock is also a St. Thomas More grad, is trying to win its second U Sports football championship in the last four seasons. The Mustangs, helmed by one-time Hamilton Tiger-Cats coach Greg Marshall, won the Vanier Cup in 2017, were runner-up in ’18 and lost the Yates Cup against McMaster in ’19.

All university sports in Canada were called off in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.