TORONTO — Hamilton receiver Brandon Banks, Tiger-Cats quarterback Dane Evans and Calgary Stampeders QB Bo Levi Mitchell are the CFL’s top performers for October.
Banks and Evans combined to form an impressive offensive duo for the East Division leaders as Hamilton went 3-0 over the month and set a new franchise record for wins in a season at 14.
Banks hauled in 26 receptions for 398 yards and five touchdowns over the three games, including a career-high 201-yard showing in a 38-26 win at Montreal on Saturday.
The native of Garner, N.C., set a new Ticats record for receptions in a single season (112) in the process and was named Hamilton’s nominee for the CFL’s most outstanding player award.
Banks’ stellar play helped Evans to another outstanding month under centre. The Hamilton quarterback piled up 1,108 passing yards, seven touchdowns and a 78 per cent completion rate over Hamilton’s three October wins.
Evans threw for a career-high 452 yards and a touchdown in the Ticats’ 33-12 rout of visiting Ottawa on Oct. 19. The native of Sanger, Texas followed up that performance with 379 yards and establishing a personal-best four touchdowns in the win over Montreal.
Mitchell compiled 1,449 passing yards and 10 touchdowns while completing 72.3 per cent of his attempts as the Stampeders went 2-2 over the month.
The native of Katy, Texas, reached the 300-yard passing mark three times and capped his month with a 350-yard, four-touchdown performance in a 29-28 loss at Winnipeg on Friday.
The Stampeders enter the final week of the season second in the West Division and can clinch first place with a win at B.C. and a Saskatchewan loss to visiting Edmonton.