ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – In a season that saw the Toronto Argonauts win the CFL East Division and clinch a first round bye through to the Eastern Final on Sunday, November 17 at Rogers Centre, it is only fitting that two members of the Boatmen have been named East Division Most Outstanding Players. QB Ricky Ray and C Jeff Keeping have been named the East Division’s Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, respectively.
For Ray, this is his first Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy as the East Division’s Most Outstanding Player, and the first time in his career he has been a divisional award winner. This is the second straight year the Argos have had a player represent the East Division in this category at the CFL player awards (WR/KR Chad Owens represented and won the award in 2012).
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Ray commented, “Being the East Division’s Most Outstanding Player nominee is a huge honour. It is a true testament to the hard work my great teammates and I put into performing at our very best on game days. Although it may be my name on the ballot box, I truly feel this is the ultimate team award. We are now focused on our ultimate team goal of bringing another championship to our great fans.”
Already named an East Division All-Star, Ray had a banner year as a member of the Double Blue while setting and breaking multiple club and CFL records in 2013. Ray’s best game statistically of 2013 came in week 18 when he passed for 505 yards and three (3) touchdowns on 39-of-45 attempts. The 39 completions were a new Argos club record for a single game, and the 21 straight passes he completed en route established another team record. His 505 yards were a single-game personal career high. Ray played in ten (10) games this season and his accuracy at the quarterback position will go down in CFL history. In 2013, Ray completed 77.2% of his passes (234-of-303) which shattered the all-time CFL record of 74% held by Dave Dickenson. In all, Ray passed for 2,878 yards (4th most in the CFL), 21 touchdowns and just two (2) interceptions in his second Argonauts season. Ray’s touchdown to interception ratio (21:2) was the best amongst all CFL quarterbacks this season, and his 126.4 QB Rating was both the highest in the CFL and the highest of his career. Ray was named CFL Player of the Week twice in 2013 for his performances in week one (1) against Hamilton and week 18 against Winnipeg.
Protecting and snapping for Ray all season, Jeff Keeping has earned his first Leo Dandurand Memorial Trophy as the East Division’s Most Outstanding Lineman. Keeping is the first member of the Double Blue to win the award since Mike Kiselak took it home in 1997, ending a 16 year drought for the Boatmen.
Keeping commented, “I am honoured to not only be representing the Toronto Argonauts and the rest of the East Division at the Offensive Line position, but to be originally nominated with three other great and deserving athletes, especially my good friends Greg Wojt and Glenn January. This acknowledgement is a testament to the great teammates that I have, and is a perfect way to cap off the regular season. My teammates and I are now focused on the ultimate goal that was set on day one of training camp – to bring another Grey Cup to this great city and our fans.”
Starting all 18 games for the Boatmen, Keeping was part of an offensive line that blocked for Ray and helped the Argos quarterbacks lead the CFL in passing yards per game with 300. His unit also allowed Ray to set a CFL record by completing 77.2% of his passes on his way to earning the East Most Outstanding Player Award. Keeping was instrumental in blocking for multiple running backs in 2013 and saw five (5) separate players finish with over 100 total rushing yards on the year (Kackert, Collaros, Norwood, Steele & Durie). Keeping was named the East Division All-Star at Centre for 2013.
The East and West Player Award winners were selected by 77 voters, including members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and CFL head coaches.
The 2013 Gibson’s Finest CFL Player Awards will be handed out on Thursday, November 21 at Conexus Centre in Regina. Tickets for the show are available at www.conexusartscentre.ca or by calling (306)-525-9999. Premium awards show tickets also provide access to the Leader-Post Player Awards Post Party at Conexus Centre.