September 6, 2006
OTTAWA CREEPS UP TOP 10, WHILE HAWKS DROP ONE SPOT
OTTAWA (CIS) - The Laval Rouge et Or remain the top-ranked CIS football team for a second consecutive week despite not having played a down.
The three-time Quebec champions, with sights set on a third Vanier Cup title in four seasons, host No. 3 Montreal at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday (RDS / The Score) to kick off their regular season in the last of a full 13-game weekend schedule that includes 10 games on Saturday across each of the four Canadian conferences.
Laval has not lost a season opener since 2001. After leading all 10 national polls last season, the Rouge et Or have just one loss in eight games against Montreal since the Carabins joined the CIS in 2002, including a 24-12 season-opening win last year and a 19-13 thriller for the Dunsmore Cup and its third consecutive conference title.
The Saskatchewan Huskies hold on to the No. 2 spot after the 2005 Vanier Cup finalists began 2006 with a 27-6 home win over the Alberta Golden Bears at the refurbished Griffiths Stadium. The Huskies traditionally strong defence held Alberta to a pair of field goals and 106 passing yards.
Saskatchewan hosts Regina on Saturday, riding a seven-game win streak against their provincial rival dating back to a 31-7 loss on Sept. 7, 2002.
The Saskatoon-based powerhouse is 23-0 against all Canada West opponents other than Alberta dating back four seasons to a 15-10 loss to Calgary on Oct. 26, 2002.
The No. 3 Montreal Carabins believe this could be the season of an upset in the Quebec conference, with head coach Marc Santerre making his CIS debut after winning nine league championships in 20 Cegep AAA seasons.
The Carabins are also easy on the playbook as most of the lineup has returned.
Ottawa moves up one spot to No. 4 after the Gee-Gees defence held Western Ontario to 202 yards of total offence including 63 on the ground during a 17-3 home win last Sunday, to avenge last year's OUA semi-final loss to the Mustangs.
Ottawa goes into Saturday's (2 p.m. ET, The Score) date with Vanier Cup champion Wilfrid Laurier winless in its last five games against the Golden Hawks dating back to 2001.
The No. 5 Golden Hawks drop one spot this week after surviving a Week 1 scare against Guelph.
The defending national champions needed a Chris Mamo 25-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in regulation before Dante Luciani's two-yard touchdown run in overtime allowed the Golden Hawks to leave Alumni Stadium with a 24-17 road win.
Laurier hosts Ottawa riding a 19-game regular-season win streak. The Golden Hawks have not lost an OUA conference game since a 26-23 loss to Queen's on Oct. 11, 2003.
McMaster remains at No. 6 after dominating York 33-16 in the opening week. The Marauders led 33-3 before the Lions put up 13 points in the final minute on their home field.
McMaster, which hosts Waterloo at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Saturday, is undefeated in eight games against the Warriors dating back seven years (7-0-1).
Manitoba moves up two spots to No. 7 in Canada this week. The Bisons had five quarterback sacks and one fumble recovery in a season-opening 34-24 win over Regina.
That kind of effort will be needed for a win Saturday over Simon Fraser. The Bisons are riding a three-game win streak against the Clan, which is coming off the first winless season in program history.
The bye week was not as kind to Acadia. The Axemen dropped one spot to No. 8 while waiting to take the field for the first time in 2006.
The Axemen, defending Atlantic University Sport champions, and looking for their first Jewett Trophy repeat in 25 years. Acadia opens the season with a home date Saturday against Mount Allison, which has lost 11 straight to the Axemen along a winless streak that has stretched to 30 games.
UBC is No. 9 this week to debut in the national Top 10 following a 22-16 opening-week win over Calgary. The Thunderbirds scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to beat the Dinos.
New head coach and former offensive co-ordinator Ted Goveia earned his first CIS victory but has loftier goals as UBC hasn't won a playoff game in seven seasons. The Thunderbirds are off this week.
A 27-6 loss is not the start the No. 10 Alberta Golden Bears were hoping for, yet the club remains in the national elite despite dropping two spots following the defeat at the hands of Saskatchewan. Tendayi Jozzy was Alberta's bright spot in a losing effort, gaining 172 rushing yards on 29 carries as a tailback replacement to all-Canadian Jarred Winkel.
The Golden Bears travel down the Queen Elizabeth II Highway Saturday afternoon for a Canada West showdown against provincial rival Calgary on a three-game win streak against the Dinos.
CIS Football Top 10 (#2)
Voting is based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, with a first-place vote worth 10 points. The CIS Football Top Ten Committee is made up of 15 media members from across Canada. A total of 10 national rankings will be released for the 2006 season, with the final Top 10 being released once all teams have completed the regular season.
Pts (1st place) Last week
1. Laval (0-0) - 147 (13) - 1
2. Saskatchewan - (1-0) 130 (1) - 2
3. Montreal (0-0) - 112 - 3
4. Ottawa (1-0) - 104 - 5
5. Wilfrid Laurier (1-0) - 89 (1) - 4
6. McMaster (1-0) - 75 - 6
7. Manitoba (1-0) - 53 - 9
8. Acadia (0-0) - 47 - 7
9. UBC (1-0) - 22 - NR
10. Alberta (0-1) - 16 - 8
Other teams receiving votes: Concordia (12), Saint Mary's (7), Queen's (4), Western Ontario (3), Windsor (2), Guelph (1), StFX (1)
CIS Football Week 2 Schedule (all times LOCAL)
Sept. 8
7 p.m. Sherbrooke (0-0) at Concordia (0-0), RDS
7 p.m. No. 7 Manitoba (1-0) at Simon Fraser (0-0)
Sept. 9
12 p.m. No. 10 Alberta (0-1) at Calgary (0-1)
1 p.m. McGill (0-0) at Bishop's (0-0)
1:30 p.m. Regina (0-1) at No. 2 Saskatchewan (1-0)
2 p.m. Waterloo (0-1) at No. 6 McMaster (1-0)
2 p.m. Toronto (0-1) at Windsor (1-0)
2 p.m. Queen's (1-0) at Guelph (0-1)
2 p.m. No. 4 Ottawa (1-0) at No. 5 Laurier (1-0), The Score
2 p.m. Saint Mary's (0-0) at StFX (0-0), EastLink
2 p.m. Mount Allison (0-0) at No. 8 Acadia (0-0)
7 p.m. York (0-1) at Western (0-1)
Sept. 10
1 p.m. No. 3 Montréal (0-0) at No. 1 Laval (0-0), RDS / The Score
-CIS-
(Source: Michel Bélanger, CIS Communications Manager)
(Photo: Rookie wide receiver Dustin Heap heads upfield in Laurier's opening game win over the Guelph Gryphons. The defending Vanier champs dropped one spot in this week's CIS Top 10, swapping spots with the surging Ottawa Gee-Gees.
The three-time Quebec champions, with sights set on a third Vanier Cup title in four seasons, host No. 3 Montreal at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday (RDS / The Score) to kick off their regular season in the last of a full 13-game weekend schedule that includes 10 games on Saturday across each of the four Canadian conferences.
Laval has not lost a season opener since 2001. After leading all 10 national polls last season, the Rouge et Or have just one loss in eight games against Montreal since the Carabins joined the CIS in 2002, including a 24-12 season-opening win last year and a 19-13 thriller for the Dunsmore Cup and its third consecutive conference title.
The Saskatchewan Huskies hold on to the No. 2 spot after the 2005 Vanier Cup finalists began 2006 with a 27-6 home win over the Alberta Golden Bears at the refurbished Griffiths Stadium. The Huskies traditionally strong defence held Alberta to a pair of field goals and 106 passing yards.
Saskatchewan hosts Regina on Saturday, riding a seven-game win streak against their provincial rival dating back to a 31-7 loss on Sept. 7, 2002.
The Saskatoon-based powerhouse is 23-0 against all Canada West opponents other than Alberta dating back four seasons to a 15-10 loss to Calgary on Oct. 26, 2002.
The No. 3 Montreal Carabins believe this could be the season of an upset in the Quebec conference, with head coach Marc Santerre making his CIS debut after winning nine league championships in 20 Cegep AAA seasons.
The Carabins are also easy on the playbook as most of the lineup has returned.
Ottawa moves up one spot to No. 4 after the Gee-Gees defence held Western Ontario to 202 yards of total offence including 63 on the ground during a 17-3 home win last Sunday, to avenge last year's OUA semi-final loss to the Mustangs.
Ottawa goes into Saturday's (2 p.m. ET, The Score) date with Vanier Cup champion Wilfrid Laurier winless in its last five games against the Golden Hawks dating back to 2001.
The No. 5 Golden Hawks drop one spot this week after surviving a Week 1 scare against Guelph.
The defending national champions needed a Chris Mamo 25-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in regulation before Dante Luciani's two-yard touchdown run in overtime allowed the Golden Hawks to leave Alumni Stadium with a 24-17 road win.
Laurier hosts Ottawa riding a 19-game regular-season win streak. The Golden Hawks have not lost an OUA conference game since a 26-23 loss to Queen's on Oct. 11, 2003.
McMaster remains at No. 6 after dominating York 33-16 in the opening week. The Marauders led 33-3 before the Lions put up 13 points in the final minute on their home field.
McMaster, which hosts Waterloo at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Saturday, is undefeated in eight games against the Warriors dating back seven years (7-0-1).
Manitoba moves up two spots to No. 7 in Canada this week. The Bisons had five quarterback sacks and one fumble recovery in a season-opening 34-24 win over Regina.
That kind of effort will be needed for a win Saturday over Simon Fraser. The Bisons are riding a three-game win streak against the Clan, which is coming off the first winless season in program history.
The bye week was not as kind to Acadia. The Axemen dropped one spot to No. 8 while waiting to take the field for the first time in 2006.
The Axemen, defending Atlantic University Sport champions, and looking for their first Jewett Trophy repeat in 25 years. Acadia opens the season with a home date Saturday against Mount Allison, which has lost 11 straight to the Axemen along a winless streak that has stretched to 30 games.
UBC is No. 9 this week to debut in the national Top 10 following a 22-16 opening-week win over Calgary. The Thunderbirds scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to beat the Dinos.
New head coach and former offensive co-ordinator Ted Goveia earned his first CIS victory but has loftier goals as UBC hasn't won a playoff game in seven seasons. The Thunderbirds are off this week.
A 27-6 loss is not the start the No. 10 Alberta Golden Bears were hoping for, yet the club remains in the national elite despite dropping two spots following the defeat at the hands of Saskatchewan. Tendayi Jozzy was Alberta's bright spot in a losing effort, gaining 172 rushing yards on 29 carries as a tailback replacement to all-Canadian Jarred Winkel.
The Golden Bears travel down the Queen Elizabeth II Highway Saturday afternoon for a Canada West showdown against provincial rival Calgary on a three-game win streak against the Dinos.
CIS Football Top 10 (#2)
Voting is based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, with a first-place vote worth 10 points. The CIS Football Top Ten Committee is made up of 15 media members from across Canada. A total of 10 national rankings will be released for the 2006 season, with the final Top 10 being released once all teams have completed the regular season.
Pts (1st place) Last week
1. Laval (0-0) - 147 (13) - 1
2. Saskatchewan - (1-0) 130 (1) - 2
3. Montreal (0-0) - 112 - 3
4. Ottawa (1-0) - 104 - 5
5. Wilfrid Laurier (1-0) - 89 (1) - 4
6. McMaster (1-0) - 75 - 6
7. Manitoba (1-0) - 53 - 9
8. Acadia (0-0) - 47 - 7
9. UBC (1-0) - 22 - NR
10. Alberta (0-1) - 16 - 8
Other teams receiving votes: Concordia (12), Saint Mary's (7), Queen's (4), Western Ontario (3), Windsor (2), Guelph (1), StFX (1)
CIS Football Week 2 Schedule (all times LOCAL)
Sept. 8
7 p.m. Sherbrooke (0-0) at Concordia (0-0), RDS
7 p.m. No. 7 Manitoba (1-0) at Simon Fraser (0-0)
Sept. 9
12 p.m. No. 10 Alberta (0-1) at Calgary (0-1)
1 p.m. McGill (0-0) at Bishop's (0-0)
1:30 p.m. Regina (0-1) at No. 2 Saskatchewan (1-0)
2 p.m. Waterloo (0-1) at No. 6 McMaster (1-0)
2 p.m. Toronto (0-1) at Windsor (1-0)
2 p.m. Queen's (1-0) at Guelph (0-1)
2 p.m. No. 4 Ottawa (1-0) at No. 5 Laurier (1-0), The Score
2 p.m. Saint Mary's (0-0) at StFX (0-0), EastLink
2 p.m. Mount Allison (0-0) at No. 8 Acadia (0-0)
7 p.m. York (0-1) at Western (0-1)
Sept. 10
1 p.m. No. 3 Montréal (0-0) at No. 1 Laval (0-0), RDS / The Score
-CIS-
(Source: Michel Bélanger, CIS Communications Manager)
(Photo: Rookie wide receiver Dustin Heap heads upfield in Laurier's opening game win over the Guelph Gryphons. The defending Vanier champs dropped one spot in this week's CIS Top 10, swapping spots with the surging Ottawa Gee-Gees.
