September 21, 2010
CIS Football Top 10: Ottawa remains second in national ranking
OTTAWA (CIS) – The Laval Rouge et Or top the Football Reporters of Canada – CIS rankings for the third straight week following a dominating interlock performance in Halifax.
The seven-time defending Quebec champions, who occupy the No. 1 spot for the 50th time in 54 polls dating back to the start of the 2005 campaign, moved to 3-0 in regular-season play on Saturday with a 45-7 victory over AUS rival Saint Mary’s (0-2). Third-year running back Sébastien Lévesque scored two rushing touchdowns for the third consecutive game and leads the nation with six majors.
The Rouge et Or, who received 42 out of a possible 43 first-place votes in the fourth national poll of the campaign, will try to extend a trio of impressive streaks Sunday when they host the Sherbrooke Vert & Or (1-2), an opponent they’ve already defeated once this fall, 36-6 on the road on Sept. 11. Laval is riding a 38-game overall winning streak at home (since a 14-13 loss to Montreal on Sept. 19, 2004), is 10-0 overall versus Sherbrooke since the Vert & Or joined CIS in 2003, and is looking to start the season with four straight wins for the sixth year in a row.
The rest of the top five also remains unchanged in the new FRC poll with the Ottawa Gee-Gees (4-0), Montreal Carabins (3-0), Calgary Dinos (2-1) and Western Ontario Mustangs (3-1) following in order.
The Regina Rams (2-1) move up three spots to No. 6, Alberta (2-1) and McMaster (2-2) stay put at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, while No. 9 Bishop’s (2-1) and No. 10 Guelph (3-0) both make their way into the Top 10 for a first time this fall.
Bishop’s was last ranked nationally on Sept. 30, 2008 (No. 9), while Guelph’s previous Top-10 appearance dated back to Oct. 6, 2009 (No. 9).
The only OUA team sporting a 4-0 record, Ottawa received the other first-place nod in the poll following a spectacular, come-from-behind 43-35 win over McMaster. The Gee-Gees erased a 35-17 deficit to prevail.
Montreal, which edged Calgary by a single point in the FRC voting (333-332), kept pace with Laval in the QUFL standings with a 27-10 interlock win over StFX.
Calgary scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat provincial rival Alberta 23-14, while Western doubled Windsor 30-15.
The No. 5 Mustangs visit No. 10 Guelph Saturday in the lone Top-10 match-up of the coming weekend, a duel that can be seen live on The Score Television Network at 1 p.m. The undefeated Gryphons are looking for their first 4-0 start since 1997.
No. 1 Laval (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 45-7 win at Saint Mary’s (0-2)... This week: Host Sherbrooke (1-2) on Sunday... Heads-up: Laval leads the all-time overall series 10-0 since Sherbrooke joined CIS in 2003 - including a 36-6 road win earlier this season (Sept. 11) - and is riding a 38-game overall winning streak at home since a 14-13 loss to Montreal on Sept. 19, 2004...
No. 2 Ottawa (4-0): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 43-35 home win over then-No. 8 McMaster (2-2)... This week: Visit Queen’s (1-2) on Saturday (TVCogeco Local 13, 1 p.m. – tape delayed)... Heads-up: Ottawa quarterback Brad Sinopoli leads CIS in passing yards per game (367.0), passing yards (1,468), TD passes (11), completions (94), attempts (152) and interceptions (9)...
No. 3 Montreal (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 27-10 win at StFX (0-2)... This week: Host McGill (0-3) on Friday... Heads-up: Since a pair of lopsided losses to McGill (41-0, 58-0) in their first year back in CIS in 2002, the Carabins are 10-0 overall against their cross-town rivals, including a 66-14 win in the lone head-to-head meeting in 2009...
No. 4 Calgary (2-1): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 23-14 win at No. 7 Alberta (2-1)... This week: Visit Manitoba (1-2) on Saturday... Heads-up: Calgary has won the last three head-to-head meetings – including 35-24 in the lone 2009 match-up – since a 27-5 Canada West semi-final loss in 2007, when Manitoba went on to capture the Vanier Cup...
No. 5 Western (3-1): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 30-15 win at Windsor (1-3)... This week: Visit No. 10 Guelph (3-0) on Saturday (The Score, 1 p.m.)... Heads-up: Western is 14-1 in its last 15 overall games against Guelph since 1997 (inclusive) – including a 37-18 OUA quarterfinal win and a 41-39 regular-season victory in 2009 – with the Mustangs’ lone loss over that period a 31-17 setback on Sept. 22, 2007...
No. 6 Regina (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Up three positions from No. 9... Last week: 37-26 home win over then-No. 6 Saskatchewan (1-2)... This week: Visit UBC (1-2) on Friday (Shaw, 7 p.m. Pacific Time)... Heads-up: Regina has won its last three head-to-head match-ups against UBC and leads the all-time overall series 8-7 since joining CIS in 1999...
No. 7 Alberta (2-1): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 23-14 home loss to No. 4 Calgary (2-1)... This week: Host Saskatchewan (1-2) on Friday... Heads-up: Alberta split its two-game series with Saskatchewan a year ago, winning 27-7 at home and losing 39-3 in Saskatoon...
No. 8 McMaster (2-2): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 43-35 loss at No. 2 Ottawa (4-0)... This week: Host Windsor (1-3) on Saturday (Cable 14 in Hamilton / TVCogeco 11 in Windsor, 1 p.m.)... Heads-up: McMaster is riding a 14-game winning streak against Windsor – including a 15-14 overtime win in 2009 – since a 37-0 loss on Oct. 5, 1996...
No. 9 Bishop’s (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week... Last week: 31-16 home win over then-No. 10 Acadia (1-1)... This week: Visit Concordia (2-1) on Saturday (Radio-Canada, 1 p.m.)... Heads-up: Bishop’s lost the first head-to-head match-up of the season 17-14 at home on Sept. 4 but had won their previous two duels with the Stingers...
No. 10 Guelph (3-0): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week... Last week: 21-15 home win over Queen’s (1-2)... This week: Host No. 5 Western (3-1) on Saturday (The Score, 1 p.m.)... Heads-Up: The Gryphons, who are 3-0 for the first time since 2004 (when they finished 4-4), are looking for their first 4-0 start since 1997, when they won their first six games en route to a 6-2 conference record...
FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10
1. Laval
2. Ottawa
3. Montreal
4. Calgary
5. Western
6. Regina
7. Alberta
8. McMaster
9. Bishop’s
10. Guelph
Other teams receiving votes: Concordia (69), Saskatchewan (59), Sherbrooke (42), Acadia (3), Manitoba (1).
OUA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
September 25
1:00 p.m. - No. 5 Western (3-1) at No. 10 Guelph (3-0) (The Score)
1:00 p.m. - York (0-3) at Laurier (1-2)
1:00 p.m. - Windsor (1-3) at No. 8 McMaster (2-2) (Cable 14 in Hamilton / TVCogeco 11 in Windsor)
1:00 p.m. - No. 2 Ottawa (4-0) at Queen’s (1-2) (TVCogeco 13 – tape delayed)
The seven-time defending Quebec champions, who occupy the No. 1 spot for the 50th time in 54 polls dating back to the start of the 2005 campaign, moved to 3-0 in regular-season play on Saturday with a 45-7 victory over AUS rival Saint Mary’s (0-2). Third-year running back Sébastien Lévesque scored two rushing touchdowns for the third consecutive game and leads the nation with six majors.
The Rouge et Or, who received 42 out of a possible 43 first-place votes in the fourth national poll of the campaign, will try to extend a trio of impressive streaks Sunday when they host the Sherbrooke Vert & Or (1-2), an opponent they’ve already defeated once this fall, 36-6 on the road on Sept. 11. Laval is riding a 38-game overall winning streak at home (since a 14-13 loss to Montreal on Sept. 19, 2004), is 10-0 overall versus Sherbrooke since the Vert & Or joined CIS in 2003, and is looking to start the season with four straight wins for the sixth year in a row.
The rest of the top five also remains unchanged in the new FRC poll with the Ottawa Gee-Gees (4-0), Montreal Carabins (3-0), Calgary Dinos (2-1) and Western Ontario Mustangs (3-1) following in order.
The Regina Rams (2-1) move up three spots to No. 6, Alberta (2-1) and McMaster (2-2) stay put at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, while No. 9 Bishop’s (2-1) and No. 10 Guelph (3-0) both make their way into the Top 10 for a first time this fall.
Bishop’s was last ranked nationally on Sept. 30, 2008 (No. 9), while Guelph’s previous Top-10 appearance dated back to Oct. 6, 2009 (No. 9).
The only OUA team sporting a 4-0 record, Ottawa received the other first-place nod in the poll following a spectacular, come-from-behind 43-35 win over McMaster. The Gee-Gees erased a 35-17 deficit to prevail.
Montreal, which edged Calgary by a single point in the FRC voting (333-332), kept pace with Laval in the QUFL standings with a 27-10 interlock win over StFX.
Calgary scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat provincial rival Alberta 23-14, while Western doubled Windsor 30-15.
The No. 5 Mustangs visit No. 10 Guelph Saturday in the lone Top-10 match-up of the coming weekend, a duel that can be seen live on The Score Television Network at 1 p.m. The undefeated Gryphons are looking for their first 4-0 start since 1997.
No. 1 Laval (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 45-7 win at Saint Mary’s (0-2)... This week: Host Sherbrooke (1-2) on Sunday... Heads-up: Laval leads the all-time overall series 10-0 since Sherbrooke joined CIS in 2003 - including a 36-6 road win earlier this season (Sept. 11) - and is riding a 38-game overall winning streak at home since a 14-13 loss to Montreal on Sept. 19, 2004...
No. 2 Ottawa (4-0): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 43-35 home win over then-No. 8 McMaster (2-2)... This week: Visit Queen’s (1-2) on Saturday (TVCogeco Local 13, 1 p.m. – tape delayed)... Heads-up: Ottawa quarterback Brad Sinopoli leads CIS in passing yards per game (367.0), passing yards (1,468), TD passes (11), completions (94), attempts (152) and interceptions (9)...
No. 3 Montreal (3-0): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 27-10 win at StFX (0-2)... This week: Host McGill (0-3) on Friday... Heads-up: Since a pair of lopsided losses to McGill (41-0, 58-0) in their first year back in CIS in 2002, the Carabins are 10-0 overall against their cross-town rivals, including a 66-14 win in the lone head-to-head meeting in 2009...
No. 4 Calgary (2-1): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 23-14 win at No. 7 Alberta (2-1)... This week: Visit Manitoba (1-2) on Saturday... Heads-up: Calgary has won the last three head-to-head meetings – including 35-24 in the lone 2009 match-up – since a 27-5 Canada West semi-final loss in 2007, when Manitoba went on to capture the Vanier Cup...
No. 5 Western (3-1): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 30-15 win at Windsor (1-3)... This week: Visit No. 10 Guelph (3-0) on Saturday (The Score, 1 p.m.)... Heads-up: Western is 14-1 in its last 15 overall games against Guelph since 1997 (inclusive) – including a 37-18 OUA quarterfinal win and a 41-39 regular-season victory in 2009 – with the Mustangs’ lone loss over that period a 31-17 setback on Sept. 22, 2007...
No. 6 Regina (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Up three positions from No. 9... Last week: 37-26 home win over then-No. 6 Saskatchewan (1-2)... This week: Visit UBC (1-2) on Friday (Shaw, 7 p.m. Pacific Time)... Heads-up: Regina has won its last three head-to-head match-ups against UBC and leads the all-time overall series 8-7 since joining CIS in 1999...
No. 7 Alberta (2-1): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 23-14 home loss to No. 4 Calgary (2-1)... This week: Host Saskatchewan (1-2) on Friday... Heads-up: Alberta split its two-game series with Saskatchewan a year ago, winning 27-7 at home and losing 39-3 in Saskatoon...
No. 8 McMaster (2-2): Top 10 ranking: No change... Last week: 43-35 loss at No. 2 Ottawa (4-0)... This week: Host Windsor (1-3) on Saturday (Cable 14 in Hamilton / TVCogeco 11 in Windsor, 1 p.m.)... Heads-up: McMaster is riding a 14-game winning streak against Windsor – including a 15-14 overtime win in 2009 – since a 37-0 loss on Oct. 5, 1996...
No. 9 Bishop’s (2-1): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week... Last week: 31-16 home win over then-No. 10 Acadia (1-1)... This week: Visit Concordia (2-1) on Saturday (Radio-Canada, 1 p.m.)... Heads-up: Bishop’s lost the first head-to-head match-up of the season 17-14 at home on Sept. 4 but had won their previous two duels with the Stingers...
No. 10 Guelph (3-0): Top 10 ranking: Unranked last week... Last week: 21-15 home win over Queen’s (1-2)... This week: Host No. 5 Western (3-1) on Saturday (The Score, 1 p.m.)... Heads-Up: The Gryphons, who are 3-0 for the first time since 2004 (when they finished 4-4), are looking for their first 4-0 start since 1997, when they won their first six games en route to a 6-2 conference record...
FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10
1. Laval
2. Ottawa
3. Montreal
4. Calgary
5. Western
6. Regina
7. Alberta
8. McMaster
9. Bishop’s
10. Guelph
Other teams receiving votes: Concordia (69), Saskatchewan (59), Sherbrooke (42), Acadia (3), Manitoba (1).
OUA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
September 25
1:00 p.m. - No. 5 Western (3-1) at No. 10 Guelph (3-0) (The Score)
1:00 p.m. - York (0-3) at Laurier (1-2)
1:00 p.m. - Windsor (1-3) at No. 8 McMaster (2-2) (Cable 14 in Hamilton / TVCogeco 11 in Windsor)
1:00 p.m. - No. 2 Ottawa (4-0) at Queen’s (1-2) (TVCogeco 13 – tape delayed)
