OTTAWA – The Laval Rouge et Or top the CIS football national rankings for the fifth time in as many media polls this season after winning their record-setting 22ndstraight game overall dating back to 2012.
For the fifth consecutive week, the reigning two-time Vanier Cup champions received all 30 first-place votes and a perfect 300 points from the Football Reporters of Canada panel.
The entire Top 10 remains unchanged this week as Laval is once again followed in order by the No. 2 Calgary Dinos (3-1 / 267 points), No. 3 Western Mustangs (4-0 / 241), No. 4 McMaster Marauders (5-0 / 206), No. 5 Montreal Carabins (3-1 / 175), No. 6 Guelph Gryphons (3-1 / 147), No. 7 Saskatchewan Huskies (3-1 / 105), No. 8 Mount Allison Mounties (4-0 / 89), No. 9 Concordia Stingers (4-0 / 64) and No. 10 Manitoba Bisons (2-2 / 47).
The top-ranked Rouge et Or (4-0) dominated visiting McGill 70-3 last Saturday in Quebec City to register their 22nd victory in a row since a 23-20 road loss to Montreal on Oct. 13, 2012, and their 67th straight win overall on home turf dating back to 2004, also a CIS record. They shared the previous national mark of 21 consecutive successes with McMaster, whose streak came to an end against Laval in the 2012 Vanier Cup final.
Both record streaks will be on the line on Sunday (1 p.m., live on ici.radio-canada.ca Quebec) when Laval hosts the Cinderella team of the first half of the season, undefeated Concordia, which currently shares first place in the RSEQ standings with the Vanier Cup champs, a year after going 0-8 in conference play. The Stingers will be looking to put an end to a 21-game losing streak against the league’s powerhouse, dating back to a 38-30 home win on Oct. 4, 2003.
For its part, No. 2 Calgary won on the field last Friday night, edging visiting Manitoba 42-41 in a thrilling Top-10 battle at McMahon Stadium, but saw its official record fall to 3-1 after announcing Monday it was forfeiting its September 5th victory over Alberta due to the use of two ineligible players.
Other results from Top-10 teams this past weekend included No. 3 Western 69, Waterloo 3 (at Waterloo); No. 4 McMaster 28, Queen’s 19 (at McMaster); No. 5 Montreal 47, StFX 0 (at StFX); No. 7 Saskatchewan 21, Regina 16 (at Regina); No. 8 Mount Allison 26, Bishop’s 3 (at Bishop’s) and No. 9 Concordia 63, Saint Mary’s 7 (at Saint Mary’s).
Sixth-ranked Guelph enjoyed a break in its OUA schedule.
In addition to Laval-Concordia on Sunday, another exciting Top-10 confrontation between undefeated teams is set for Saturday in London where No. 3 Western hosts No. 4 McMaster. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., live on Rogers TV in London, Cable 14 in Hamilton, Rogers Sports + throughout Ontario, and OUA.TV.
NOTES: The 50th TELUS Vanier Cup Tour makes its sixth stop of the campaign on Saturday at Griffiths Stadium at PotashCorp Park in Saskatoon, where No. 7 Saskatchewan hosts UBC, live on Shaw TV and CanadaWest.TV at 7 p.m. CT… For all the information on the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup (including ticket info) visit vaniercup.com.
FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#5)
Pts (1st place) Last week
1. Laval (4-0) 300 (30) 1
2. Calgary (3-1) 267 2
3. Western (4-0) 241 3
4. McMaster (5-0) 206 4
5. Montreal (3-1) 175 5
6. Guelph (3-1) 147 6
7. Saskatchewan (3-1) 105 7
8. Mt. Allison (4-0) 89 8
9. Concordia (4-0) 64 9
10. Manitoba (2-2) 47 10
Other teams receiving votes: Windsor (5), Laurier (2), Sherbrooke (2).
WEEK 5 RESULTS
September 26
Windsor 35, York 3 (at York)
Calgary 42, Manitoba 41 (at Calgary)
September 27
Montreal 47, StFX 0 (at StFX)
Concordia 63, Saint Mary’s 7 (at Saint Mary’s)
Laval 70, McGill 3 (at Laval)
Laurier 53, Carleton 3 (at Laurier)
Ottawa 41, Toronto 25 (at Toronto)
McMaster 28, Queen’s 19 (at McMaster)
Western 69, Waterloo 3 (at Waterloo)
Saskatchewan 21, Regina 16 (at Regina)
Sherbrooke 48, Acadia 10 (at Sherbrooke)
UBC 49, Alberta 13 (at UBC)
Mount Allison 26, Bishop’s 3 (at Bishop’s)
WEEK 6 SCHEDULE (all times local)
October 4
13:00 Sherbrooke (2-2) at No. 5 Montreal (3-1) (Radio-Canada TV & ici.radio-canada.ca)
13:00 York (0-5) at Laurier (3-1) (OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 4 McMaster (5-0) at No. 3 Western (4-0) (Rogers TV London & Cable 14 & Rogers Sports + & OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 6 Guelph (3-1) at Windsor (4-0) (TVCogeco & OUA.TV)
13:00 Waterloo (0-5) at Ottawa (3-2) (OUA.TV)
13:00 Toronto (1-4) at Carleton (2-2) (OUA.TV)
14:00 Acadia (1-3) at StFX (2-2) (Eastlink TV & AUStv.ca)
14:00 No. 8 Mount Allison (4-0) at Saint Mary’s (0-4) (AUStv.ca)
14:00 Regina (1-3) at No. 2 Calgary (3-1) (CanadaWest.TV)
17:00 No. 10 Manitoba (2-2) at Alberta (2-2) (CanadaWest.TV)
19:00 UBC (1-3) at No. 7 Saskatchewan (3-1) (Shaw TV & CanadaWest.TV)
October 5
13:00 No. 9 Concordia (4-0) at No. 1 Laval (1-0) (ici.radio-canada.ca Quebec)
About Football Reporters of Canada
Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) represents journalists and broadcasters in every region of the country covering CIS Football. Since 1958, Football Reporters of Canada has been an organization of media members who have covered the Canadian Football League, serving to select the league’s outstanding players, coach-of-the-year and all-star teams through voting conducted by its members. In 2009, the FRC amalgamated with the University Football Reporters of Canada (UFRC) to give the organization greater scope in its affiliation with amateur and college football. FRC also works with the CFL and CIS to establish guidelines and working conditions for the men and women who report on the game. Selected members of FRC also help to choose builders, players and media members for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
About the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup
Canadian Interuniversity Sport will celebrate the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup throughout its 2014 football season. For the first time in history, the championship game will be staged in Montreal – at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium – on Saturday, November 29, at 1 p.m. ET, live on Sportsnet and Radio-Canada.
Official TELUS Vanier Cup website (including ticket information) www.vaniercup.com
Photo credit: Yan Doublet
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