FRC – CIS Football Top 10 (#9) No. 1 McMaster wraps up unblemished regular season

After receiving 29 first-place votes from the 30-member FRC panel in each of the last five polls, the Marauders were a unanimous No. 1 selection this week, following the Calgary Dinos’ first loss of the campaign. Calgary (6-1) drops to No. 3 in the new Top 10 behind the Laval Rouge et Or (7-1), who climb back to No. 2 for the first time since the Sept. 4 rankings (poll #2).

The Montreal Carabins (7-1) remain in fourth place, only one point back of Calgary in the voting (225 vs. 224). The No. 5 Guelph Gryphons (7-1) and No. 6 Queen’s Gaels (6-2) also stay put.

The Regina Rams (5-2) and Western Mustangs (5-3) swap positions at No. 7 and No. 8, while the Acadia Axemen (6-1) and Manitoba Bisons (4-3) hold on to the ninth and tenth spots, respectively.

Top-ranked McMaster, the only remaining undefeated team in the country, crushed visiting Laurier (3-5) 43-0 in its regular season finale on Saturday to extend its overall winning streak to 18 straight games dating back to Week 3 of the 2011 schedule, one shy of the all-time CIS mark set by Laval from 2004 to 2005. The defending national champs, who have a bye this week in the first round of the OUA playoffs, will get a chance to tie the prestigious record on Nov. 3 when they host a conference semifinal.

No. 2 Laval dominated Bishop’s (3-5) 57-7 Sunday in Quebec City to claim its 55th consecutive victory on home turf since 2004, also a CIS mark. Last year’s CIS finalists can clinch first place in the RSEQ standings with a win at Concordia (1-7) on Saturday.

The No. 3 Dinos saw their hopes of a perfect conference season go up in smoke last Friday night when they fell 12-9 at Regina. Despite the loss, Calgary secured first place in Canada West thanks to a positive head-to-head point differential in two contests against the Rams this fall. The reigning four-time CWUAA champions close out league play on Saturday with a home title versus No. 10 Manitoba.

All other Top-10 teams were victorious this past weekend, including No. 4 Montreal 44-0 vs. McGill (2-6); No. 5 Guelph 39-18 vs. York (2-6); No. 6 Queen’s 35-7 vs. Toronto (2-6); No. 7 Regina defeating Calgary; No. 8 Western 32-29 vs. Ottawa (2-6); No. 9 Acadia 12-5 vs. Saint Mary’s (2-5); No. 10 Manitoba 37-31 vs. UBC (2-5).

The OUA playoffs get under way on Saturday with a pair of quarter-final matchups that will see Queen’s host Laurier (3-5) in Kingston, and Western welcome Windsor (3-5) in London.

Fifth-ranked Guelph is the second OUA team that earned a bye in the first round of the post-season. The Gryphons’ 7-1 conference record – including seven straight wins to close out the schedule – is the best in program history.

The coming weekend marks the end of league play in the three other CIS conferences.

FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#9)

Pts (1st place)  Last week

1. McMaster (8-0) 300 (30)    1

2. Laval (7-1)    266   3

3. Calgary (6-1)    225   2

4. Montreal (7-1) 224   4

5. Guelph (7-1) 169   5

6. Queen’s (6-2)   140   6

7. Regina (5-2) 139   8

8. Western (5-3)    89 7

9. Acadia (6-1) 39 9

10. Manitoba (4-3)    28 10

Other teams receiving votes: Sherbrooke (27), Saskatchewan (4).

No. 1 McMaster (8-0): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 43-0 home win over Laurier (3-5)… This week: Bye in first round of OUA playoffs… Next game: Host lowest remaining seed for OUA semifinal on Nov. 3…

No. 2 Laval (7-1): Top 10 ranking: Up one position… Last week: 57-7 home win over Bishop’s (3-5)… This week: Visit Concordia (1-7) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET…

No. 3 Calgary (6-1): Top 10 ranking: Down one position… Last week: 12-9 loss at then-No. 8 Regina (5-2)… This week: Host No. 10 Manitoba (4-3) Saturday at 5 p.m. MT…

No. 4 Montreal (7-1): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 44-0 home win over McGill (2-6)… This week: Visit Bishop’s (3-5) Saturday at 1 p.m. ET…

No. 5 Guelph (7-1): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 39-18 win at York (2-6)… This week: Bye in first round of OUA playoffs… Next game: Host highest remaining seed for OUA semifinal on Nov. 3…

No. 6 Queen’s (6-2): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 35-7 home win over Toronto (2-6)… This week: Host Laurier (3-5) for OUA quarter-final Saturday at 1 p.m. ET…

No. 7 Regina (5-2): Top 10 ranking: Up one position… Last week: 12-9 home win over then No. 2 Calgary (6-1)… This week: Host Alberta (0-7) Friday at 7 p.m. CT…

No. 8 Western (5-3): Top 10 ranking: Down one position… Last week: 32-29 win at Ottawa (2-6)… This week: Host Windsor (3-5) for OUA quarter-final Saturday at 1 p.m. ET…

No. 9 Acadia (6-1): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 12-5 home win over Saint Mary’s (2-5)… This week: Visit Mount Allison (3-4) Saturday at 2 p.m. AT…

No. 10 Manitoba (4-3): Top 10 ranking: No change… Last week: 37-31 home win over UBC (2-5)… This week: Visit No. 3 Calgary (6-1) Saturday at 5 p.m. MT…

REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE: WEEK 9 (all times local)

Click HERE for the complete 2012 CIS football regular season schedule, including all broadcast info (television, webcast, radio).

October 26

19:00   Alberta (0-7) at No. 7 Regina (5-2), Access7 Regina (TV) & CanadaWest.tv (web)

19:00   UBC (2-5) at Saskatchewan (4-3), Shaw (TV)

October 27

13:00   OUA quarter-final: Windsor (3-5) at No. 8 Western (5-3), theScore (TV & web)

13:00   OUA quarter-final: Laurier (3-5) at No. 6 Queen’s (6-2), Cogeco (TV – tape delayed)

13:00   No. 2 Laval (7-1) at Concordia (1-7), SSNCanada.ca (web)

13:00   No. 4 Montreal (7-1) at Bishop’s (3-5), Radio-Canada (TV & web) & SSNCanada.ca (web)

13:00   McGill (2-6) at Sherbrooke (5-3)

14:00   No. 9 Acadia (6-1) at Mount Allison (3-4), sportscanada.tv (web)

14:00   StFX (2-5) at Saint Mary’s (2-5), Eastlink (TV & web) & Bell Aliant (web)

17:00   No. 10 Manitoba (4-3) at No. 3 Calgary (6-1), CanadaWest.tv (web)

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.