It’s only week four, but already the weekend’s action is highlighted with crucial battles, must-wins and first place battles…..so much for easing into the season. The CanWest will kick things off this “weekend” with a Thursday night affair and what a start it will be. First place will be on the line in the battle of Alberta as perennial power Calgary hosts their rivals to the north, the U of A Golden Bears. The flip-side of that battle will take place in the land of living skies with the winless Regina Rams heading to Saskatoon to take on the Huskies in an early season “must-win” game. Although only two games in, falling to 0-3 in the highly contested and deep CanWest would probably be too deep a hole to climb out of.
Across the country the OUA will also host a clash of unbeaten teams with the 3-0 Guelph Gryphons hosting 2-0 McMaster in a rematch of the 2014 Yates Cup. Not to be outdone, the RSEQ and AUS each have their own key games setting the stage for what should be a great weekend of football across the country.
Who will be left standing?? My picks for this weekend’s top games are below, hope your team wins and enjoy your weekend.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 ***Upset Alert***
Regina Rams (0-2) @ Saskatchewan Huskies (0-2) – This one is as close to do or die as you could possibly get this early. The West looks deep and as I said earlier, falling to 0-3 spells deep trouble. Second year QB Noah Picton left the UBC game early with a head injury, but looks probable for this week. Although backup Tyler Viera played well and almost engineered the comeback, the Rams need Picton to win. The Huskies came into 2015 ranked # 8 and are now facing the reality of a possible 0-3 start. Of note has been the fast starts, slow finishes by the Huskies and it’ll be interesting to see if they rectify that. This one will be tight, very tight. In a minor upset I like Regina.
REGINA 31 SASKATCHEWAN 27
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Alberta Golden Bears (2-0) @ No.1 Calgary Dinos (2-0) – Sole possession of first place is on the line as for the first time in years the battle of Alberta is relevant. The U of A snapped their four year losing streak last season and followed up by barely missing the 2014 playoffs. Building on last season’s momentum the Golden Bears have demonstrated that they are all the way back. Sporting a 2-0 record rookie QB Ben Kopczynski has looked good the defense has been solid. BUT….they’re not quite Calgary and although the Golden Bears should make the postseason, hopes of a “perfect season” will end this weekend. Running back Mercer Timmis is in the debate for “the best in the country” and QB Andrew Buckley’s Hec Crighton from says it all. The scary part is they’re the tip of the iceberg on a deep, talented and veteran Dino squad.
CALGARY 42 ALBERTA 29
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Acadia Axemen (1-0) @ No. 8 Mount Allison Mounties (1-0) – The Mounties defense looked very impressive last weekend taking on ST.FX, while it’s hard to read too much into the Acadia dismantling of St. Mary’s on opening weekend. Led by Tackle Christian Plante the Mounties win the battle up front and prevail.
MOUNT ALLISON 26 ACADIA 18
Saint Mary’s Huskies (0-1) @ StFX X-Men (0-1) – Saint Mary’s suffered key losses from the 2014 team including defensive player of the year Jonathan Langa. This doesn’t bode well for a team coming off their first 0-8 season. The Huskies did not look good last week and a loss here could be the start of a long season.
StFX 30 SAINT MARY’S 17
No. 6 McMaster Marauders (2-0) @ No. 5 Guelph Gryphons (3-0) – A rematch of the 2014 Yates Cup, Guelph host McMaster in the OUA’s game of the week, both teams come in able to score and score in a hurry. Mac QB Asher Hastings has surpassed even the wildest expectations leading the country in passing while firing ten TD strikes vs ZERO picks in two games.
MCMASTER 42 GUELPH 35
Queen’s Gaels (2-1) @ No. 3 Western Mustangs (3-0) – Always a headliner when these two storied programs get together, this one won’t be as tight as in past years. The Mustangs are the class of the OUA and play old-fashion tough football, bullying opponents into submission with the countries deepest rushing game. Averaging 412.7 yards PER GAME the Mustangs boast four rushers, Yannick Harou, Adam Sinclair, Ced Joseph and Alex Taylor that could be feature backs almost anywhere. Western’s ground attack will be too much for Queen’s and this will be over by the third.
WESTERN 44 QUEEN’S 17
No. 9 Sherbrooke Vert et Or (1-1) @ No. 4 Montreal Carabins (1-1) – Two veteran and talented pivots square off in Montreal with Sherbrooke’s Jeremi Roch battling the Carabins’ Gab Cousineau. The showcase game in the “Q’ this week will come down to the respective defenses and another coin toss, I will take home field advantage.
MONTREAL 21 SHERBROOKE 20
Record Last Week: 1-1 Record This Season: 1-1
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