OTTAWA – The Laval Rouge et Or (5-0) top the CIS football national rankings for the seventh time in as many media polls this season and are ready to get back on the field following a well-deserved mid-season break.
For the seventh 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.
Six other teams also hold on to their previous positions in the new Top 10, including the Calgary Dinos (4-1 / 267 points), who keep the number two spot for the seventh week in a row, as well as the No. 3 McMaster Marauders (6-0), No. 4 Western Mustangs (5-1), No. 5 Montreal Carabins (5-1), No. 6 Guelph Gryphons (5-1) and No. 9 Concordia Stingers (4-2).
The Mount Allison Mounties (6-0), who are off to the best start in program history, move up one spot to a season-high No. 7, while the Saskatchewan Huskies (4-1) drop to No. 8.
For their part, the Windsor Lancers (5-1) crack the national rankings for the first time this fall, replacing Laurier in tenth place.
Laval, Calgary, McMaster and Saskatchewan all enjoyed a rest during Thanksgiving weekend.
Results from games featuring Top 10 teams included Western 61, Laurier 20 (at Western); Montreal 36, Concordia 3 (at Concordia); Guelph 44, Carleton 24 (at Guelph); Mount Allison 33, Saint Mary’s 1 (at Mount Allison); Windsor 39, Ottawa 29 (at Windsor).
The top-ranked Rouge et Or, who sit alone atop the RSEQ conference standings, resume league play on Sunday when they host Bishop’s (1-4), live on the web at 1 p.m. on ici.radio-canada.ca Quebec. The defending Vanier Cup champs hope to add to their CIS-record streaks of 23 straight wins overall dating back to 2012 and 68 consecutive victories on home turf since 2004.
In the most anticipated matchup of the coming weekend, No. 4 Western visits No. 6 Guelph Saturday at 1 p.m., live on OUA.TV.
Also on Saturday, Calgary visits provincial rival Alberta (3-2), while McMaster hosts Laurier (4-2).
NOTES: The 50th TELUS Vanier Cup Tour makes its eighth stop of the campaign Saturday at Molson Stadium in Montreal for a contest between Sherbrooke and McGill, a game that can be seen live nationally on Radio-Canada at 1 p.m. ET… For all the information on the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup (including ticket info) visit vaniercup.com.
FRC – CIS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#7)
Pts (1st place) Last week
1. Laval (5-0) 300 (30) 1
2. Calgary (4-1) 267 2
3. McMaster (6-0) 243 3
4. Western (5-1) 186 4
5. Montreal (5-1) 178 5
6. Guelph (5-1) 150 6
7. Mt. Allison (6-0) 115 8
8. Saskatchewan (4-1) 111 7
9. Concordia (4-2) 44 9 *
10. Windsor (5-1) 44 NR
* Concordia is ranked ahead of Windsor thanks to a higher number of higher-placed votes.
Other teams receiving votes: Wilfrid Laurier (1), Sherbrooke (1).
WEEK 7 RESULTS
October 9
Bishop’s 17, McGill 13 (at McGill)
Western 61, Laurier 20 (at Western)
October 10
Windsor 39, Ottawa 29 (at Windsor)
Guelph 44, Carleton 24 (at Guelph)
October 11
Acadia 26, StFX 4 (at Acadia)
Mount Allison 33, Saint Mary’s 1 (at Mount Allison)
Queen’s 48, Toronto 27 (at Queen’s)
Montreal 36, Concordia 3 (at Concordia)
WEEK 8 SCHEDULE (all times local)
NOTE: Click HERE for the complete 2014 regular season schedule
October 17
19:00 No. 8 Saskatchewan (4-1) at Manitoba (2-3) (CanadaWest.TV)
October 18
13:00 Laurier (4-2) at No. 3 McMaster (6-0) (Cable 14 & OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 10 Windsor (5-1) at Carleton (3-3) (OUA.TV)
13:00 Sherbrooke (2-3) at McGill (0-5) (Radio-Canada TV & ici.radio-canada.ca & SSN Canada)
13:00 York (0-6) at Queen’s (1-5) (TVCogeco Cable 13 / HD Cable 700 & OUA.TV)
13:00 No. 4 Western (5-1) at No. 6 Guelph (5-1) (OUA.TV)
13:00 Waterloo (0-6) at Toronto (1-6) (OUA.TV)
14:00 Saint Mary’s (0-6) at StFX (3-3) (AUStv.ca)
14:00 No. 7 Mount Allison (6-0) at Acadia (2-4) (Eastlink TV & AUStv.ca)
14:00 No. 2 Calgary (4-1) at Alberta (3-2) (CanadaWest.TV)
14:00 Regina (1-4) at UBC (1-4) (Shaw TV & CanadaWest.TV)
October 19
13:00 Bishop’s (1-4) at No. 1 Laval (5-0) (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
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
CFC Youth Game Spotlight: Burlington QB has his sights set on greatness
